28 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
14 Years
Male
"Slip"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Kit Mathis on Aug 24, 2020 17:22:06 GMT -4
Adjusting to life in Japan was a big problem facing the boy from Smalltown, USA. Perhaps the biggest adjustment for Kit involved their (over-?)reliance on technology. It was everywhere. All the students and staff at UA used it, everybody he'd seen out in the city used it, even the giant advertisements on the tall buildings used it. Kit couldn't escape technology no matter where he went. Not even his own dorm room! The first thing Kit bought when he arrived in Japan was a fancy smart phone. The Horizon store clerk said Pear was the best brand for technology, so the phone Kit got was supposed to be top-of-the-line. He was reluctant to buy one at first. Who was he going to call? Ma and Pa already said they weren't going to pay for international calling, so why bother? Kit quickly discovered smart phones are barely used for phone calls these days. Kind of counter
He could ask it anything and it had the answer! Not even Ma was that smart! There was a button called uTube that let him watch videos and shows for free. It had a built-in calculator. Heck, the other students even used the phones to send written messages to each other, kind of like the letters he wrote home. Kit still hadn't figured out how to do that yet. Despite how much he admired the device, he still hardly used it. Something about relying on technology just didn't sit right with him. It almost felt like the thing was rotting his brain at times. Anyway, to make a long story short: a few nights ago, Kit was watching some funny cat videos before bed when his screen just went blank. No warning. No apparent reason. Just blank. The button that was supposed to turn the phone back on again didn't work. Just like that, his smart phone was broken. Part of Kit was devastated, but the rest of him wasn't even surprised. Technology always let him down - without fail! It was only a matter of time before his Pear phone did the same. Still, as indifferent as he was, Kit knew he needed to fix his phone sooner or later. He'd spent too much money to let it go to waste. Over the next few days, he asked anybody he could about how to resolve his issue. Basically everybody pointed him in the direction of the Support Class. They're apparently the best of the best when it comes to technology. If they can't fix it, nobody can. Three days passed before Kit finally found the free time to fix his phone. Once classes had been dismissed for the day, Kit made his way through the halls of UA until he found himself outside the door of the Support Class. With a deep breath, Kit knocked on the door of the classroom and politely shouted, "Hello? Is anybody in there? I need your help fixing my telephone, please!" He brought the bricked smart phone along with the weird rubber-string-cube doohickey that came in the box. Maybe that was the key to fixing the phone, but Kit didn't want to break it any more than it already was. Then he patiently waited for some kind of response. |
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333 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
27 Years
Female
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Charlotte Fujioka on Aug 26, 2020 1:24:29 GMT -4
tech support THE REQUEST HAD BEEN AN ODD ONE-- one of the first years, a tiny redheaded kid who wanted desperately to sit upon the work-table had come in earlier that day, interrupting Charlotte’s time alone in the shop. The prawn had shepherded him off of the table, which he’d nonchalantly hopped onto to sit at eye-level with the young woman, and listened patiently as the kid regaled his battle at some carnival in the park. Apparently he’d taken some massive foam baton to the face as part of an elaborate joust, and now he wanted one of his own—but for combat!
The prawn had argued with him about how “they were only supposed to take requests for legitimate hero-gear, not replicas of toys from bounce-house games”. They’d volleyed back-and-forth for the better part of an hour, until the youth finally coerced the prawn to at least make a mock-up of the design. Okay, sure. She’d look into it. But it wouldn’t be as big as the foam jousting lances!
The kid had left about a half-hour ago. And the prawn was pouring over her notebook with pencil in-hand, squinting at the design before her. It looked to be no different than a baseball bat, to the untrained eye—but there were notes all over, along the thickest part of the bat, about high-density foam that could be used to strike someone in combat. Uuuggghhh.
There was a knock at the door of the workshop, and the girl lifted her gaze, squinting her eyes. No one knocked—what, with all the power-tools that often filled the air with their metallic squealing, it would be impossible to hear someone—usually people just let their ways in.
The gesture savored of either government operative (of which there was a handful) or new kid (of which there was a constant stream). And the uncertain call through the door confirmed this.
Had to be a new kid. Or at least, one that didn’t come by the workshop very often!
Reluctantly, the prawn called back, “Yes, come in! Door’s open!”
Phones were really Yojin’s expertise. Charlie was better at making devices and weapons, not repairs. But… she could give it her best shot.
When the door slid open, she would regard the fellow student with her alien, lavender eyes, rising from her seat. It was impossible to tell that Charlotte was a student, from attire alone—she’d changed out of her uniform, and into her “work” clothes, which entailed work-work jeans held-up by a belt and stained from various projects and greases, an alarmingly clean t-shirt, and her usual black surgical mask that concealed her mouthparts from view.
