[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

[snowblindmods]

Welcome to Norfinbury. The time is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R and the date is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R. This network has been provided for your use. Please interact politely with everyone else on this network.

Comments

[mrcreamsicles]

haha
ok
dont worry im not gonna hassle you that hard about it
the guide is pretty good though so good job keeping it updated

[armoured]

Thanks. I know it's not perfect and there are things missing, but-- if it helps at all, then it's worth the time.

[There's just a hint of wistfulness in his voice, a desire to do something useful.]

I don't think we've spoken before, have we? I'm Al, Alphonse Elric, though I guess that's kind of obvious.

[mrcreamsicles]

nah we havent
though ive seen your old travel scrawlings all over the walls
did you guys not have the network back then or was it for lack of a map
im davesprite

[armoured]

We didn't have a map, we didn't know how big this place was at all and we were all scattered. I started doing it at first so anyone passing by would know someone else was nearby, I guess I kept doing it in case anyone who doesn't use the network sees it and knows there's someone out there willing to help if they need it.

[mrcreamsicles]

makes sense
ive been in weird situations before but never really something like that
its kinda hard to imagine
so
i think what i want to say is thanks
for keeping at it even though this place is shitty
everything is a hell of a lot harder when you dont know which way is up
so all that hard work
figuring things out and making guides and maps and everything
it helps

[armoured]

[Ah, that's nice to hear. That even amongst the people who mock him for making it, or take it for granted, or even insult the mistakes, there are those who do find it helpful too. His voice is just a little softer, though there's an undercurrent of determination threading through.]

No problem. I'll never stop keeping at it, because I'm never going to give up. I know it's not a lot to help when you think about everything that's happening, but it's something, and that's a whole lot better than nothing.

[He would be smiling now if he could, thankfully it's audio so it doesn't matter.]

And don't worry about finding it hard, I don't think anyone has ever been anyone where like this before. If you need anything, you can always call me.

[mrcreamsicles]

if i come up with something useful ill let you know too
i was a kind of guide where i was last
so it feels like maybe i should figure out how to do the same here
just gotta find what i can actually do around here first

[armoured]

Really? I don't think there are any other guides here, that's pretty cool.

[He thinks for a moment, always up for helping others to be useful.]

Have you thought about maybe heading to one of the places where people, uh, revive? You could act as a guide for anyone coming back who's lost something... you know, get them somewhere safe, make sure they're calm, help them to cope until they regain whatever it is that's gone?

[Despite the suggestion, he can't quite hide the tinge of disapproval when he says 'revive'.]

[mrcreamsicles]

yes really

[Hm. Enough people have seen him by now without reacting badly that it's probably alright to just go ahead. Especially if Al's been around so long, he's surely seen the weirder examples of people around.]

im something called a sprite
they were guides for this game called sburb that i played with some friends
how i became one is a long story im not going into right now
but the end result is i ended up knowing a whole lot about how the game works and my players specific quest
its not really useful or relevant here except if i ever want to infodump at people about what happened to me before
the rest is just what few leftover powers the admin didnt take from me
and looking like a sprite looks

anyway

i dont think i want to hang out near those permanently
i died recently and that was bad enough you know
i took pictures of the bodies at that morgue in case people wanted to know whos at the police station but that was kind of the extent you know
though im not sure how many people read past the dumb comic to get to that part

[armoured]

[Computers and games like that are still a massive mystery to him, so he's not really sure what a sprite is. But if Davesprite thinks it makes him look odd, then he's not one to argue without seeing him.]

Mm, I can understand not wanting to be around the people who've died. I've lost a lot of friends too, it would hurt too much to always be around them.

[Another way to help. Another way to help. Hm.]

Why don't you help me maintain the survival guide? I wouldn't mind having some help, and you could probably add in information about modern technology that I don't know.

[mrcreamsicles]

i could try
writing shit all fancy and neat isnt really my deal
but i like to think i can convey basic info without getting too convoluted about it
i think youve got the tablet stuff covered fine there but if theres something specific you want explained you could ask me still

[armoured]

It's okay, you don't have to if it's not something you're comfortable with.

[He doesn't want to force the poor kid, he's just trying to find a way to let him help.]

It's not really something I want to add to the guide, but-- what exactly is a computer?

