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[sallyfaced]

[There are probably a lot more important things going on...but the amount of stress and tension that said important things seem to be evoking is the exact reason Sal decides to make a post sharing his self inflicted predicament instead of sitting around trying to come up with something himself. He mostly just wants to talk — it doesn't matter if he doesn't find any information or help, it's just...for lack of a better word, a "mask".

Speaking of masks, there's now one masked and pig-tailed teenager peering into the phone as he makes sure it's working, sitting back when he thinks he has it. He's not used to using phones or devices this fancy. He doesn't even have a cell phone of his own back home.]

Has anyone ever like...built a birdhouse before out of something that wasn't blocks of wood? A two story birdhouse. With a couple of rooms, decent space. Uh, nothing too crazy and extravagant, obviously. But something still totally cool. Because I kind of want to do that.

You know, even if you've never done it before — because I sure as hell haven't, ideas would be neat.

Comments

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[toiletseat_girl]

[she's sprawled out in an easy chair, one leg slung over the chair arm, foot kicking idly]

...yeah, I'm gonna be honest here and say that I have no fucking clue about what you'd make a birdhouse out of other than wood. Why do you need to build a birdhouse in the first place?

[sallyfaced]

[That makes him snort out a laugh. Whoops.]

Yeah, I thought maybe like...cardboard, but I don't have any. Anyway, it's for my...butterfly...? [Yeah. That's almost sorta right.] I don't know how to explain it. But this guy.

[He pans the phone of his camera off to the side where a mostly featureless butterfly-shaped creature just chills out perched on the back of his chair.]

[toiletseat_girl]

[George does not stand on ceremony. or propriety or whatever the fuck people are supposed to do]

Have you tried the shops? [she raises an eyebrow at the fact that it's for a butterfly. she's never seen one of those anywhere in this joint.

and definitely not one who looked like that] Huh. Pretty cool. Where'd you get that from?

[sallyfaced]

Yeah. I have some things — just thought I'd ask for ideas. You know, boredom and all that.

[And doing things alone isn't really his style. Sometimes it's fine, but most times it's not.]

A friend. He said it might help out in a pinch. Like, sending for help and stuff. [It is also apparently carnivorous as fuck but Sal doesn't know this.] I want him to have a little home or something so he doesn't have to keep hanging out in my sweater, haha.

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[ghostlocked]

[Harlan has a Fear whenever a new network post goes up nowadays, so this distraction is much appreciated, bud.]

hmm.
what abt empty cans and bottles and shit from the shops?

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[sallyfaced]

[Then his job is done.

Also he'll switch his method of communication to be accommodating.]

Oh, yeah. That sounds pretty cool. Cans and bottles sound like they would make a neat castle-looking thing too.

[He knows he said nothing too crazy but damn, now he's thinking about it.]

[ghostlocked]

[You continue to be a pal, Sally. It's very rare that Harlan doesn't use text.]

o shit. ur right.
i didnt even think of that.
u could make a lil space ship.
omg.
im gonna make one for my cat.
do u have a bird here or smth?

[sallyfaced]

Dude you have your cat here??

[Maybe one day Gizmo will show up through the door! Oh wait, that's probably not a good thing. Anyway, enough cat feels.]

And no he's not a bird but I figured a birdhouse would be an easier way to like, explain it. He's more of a butterfly? Not really I don't think but he looks like one.

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[offloaded]

[ The face that appears isn't masked, but is also odd in how visibly inhuman it is. Still, DiMA looks and sounds friendly. And curious -- he hasn't seen any birds on the islands. ]

A birdhouse? If it is meant to go outside, this may not withstand the weather, but if it's meant to be more a nesting space indoors, there are plenty of boxes in the shops you could repurpose.

[sallyfaced]

[Now that's a cool face. Sal has never seen anything like it but he's also good at treating people like everyone else, so no staring or surprise from him. He's far too used to being on the receiving end of those things. Well, maybe a little surprise, but it doesn't "show".]

