001: Audio | un: Graywords

[heartlessswordsman]

[Unlike everyone who isn't an asocial loner, Zelgadis prefers to keep his face off the network. He doesn't even really want to address the network at all, but he's kind of reached a point where keeping to himself isn't really working out. Sooo this is him stepping outside his comfort bubble, good for him.

Well, kind of stepping out of it. He just goes ahead and skips a proper introduction completely in order to get down to business.]

You'll have to forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but the sort of technology that you have here doesn't exist where I'm from. To say that everything feels overwhelming is an understatement, but before I get too off track...

[There's a deep sigh, the sigh of a man who is just So Done with all the ridiculous curveballs that life keeps throwing at him.] This... microwave device, I believe is what it's called. It's not supposed to be smoking, right?

[Maybe he should have asked someone for technology tips before almost setting his hotel room on fire. Sorry about the smoke, hotel.]

Comments

Re: Video

[heartlessswordsman]

[You know those people who started to turn blue after ingesting too much silver? It's not that at all, just a fun science fact.]

Great, I figured that was probably the case.

[He sets his phone down to go stop the microwave, realizes that he has no idea how to do that, and just opens the door because he doesn't know how else to stop the thing inside from burning. Thankfully there's no fire, but there sure is a lot of smoke pouring into the room now. So that's cool. After coughing off screen for a moment, Zel finally comes back over to collect his phone.]

Okay, I should have asked sooner, but is there a way to stop it without opening it? Just for future reference.

Video

[scotch_egg]

There are buttons on the front. Can you read the language? [not said sarcastically, how the hell was he to know?]

[heartlessswordsman]

[It's all good, Zelgadis doesn't interpret it as sarcasm. There are all kinds of people here from all kinds of different worlds, sounds like a perfectly legitimate question to him.]

I can read it just fine, I just don't see anything that says "stop". It's mostly numbers, this one says defrost, ah... there's a button with an arrow, and one with an X.

[The X would be the stop button buuuut he wouldn't have known that. Also Zel doesn't realize that he's recording video right now, otherwise he would have just showed the guy what he's talking about.]

[scotch_egg]

The X is the stop. [more staring] Hardy.

[heartlessswordsman]

The X is the stop, good to know. Why can't it just say stop...

[He doesn't really expect an answer to that, he's just complaining. Anyway, this guy did help him out, so maybe Zel can try to at least be a little polite.]

Zelgadis. Thanks for the advice-- wait, can you see me right now?

[scotch_egg]

Probably to save on space. [a shrug. He's never questioned it]

Aye... I can. It's video. Did you not know?

[heartlessswordsman]

[Well Zel's questioning it. Or at least he would be if he wasn't completely distracted from the microwave thing by his phone right now. he huffs, glancing away in frustration for a brief moment before turning his attention back to the phone.]

No, I thought it was only sending my voice. It would seem that I need to learn more about this thing, too.

[scotch_egg]

It's a bloody pain in the arse is what it is. [a pause] I can show you around it if you like.

[heartlessswordsman]

That would be greatly appreciated. I've been trying to just figure it out for myself, but... well.

[he motions vaguely at all the smoke in his room,] So far technology and I aren't getting along too well.

[scotch_egg]

Right. There's a coffee shop nearby if you want to meet there. I'm not great with technology myself, but I can at least give you the basics.

[heartlessswordsman]

A coffee shop, hm? That doesn't sound bad. Sure, I'll meet you there. The basics are already a lot more than I know, so I'm sure to learn something either way.

[scotch_egg]

It's right down the street on the corner. Meet you there in... half an hour? [he's got a few things to do beforehand]

[heartlessswordsman]

Sounds good, that'll give me time to clean this mess up.

[Whatever he'd been microwaving probably exploded all over the inside. Fun times.]

[scotch_egg]

Fine.

[a bit of an awkward farewell, but he wasn't good at that either.

In either case he'll be at the cafe with a mug of steaming tea at his elbow, reading a book and looking annoyed at it, or maybe close to a breakdown. As he usually looked like death warmed over, it might be hard to tell]

[heartlessswordsman]

[It's all good, Zel isn't good at them either.

It doesn't take him too long to find the coffee shop, and he absolutely rolled in looking as shady as possible with his face masked and his hood pulled up. Once he spots Hardy waiting at a table, he quickly makes his way over to join him. ]

I apologize if I kept you waiting, I'm still learning my way around.

[scotch_egg]

[he doesn't blame him. The man looks just as blue in real life. He wouldn't think about it. He wouldn't stare either... But why rocks? Was it a skin condition? Or...?

Not his business.]

I didn't notice, I was reading this bullshit. [he gestures to the book. It's about potions of all things] I still can't believe it. Magic. Faeries. It's like the real world doesn't even exist anymore.

[heartlessswordsman]

[As long as this guy doesn't bring it up, Zel won't either, and he is perfectly fine with that.]

Ah, I'm afraid I can't relate. Magic is an everyday part of life where I'm from. Potions are common, as are curses and spells. Nothing follows the same rules here as it did back home though, it's been a bit troublesome.

[It's been a lot troublesome, but probably not as troublesome as it's been for someone completely unused to magic.]

[scotch_egg]

Aye, well you and everyone else. I'm the only one with the problem it seems like.

[it wouldn't be so bad if the nightmares didn't keep him up. At least they were more varied than usual but if he didn't get sleep soon he'd be facing a worse problem.

That was beside the point]

Let me see your phone and I'll show you what I know.

[heartlessswordsman]

And I'm sure it's an unpleasant problem to have. I'm still trying to learn this world's magic myself, but if there's any way that I can help you adjust, let me know.

[A favor for a favor, it only seems fair. Zelgadis fishes his phone out of his pocket and hands it over.]

So far I've figured out how to send written messages without messing that up, though that's about it.

[scotch_egg]

Wish I knew. It's so much to wrap my head around. But I can either whine or learn.

{a sigh]

It's pretty basic. Here... Talk only, text, video. You can sometimes tell when the video is active, but if these things are like the others, it could turn on accidentally. There are also functions, probably. Maps and things like that. I haven't really figured it all out myself.

[heartlessswordsman]

Have you tried any magic at all yet?

[If Zel knew what kind of magic Hardy had ended up with, he might be able to give him some advice. Maybe. Again, he still only kind of knows what he's doing.

But ah well, he scoots a little closer to take in everything he's being shown.]

Maps? How in the world would they fit maps onto something like this?

[He's used to your standard issue big fantasy scroll maps, so this sounds absolutely bonkers to him.]

[scotch_egg]

A little, but not much. I don't really know what to expect from it.

[he breathes a bit of a laugh]

Call it magic. [and who knew? Maybe it was. But he also didn't know how to explain it so it might as well be]

[heartlessswordsman]

That's fair. What sort of magic did you get landed with?

[Can't blame a guy for being cautious. Maybe if Zel had been a little more cautious, he wouldn't have destroyed his microwave.]

I... guess that's as good an explanation as any.

[I mean magic makes sense to Zel, so sure, fuck it. The phones are magic.]

[scotch_egg]

Animal. [he makes a face] It has its uses and...maybe I'll find a way to make some use of it.

[he rests his chin on his fist]

Between you and me I'm looking forward to ending this farce and going back to where I'm really needed.

[heartlessswordsman]

Animal, hm? I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with that one. Something to do with communicating with them?

[I mean being able to command a pack of angry badgers to do your bidding would actually be some pretty sweet magic, but anyway. Zel leans forward and crosses his arms on the table, nodding in agreement.]

I can't say how much I'm needed back home, but I would most certainly prefer being there over this nonsense. I'm not sure how much I believe any of this.