aterat | [audio/action]

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--this button, and then it should start broadcasting? [ The next sentences fade in and out as G'raha flips his tell phone back and forth to look it over. ] Did it work? I can't tell, but I did follow the instructions to the letter, so I must presume it's working and proceed accordingly.

Ahem!

Hello! I am G'raha Tia, and I am but recently arrived to this world. I am given to understand that this device will put me in contact with others in the same situation. I understand that not much is asked of us, but given that we are all in this together, I would very much like to get to know you all. If you would rather meet face-to-face, you can currently find me near the apartments we have been so kindly provided. It should prove quite easy to spot me, as my feline features seem to be vanishingly rare among the populace here.

And now, let's see, it should be this button that--

[action]

[ Sure enough, G'raha can be found near the apartments, sitting under a tree and dutifully reading the user manual for the tell phone. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ G'raha has personal experience with technology that would blow a flip phone out of the water, but he's not interested in quibbling the details. Setting aside the question of what is more advanced or not, the simple fact of the matter is that he's unfamiliar with this technology. ]

I would appreciate any help you would be willing to provide. I've been reading the manual, but nothing beats an experienced teacher.

[Vincent wouldn't necessarily call himself an experienced teacher, but he had at least used them before.]

The buttons across the top will allow you to call, text, or take pictures. Then you can use the row beneath it to send it to all of us, the left, or select a recipient on the right.

It takes pictures as well? Fantastic!

[ A historian's dream! G'raha's just gotta try that right away. He pushes the picture button and aims it and, oh, yes, he can see the apartments rendered on the screen here. How wonderful! He turns the camera towards Vincent as he speaks again. ]

Is it recording now, or do I need to tell it to take a specific snapshot?

Yes.

[To the pictures, at least. If Vincent knew the man was a historian, he would probably understand his excitement better. As it stands, G'raha's reaction only served to remind him of all the scientists he'd known. It wasn't exactly a pleasant association.]

Press the button and the screen will act as a viewfinder. Point the lens at the back at what you'd like to capture, then press the shutter button.

[ Click! Now he has a picture of Vincent on his phone, how neat! ]

Such a useful device this is! Tell me, is there some way to transfer the image to canvas?

[ Not that he's planning on doing anything weird with this picture he just took, but, y'know, he might get some nice shots of some trees or buildings later. ]

Mmm. [His eyes narrow slightly at the man having taken a picture of his dour countenance, but he doesn't protest.]

I haven't seen printers here, no.

[The more he saw the Tell Phones in use the more they came across as someone getting a vague idea of what they should do and making it happen as best and they could manage, which is precisely what the Aspects claimed to have done.]

Disappointing, but I suppose one cannot have everything.

[ Click! A picture of the apartments! Eventually, G'raha will discover the tragedy of memory limits, but for now, he's going to document everything he can. It's exciting, and just like a regular cat's would, his ears and tail point upward. ]

Thank you very much for your help, Vincent.

Mmm.

[He nodded along with the sound, a non-verbal 'you're welcome', but he stopped himself before turning to leave, curiosity winning out over his social awkwardness.]

What are you?

[Rudeness wasn't really something Vincent concerned himself with, and he'd never known anything or anyone like G'raha before.]

[ WOW, VINCENT. W O W. G'raha's ears and tail shoot straight up in surprise and then droop. ]

I don't suppose you mean my profession by that?

[ His tone isn't hopeful, and he doesn't bother actually waiting for an answer before he continues. ]

If you're referring to my race, I am a miqo'te.

[ That's what he hopes it is, at least. If it's the Allagan Eye that has Vincent confused, then that's... That's going to be a lot harder to explain. ]

I've never seen a miqo'te. [He frowns slightly, looking down. It had been rude, but there also hadn't been any other way to pose the question.]

Are there other races in your world, besides yours?

[ G'raha could think of several less offensive ways to phrase it, including leading off with the "I've never seen a cat person" thing, but what's done is done. ]

There are many races that call Hydaelyn home, far too numerous to list. Among the most populous are those that look like you, which we call hyur. Ah, unless you are hiding a third eye under your bandana, in which case you would be a Garlean and I apologize for the mistake.

[Vincent has never been good at interacting with others, even before the experiments that left him as he is now. There was little help for his interpersonal skills at this point.]

A third eye? [Well, that would be a distinguishing feature, at least.] No. We just call ourselves human.

[But could he call himself human any longer?]

[ Human, huh? Not too different from hume, the term used in the first. An etymological curiosity, but that's a rabbit hole he can consider going down on his own time. ]

Are humans the only race on your world?

They are all that remain. A friend, Nanaki, is the last of his race.

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