remus lupin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
skygazing) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
nebulochaotic2020-09-11 07:55 pm
skygazing) wrote in nebulochaotic2020-09-11 07:55 pm
arrival - catchall
WHO: Remus Lupin & OTA
WHAT: arrival and shenanigans
WHEN: 9/11-9/13
WHERE: Eglaf Govt Housing, around town
WARNINGS: occasional werewolf talk? too much love of books and chocolate?
apartment 103;
When Remus wakes, he can't quite tell what time it is. The sun filters in through the windows and he can't help but feel something akin to apparition or travel sickness. He's used to waking up on the English countryside, either tucked into some woods or using a barren, old cottage for cover. To find he wakes up in the beginnings of evening, in a warm bed, in a room with four walls? It's disorienting.
Even more so when he remembers that it's Sirius Black who's housing him until he's well enough to return to his own flat, that this is anywhere but home, and that he has dozens and dozens of questions. But he feels a little more human now than he did upon arrival, and he'll have to apologize to Sirius and his flatmates alike for tracking dirt and blood on the way in. He crawls from the bed and starts out into the sitting room. He remembers a coffee pot from earlier, and decides to try his hand at working the obviously more modern muggle machine.
He feels a bit rude, really, making a coffee with someone else's supplies, but he needs something to cut through the fog. He'd much prefer tea, really, but anything warm and comforting just now will do. He struggles with the over-sized, baggy jumper that Sirius gave him earlier (that apparently belongs to someone named Klaus?), the sleeves loose and falling over his scarred fingers as he spoons out grounds into a filter. "Oh these bothersome sleeves..."
around Eglaf, weekend;
Remus isn't a man to stay idle too long, particularly in unknown places. For all his reservations and careful mentality, he's already taken to the sidewalks of Eglaf. Word on the streets is the Fall Festival has started, and although Remus is quite curious, he's taking advantage of the fact that mainstream shops are a little quieter while the locals occupy themselves with the festivities.
He makes his way to a local, used book shop where one might find him perusing the shelves or getting lost in something obscure he's plucked from the shelves. If not that, then one might spot him tucked away in a corner of Soul Full Cup with an old, dog-eared copy of H. G. Wells's The Time Machine, while enjoying a warm cuppa.
Otherwise, you might find him en route or horribly lost between point A and point B, though he doesn't seem to mind that he's lost.
network - video;
[ The video all but fumbles on, operated by someone who is clearly unused to the technology, though he seems to grasp the overall concept as the picture focuses in on his face after a few quick seconds. In fact, it's almost as if the camera itself happens to hover in place, Remus looking quietly pleased. (He looks utterly exhausted, too, but that's his general state of being these days). ]
I think this thing's on. Terribly sorry, I'm afraid we don't have devices like this back home. I don't believe the Muggles have discovered this technology yet, but I'm keen to learn more.
[ And it's honest; the more he can learn about his surroundings the better. He can't help that, despite everything, he's still in the mindset leftover from magical, political unrest. ]
I understand some of you have been here for some time, and I hope to pick everyone's brains in time. I thought I might as well start local before I begin to try and tackle the mess that is federal politics. [ He grins, nothing short of cheeky. ]
WHAT: arrival and shenanigans
WHEN: 9/11-9/13
WHERE: Eglaf Govt Housing, around town
WARNINGS: occasional werewolf talk? too much love of books and chocolate?
apartment 103;
When Remus wakes, he can't quite tell what time it is. The sun filters in through the windows and he can't help but feel something akin to apparition or travel sickness. He's used to waking up on the English countryside, either tucked into some woods or using a barren, old cottage for cover. To find he wakes up in the beginnings of evening, in a warm bed, in a room with four walls? It's disorienting.
Even more so when he remembers that it's Sirius Black who's housing him until he's well enough to return to his own flat, that this is anywhere but home, and that he has dozens and dozens of questions. But he feels a little more human now than he did upon arrival, and he'll have to apologize to Sirius and his flatmates alike for tracking dirt and blood on the way in. He crawls from the bed and starts out into the sitting room. He remembers a coffee pot from earlier, and decides to try his hand at working the obviously more modern muggle machine.
