( video ) Curti Center Employee AMA

[piume]

[ The feed starts with the image of a dark-haired young woman, brows furrowed in concentration as she seems to be fiddling with the slate. Following several seconds she pulls back, seemingly satisfied. ]

Steady… There, it’s started.

Hello everyone, I hope many of you are doing well. We are the employees of Curti Center charged with assisting outworlders and newcomers to Vaikuntha.

First, I want to extend our apologies in our failing to answer all questions from the start. We found ourselves overwhelmed by the number of people and severely understaffed for the endeavour. Though not an excuse, we are always ready and available to assist you to the best of our abilities.

That said, I do feel it is our responsibility to inform those who were guided by Sarah Cornelia that she has departed from the Center, and we wish the best for her. The rest of us will do our utmost to carry on in her stead, which brings us to…

[ Stare. Staring off-screen. Yo, new guy, that’s your cue unless someone else wants to take over this part. ]

You’ve made it sound like she died-- what, is it my turn already?

Yes, in fact it is!

[The new guy turns out to be a blond man, but he doesn’t appear onscreen until he’s done talking, everyone else moving to allow him to be the center of attention.]

Hey, I’m Gi. I’ve met some of you and talked to some of you. I just got hired at the Curti Center, so I don’t know a lot of what goes on there, but I can tell you anything you want to know about the rest of Vaikuntha!

[ This last sentence earns him a small nudge from the third companion - a stern-looking, brown-haired young man, who decides it’s time to switch before his newest coworker gets too carried away with his enthusiasm. ]

As long as they’re questions we’re capable of answering. Anything from school or employment applications to Asterisks and housing - we would be happy to fill you in on the knowledge required should you wish to blend in with the local community.

[ Well, simply speaking it’s kind of their responsibility. He takes a moment to adjust his glasses before resuming. ]

I’m aware that many of you have taken interest in discovering the secrets of Vaikuntha and what lies beyond it. While I could point you in the direction of books that cover the subject in more detail, the Dream Width in particular is subject to an on-going research, so that the accidents such as the one we’ve witnessed recently can be avoided. And, of course - perhaps this shouldn’t be left for last - we’re continuously searching for a way to get you all home safely.

It’ll--ah, hmm, nevermind.

Nevermind…? [ Sylvarie takes a moment to look politely confused, but shrugs afterward and continues with addressing their audience. Ah, why did the screen have to be this small? ]

I suppose if… you want to ask questions about ourselves, we can discuss that as well. We do reserve the right to not answer, but the truth of the matter is—we don’t want to be strangers.

[ Well, some of them didn’t, anyway. At least, not completely. However, in that instance it occurs to her that there is one important detail they have yet to bring up. ]

Wait, I haven’t introduced myself. Everyone, we may need to start over—

[ A small groan can be heard off-screen. ]

Just drop our contact details below, this is already taking longer than it should.

We can’t be that crude about it!

Say your name, then. Nothing crude about that.

S… Sylvarie Aila Jue, of the Royal City of Myste Aura…

[ Was there anything else she was meaning to say? Nobody will ever know, because upon hearing that, the man with glasses accepts defeat and leans in for a brief moment, awkwardly bumping against Sylvarie’s shoulder in the process. ]

Lean. From Min’To...-


Kweh!

[ Hold on, that didn’t sound like a person… ]

Machi? How did you enter—? Saku—? Machi, no!

[ Alas, the perpetrator seems to have a mind of its own as a ball of fluffy black feathers charges right toward the screen, chirping merrily as it begins pecking at the glass. Feel free to sit down and enjoy these precious seconds of rare Chocobo footage before the feed abruptly shuts off. ]



[ ooc note: this is a joint video post of the following Curti Center employees: Sylvarie (purple), Gi (orange) and Lean (green) - guest starring Machi the Chocobo. As such, the replies might come from any of them - this is a completely open post where all sorts of threadjacking are allowed. If you have any questions, feel free to PM any of the players or poke us on Discord!

IC-ly, this takes place after the event. ]

Comments

voice

[sullenstallion]

Whatever you deem valid or useful?

