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

[forgeabettertomorrow]

WHAT THE HELL ILL KICK THEIR ASSES

[aboveand]

So you want to get fired on your first week?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

pretty sure I can find another job with my skill set

[aboveand]

I mean you loudly proclaimed they needed an exorcism.

Of course they're going to call you old.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

how does asking for a priest to exorcise their demons translate to me being old

[aboveand]

Uh, because only old people don't get texting?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

no i get texting because I am doing it

I just dont understand why they cant just use words with the people in their immediate vicinity

[aboveand]

Again

To keep people like you from knowing what they're talking about.

They might also be in a bigger group text than just those three, and want to make sure their other friends don't get left out.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

how big do these chats usually get?

[aboveand]

big.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

huh

never thought of it that way

Im still kinda adjusting to everything in regards to technology

[aboveand]

Nah that makes sense.

A lot of us teenagers get bitter about this kind of stuff though, because people are so quick to condemn anything we do as dumb. Like... yeah, we do some dumb stuff, but not all of it. We usually have a reason for doing things, but adults don't care because it's not how they'd do it.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

never thought about it that way

All I ever did as a teenager was work in my old mans forge

Everyone else my age in town had all moved off to join the various mage guilds or enlisted in the military not that anyone my age really wanted to hang out with me in the first place

[aboveand]

You worked in a FORGE?

What year are you from??

[forgeabettertomorrow]

well if were going by accepted lore and history my world was created about five thousand years ago marking the end of the war between the celestials and archfiends

the papacy created a universally accepted calendar not long after its inception which would put us in the 12th papal age which 1127 AP.

Oh AP means Age of the Papacy

Why? Whats wrong with working in a forge

[aboveand]

[Wow, he knows what almost known of that means.]

Nothing! It's just

Um

Like it just stopped really being a thing like 500 years ago.

[An exaggeration, but whatever.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

so can you see why Im kinda struggling to grasp all of this new technology?

Most advanced thing I had back home was a steam engine running on mana crystals for power

[aboveand]

Oh wow.

Wow.

Wow.

Yeah.

That makes sense.

If you need a 21st century teenager crash course, I can help you there.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

honestly? I wouldnt mind that

Im a fast learner especially when I can take things apart piece by piece and see how they work together

I dont think I should be taking kids apart though

that might be frowned upon

[aboveand]

Pretty sure that's called murder.

So yeah, pretty frowned upon.

Which Thot Topic are you working at? It wouldn't happen to be the one in Nonah, would it?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

yeah thats the one

I just took it over a few days ago

you know it?

[aboveand]

Yup.

I work at in the strip mall right outside at the Brrrrilliant Bootique, "the year-long Halloween store."

If you ever see a dude in a costume standing outside, it's PROBABLY me.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I think Ive seen you before

feel free to pop in whenever you want Ill treat you to a soda or something on your break

Just ask for Darin Altway

[aboveand]

Careful, I'm going to take you up on that.

Terry McGinnis, by the way.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hey its the least I can do especially if youre out there in costume all day

Good to meet you Terry and thanks for helping me feel a little less like a fossil