He feels a bit rude, really, making a coffee with someone else's supplies, but he needs something to cut through the fog. He'd much prefer tea, really, but anything warm and comforting just now will do. He struggles with the over-sized, baggy jumper that Sirius gave him earlier (that apparently belongs to someone named Klaus?), the sleeves loose and falling over his scarred fingers as he spoons out grounds into a filter. "Oh these bothersome sleeves..."
around Eglaf, weekend;
Remus isn't a man to stay idle too long, particularly in unknown places. For all his reservations and careful mentality, he's already taken to the sidewalks of Eglaf. Word on the streets is the Fall Festival has started, and although Remus is quite curious, he's taking advantage of the fact that mainstream shops are a little quieter while the locals occupy themselves with the festivities.
He makes his way to a local, used book shop where one might find him perusing the shelves or getting lost in something obscure he's plucked from the shelves. If not that, then one might spot him tucked away in a corner of Soul Full Cup with an old, dog-eared copy of H. G. Wells's The Time Machine, while enjoying a warm cuppa.
Otherwise, you might find him en route or horribly lost between point A and point B, though he doesn't seem to mind that he's lost.
network - video;
[ The video all but fumbles on, operated by someone who is clearly unused to the technology, though he seems to grasp the overall concept as the picture focuses in on his face after a few quick seconds. In fact, it's almost as if the camera itself happens to hover in place, Remus looking quietly pleased. (He looks utterly exhausted, too, but that's his general state of being these days). ]
I think this thing's on. Terribly sorry, I'm afraid we don't have devices like this back home. I don't believe the Muggles have discovered this technology yet, but I'm keen to learn more.
[ And it's honest; the more he can learn about his surroundings the better. He can't help that, despite everything, he's still in the mindset leftover from magical, political unrest. ]
I understand some of you have been here for some time, and I hope to pick everyone's brains in time. I thought I might as well start local before I begin to try and tackle the mess that is federal politics. [ He grins, nothing short of cheeky. ]
Apartment 103
He's well aware he's responsible for a few odd stains of his own whenever he takes in stray or injured animals, so he really can't begrudge his roommates the occasional - is that blood?
Radar just sighs and goes to get the cleaning supplies. It's kind of like pitching in as an orderly at the 4077th, except that nowhere on base had been carpeted. Still, he knows what he's doing so he makes fairly short work of cleaning up the mess, the sound of movement from Sirius' room reaching his ears as he's putting things away again.
He debates with himself for a moment whether to give Sirius' guest some privacy in the kitchen, until eventually deciding he'd rather offer a hand if it was needed, and make himself scarce if it wasn't, so he moves back through to the kitchen area and clears his throat to get the other man's attention.
"Can I help at all?"
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"Ah, apologies. I didn't quite hear you," he'd been far too focused on making a coffee, after all. "I hope it's alright." He gestures to the machine, the carefully divided coffee grounds. "I suppose I should have asked first but if I'm honest I didn't realize anyone was here."
His ears burn pink but his smile is broad, warm, and reaches right to his eyes. "Remus. I'm Remus."
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"That's okay," Radar grins a little, looking sheepish himself "I can be real quiet sometimes, I used to startle people all the time back home, and not just 'cause I showed up 'fore they even asked for me. I didn't mean to give you a fright."
He waves away the concern over the coffee maker, shaking his head "Go right ahead, you're a guest here, you're more than welcome."
The introduction earns a bright smile "Oh! Remus! Sirius has told me about you! It's real nice to meet you. He must be very glad you're here! I'm Radar, you need anything at all just holler, okay? I'm happy to help."
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Remus feels his ears burn and he’s grateful that it might just look the part of surprise. He smiles warmly at the other man. “It’s appreciated. I could probably use a little assistance, admittedly. I know the general function of this machine but I think it operates differently than the ones I’m used to.”
