video;

[withermarked]

Type: Video
Sender ID: WitherMarked (Faulkner)
To: Public
Subject: Introductions, and a question
Warnings: trans healthcare/unaffordability thereof, mild references to mood swings/mental health issues, reference to history in a cult

[The video takes a moment to come into focus, before you see a young man wearing an awkward, lopsided grin as he seems satisfied with figuring out what buttons to push. He has soft features, freckles, and messy blond curls in a cut that looks suspiciously like a grown-out mullet. He looks friendly, if more than a bit stressed and sleep deprived. When he speaks he has a notable rural-American accent.]

Hey, folks. Name's Faulkner, and I'm new around here. As you can... probably see, I'm still getting used to all this electronic message business.

You sure we don't have to offer up a hosanna to the Wirebitten Child to keep using this stuff?

[There seems to be some sheepish humour there, leaning into how much he's not from around here, but some genuine confusion, too. He doesn't really believe people don't owe some kind of a higher power for their fancy tech.]

Anyway, I've got a question. Tried askin' uh, a friend here, but they didn't know. Does anyone here take... testosterone? Do you have that kind of treatment, here?

[More genuine uncertainty: there's both more and less technology than he's used to. Beyond being a little awkward, he doesn't seem concerned one way or the other about outing himself.]

It's weird enough getting used to a brand new world—could do without missin' my shot, too.

[A pause. He really would rather avoid that—his mood is shaky enough as it is.]

At least... if I'm gonna be able to afford it? I don't know how these things work, here. Haven't exactly gotten signed up for insurance.

[And he doesn't exactly have the Parish of Tide and Flesh here, with 'uncle' Mason and all his less than above-board deals with local doctors and pharmacies, taking care of the kids who joined the Trawler-man's faith in a way said kids couldn't find anywhere else.]

Comments

Video | un:refantasma

[refantasma]

You can buy testosterone?

[Nico is only vaguely aware of what testosterone is due to his limited schooling. Thanks to amnesia and not completing fourth grade. But he knows it's a hormone associated with male puberty.]

[withermarked]

Yeah. Well... where I'm from you can, at any rate. You can buy it from doctors and pharmacies, the good ones at least. It's easier in big cities, and it's not cheap.

[refantasma]

Why's it so expensive? Don't like, most men make it? Can't they like donate some?

[He looks thoughtful.]

I've only been here like two months, so I don't know if they sell it.

[withermarked]

[This gets a laugh, but not an unkind one.]

Wish it was that easy. Pretty sure they have to make mine out of plants or somethin'.

[Science is not his strong point. He gets a little more serious for the next comment, either way.]

But... it costs that much cause they can charge that much. Anything people need, they can charge whatever they damn well please.

[He gives a tired shrug. There's a lot of reasons he wanted to wipe the rich bastards who control that sort of thing off the face of the earth.]

text UN: 🖕nunya🖕

[telepathicignorance]

We're not friends, Dick.

(Obviously, this is the most important part of the post.)

[withermarked]

I was being polite. You really can't just use Faulkner?

[Because clearly that's the most important part of this conversation.]

[telepathicignorance]

You mean to tell me you named yourself that without intending to make that joke at every opportunity?

(Playing ignorant. They know he didn't.)

Besides, I already know multiple bird people.

(Making a joke about Faulkner now too. You will never escape.)

text | un: astudyinviolet

[astudyinviolet]

I have not heard of that ingredient. However, there are numerous apothecaries and magical healer who might be able to provide something comparable.

If it is easier to understand, there is a text function which you can liken to passing notes.

[withermarked]

[There's something a little funny to him about knowing something other people don't. It's not like he his education went past highschool, and even then he spent most of his time skipping class. Then again, he supposes it's truly not a relevant fact for a lot of people.]

It's the male hormone. Well, everyone has some, but the one they've got more of. I guess I could try that, if it's safe.

[He's... wary of transformations that involve magic, because he's used to those being horrific.]

We've got this kind where I'm from, too. The text kind. Just never really took off where I grew up. The Saint Electric prefers radio, and she's the one we mostly rely on for everything out there.

[astudyinviolet]

[ What exactly is a "hormone"? Is this yet another thing that hasn't been discovered yet? Or perhaps it is called something else? At least he knows what a radio is; someone had explained that technology roughly around the time he first arrived a year ago. ]

Ah, so your world is further ahead in technological development even if you do not use it on a regular basis.