I'm damn sure some of our group are smarter than you three if this vapid film took all your brainpower to produce.

voice

[chefbayardee]

Thank you! I'm a mechanic and engineer who's worked on alien spaceships with and without ancient magic involved. I've seen mech fighters made out of trees.

We could probably teach the Center a few things.

voice

[alborada]

There is nothing forbidding you from pursuing advancements in technology aside from laws of physics and any lack of funds. Previous outworlders have made contributions with their knowledge.

voice -> text

[chefbayardee]

I- wh- You- [ The voice feed cuts out. A few moments later, a text message arrives in her inbox. ]

Give me a list of their contributions, then.
And while you're at it, how about all the Center's findings on the Dream Width?
We want to figure this out and hopefully go home, and there's no point in us reinventing the wheel and wasting everyone's time and energy.

You can't say you're here to help people and then just refuse to take us seriously.
It makes it sound like you want the ego boost without doing the work.
And you wouldn't have signed up for the job if you didn't want to help people, right?

text;

[promiselisting]

Speaking as someone else who the Curti Center hasn't taken seriously?

Seriously.

text???

[sullenstallion]

[He's not even sure why he's replying? He just likes that someone agreed with him and maybe wants to be included.]

yeah

what they said

[sullenstallion]

I....uh.

[He definitely wasn't talking about Hunk, but now Hunk sounds smarter than he is?]

You're welcome?

Video

[spaceforged]

Hunk. [It's that tone in his voice. The one that says he's in slightly displeased.]

This is our ally, not a competition.

text; private

[chefbayardee]

Eating.
I want them to realize we're not just a bunch of helpless refugees.
I appreciate that they gave us housing, I do, but they're not acting like our allies.

I asked Cid the day we got here for research on the Dream Width, because that's their job.
He was kind of a jerk and all he and his assistant would offer was the name PuPu.
It's their JOB to research the Dream Width.
Ryner and the Olkari shared their knowledge with us from the start.
Evil alternate universe Alteans tried to KILL us (long story) and they were a lot more willing to talk to us about their work.
Even the Blade opened up and helped out!

But the Curti Center hasn't.
They're trying to make us feel bad using the housing that they offered to us.
We've fought monsters and even went back into the Dream Width to help them out.
But we're a burden, in the way of research that doesn't seem to actually exist.

Remember what happened when Rolo and Nyma said they were our allies?
They almost stole the Blue Lion.
If they're here to help us, why are they being so mean about it?
Why are they hiding everything?
It just doesn't add up. (´;︵;`)

Videot; private

[spaceforged]

[This a talk best had in private. He adjusts the feed.]

It doesn't but, not about them. This world as a whole feels...it feels like it started moving the moment we arrived. I'm worried what that means and they and we don't have the resources to be constantly at odds. I know you're frustrated with them but, we can't bridge the gap if we antagonize each other.

We don't yet know how their official channels work and I'm guessing they don't know much more than we do. All they've known is peace. It makes the lot of us...daunting.

[To say the least. All they've known is war and it pains him a little to see how it creates reflexes that will follow Hunk into the rest of his life. But it will keep him alive and that's important too.]

Let's try my approach, okay? Show them a little patience and see what happens.

Video; private

[chefbayardee]

[ The feed flickers on, and Hunk's swallowing down what looks like the remains of a few cinnamon rolls. At once. He just sighs. ]

I gave them a few months of patience and they still don't want to give us anything, Shiro. Not even a reason why they're being so dodgy. At least the Blades told us when they didn't trust us. [ Pouty face! But after a few moments it fades, and he's just looking downcast. ]

I want to work with them, but it's hard when they ask us to help them get people out of the Dream Width and still treat us like they have since we got here. [ He pauses for a moment, and raises an eyebrow. ] Maybe we should invite one of them over for dinner? Food's a great peace offering.

Video; private

[spaceforged]

We've fought uphill to have a measure of respect and trust before. ...and I think dinner with all of them would be a very good idea.

[Shiro smiles briefly then it fades back into his calm neutrality.]