The coffeemaker doesn’t seem all that difficult, really, but he suddenly can’t help but feel a little like an intruder in the flat, even if he is a guest. “How long have you been here, Radar?”
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"Uh huh," Radar nods, moving over to the coffee machine and taking over without really thinking about it, moving on autopilot as he set it going. "He had a lot of nice things to say about you." Remus is clearly someone that Sirius admires, and Radar is happy for his friend that Remus is here. He'd told Sirius he deserved to be happy and he meant it - a friendly face from home seems like the perfect way to ensure that, in his opinion.
"A little over a month," he explains "I promise this place gets easier quicker than you'd expect. It's real different here to home for me, and Sirius tells me it's pretty different where you're from too, so if you ever wanna talk to someone who gets it... well, I guess you got Sirius for that, but I'm happy to help too."
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"I'm glad it hear it gets easier. It's not so different, yet, but Sirius and I had different circumstances I suppose. But I'm certain there will be plenty of learning opportunities." He leans against the counter and wraps his arms around himself, fidgeting with the sleeves. It's very much Klaus's jumper, but it's warm and Sirius said he wouldn't mine.
"Where's home? If I may ask."
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book shop;
Instead, Hermione's made her way to Soul Full for a cuppa to go and then headed to her favourite little bookstore a few blocks down the street. It's always so quiet in there and it's a small little shop so while some might feel a bit claustrophobic of some of the sections, she loves how cozy it feels to her.
Today is the first time she's come in and there's anyone else in the store at the same time. She doesn't take much notice of him at first, only sees the movements in the corners of her vision an aisle away, but she nearly walks straight into him when she's leafing through a copy of A Handbook of Saxon Sorcery & Magic: Wyrdworking, Rune Craft, Divination, and Wortcunning she's found while looking for some way to try to do some research about how she and Sirius might take on this project of potentially trying to recreate the Pensieve in a world that doesn't have the means to make one.
Her tea sloshes in the cup, but thankfully, the lid is still tight and some dribbles out the top, but the worst is just the yelp of surprise that escapes her. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she gasps. Hermione snaps the book shut and offers a small smile. "I should've been watching where I was going."
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He's a copy of The Time Machine tucked under one arm, and a rather large, old hardcover on the history of Eglaf pressed open his palms when he all but collides with someone. He fumbles the book but, curiously, manages to catch it just before it his the ground, as though it subtly slowed for him on the descent.
"Ah, no, it was all my fault. I know better than to read and walk at the same time, but old habits die hard," he holds the history book to his chest. "You alright? Did you burn yourself?" Though he can't help but thinking what a lovely idea a takeaway tea might be on a day like this. But his eyes skim the title of her book, infinitely curious. "You might find a burn remedy in there if you're lucky."
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Shaking her head, Hermione holds up the to-go cup for him to see. "No, I'm all right. Thankfully, the lid is on tight." Then she realizes that perhaps he might have gotten burned. "Did I burn you?" she asks, eyes widening slightly with worry.
Having him call out the title of the book without actually bringing it up makes Hermione's face warm even more. "Oh, it's just...you know. Bit of light reading. It looked interesting," she says and it's not entirely a lie. She's not seen the title of the book he's holding, but she nods toward it anyway. "Find something good, then?"
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He laughs airily, free hand raising to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. New here and already making a bit of a bad impression, isn't he. He hadn't noticed her come into the shop, and when he spies the clock on the wall, he's more than a little embarrassed to realize he's been wandering the narrow aisles for the better part of an hour.
"Ah, I'm new here. Thought I'd try and do some reading up," he turns the book so she can see the cover, a faded, old photograph of Eglaf on the front. "And some fiction for when the historical bits get a little dry." He negotiates the books in his arms and reveals a creased cover of The Time Machine. "But yours looks much more interesting than mine.' He tilts his head a little, sheepish. "I'd skip the Divination bits, if I were you."