I've had some of my injuries healed by magical means with no ill effects. While it is strange at first, healing magic does have a certain convenience to it.

Video; un:ohwowzers

[ohwowzers]

[Oh hey, someone with an accent not unlike his own. But there’s a few things in this message that Kieran’s kind of confused by.]

Uh… is that some kinda medicine?

[withermarked]

[There's something nice about that, if not about the rest. The amount of people who don't seem to know what he's talking about is not especially reassuring.]

Yeah, it's... it's some kinda medicine. For trans folks?

[Which isn't something he sees a problem explaining, but he's not entirely sure if he has to yet.]

[ohwowzers]

Trans folks?

[Kieran has to tilt his head at that, some clear confusion on his face.]

I didn't know different folks had to take medicine. I thought they usually gotta take medicine when you're sick're somethin'.

[Oh, now he's wondering if he's being insensitive. He tugs at the loose strand of hair in front of his face as a nervous tick.]

Uh, not that it's bad! I, uh... I guess if ya needed, some'a the potion shops could help ya? Or maybe I could see if the Professor could help...

un: headhunt // text

[headhunt]

i'm not sure what it is that you're taking, but you'd best go to talk to the old harpy at under her wing.

you can find her in eltrut. she's got plenty of supplies and potions. knowledgeable too but strict. so pay attention to what she tells you. she's the kind of person you wanna be on good terms with.

but she'll have what you need or will help you get it.

[withermarked]

[And at this point he's just happy for a specific lead, even if it's magic!]

Thank you, guess I'll try my luck there.

[A pause, before he sends a second message. 'Harpy' conjures half-remembered local legends about the Dusk-Mother's Angels... but they can't mean something that monstrous. Right?]

Do you mean an old woman or... a bird woman?

[headhunt]

don't worry, she'll take care of you. you'd be surprised at what she's capable of.

hm! uh!
both probably.
she looks older.

voice; un: desirestruth

[desirestruth]

[We will have mercy and give you someone who actually knows healing magic.]

Testosterone...this is a medical treatment? Tell me the purpose of it and I may be able to help.

[She will address the...other stuff about a hosanna later or maybe never!]

[withermarked]

It's... the hormone that makes you more masculine? It's a medical treatment for some people, if you don't make enough of your own.

[He's not sure if he'll have to spell it out more than that.]

[desirestruth]

Ah.

[Alright, now she's on the same page. She's quiet for a long moment, thinking about this.]

I will have to do some looking. I don't know if the plants that are good for this grow here naturally. [A pause.] Are you allergic to mushrooms or otherwise object to eating mana-rich fungus?

text / un; enterprise

[lucky_e]

Unfortunately, that might be well beyond what most people here is able to provide you.

Do you need it for something important? Or for a personal reason? There might be a way to at least replicate the effects somehow here.

Re: text / un; enterprise

[withermarked]

Important and personal?

But I might have to go with 'replicate the effects' at this rate.

[lucky_e]

Of course.

It might not be a bad idea to try your hand at this world's magic, then. I don't know much about it myself, but it might be helpful.

video; un: pinksidekicking

[pinksidekicking]

[ Nimona plops down in front of her device to look at the person on the other side. ]

Don't need to take testosterone, but I know some of the people on the network are kinda behind the times when it comes to a lot of stuff. Don't think you really need insurance around here for any kind of medical treatment, either.

I've got a friend, though. He's got a medical bot that maybe can help you out. Talk to Hiro. Hiro and his bot honestly come from the most advanced world I know about so far - other than my own.

Re: video; un: pinksidekicking

[withermarked]

[This gets a snort. He's been doing his best not to judge anyone for being, well, behind the times, but it's stilly at least a little funny to have someone else acknowledge it.]

They do seem a little... confused.

[Even if they've been nicer than he necessarily expected.]

But I'll try giving him a shout. Seems like I've got a few options... but a lot of them aren't exactly what I'm thinkin' of.

[pinksidekicking]

[ Most people are willing to accept it, and some even try to catch up - at least in terms of technology. ]

They're pretty good at trying to understand, though.

[ This place is filled with nice people, trust her on that. ]

You taking testosterone for medical reasons, or because that's who you are?