001 - VIDEO

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[There's the sound of some fumbling with the communicator as someone struggles to get the thing oriented and recording. For a moment, there's a flash of one giant, emerald green eye close up to the lens as the owner inspects the device.]

Is this...is this thing on? Is it recording...? Gods dammit...how the hell...

[More fumbling. Then another voice offscreen can be heard: 'Hey boss, you want me to show you how to--']

No. Look, I got this. Go over there and finish checking the inventory and let me--

[Finally, he manages to get the comm aligned and recording. The blue haired newcomer looks absolutely exasperated.]

Okay, I think I've got it. Anyway, I'm not sure who all can see this? But I'm having some issues here. Now, I, for one, am glad that I was provided employment upon working here. I kinda wish it was more in my field, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, am I right? I've run a shop before. I know business. I know how to sell. I can sell a full set of plate mail to an eighty year old wind mage. My point? I can do this job. Here's the problem:

[Darin tilts his comm to show his store, namely the Thot Topic in Nonah that he has been given management of. The store is in great shape and people are shopping and being helped by the staff. But over by the entrance there stands three seemingly disaffected teens. Two girls and a guy, and they are all taptaptapping away at their phones.]

Can someone explain to me what the hell is happening here? They've been here for hours. They're here every other day, it seems. They don't talk. The best part? Hang on.

[Okay, looks like we're moving now. Darin walks over to the group and not-so-discreetly circles them while holding his comm aloft. Maybe some eagle-eyed viewers might catch one of them texting 'omg, the old blue haired guy is back guys lmao' before Darin walks back to his original position towards the back of the store.]

Did you catch that? Did you? They're sending those messages to each other. They're talking to each other! Through their little devices! Instead of using words! Culture shock my ass, is there a priest or something out there? Because I think these kids are possessed and I do not deal with ghosts. Seriously, if anyone can offer me any insight into what the hell is wrong here, I will give you ten percent off of whatever the hell you want from my store. Hell, make it twenty percent.

Comments

video;

[itssacrifice]

They're definitely not possessed. What you're looking at is a prime example of today's modern youth. You can do just about anything on a cell phone these days. Including the removal of verbal speech in a conversation apparently.

[He shrugs in a 'what can you do' fashion.]

If you want to get rid of them all you have to do is attempt to make conversation. That should send them scattering to the winds.

Re: video;

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh believe me, I've tried. They look at me with a thousand yard stare and then go back to their little devices.

I'm about ten seconds away from tossing little balls of receipt paper at them.

text;

[aboveand]

Dude, what's wrong with texting? It's the same as any other kind of conversation.

[That said, yes, he did purposefully pick text to be a troll.]

Re: text;

[forgeabettertomorrow]

they are standing within five feet of one another

why not just

i dunno

speak words????

text

[halloflamer]

[Blue doesn't use text too often, buuuut...]

Haha, get with the times, gramps

Re: text

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What the hell Im 24!!!

video;

[shittywizard]

Wow, you've got a whole infestation of mall goths, huh? Sometimes you can chase 'em off with a broom, since they don't like moving very fast unless they're shoplifting.

Re: video;

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Wait a broom?

I mean, I don't really want to treat them like pests? I kinda just want them to acknowledge me. Like, acknowledge that I am speaking to them.

So I can sell them things.

video;

[aka_pistachio]

They're just texting each other because they're talking about things they don't want people to hear. Which is probably just dumb teen shit. But they could be planning to rip you off.

Re: video;

[fehus]

Isn't outside of Chipotle more of a heist-planning place to stand than inside the same store you're about to rip off?

Re: video;

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Noooo way. There's no way they're taking anything from here. Not with the way I have my inventory catalogued. I check it several times a day and I log the times myself. Anything goes missing, and I have a window to research.

Not that there's anyone dumb enough to steal from yours truly.

video

[fehus]

[uh oh. it's another teen in black!]

See how they're standing in a weird cluster? It's a summoning ritual.

Re: video

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No. There's no way!

Summoning arts have been lost for centuries in my world. There's no way a group of vacant eyed kids managed to rediscover something the best mages my world had to offer couldn't.

Besides, none of them are wearing a summoner's bracer.

video

[burlyboy]

Maybe they just need an example of what to do. You go talk to 'em yourself and see what happens!

Re: video

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I've tried talking to them! At first I thought maybe they couldn't talk? Like they were mute or something? But I heard them laugh when I walked away.

I honestly have no idea what example I can set at this point except to talk really loudly at them.

action

[h2no]

[you know the best thing to do with a new friend after they make it clear where they work? go down to their place of work and be a problem customer for shits and giggles, obviously. he wanders in holding something entirely hideous yet still nothing so bad that thot topic actually sells it.]

Where's the blue haired guy?! [he yells in his best let me speak to the manager voice. he's used it all of once, so it's unpracticed, but.] I wanna return something!

Re: action

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin's all set to handle what most could see as a problem customer. He checks his attire to make sure it's not dirty or disheveled and makes his way to the sales counter.]

So, what seems to be the trouble he--...Archie?

...What the hell is that thing? What are you doing here?

Video

[drivesadesk]

Yeah, it's funny. In my universe, reptilians did a lot of work getting humans hooked on technology so they wouldn't notice the invasion going on around them. Apparently they'd have done it on their own even without our influence.

Re: Video

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Beastkin were manipulating people with technology? What the hell, how did they get such advanced technology in the first place?!

[Text]

[battysitter]

Got the perfect meme for this

Re: [Text]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Im not yelling at clouds Im yelling at stupid kids and Im 24 years old!

text

[yaaas_queen]

30% & i explain everything

Re: text

[forgeabettertomorrow]

DEAL!!!

video

[patchricide]

[So day 1 as a Conflict Mediator and this gets forwarded to her. And... she really wants to help resolve this, somehow, but...]

[Honestly, she doesn't know what these humans are doing, either? All the human teenagers she knows are so much more lively.]

Look on the bright side. At least they — or, I suppose, whatever brain parasites are piloting them right now — seem to like your store? They must, if they're returning to it so frequently.

Re: video

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Wait, brain parasites? What the hell are you going on about? Why would they have brain parasites??