It all but comes out of his mouth before he can think and his ears burn, embarrassed.
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He says that he's new here and she wonders whether that means new in town or new through the portal because he's a Displaced Super like she is, but Hermione doesn't ask. It'll come out on its own eventually. Her eyes move to the cover of the book he's holding and she nods. "Oh, brilliant! I haven't gotten around to that one, yet, but it's one of the ones on my mental To-Read list," she announces. Though, is it a bit stupid to have one of those mental lists? If not, is it a bit stupid to admit to it?
At his comment about Divination, a surprised laugh escapes her. "Yeah, it's a bit rubbish where I come from, but I'm curious how similar or different it might be here," she confesses, grinning. "You're not a big fan of it either, then, I take it?" she asks, looking amused.
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thank you inbox for not giving me this notif
ugh worst. no worries.
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video;
If it makes you feel any better, they do have this tech back home and I still needed a learning curve.
[ He was loath to give up his flip phone, okay? He doesn't need a smartphone. ]
I think my sister's been here the longest, but I've been here just shy of a year at this point. I can try to answer questions. I'm Derek. Welcome to our little slice of crazy.
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[ But that's what he loves about the Muggle world. (It recalls days spent with his mother in her office, when she'd whirl around making copies, phone calls, faxes, and much, much more. So very practical, Muggle inventions). ]
I'm Remus, it's a pleasure to meet you, Derek. [ A small smile. ] A year? I suppose that answers one question. I admit I wasn't sure if arriving in a place like this was a new development or not.
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[ Derek gives him a lopsided smile and shrugs. Thirty going on eighty over here, don't mind him. ]
Likewise, Remus. It's been kind of picking up more lately. It comes in waves, I guess. For a while, it was kind of quiet and people were more likely to be sent away than brought in, but it's been pretty active bringing people in as of late. I don't know if that's upsetting or reassuring.
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[ Or not detailed enough for his likes, anyway, but he files this information into the back of his mind. ] More in than out? So people come and go occasionally? Is it by choice?
[ Though he's not sure he'd go back home, not right now, not to pick up where he left off. ]
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[ Derek considers for a moment and then shrugs, nodding. ]
Yeah, usually it's the other way around, but lately, it's been more in than out. And no, for now, it's not by choice. The portal giveth and the portal taketh away, I guess.
[ If he sounds bitter about that, it's because he very much is. ]
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apartment 103;
Well. Sirius has told Klaus things with the assumption that Remus would never show up here, so Klaus needs to keep his pretty little mouth shut.
Remus sleeps long enough for Sirius to have no choice but to sit down, and he even attempts to watch television on a low volume to distract himself. When that doesn't work he decides to go for a walk, locking the door behind him before making his way to the nearest grocery to stock up on whatever they may be running out of and, yes, to get better chocolate.
The fresh air, thankfully, manages to dull his nerves enough to the point where he isn't a trembling mess, and the walk back to the apartment is with more anticipation than fear. His world may be turning upside down but it is Remus, and in the end, he can't help but feel like this is a good thing. There's a lot to get through, a lot of time to make up for and a lot of damage to try and fix, but he's optimistic more than anything else. Even if he can't have the same friendship they shared before everything happened, having anything at all is better than the nothing he was expecting.
When he returns he's surprised to find Remus fussing around in the kitchen, and he smiles at the sight of him; cleaner, less bruising, and closer to the image in his memory than the mess that showed up at the door of the apartment complex. "Finally awake! Good. I hope you're hungry." He places the bags he holds on the counter before moving to where Remus stands, and Sirius places a hand on his shoulder before taking over the coffee machine himself. "I've got it Moony. It took me a while to figure this bloody thing out when I first got here too." He works with the machine naturally now, a small accomplishment to show how far he's come since he's arrived, and one of the little things that a very secret part of him allows himself to feel proud of.