Since her clothes were ambiguous, and her stature so tall, the prawn introduced herself to the new arrival.
“Welcome to the workshop,” she said in her low, alto voice, “My name is Charlotte Fujioka, I’m a third-year support student. Please, have a seat.”
If they boy bowed, she would bow back—and if he extended a hand for a handshake, she would return it. Otherwise, she would take her seat once again.
“You’re having phone troubles?”
| ft. kit mathis quirk: d-rank durability, range, swimming; f-rank regeneration, eyesight, and dexterity ooc notes: the doctor is in!! |
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28 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
14 Years
Male
"Slip"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Kit Mathis on Aug 26, 2020 18:13:43 GMT -4
A voice chimed back at Kit's inquiry, so the teenager pushed the door open to reveal an elaborate workshop. It was unlike anything Kit had ever seen, a far cry from the power drill and wrench they used to fix the tractor back home. The lone student within the classroom was... a giant grasshopper person! Kit wasn't a big fan of insects, but he'd grown to respect them while he was helping out around the farm, especially the little jumping critters.
Before he got too distracted by Charlotte's insectoid appearance, Kit reminded himself not to be rude. He'd seen plenty of mutation Quirks in his time, especially since he'd arrived in Japan. At the end of the day, she was just another person like anybody else.
Kit cleared his throat and shook Charlotte's hand after her introduction, "I'm Kit Mathis, a first year. Nice to meet you, ma'am!" Seeing Charlotte's casual attire, Kit wondered if he should have changed out of his school uniform before making his way to the Support Class. It just didn't seem right for him to walk around the halls in anything but his uniform.
Moving on, Kit plopped down on a nearby chair as directed. When prompted about his broken device, Kit nodded and set it out in front of him, "Mmhmm, this darn thing just went and quit on me out of nowhere the other night. No matter what I do, I just can't get it to turn back on," He demonstrated by holding the power button for a few seconds. Like he expected, the screen remained blank, "I brought the leash doohickey that was in its box, but I don't know how much help that will be,"
Despite the circumstances, Kit was as upbeat as ever. A broken phone wasn't enough to put a damper on his mood! Once he finished his explanation of the problem, his curious eyes started wandering around the classroom. It was a big change from 1-B's homeroom, mostly because of all the tools that Kit couldn't even begin to comprehend. He had heard murmurs about what the Support Class did, and some of the teachers probably mentioned it at some point or another, but that information must've gone in one ear and out the other. Off topic or not, Kit had to ask for clarification, "What's the difference between the Support Course and the Hero Course? Y'all are still UA students, right?"
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333 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
27 Years
Female
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Charlotte Fujioka on Sept 1, 2020 23:43:51 GMT -4
tech support A SMILE PINCHED AT THE CORNERS of Charlottes’ eyes as the boy returned her handshake with a chipper introduction of his own and a “nice to meet you, ma’am!” Ha! Her, a ma’am? Wasn’t that for like… old people? The prawn knew better than to make untoward remarks towards new acquaintances, though. So, after a brief shake of the hand, she would reclaim her seat, but only after a brief, “Likewise.”
As Kit explained his situation, and the prawn inclined her head, craning to get a look at the device. Her antennae twitched uncertainly. Power issues? Black screen. Uuuggghhh. That meant it was probably an internal issue… could be an issue with the screen itself, or the battery. Her brow stitched apprehensively. She supposed she could crack the phone open to look for corrosion. They had the materials for that kind of repair…
Something Kit said gave her pause, however.
“Leash… doohickey?” she echoed, her face going slack, “Your phone has a leash?”
The prawn was giving the boy more credit—believing he was more technologically well-versed—than was due. She suspected that his phone really did have a leash. People had leashes for reptiles and rodents… so why not phones? It read as tangential, though. Very tangential. He must’ve been really proud of his phone-leash to bring it up.
“May I… see your phone leash, please?” the prawn asked politely, “That sounds… unusual. And your phone, please—I’d like to see that, too. I’ll take a look at it.”
Assuming she received the go-ahead, she’d slide the phone closer to her, popping the plastic back off with her fingertips. All the while, the boy made conversation with her regarding the Support Course.
“Yes, we’re still students,” Charlotte confirmed, freeing the battery from its receptacle in the back of the phone. Huh, no corrosion, no sign of burns. She inspected the back of the phone… lord, those were tiny screws. She’d need to go get the eyeglass-size screws to get into the actual component, “Support students focus on hero-related fields that aren’t… actual hero things. So… technology, fashion, reconnaissance and investigation… rescue… I guess real heroes could do rescue too, though.”
She was rambling a bit. Charlotte tapped a finger against her chitin, “What class are you in, Kit?”
