1 | text to video

[moarnomsplz]

[The text appears in the messy handwriting of a left-handed teenage boy. Off at the top of the page, the number that's been stuck in his head is scribbled a few times beside a doodle of a spaceship.]

OK, can anyone actually see this?

This is weird. But I think I've got it. Like, to send video, do you just

[A pause, then Alex is visible, looking curiously at what is, to him, still a piece of paper.]

--talk to where stuff appears?

Comments

[Video | Scratch Paper]

[scramasax]

[So there is a simple way to show your face without a camera or clear reflection! Assuming this is working just the way he is guessing it is, then why hadn't he so much as tried sooner?

Anthony scrawls his number down, and starts his response.]

...I can see you, yes!

Can... you see me?

[video]

[moarnomsplz]

[Huh. Some goth-looking guy Alex doesn't recognize. He's too excited to care much about appearances.]

...wow, yeah! How does it work? I mean, it's almost like--

[He stops himself. The word he doesn't say is 'magic.' He's fifteen, far too old to believe in that stuff, and anyway, he'd much rather it be some kind of technology he can learn about.]

I mean, what's the deal with this? Some new tech like those glasses or something?

[video]

[scramasax]

[Nor does Anthony recognize the other boy, though they can't be far apart in age - or whatever glasses he's alluding to, but asking unworldly questions immediately tends to derail things, he's gotten by now.]

I don't think any of us knows, yet! Most of us have been guessing, about how this works, what the visions mean, and what everything that's happening means - but... I think that - a lot of us can think that it's something "more" - than scientific.

[He will likewise try to avoid being the first one to say "magic" - but only try.]

[video]

[moarnomsplz]

Whoa, slow up. Visions?

[He doesn't ask what's been happening. He's totally going to backtrack and read some of the earlier stuff so he won't come off as a newb. He just got distracted by all of this existing at all, and couldn't wait to try it.

A group that's, like, hidden, that weird stuff is happening to is definitely making the word magic pretty irresistible to think.]

( handwritten )

[argents]

[ Before responding normally, Banagher fills in the space around the spaceship doodle with the Earth (sort of, the continents look a little blobby) and some stars. ]

Makes you really think about what's possible and impossible, right?

( handwritten )

[moarnomsplz]

[Not to be outdone, Alex adds a comet.]

I guess.
I mean, yeah. Obviously.
Did everyone else like [He's writing more slowly now.] Start off with this string of numbers stuck in their head?

[argents]

[ Banagher idly attaches a teeny astronaut to the spaceship. ]

Yeah. Well, in a sense. The timing is pretty all over the place. Some of us have only had it for a few months, but others have had it for years. And new people are getting them everyday, it feels like.

[ text | iPad ]

[hoennmaihime]

I understand your curiosity, but you've just put your life in danger.

Well. Greater danger.

[Somebody's got to let him know :|]

[handwritten]

[moarnomsplz]

You're kidding right?

[hoennmaihime]

Sadly, no. We don't know how secure this network is, and you've just given us a good look at your face.

[Handwritten]

[shiromadoushi]

[[There is now a cartoon tapir in a space suit floatnig around the spaceship. Because it's there must always be tapirs when someone has drawn anything.]]

Yup!

[Handwritten]

[moarnomsplz]

What's with the anteater?

wait can everyone see everything on this page?

[Handwritten]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Have a new doodle of a peeved looking tapir now]]

Tapir. It's a tapir.

[[no, you don't get an answer because you mis-identified his spirit animal.

...wait no, he had one of those for real now. Whatever]]

text;

[reapsthewind]

idefk why everyone and their brother even WANTS to use vidya on this system

it's dumb

nobody uses vidya outside this ever but you give them a magic bullshit network and suddenly it's like a ten year old's first Vine.

[handwritten]

[moarnomsplz]

Hey its not like I knew that would work.

typed

[reapsthewind]

fair

still think it's kinda weird

text; handwritten

[mightymegatron]

Yes, precisely.

handwritten

[moarnomsplz]

How does it do this?

[mightymegatron]

I'm afraid we're all at a loss.

[video]

[darkhourdear]

Hi! [waving at you now!!]

[video]

[moarnomsplz]

Um. Hey, kid.

[Alex gives a little wave back. If this really is dangerous, shouldn't someone be looking out for this kid?]

Apparently it's not the greatest idea to show your face?

[video->text]

[darkhourdear]

[well whoops.]

Oh.

[fine you get childish handwriting.]

Hi!

[dorkytracksuit]

didn't know that could work, but it is somehow so congrats.

[moarnomsplz]

I shouldn't be able to talk to you guys like this at all. Does anyone know who created this [There's a smudge where he hesitates as he's writing.] network I guess?

[dorkytracksuit]

no, but we do know we are the only ones who have access to it