"There's better chocolate in one of those bags," he nods a head over his shoulder at the groceries. It's not a chocolate bar or two; one of the bags is literally filled with a variety of chocolate. "Pancakes good for you?" He asks casually as he finishes filling the coffee machine with water, and he turns it on to let it brew. "It's one of the only things I know how to make so far so your answer is yes, just in case you weren't sure." He moves to the bags to start putting things away or leaving them out to use, and when he looks at Remus it's with a polite side glance. "Feeling a bit better, I hope?"
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Before his friend can mention the chocolate, he's discovered it, a quiet sort of smile on his face. "Pancakes would be lovely, yes," he chuckles, and his stomach all but growls noisily in response. Real food? It's been a long while since he's had a proper ho meal. He carefully removes the chocolate before he stars unpacking other items, setting things on the counters for Sirius to put away appropriately.
It's so incredibly easy to drop back into what life was like before, even if none of it feels the same.
"Better, yes. I didn't mean to sleep past half one, but here we are. I suppose I needed it." He nods slightly, finding he plucks up a chocolate bar out of nervous habit, examining its label that, delightfully, has nutrition label from the UK. "How'd you manage this?" He holds up a hazelnut Dairy Milk bar, a curious excitement behind his eyes. "I'll repay you as soon as I can, of course."
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He doesn't argue anymore. There was only one time that Sirius refused to allow Remus to pay him back for something small and inconsequential, and although he won in the end, he didn't feel good about it. Sirius can't relate to the feeling of not having enough money, he's always been a wealthy man. Even when his parents kicked him out his dead uncle left him a literal fortune in his will; but it's not about money, Sirus realized, it's about the feeling of being indebted. It made Remus uncomfortable, and that was never Sirius's intention, so from that point on he never argued unless it was for something genuinely important. He also never asked. If he got paid back he'd take it, and if he didn't he'd consider it a silent victory.
"Good. I mean good that you want them, I'm not suggesting that they're going to taste good." Wealthy boys don't usually have to cook their own food, and when he moved in with the Potters, Mrs. Potter made enough to sustain a small army every night. So cooking, it's been a bit of a... new adventure.
Sirius is moving from the refrigerator to the coffee machine, drawing little runes in the air as he goes and releasing them. The kitchen comes alive, bowls and pans moving into place and eggs cracking themselves while whisks stir. "You'd be surprised at how much of the candy is imported in America," he responds, referencing back to Remus's question. "They had it at the grocery, right there on the shelves." He gives Moony a playful glance. "So you'll be all set, I think. And be careful about your judgement of American chocolate, those Kisses are Klaus's guilty pleasure and that's a good way to get off on the wrong foot."
Sirius is dreading it. Knowing that Klaus and Remus are going to inevitably meet at some point has him internally panicking once more. It's not as if he can stop it from happening, he just knows that no matter how well it goes, he's going to be the loser in the end. If they don't get along he'll be heartbroken, but if they do he's suddenly and painfully outnumbered; both Klaus and Remus are the type to fret over him, whether they'd ever admit it or not. Merlin, what if Klaus ends up thinking that Remus is attractive-
"Coffee." His tone is briefly pitched half an octave too high as he grabs two mugs from the cupboard, setting out the sugar and milk and filling his own, leaving the other for Remus to take care of himself. His attention turns to the now made pancake batter for a distraction, and he pours some in the middle of a hot skillet. "How long have you been awake?" He manages to find the casual tone he's searching for once again, and he stands over the stove to stare at the batter, as if willing it to cook faster. "Have you run into Klaus or Radar yet?"
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He wanders in at the announcement of coffee and starts making his own, pouring in ample milk and adding sugar, enjoying his coffees sweet when he can. There are very few things he'll allow himself to indulge in and sweets happens to be one. "I didn't say I hated the chocolate. If it makes Klaus happy then, by all means. Chocolate of any kind is better than any pepper-up potion if I do say so myself."
He eyes the skillet and smiles a little, reaching for the spatula when Sirius seems distracted pouring out the batter. Carefully, he peels up the edges of the pancakes to check the edge before cheekily upping the heat on the hob. "I've not been up long. Admittedly I had to remember where I was at first." He nudges Sirius with his shoulder, a polite scooting out of the way as he dips a finger into the batter to taste it. He hums, pleased.
