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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.

[toiletseat_girl]

No, that makes sense. Someone else might have a brilliant suggestion.

[just not her. she was never into arts and crafts]

Oh. Like an emergency flare or something? [carnivorous butterflies. what will they think of next?] That's cool. But sweaters are cozy.

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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]

[Damn, now he's wondering if he'll light up like a flare. Probably not but hey, never know.]

Yeah, sweaters are totally cozy. But it'd be nice if he had room to stretch his wings and stuff when we're not out.

[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.

[toiletseat_girl]

[it would be so cool if it did]

Why don't you just give it the run of wherever it is you decided to stay?

[sallyfaced]

Well, yeah, but that's not as fun.

[He can still fly around whenever he wants.]

Anyway, I thought he might appreciate having a place to hide away in when he feels like it.

[He's a cat owner without his cat, okay? He has to dispense all this affection somewhere.]

[toiletseat_girl]

I guess. I wouldn't know, I don't have a pet here or anything.

[but she wants a cat. she wants one bad]

Probably? Everybody likes privacy, so why not a butterfly-thingy?

[no, no, she totally gets it]

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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]

That's pretty much what I figured. I want to give him his own space to mess around and chill out in.

[Sal is a painfully social person but he's also a teenager and knows how important your own space is.]

[toiletseat_girl]

You're a good person, you know.

[moving on!]

It sucks that we don't have wood to use. Maybe you could cut open cans if you're careful with 'em?

[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.]

[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?]

[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]

[Oh, well shucks.]

Thank you.

[He just has to get that in, okay! But yes, moving on.]

Cans could be useful! He might be too big to fit into a standard cut open can but they make good building blocks. Something futuristic looking.

[toiletseat_girl]

[cue the blushing and mumbling]

Oh. Yeah, sure.

[back to normal]

Yeah, if they're all put side-by-side and stacked on top of each other. It could work.

[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?

[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]

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.

[offloaded]

[ DiMA's tone is generally more expressive than his actual face, simply because there isn't much left of the latter. But right now his voice evokes a friendly old man, perhaps teasing just a little but kindly as he offers advice. ]

May I ask where you're living right now? If it's one of the houses or apartments with more than two bedrooms, you could always designate just one of the spares for your pet. The city seems to have more than adequate housing to spare a room for a birdcastle.

Now, if it begins to take over the communal spaces, you and the hypothetical roommate may have to draw a line.