There are a number of reasons they might have had to be this slow in response. I intend to ask them what supplies, and tasks we can complete to make it easier on them.

Even with the lack of information, we were given housing and equipment to help us get started. I want to do what I can to pay that back.

Video; private

[chefbayardee]

Not even the Galra were this disrespectful. Y'know, once they stopped trying to kill us. [ He hates that he's bringing up the Galra of Shiro's future, of all things, but it's true. ]

But all of them, Shiro? Even the blonde one who yells a lot? [ He groans. Gi has not made a great impression. ] That sounds like a diplomatic nightmare. [ Like having Keith anywhere near diplomats. That was a mess, and one he's not bringing up to Shiro. ]

If you wanna invite all of them, I trust you. [ The little pout just says he might have to grin and bear it, though. ] Figure out if they can't eat anything, and we'll go from there.

Video; private

[spaceforged]

How about we see how this talk turns out then see who you'd feel like inviting. It's your home as much as mine. I won't make you uncomfortable for the sake of a diplomatic talk. I can make my own efforts separate of a dinner to help.

[Since future him apparently slips and breaks his damn neck on that subject he won't be the same.]

They're as young as you four were when we first became Paladins. This has to be a bit of a nightmare. The blonde one that yells a lot remind you of anyone?

[It faintly reminded him of Keith when his patience snaps.]

Re: Video

[garyoutensei]

They're only our allies by their own insistence, and aside from a roof and a few meals, they haven't provided anything we actually need to get out of here

He has every right to be frustrated and if this batch of children who want to make pretend at running this show can't handle it, it's their problem, not his.

-That was a rather pointed response, she knew, especially to someone Hunk considered a leader, but...-

Video

[spaceforged]

And antagonizing each other will solve what? Yes, we're all frustrated but when we devolve into who knows more than the other. We're wasting time and communications break down.

This is a situation everyone is stuck in. And providing this many strangers with housing and food goes farther than you may think. No, not everything is being handled efficiently and you can draw your own conclusions. But an effort to change things is being made now.

It's worth trying to be civil to create a working relationship for everyone's sake.

Video

[euphemia]

I also don't think it's wise to get angry at the people who are frustrated at this situation will do any good, either. It's very upsetting, and I agree we need to work together, but surely we can be empathetic to those who might be a tad exhausted at the severe lack of answers.

We can certainly work to try and get answers, but I don't think it will do any good by us all fighting with each other.

It's been at least two months now for some of us. Longer than what most of us have wanted to spend away from home.

Private text;

[spaceforged]

Hunk is a member of my team. We took our discussion about it to a private channel. Thank you for your concerns and I do agree, we all need to work together which is exactly what I was saying.

I've only seen teenagers on the staff. This is a lot for young people to handle without any warning.

Private text;

[euphemia]

Forgive me if I came off too strongly. Hunk is frustrated. And I can see Baiken is, too. I can understand their frustration. Yet, I can understand the frustration of those offering to help, too. I apologize if I came off direct, but there are so many avenues people are trying to get answers. I just want everyone to try and understand each other.

Maybe there's a way we can all try to meet each other in the middle?

Re: Video

[garyoutensei]

If you're telling me to just sit and smile and be nice while these kids bumble along, to be grateful for the bare minimum of human decency, then you can shove it, too.

I know where this kind of shit leads. Don't tell me how to feel about it, or what to do. If you want to make nice with these people, that's on you.

Video

[spaceforged]

[His sigh is tired and barely audible.] I'm not saying that. But you sound like you've already made up your mind.

Re: Video

[garyoutensei]

If that's not what you're saying, then say what you mean. Don't give me diplomatic bullshit.

voice

[suigojin]

Would you rather have facts or rumors? I know plenty of rumors.

And it wasn't designed to be a dissertation. We never said we were smarter than anyone, but that we're here for any questions we're actually capable of answering.

Re: voice

[garyoutensei]

-There's the sound of something striking something else. Likely her pipe.-

If you don't have the answers to the questions that actually matter, then you never should have opened your mouth in the first place.

voice

[likewishes]

Agreed.