Joint Post // Video

[heal_or_execute]

[The video opens with Mordin and Peter smiling at the camera, apparently in a lab of some sort. Given the height difference between them, Mordin is stooping a bit and Peter is kind of on his tiptoes to get them both in frame.]

Have announcement to make. Culmination of joint project. Upgrade to communicators. Could change the way Port-outs are handled.

[Peter rolls a small, penny-sized disc across his knuckles, then catches it between his first two fingers and holds it closer to the camera.]

What we have here is a sensor which, when attached to your communicator --

[He peels a little film off the back of the disc with his fingernail, grabs a comm from offscreen, then sticks the disc to the back of the comm, turning it so viewers can see how it’s attached.]

-- is designed to send out a signal to our computers here at the moment you get exPorted.

Calibrated to particular form of energy emitted by Porter. Very distinct. Records on communicator as well as sending signal. Should eliminate uncertainty after disappearance.

Right. [He nods.] No more worries whether your friend has been sent back to their home or if they’ve vanished off the face of the Earth for, well, an entirely different reason. Or that’s the idea, anyway.

[As Mordin taps his chin:] Of course, can’t entirely account for Lachesis. No way to tell if she’d be able or inclined to sabotage upgrade. More research required.

That’s where you guys come in.

Asking for test volunteers. Would receive upgrade, allow us to see whether sensor works after Port-out.[Pause, blink.] Obviously, don’t hope to see you Ported away. Unless you want to return home. In that case, wish you luck.

[It sounds like Mordin’s getting on a roll, so Peter interjects hastily:] Either way, if you’re interested, speak up in the comments or you can reach us privately through either one of our comms. And thanks for participating in the scientific method. [Yes, he said that in complete earnestness.]

Comments

[wisecracked]

Yes. I'd be at work otherwise.

[incywincyhero]

I figured. Just making sure you weren't an early bird.

Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Kenzi, and thanks for participating. I'm Peter Parker.

[wisecracked]

Haha, a party girl like me an early bird?

...Is it creepy I already knew who you were?

[incywincyhero]

Hey, they're a rare species, but they do exist.

[Slightly wary:] Well, I do post on the network fairly often, so that's not a huge surprise... [Hopefully she means that and not the whole comic book slash movie slash pop culture icon thing. Because almost two years on and that's still awkward for all concerned.]

[wisecracked]

[She hesitates for a moment.] Yeah, we'll go with that.

[incywincyhero]

Oooookay then. [He's not going to switch to encryption and ask. He's not going to switch to encryption and ask. He's not going to switch to encryption and ask...]

[wisecracked]

I...do stalk the network. [Probably best for his sanity.]

[incywincyhero]

Well, I can't blame you for that. It's better than TV. [Yeah, he's still suspicious.]

[wisecracked]

True that. [Weeeeeell, he could always ask when he drops off the sensor.]

[incywincyhero]

Anyway, I can swing by around 8:30 tomorrow -- does that work for you?

[[OOC: would you like to do an action thread of them meeting, or handwave?]]

[wisecracked]

I'll be here.


((i'm fine with either so whatever you want))

ACTION;

[incywincyhero]

[It is now 8:30 the next evening and Peter's knocking on Kenzi's door.]

[wisecracked]

[There's a thump and some cursing from within. The door opens on it's own because Kenzi is too busy standing by the coffee table where she's rubbing her shin.

She stops long enough to look over at him and smile.]

Come in, unless you're just going to drop it off and run?

[incywincyhero]

Hey. I thought I'd stick around long enough to show you how it works and answer any questions you might have. If now's a good time for that? [Plus, he's got at least one question of his own.]

[wisecracked]

Good. [The door shuts once he's inside and she turns toward the kitchen.]

In that case do you want anything to drink? I have some water and juice. Booze if you want that? [She shrugs and looks back over at him.]

[incywincyhero]

I'm fine, but thanks. [He follows her in, taking a casual glance around more for something to do than out of any real curiosity.] You look like you're pretty well settled in. How long've you been in the City?

[wisecracked]

[While there's not a lot of furniture in the apartment, just the basic stuff it came with, there's certainly a lot of clothing strewn about. There's also a tower of pizza boxes next to a box of empty bottles in one corner.

Kenzi gets herself a bottle of water and takes a drink.]

Mmn, well yeah. It's not hard for me to get used to new surroundings quickly. Although two months isn't exactly quick.

[She plops down on the sofa.] What about you? How long have you been here?

[incywincyhero]

It'll be two years in December, even if it doesn't really feel like that long. [He shrugs, then props himself against the sofa arm while he rummages through his backpack for the sensor packet.] So, this should take just a couple of minutes...

[He pulls out a little ziplock baggie with one sensor and a folded piece of paper, and tosses them gently in her direction.] One export detection sensor, and the instructions, not that you really need them. Your basic peel-and-stick application -- you can stick it to your communicator, or anything else on your person, really, but your comm's probably the most practical. The adhesive's proprietary -- it's strong but removeable, though it gets harder the longer it stays on. [Next he pulls out his own comm out of his pocket, and lifts the red protective casing enough that she can see the sensor stuck to the back.] It should fit underneath your comm's case if you have one, though it might depend on the brand you have.

[wisecracked]

Wow...that's kind of a long time.

[Kenzi picks up the baggies and turns it over before taking out the instructions. She glances at them before looking over at Peter.]

So how exactly does it let others know you've been ported out?

[incywincyhero]

When it detects the energy from the export, it sends us a signal. Then it's up to us to inform anyone who needs to know. Once we know for sure it works, the next step'll probably be making it easier to cut out the middlemen -- well, not cut us out entirely, 'cause we need the data, but so that people can make sure everyone they want to know is informed as soon as they disappear.

[A little shrug.] That part's doable right now if you're interested; it just takes a little coding.

[wisecracked]

Oh... I'll let you do it then. [She holds out her comm and the baggy to him.]

[incywincyhero]

[He blinks, and takes the items offered.] Well, all right then.

[It's a few moments' work to slap the sensor on and start tinkering with the comm's programming. At first Peter is quiet, but then he can't help but break the silence, not looking in Kenzi's direction:] So, uh, what you said on the network...

[wisecracked]

[She watches him work, at least until he brings up the conversation on the network. She looks away, rubbing her neck.]

Er...yeah. Suppose you want the truth?

[incywincyhero]

[He scrunches his nose.] I think I can guess, but I'll take it straight from the horse's mouth. Uh, no offense.

[wisecracked]

Haha, none taken. [She shifts a bit on the couch.]

I'm from one of the worlds where you, and a lot of people here, exist in the form of comic books. And movies and television shows if the series is popular enough.