Oh, yeah, probably should have specified it would be indoors. A lot safer. Boxes are a good idea too...I guess if it's inside it wouldn't have to withstand much.

I'll be honest, I'm a little worried I'll go crazy with how easy assembling boxes would be and make a huge castle out of them that'll overrun the place.

[He's also living alone right now so maybe it doesn't matter at the moment.]

[offloaded]

[ That gets a smile on the old synth's face. This young fellow is kind of charming, honestly. ]

What's wrong with a building a birdcastle?

[sallyfaced]

[Sal returns the smile, covered obviously, but his tone becomes a little more perky as he speaks.]

Nothing. That's the problem. Everything in the universe is like, "do it Sal, build a castle." I don't want to run out of space if anyone ever like, moves in though.

[Text]

[such_a_teez]

[Tyki has been incredibly busy with his current project, but when he sees that Sal has sent a video he pauses to send a text in response.]

Any reason you're wanting something besides wood? I haven't made a birdhouse before, but I've done a construction job or two in the past. So I know my way around basic building.

[Real houses can't be that much different than bird houses. Right?]

[Text]

[sallyfaced]

[Sal will reply in text to keep things simple!]

I think we're short on wood around here. Also, it's more fun to think of something else. Who knows, maybe I'll come up with an idea I wouldn't have using something other than wood.

[But more IMPORTANTLY:]

You've had experience in construction work? For what kind of things? Houses? Towers? Skyscrapers?

[Text]

[such_a_teez]

I've got some squirreled away, if you change your mind. There's something to be said for getting creative though. Is it for a real bird? You need to think about what's safe for them too. My brother mentioned they were delicate. Some things might not suit them.

Houses, mostly. I used to travel about, working mines and odd jobs. Miners need places to live, so I earned money helping building housing for those workers.

[Text]

[sallyfaced]

Oh man, that's really cool. It must have been awesome to help with something like that.

[Something that helps people, he means.]

Oh, no not a real bird. It's for Edward. I thought it would be cool if he had a place to hang out in when he wasn't in my sweater haha.

video.

[puzzlingly]

「Hmm... sounds like an interesting project... How come he didn't think of this earlier, it's been a while since he could transmute a few things with magic, surely his own little pet could do with a new house as well. That old fireproof cage isn't really pretty looking.」

How cool were you thinking? Maybe I could give you a hand if you cannot find things to decorate it with.

[sallyfaced]

Super cool.

[Okay, that's probably not really helpful.]

I think I got a lot of good advice about building, so decorating help is really welcome. I'm thinking I might go with having a bunch of little homes set up for him around my apartment so I don't have to limit to one style.

[puzzlingly]

「That is actually super helpful! No, not really. Atem chuckles anyway.」

I can dye things without paint, if you're interested. Might be able to make other little things.

「He leaves it incredibly vague at that, he's not exactly sure he wants to spread the world to half the network that he can actually create things with magic now, as basic as they might be.」

Who is your friend?

[Audo]

[drabsolutelynot]

I suppose something like a few cans or bottles might work depending on the size.

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[sallyfaced]

[Sal is pretty much accommodating everyone who replies via different means, so he switches to audio!]

Yeah, I just realized cans and bottles would kind of help making it look like some of the housing around the city. All...weird and stuff.

[But he really likes it so that's okay.]

[drabsolutelynot]

I have a few lying around if you need more.

[He had kept them with the thought of possibly using them for flower pots at some point but currently there is a paucity of plants at all in Hadriel so they are really just taking up space]

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[am_i_a_monster]

If you really don't want to use wood, you could use a gourd. If you can find one here. You'd have to dry it out first, that can take months. Wood would be quicker.

[sallyfaced]

It probably would be quicker, but I don't mind if it takes time.

[It's a nice distraction.]

But uh, months might be pushing it. I'd like for Edward to have a little space of his own sometime soon, poor guy.

[Sal you don't even know if it gives a shit.]

[am_i_a_monster]

Maybe you'll get lucky and find one that's dried out.  Maybe even one that's been cleaned out.

How big is Edward?   Do you want to put the house inside or outside?