ONE | VIDEO.

[soldiarity]

[ The screen illuminates what is either a normal-sized man or a decently large teenage boy, his expression serious, brows knit low over his blue eyes. They are a bit shadowed in a way usually indicative of poor sleep, though he otherwise looks very healthy, if not a bit sun-ravaged if the red stripes of skin across his nose and forehead are any indication. ]

Hi.

[ He blinks, then lifts an arm to wave a little uncomfortably to the camera. He's very clearly unused to this kind of thing, and has to keep redirecting himself to look at the place where the camera is. ]

Listen, sorry if I ask any stupid questions, I'm still working this thing out. My name's Reiner, I know a bunch of you already, I think -- if I have it right about how this works. I still need more practice. [ Which draws out a sheepish but affable grin from him briefly, and an accompanying hand gesture that indicates that's part of what he's doing right now. ] So, I've been sort of curious about... ah. Motivation, I guess is what you'd call it. What's inspiring you? Everyone has something, like a person or a goal. What do you do, if it's not here?

You don't have to say it if it's personal or anything, I'm just wondering. It seems like it'd be harder.

[ He pauses, as if trying to remember if there was anything else -- then he snaps his fingers. ]

Oh yeah, one more thing. If a guy like this shows up-- [ He holds a hastily done drawing up. ] And if anyone runs into him before I do, can you make sure he doesn't dehydrate and pass out like an idiot?

Thanks. I'm done now.

Comments

[soldiarity]

Nice to meet you. [ He smirks in a friendly way, nodding his head. ] You're right, we don't have this kind of thing where I'm from. A couple people have shown me some of the basics, though -- I think I'm starting to get it.

[hackitude]

Ugh, I can't even imagine living in a world without technology. That must suck.

Anyway, let me know if you ever need any help. I'm good with computers.

[soldiarity]

It sucks if you know what you're missing, I guess. If you don't you're just preoccupied enough with everything else that's going on.

[ But what a long story that would be. His expression briefly grows tense, but shortly thereafter he manages a smile. ]

Thanks. I've used one a couple of times at school, but everyone else has been using computers all their lives. I feel like a monkey or something, next to that.

[hackitude]

Guess so. Never really thought of it that way...

Wow-- yeah. That must be tough. They use computers for everything in school these days. I imagine for someone who can't touch-type it must be quicker to hand-write an essay than type it...

[soldiarity]

[ He smirks sheepishly, nodding his head. ]

Kind of a steep learning curve, yeah. I'm getting it, sort of, but I could write it faster on paper. [ He pauses, then adds more brightly: ] I only have another month of it before we get a break. That should be long enough to get the hang of it, right?

ahhh sorry i took so long to reply! busy weekend.

[hackitude]

A month is totally doable! I mean, for a teenager. It's harder for adults to learn this stuff, I've found.

Try to put a piece of paper over your hands when you type, so you can't look at them. That's how you learn to touch-type.

no worries at all!! LIKEWISE THOUGH whoops

[soldiarity]

Really? No way -- that's a relief. I'm a pretty fast learner, but I'm not super smart with this kind of technical stuff.

You could really be a teacher, this advice is already more helpful than anything they've said in class. They assume we know all this stuff already.

\o/

[hackitude]

Thanks but-- nooooo way. I had enough of school when I was in it. Trust me, I could not get out of there fast enough.

[soldiarity]

[ He laughs once. ]

I don't really blame you, I probably wouldn't be here if I didn't have to be. I guess it's interesting, but I'm not learning anything all that important.

[hackitude]

That's kind of how I felt about it too, to be honest. Still, you should stay in school. Speaking from personal experience as a drop-out.

[soldiarity]

Sure thing, it's not like it's that bad anyway. [ Mostly, he knows better than to make waves at this point. ] It'll come in handy eventually, I bet. I can be patient.

[hackitude]

Woo! That's the spirit.

[It's hard to tell if she's being sarcastic or genuine-- maybe she's being both. A small contradiction to consider.]

And hey, if nothing else, it's a good place to make friends.

[soldiarity]

That I can do, school or no school. I even have a few friends here already. [ ... Sort of. ] But it's even easier making friends when we're all stuck in the same predicament, you know?

[hackitude]

Pretty much. What's that saying? Misery looooves company.

[soldiarity]

What? Miserable already? You're not even trying!

[hackitude]

Who, me? No, I'm great. I was talking about your sorry ass in school.

[soldiarity]

It's okay, I got to see the ocean. I might join some sports teams next year, too -- see if that makes it more interesting.

[hackitude]

Yeah? You've never seen the ocean before?

And why wait 'til next year?

[soldiarity]

I hadn't... that was pretty great. If nothing else good happens, at least there was that one thing.

[ He pauses. ]

Do the teams meet after school ends for the year?

[hackitude]

Huh. And I guess if your world doesn't have computers, you probably hadn't even seen it on TV or anything either... God, that's so weird...

[Skye blinks for a second before Reiner's meaning catches up with her.]

--Oh. Right. It's nearly the end of the school year here, isn't it? Bummer. I'm honestly not sure. I moved around too much as a kid, so I never joined any school teams or clubs. You could always try asking?

[soldiarity]

TV? Is that anything like "3D?"

[ It... rhymes, anyway. Seems reasonable! ]

Seems like I'll have no choice... I don't mind, though. I'd rather practice first so I know what I'm doing.

i'm sorry this is soooo late. sudden workload!!

[hackitude]

Ooooh boy. Not... really? No. TV is short for television. It's a ... screen you can view plays on? You have plays where you come from, right? Someone records the performance with a camera, and that performance is then played back on the TV screen. I mean, it's for a lot more than that too-- they have educational programs and the news and stuff too. [Most of which you can look up on the internet, but Skye thinks that's probably going too fast.]

And hey, sounds like a good plan.

don't sweat it! <3

[soldiarity]

Television? [ Curiouser and curiouser. ] So it's like entertainment, right? With some news thrown in to make sure you don't enjoy yourself too much.

[ He's at least trying to approximate the idea, anyway. ]

What do you think's better -- basketball, football, or wrestling? Or more than one, I'm still deciding.

<3!

[hackitude]

Yeah, you've got the gist of it. Well, more like they kind of have to cater to all audiences. Some people want to watch melodrama, some people want to watch the news. So you can't get what you want all the time, but you can get what you want some of the time. [Well, unless you have cable, but that's another thing Skye thinks is probably too much for now.] It seems to work out.

Honestly? You're asking the wrong person. Like I said, I never paid much attention to school clubs, and sports aren't really my thing. Three's probably too much to commit to though, unless they run in different seasons. Some sports get played only in summer or winter, so maybe check that out. Anyway, no harm in trying them all and seeing what you like best, right?

[soldiarity]

So it's a little bit of everything. But none of it's real?

[ He pauses, considering that, then chuckles mildly. He doesn't have much basis for comparison, but he'll investigate himself so she doesn't get bogged down in questions. ]

I guess you're right. I'll probably end up signing up for however many they'll let me so I have something to do.