[network] @librarian; video; Evening 379

[cahooted]

[Flynn looks pale and a little tired when he starts the feed, just your regular image of Norfinbury fatigue really. But he also looks quite content - which might have to do with the genuine excitement over the task at hand.]

Hello and good evening. I've been meaning to get in touch with you all for a while now and I come with a request for a little collaboration. Now I'm sure you all remember when communications broke down and people couldn't understand each other. With medication suspended I'd say there's a good chance it might happen again. Maybe...

[There's a needlessly dramatic pause and his hand comes up in an equally needlessly dramatic fist.] ... for good!

[Alright, now that this is out of his system...]

So! I think we should prepare for when that happens. I've talked to several people and with all this new exploration on the way we should make sure our efforts are not lost in translation at some point.

For that, I'd like to collect the most important words and phrases and devise a database of the different languages everybody is speaking. ... Oh, and if you're willing to spend some time I'd love to learn the basics of your language, too, that is, you know, if you're stuck somewhere past lockdown and don't know what to do, just, give me a call...

[He rushes through that last bit and tries to keep his tone neutral but fails horribly, the boyish excitement all over his face. Please teach him your language, he'll be the happiest nerd in Norfinbury.]

Alright, that's it.

[...]

This isn't like last time where I tried to incite others to rip into people's selves, by the way.

Just in case anyone's wondering.

I think you're all great.

Well, most of you.

Most of the times, of course excluding murder and randomly torturing each other unless it's a city thing because it's totally a city thing and we all know how that works, one minute you're hiking, just going about your post-apocalyptic day and then suddenly you're doing horrible unspeakable things to people you care about...

[Little circle gestures with his hands. It will occur to him eventually that he could just stop talking.]

This is really just about the languages and trying to facilitate communication in case we have another network incident and have trouble understanding each other which would make the exchange of new information difficult. ... And I totally just said that and well, then I guess I just said everything I came here to say.

Right.

Uh.

Stay warm.

Don't kill each other.

Comments

@clowncutie92; video

[clowngirl]

I know some bad words in Yiddish.

[Everyone else go home, Harley Quinn is here to save the day.]

video

[cahooted]

[Flynn's face brightens considerably when her message comes in even though it comes with a pang of guilt. How long has it even been since they last talked? So much for I'll just be gone a couple of days.]

Is that so? You've been holding out on me, Harley.

@PetertheGreat, Video

[zunesareawesome]

[He's so here for all the unnecessary dramatics, bro.]

That's an awesome idea!

[He's also okay if you end up taking pieces of his soul again.]

I can teach you some stuff, cause if it happens again--and this is a tiny bit embarrassing--

[A deep breath.]

I forgot a lot of actual English.

[cahooted]

[Please take better care of your soul, Peter.]

Really?!

... I mean, ahem, well, I guess I wouldn't mind to learn a language from outer space...

[He tries to keep his tone casual, like this isn't the coolest thing ever, but it's even worse than before, the excitement radiating off him.]

You did? [Flynn blinks, genuinely surprised by that.] But what about your songs?

@user; voice

[cosmicwords]

This is a great idea, Flynn!

Is there any way I can help?

[cahooted]

Hey chaos! It was Al's idea, really... and Kunsel's and John's, he asked me if I could put something together for the library.

Sure, that would be great! Would you like to help collecting the data? We're quite a few people and I don't think we can put it all together in one night anyway. I was also thinking about maybe including something visual, like making a collection of pictorial symbols.

@Summoner | Video

[ninjainviolet]

You know what's sad? I don't think I'm surprised by any of the things you said--even though it sounds like things have definitely gotten worse since I was last here.

But as for the language thing. My native language is Tethe'allan, but I also speak in the Old Language--which House told me was called Japanese.

[cahooted]

I guess that's just the name of the game. You think it can't get worse and then somehow it does and... yeah.

[But oh! New person. Or... not new at all, if he can infer from what he's hearing.]

I am familiar with the so-called Japanese but Tethe'allan... can you give me a sample? I'm Flynn, by the way. Flynn Carsen. Nice to meet you, I must have gotten here after you... uh, left.

@masterneloth; video;

[telvanni]

What would qualify as important, in regards to the words you wish to learn? And how much of this is for personal interest, rather than in the name of community spirit?

[ Because some of it's for nerd reasons, Flynn, you're not subtle. ]

I ask because I seem to find myself with an abundance of spare time. It's rather irritating. I speak fluent Dunmeris and Cyrodilic, and a smattering of the Dwemeri language. Only in writing for the latter, though. I'm not entirely convinced that even the dwemer themselves managed to speak any of it out loud, ugh.

[ Neloth's showing off is also pretty unsubtle, naturally ]

[cahooted]

Important as in things that help us navigate this place, keep working on our progress and look out for each other.

Like directions, talking about where you are, where you're headed. Telling the time to set dates for meet-ups. Letting others know how you are doing or what you need. Like I need help. Or I found something. This place is dangerous. I need medical attention. I am at place X.

[Wow, Neloth, look, it's called multitasking, he can totally nerd out for the greater good??]

Which one do you think you'd default to without the translation service? Or... do you remember which one you were talking when it was suspended?