"I met Radar earlier, when I was up for a short stint. He seems lovely, though I feel a bit like an intruder here." He nudges his shoulder into Sirius's, the first willing contact he's made with the man since his arrival, if only to nudge him out of the way of the skillet, so he can flip the pancake, the batter hissing on the pan. "I love that sound," he admits under his breath, looking altogether at ease for the first time since his arrival. "Who taught you to make pancakes? The batter is delicious on its own. Though you should really try it without magic sometime. You over-whipped it a touch."
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The kitchen is already starting to smell delightful, but when Remus tells him that he over-whipped the batter Sirius lightly hits him on the arm. "The batter is fine, you absolute tosser. I learned how to use a coffee machine, is nothing ever enough for you? I'll use magic in the kitchen as I please." Speaking of the coffee, Sirius needs more sugar, and he lifts his hand to summon it over slowly, maintaining eye contact with Remus the whole time. He still maintains it as he puts more into his mug, and yet still when he summons the spoon to stir. When he sips, it's obnoxiously loud. "Delicious."
The fretting has already begun, and Sirius can't help but smile into his coffee when he thinks it, but that part he keeps to himself. If he says something, Remus might actually stop. "I was able to heal your arm and a few other bruises I could find, some of them I sort of guessed on. You're practically swimming in that jumper, so it was hard to see." In reality, Sirius had attempted to heal literally every part of Remus through the thick clothing, but he supposes some places could have been missed. "If you're in pain at all let me know, I'll see what I can do. Or someone on the network may be able to help, I'm not certain of everyone's abilities here just yet." He briefly remembers the way Isaac was able to heal himself without concern, and it prompts a bit of annoyance, which he also keeps to himself. Unfair.
Truth be told, he's a little grateful that Remus is taking over; cooking is hard, why would something so fundamental be so hard? Seems dumb to him. He holds his mug between two hands, half peeking/half hovering over Remus's shoulder as he watches him work. "It's done." It's not, but he's hungry. "Take it off, it's done! Should we put more in next time? I feel like we should. Oh!" This time his eyes are wide with excitement when he turns his head to look at Remus directly. "Could we make one giant one? Would that work? Like... a cake but from a pan-" It hits him, and he snaps his fingers before pointing at the skillet like he caught it in a lie. "Figured it out. Got it. Pan. Cake. There it is."
He's fucking around, but if Sirius is the best at anything, it's fucking around. It makes this easier, this strangeness between them, but he can already feel it slipping away in favor of their combined desperation for it to not exist. He sips his coffee once more before letting his hovering head land, resting his chin on Remus's shoulder, and when he speaks it's without his pestering tone. "You said before you had questions. Are you ready to ask them yet?" It's not a leading question, and if Remus said no, Sirius would simply let it lie.
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video;
You did pretty good. Not bad for your first time.
I've only been here for a few weeks, so not terribly long. But, I'm the self-proclaimed tech guru around here, so let me know if you need any help. I'm Tony.
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[ He smiles a little, though makes a point to file Tony's name into the back of his mind. ]
I'm Remus, it's a pleasure. I have no doubt I'll be asking you dozens of questions. I'm familiar enough with some of the technology, even if what I know is horrifically outdated by this place's standards. We'd only just made it to 1981 when I left home.
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Nice to meet you, Remus. And sure, that's fine. That's a big gap between then and now, so I'm sure the culture shock is pretty massive. You'll get the hang of it, though.
[ He smiles. ] You settling in okay? Other than the tech piece.
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[ Like using Magic, for instance, to help angle the video better and whatnot. He smiles a little and rubs the back of his neck, feeling a little silly. Some of these people will know technology inside out, and he makes a note to learn from them. ]
Well as can be. It’s quite different from home, but I think the change of scenery might do me some good. How long have you been here?