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saveourearth2018-08-14 02:52 am
spaghettimonster) wrote in saveourearth2018-08-14 02:52 am
Entry tags:
Dip your toe in the water [Network] - [Text]/[Video]
Date: July 30th, 2018
Characters: A string of numbers yet to be determined (Russell)
[Mid morning of July 30th, a transmission originating from a computer becomes available. As video, it's basically a live feed of an art program where he's copied a clip art image, then begun typing text on the screen. Text offers nearly the same experience, without the cursor moving around and with just a url/description of the image.]
It is
my birthday
( the birthday clip art image )
*fweet*
and the best gift of all
was given to me a few days ago
when i learned you're all real
and not symptoms of a break from sanity
cheers
[Russell's started looking and listening through the older messages, but this is the first time - other than his brief exchange with the Petting Zoo Alarm - that he's contributed anything to the network.]
Characters: A string of numbers yet to be determined (Russell)
[Mid morning of July 30th, a transmission originating from a computer becomes available. As video, it's basically a live feed of an art program where he's copied a clip art image, then begun typing text on the screen. Text offers nearly the same experience, without the cursor moving around and with just a url/description of the image.]
It is
my birthday
( the birthday clip art image )
*fweet*
and the best gift of all
was given to me a few days ago
when i learned you're all real
and not symptoms of a break from sanity
cheers
[Russell's started looking and listening through the older messages, but this is the first time - other than his brief exchange with the Petting Zoo Alarm - that he's contributed anything to the network.]
[Text]/[Action]
[A pause.]
But I tried anyway.
[As if it's not obvious enough who this is, if Russell goes to check on his flatmate, Walter waves.]
[Text]/[Action]
it's the thought that counts
the thought that i'm not mad is the biggest thought
[Checking on Walter is the second thing Russell does, just after responding to the message. There's a couple people he knows using this thing now, after all, and he doesn't know which is which.
He waves back, then goes off to grab something from the fridge.]
Re: [Text]/[Action]
Not mad, or not going mad, though?
[He kids; Walter could see an argument for both, is the thing.]
no subject
For now, the kitchen is full of disappointment and disrespect from his own past self. It turns out, they're completely out of his favorite soft drink; this is what he gets for guzzling them at approximately 02:00 without regard for future sugar cravings. Milk and digestives it is, then back to lounging in his own space.]
I am the zennest.
No anger here
if i'm otherwise going mad... it's okay so long as it's within reason
In artists they call it "eccentric" and admire us
no subject
Because fuck anxiety, that's why!]Also as long as it means we're not inexplicably in a cult.
[That's what 'within reason' means, Walter.]
And throw money at us, don't they?
[text] / [action]
or the lofty life of the starving artist
[As for the comment about cults... That one, he's not typing out for the mysterious multitude to read. Russell heads over by Walter's door and coughs for attention.]
Hey, uh, about cults... Don't people usually, I don't know. Get a sales pitch for those? Pamphlet, inspirational speech... something? All I got was a plea to come save some animals.
Re: [text] / [action]
He turns to look, getting halfway up out of his chair and making a wry expression.]
True - it's not like there's an oh-so-mysterious leader, here.
[Which is one of the few reasons
well, few that aren't related to the Sunk Cost Fallacythat Walter hasn't run for the hills from all this.]And the Network itself was kicked off after a bit of natural phenomena showed up unnaturally. Hard to imagine any 'religious' salesman bagging that sort of power.
[More like he Refuses to imagine it, but. Well.]
no subject
All this started somehow, but... suppose someone set it up, and the aurora set it off, as lightning, turning on Frankenstein's monster...
[A vivid image, but what would be the monster? Nobody's mucked around in his head.]
You can hardly call someone a leader if they don't show up or lead anything.
[...Unless, of course, it's someone who can organize them into action with little reason but panicked yelling about animals. Hrm. Worrying.
He decides not to share that thought with Walter just yet.]
[Action]
What have they even built this Network on, though? It's been undetectable by any sort of software I've been using.
[And he has a fair amount of tricks available, to say the least.]
Far too cross-compatible with non-tech mediums, anyway.
[Walter quietly flexes the fingers on his left hand.]
And as for leaders...
[He trails off, sighing.]
[Action]
[He had just wanted some food, not an existential crisis - or a call for animal handling.]
I bet if we ask my mum, she'll have an answer for us.
[His voice goes very dry, sarcastic as hell.]
She'll go on about indigo children, and say it's just our psychic gifts, finally waking up.
Re: [Action]
[Given how the Network works, it's probably not broken now, but it's still a cause for concern.]
And let's not, and say we did.
no subject
[He does not want to listen to her triumph about it. Even if she's mostly moved on from that sort of theory, and switched to avid watching of a certain major astrologer for special life insights... She'd be so smug, but mostly so happy, and he'd feel a real tosser to argue with it.]
I just... I don't know, I zoned out, and then it was yelling at me.
no subject
... Might have to do another check on just what can receive input from the Network. I thought the rocks were as weird as it could get, but maybe not.
no subject
[Russell leans against the doorway until his face is being dented by the wood.]
Do... the rocks... talk?
[Every twist in this whole thing, he feels a fresh wave of regret for acknowledging it. He could have just pretended it was nothing. He had that chance and he threw it away.]
So, no disembodied mouths, is what he's trying to say. XD
Nnnno. No animated rocks - you group them in a way that corresponds with your Number, and then the ground around them can display the text.
It's a bit like a radio, honestly, only more... actually earth-y.
[Being able to think fast does not mean he has better ways to describe things.]
that would be more obviously horrifying, so it's mostly a relief that's not the case
I'll... I'll try that, sometime.
[Maybe. For now, he pushes off the wall and gives a little wave as he starts back to his room.]
Computer seems simpler! But I'll try that if... I get lost in the woods.
no subject
Though, I'm... not really in any rush to test out that scenario.
[Oh no, more awkward. .-. Time for a subject change!]
We're not missing anything in the kitchen, are we? I can add it to the list.
no subject
Probably for the best]
Yeah... Hold on, I'll look.
[The computer, and checking if he's gotten any more birthday congratulations, can wait a minute. Russell changes course for the kitchen, and opens the fridge.]
Maybe... milk, and eggs? There's three in here. And, oh, I need more soft drinks.
no subject
... Or that it isn't a trap either, mind.
Walter walks over to the doorway, putting a hand on it.]
Noted!
Gods, you go through those fast.
no subject
Not most people. There just might be some exceptions.
Russell leans back a little, poking his head out of the fridge, and squints suspiciously in Walter's direction for a minute.]
Hmm? Couldn't make that out. Were you adding something else to the list?
no subject