Charlotte assumed first names were okay, since his name was… not even remotely Japanese.
| ft. kit mathis quirk: d-rank durability, range, swimming; f-rank regeneration, eyesight, and dexterity ooc notes: when two different brands of cluelessness collide. lol |
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28 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
14 Years
Male
"Slip"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Kit Mathis on Sept 2, 2020 17:20:17 GMT -4
Charlotte seemed just as perplexed by the leash as Kit, so he held up the so-called leash for her to see. It was thin rubber-coated wire with a box and two metal prongs at one end and a USB head at the other. Kit looked at it funny, then turned his attention towards the third-year, "It confused me, too, but I heard somebody ask how my phone was 'running' before it broke. I didn't know I was supposed to take it on walks, I hope I didn't hurt it!" The farm boy knew all about the importance of exercise, so the thought of potentially hurting his phone by neglecting it in that way was heartbreaking. This only led to more questions: Did phones have feelings? How could it even exercise? It was a flat piece of tech. The idea of setting his phone on the ground so it could walk still didn't make a lot of sense to Kit, but if it was supposed to run, maybe it grew legs somehow? If he hadn't let it get some exercise for months, would it have some kind of health issues? High blood pressure, heart disease, that kind of stuff? Did it have to tinkle? Internally Kit was freaking out, but he did his best to keep his composure in front of his new acquaintance.
Kit willingly handed over his phone and its "leash" when Charlotte asked for them. To anybody with a lick of technological sense... it was a power cord. Very obviously so. For the prawn-lady to say the leash was odd only made Kit more hopelessly confused. Maybe that meant phones were trained to stay near their owner. One of his friends back home had a very obedient dog who could be rallied back by the sound of his own name, so phones must have operated the same way! That made sense! Right?
Fortunately he had started a conversation unrelated to technology, for the sake of his own sanity. Charlotte explained that support students did things that could support the other heroes, as well as civilians. That explained a lot, actually. As Kit patiently waited for his phone repairs to be done, he responded to Charlotte's inquiry, "I'm in Class 1-B. I really like it, and I think I like it more now that I know we don't have to worry about any of the stuff y'all got in here. No offense," Kit breathed a sigh of relief, thankful he could avoid the nightmare of learning what all the equipment did. Villains and hurt people? He'd take that over technology troubleshooting any day (even though he's never really experienced either).
Kit wanted to know more, but he didn't want to bug the bug lady too much. Still, his pa always told him to ask questions, so he decided to press on. The teen rubbed his chin while he spouted out more questions that came to mind, "So do Support students make the gadgets we use in our training classes, like the robots? Oh! Or like the gizmos some of the teachers have in their costumes?"
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333 Posts
EP
EXP
Total
27 Years
Female
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Charlotte Fujioka on Oct 5, 2020 1:34:10 GMT -4
tech support CHARLIE WAS PREOCCUPIED ENOUGH WITH peeling the plastic back off of the phone, wedging her fingertips under the seam. The hard-shell clicked complacently, and Charlotte set it beside gently on the countertop. Having freed the plastic shell, she craned forward, peeling the battery out. No sign of corrosion. Uuuugggh, she’d probably need a screwdriver for this. One of the little eyeglass screwdrivers, most likely. She was treading into unfamiliar territory.
Charlotte glimpsed at Kit, noticing in her peripheral vision that he was holding the “leash” aloft. Charlotte looked at it, blinking slowly. Then realization… gradually… began to dawn-on her. That… that was a charging cable.
The prawn replaced the battery.
“Uuhhh… we’ll… try the leash, first,” Charlotte said simply, as the charging cable was relinquished. Always try the simplest solutions first.
She turned the phone over face-up, craning towards a power-strip in the middle of the table, which had both three-prong outlets and USB outlets alike. She plugged the cord in, then sat back into her seat, plugging the micro-USB end into the phone itself.
No sparks. That was a relief.
The prawn tilted the phone sideways, found the power button, held it down for a moment.
The start-up screen bloomed to life, glaringly brilliant, and the prawn blinked at the brilliance.
She set it down flat on the table, watching the start-up warily. The last thing she needed was for it to blow-up in her hands or something.
“None taken,” the prawn said wryly, her eyes pinching at the corners, “I wouldn’t want to do the heroes study coursework, either. We’re both where we want to be.”
The prawn smiled as she said this, shrugging her shoulders.
“Gadgets and gizmos and robots, yes,” the prawn insisted, bobbing her head, “And costumes… and weapons… anything you can think of that you might want for hero work, someone in Support Studies likely does it… And if they don’t know how to do it, they can figure it out.”
Charlotte redirected her attention to the screen. It was finishing start-up, and… icons were populating the home-screen. No damaged pixels or discoloration. No sparks or smoke. Seemed fine.
| ft. kit mathis quirk: d-rank durability, range, swimming; f-rank regeneration, eyesight, and dexterity |
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