008 [Video]

[thechoiceisyours]

[Chris smiles and gives a small wave at the camera when the feed starts, then turns his hand to show Hope's blessing on the back of it.]

So uh, who else got one? And are they all from Hope, or...?

[This is so cool you guys he wants to see who else got what. And for something else slightly less important by still cool--]

Oh, also, my iPhone was up and working for a bit thanks to Pell, and I managed to get some music off it. I'll share on the condition no one makes fun of my taste.

[The last comment is a joke--he's really not going to be too hurt by jabs about his choice in music--but the offer is serious, and attached is a download of the music he's copied off so far. It's kind of a slow process, so there's still more on the phone that he can transfer later.]

Comments

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[pullback]

[ the longest of pauses before ]

What's a computer?

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[thechoiceisyours]

[...Oh. Right. Well...]

Uh, they're like bigger, way more powerful versions of these phones we have.

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[pullback]

And they're commonplace when you're from?

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[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, pretty much everyone has at least one. At home I have two and a third that isn't working, plus my phone.

[Computers are awesome.]

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[pullback]

Such a pity that I doubt I would be able to see the advent of those machines in my world—we haven't even properly finished telephones.

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[thechoiceisyours]

[Well that's interesting.]

What year is it there?

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[pullback]

1892. [ said in a tone of voice that's pure "yeah, I know it sucks." ]

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[thechoiceisyours]

[That does suck, though at least--]

Well, it uh... Could be worse?

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[pullback]

It could certainly be worse. [ and then, Victor can't help but give Chris a small wry smile. ] We could be stuck in my time.

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[thechoiceisyours]

[Chris hesitates briefly at that, not sure if he's misunderstanding, or...?]

Is that uh, not 1892?

[Who knows with all the people from all the different times and places around here.]

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[pullback]

Well, it is, but at least her we have refrigerators and the ability to get music off of iPhones.

[ you did not think that analogy through, Victor ]

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[thechoiceisyours]

[Okay, more simple an answer than he was thinking, and he's just going to blame this place being crazy for that.]

True. I'd hate to uh, have to be sending messages to each other through pigeons or something.

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[pullback]

It wouldn't be pigeons. In my time, we had an established postal system, you know.

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[thechoiceisyours]

Well, yeah, but if it were 1892-ish here I think pigeons would actually be faster than sending mail.

[And now he's wondering how a postal service would be staffed in this place, actually. Would there be a god devoted to it? Faceless NPCs? Who knows.]

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[pullback]

But that would involve wrangling the poor pigeons, something that I doubt many of us could do.

[ At least, Victor knows he'd get pecked to death, might be the same for others. ]

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[thechoiceisyours]

...Okay, true. I have a friend who's like, the animal whisperer and she could totally do it, but uh... She might be the only one.

[Chris is pretty sure birds would do exactly the opposite of what he wanted them to.]

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[pullback]

[ birds are shitheels ]

So letters it is.

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[thechoiceisyours]

I'm just feeling really glad we have phones here.

[After all this bird and letters talk.]

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[pullback]

Though I still occasionally have trouble with these devices? I agree.

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[thechoiceisyours]

If you uh, have any problems with them in the future maybe I can help? Phones and computers and all that were what I was studying at home.

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[pullback]

Well, thank you! [ said enthusiastically, even though he...still really isn't smiling. ] And believe me, I'll inevitably have a problem with something in this world.

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[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, this place is uh... Full of challenges.

[Putting it mildly.]

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[pullback]

With some challenges more murderous than others.

[ he feels you, bro. ]

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[thechoiceisyours]

Seriously. Has anyone told you about uh, the kind of events that have happened here before? You're a pretty new arrival, right?

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[pullback]

Giant eyeballs were mentioned and, unfortunately, that was about it.