... But maybe you can teach me all of them, you know, just in case, always better to make sure... [s u b t l e]

@theiceman, audio

[holmesice]

What a quaint idea.

[It's actually a bit more than a quaint idea, but he's not going to admit that.]

You realize if we can't communicate, it means that the nanotech is down, which means we will all be dying shortly of radiation poisoning. Makes all this effort a bit moot, doesn't it?

[cahooted]

[Uuuuuuuuugh.]

What a quaint response.

So what, we should all just lay down and give up when it happens again? Besides, we didn't die last time, now, did we.

@betterhalf; text

[darkincrement]

But I liked playing charades.

[ Here's one of the non-great ones? ]

[cahooted]

You know, I was thinking about including pictographs but we could always make videos of you instead?

[Hi, how have you been?]

@thebigc; audio

[onlytwothings]

Sounds like that's quite the project. I'm not the one to ask about other languages, but do you think you'll need a hand?

[cahooted]

Wilson, hey! You know, that would be great, there's probably going to be a lot of data coming in?

[At least that's what he hopes. For purely selfless and pragmatic reasons.]

And I'm sure we'll think of more and more useful phrases to add over time. Are you organized because I'd say I am but that would be a lie...

@noone; video

[slapthelibrarian]

[ Nicole really doesn't like how pale Flynn appears, but he sounds normal enough, at least. ]

It sounds like you'll be busy for quite awhile, Flynn.

[ And hopefully it keeps him out of trouble too. ]

Are you staying warm?

[ Might as well turn his statement to them back around. ]

[cahooted]

Hey you.

[Insta-smile when her face appears on the screen.]

I am, though that bearskin rug is really big for one person... [Wink wink, nudge nudge.]

@XXXXXX | video

[fiammadellira]

[Important phrases? ... Well, Xanxus can offer something up in Italian:]

How about "be quiet"?

[... Now is it actually advice, or an order? That's anyone's guess.]

[cahooted]

[Flynn's eyebrows go up but he switches to Italian as well, tilting his head at the new person on the screen.]

Hmm, yes. Very useful around anomalies and avalanches, I suppose. I'll add it to the list.

@hexappeal | Video

[sleight_of_fate]

{Hi, Flynn. Been a bit, but he's happy to see you, even if he looks a little tired.]

I speak and read some Russian, which is useful around here anyway. I can put together a basic primer or teach lessons.

My native language is English. I also know Latin, Spanish, German, and Irish Gaelic.Not sure how useful most of those are, though.

[cahooted]

Hey Rhys, how have you been?

You know, Russian might not be bad with how often it comes up... That would be great.

As for those others, well. I guess it can't hurt to collect those anyway? I mean, we never know when we might need them, who the city might decide to bring in next...? [This totally isn't a slightly escapist excuse to collect all the languages, no.]

action;

[advanced]

[He's been listening to all of this as it happens, taking more careful note of some people than others, but he's only going to contribute himself without his own tablet on.]

What phrases do you want to know?

[He can help out there, as thanks for Flynn travelling with him. He doesn't ask what language, because odds are that he speaks it.]

action

[cahooted]

[Flynn looks up from his tablet, pleasantly surprised by Bucky's interest.]

I think directions would be good. Building blocks to explain where you are, where you're headed. Telling time, so people can set dates for meet-ups. General state of mind, letting others know how you are doing, if you're injured, what you need.

@LELRIC; audio

[armoured]

Oh, hey!

[Al sounds immediately excited, enthusiastic that someone else is getting on board with this.]

I already started collecting a few phrases a while ago, things like "I need help" and "I'm okay", we should pool our resources!

video

[cahooted]

[Oh, hey Al! Flynn's face immediately lights up when his voice comes in.]

You did? That's great! Yes, we should definitely do that. Are you in a safe place? We could get started tonight if you're not busy exploring?

Afternoon of Day 380 audio; @dreamsnhonor

[heroproceeding]

You know... when you put it that way, it still sounds awfully suspicious.

[ Not that he feels awfully in the mood to argue. In fact, he's feeling pretty damn awful in general. But talking seems like as good of a distraction as any. At least maybe it'll keep his mind off of things for a little bit. Not to mention the last time they spoke. Yeah, it's- kinda a sore spot for him considering all the stuff he pried out. ]

video

[cahooted]

Does it? I guess it does. I mean, I guess that's why I mentioned it. Because it's not supposed to be, it's really just about learning? [You know, like last time.] But, uh, not like last time.

Because I don't think you're evil red-lined pod people or influenced by something or need to be stopped and, uh...

[Yeah, how about a hole opens up in the ground and swallows him whole? Where's a pit monster when you need it?]

... There are several people also working on this. chaos, Al, Wilson. You could talk to them if you prefer.

@prettypinkflowers; video

[lacecase]

Oh! Like, encouraging things? My favorite words are "super" and "totally" and "do your best, sweet pea!"

[Hi, Flynn. She's trying. She's still Ginger.]

Do those help?

video

[cahooted]

[Aw, Ginger. Never change.

Flynn's face immediately warms with a big smile.]

I think those are excellent suggestions. We should definitely add them to the list.