[mrcreamsicles]

look
if i find any useful info that i think could be worth having ill pass it along
and you can figure out a good way to word it
how about that

a computer is like
you know what tablets are obviously
theyre kind of like that
imagine a box made of this kind of material all full of little bits of plastic and metal and wires
the way theyre made they have these things called circuits that tell the computer what to do
like a bunch of really complicated instructions
the tablet is technically a kind of computer just a small and limited one
and the apps are programs that people create with more instructions called code that tell them how to work
there can be bigger ones
stuff where all the circuits and junk are in their own box and theres a separate screen and keyboard and stuff
and tiny little phones shaped like rectangles with their own capabilities similar to the tablet
even my sunglasses had that kind of stuff in them before i came here and they stopped working

[armoured]

[It's completely amazing to him that things like this exist, and to imagine this level of technology in something as small as sunglasses is astonishing. How strange that even after months here, he can still be stumped by the wonders of the future.]

We don't have anything like that where I'm from.

[He's not ashamed to admit his ignorance.]

Do you think I could see your glasses sometime? I know you said they don't work here, but I'd still be interested.

[mrcreamsicles]

nope
they dont leave my face save for sleep and showers
so the only way youre seeing them is when im wearing them

[armoured]

You don't have to take them off, don't you think I could see you over the video sometime?

[Don't be shy, new friend.]

[mrcreamsicles]

[You asked for it, Al. Though not immediate, Davesprite answers from outside, face orange as can be behind his similarly tinted sunglasses. His ruff and wings are partway visible, his mouth a flat line. There's your view.]

[armoured]

[There's a bit of a silence as he takes Davesprite in.

That is... a very unusual person. But he's not too shocked, not after having Freya for a friend. He's seen people here in all shapes and sizes, and he's more caught by the look on Davesprite's face. Like he expects Al to freak out.]

Those are pretty cool.

[He won't even make mention of it.]

I don't think I've ever seen orange sunglasses before, do they make everything around you look orange?

[mrcreamsicles]

[Something in his posture relaxes in subtle ways at his lack of reaction. He doesn't know if it's politeness or just nonsurprise, but it helps, and it's what he hoped for from a guy who's been here as long as Al.]

They turned this way when everything else did. And yeah, they tint stuff, but I'm used to it.

[armoured]

I wouldn't think you would have much of a need for sunglasses in a place like this.

[Says the boy in full plate armour.]

But they probably keep the wind out of your eyes, huh?

[mrcreamsicles]

Al, did you somehow not get that I wear these constantly? Doesn't matter where I am, doesn't matter what the weather is. I wear my sunglasses indoors at night in dark houses, because that's the point.

[It's ironic, Al. Get with the picture.]

So I can see you now, or is this just a permanent question session about my rad shades?

video; private

[armoured]

[How is that ironic, Davesprite? Gosh.

He hesitates a moment, but he flicks the video on himself since Davesprite has just asked and was good enough to let him see in return. He's obviously a huge metal suit of armour with conical spikes at his shoulders and on his helmet. His helmet is mostly obscured by a pink scarf which covers all of his faceplate and only leaves a slit for glowing eyes to be seen through.]

Would it be a problem if it was? They are pretty cool, maybe I'm jealous?

video; private (I've been counting the thread as private since that one message earlier, jsyk)

[mrcreamsicles]

[What the actual heck. Davesprite's staring would be obvious if not for the, you know, sunglasses, but Al may be able to guess anyway from the sheer moment of silence from him.]

Huh. We can agree my shades are so cool the snow's jealous, but no, changing topics. What's your deal? Full plate armor in winter, scarf around your helmet like that's gonna do any good, and don't think I missed those glowing eyes. Tell me, one weirdo to another. You can ask me what mine is after to make it even.

that makes much more sense haha

[armoured]

[He stiffens visibly, as if both offended and frightened.]

I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not-- I'm not a weirdo, and neither are you.

[mrcreamsicles]

Al, look at me. Look. I'm an orange bird guy with no legs. Did I show you the tail? Let me show you the tail.

[He pans down to his curtain-wrapped tail. Look at it, Al.]

I know weirdos when I see them because I am one. Just spit it out and we'll get it over with now.