hadriel | 009 [text]

[Part of Chris thinks he should've made this post awhile ago, and part of him still doesn't want to. But it's a compromise to do it now, and it's probably the best time for it anyway; the last event is over, and new people haven't arrived yet. It's the calm before the whatever, storm or otherwise.

But he's going with text because even though it's been a little while, he doesn't want to try to say the first part of this post in anything other than text.]

Hey everyone. So I guess I'll start off with the bad news: anyone who were friends with Ashley or Josh should know they aren't here anymore. Also, I'm going to add that if Josh owed you money or favors or whatever else, you're totally out of luck because I'm not honoring them no matter what he might've told you.

[Jokes make this not heartbreaking, right? Definitely.]

Though I guess this is also a good time to mention that if you're working on anything important or even just keeping general notes or something, you might want to consider sending them to a friend every so often. If whatever it is is just on your phone when you disappear, it's pretty much as gone as you are.

So yeah. Back up your data and all that. Even if you don't want to send an electronic copy to someone, at least keep paper notes or something.

[Semi-relatedly...]

If anyone needs help with how to send files or whatever, just let me know. And I'm finishing a program for something else right now, but then I guess I'm taking requests? If there's something you'd like a program on your phone for, I can see if I can figure out how to do it. It's not like I have a whole lot else better to be doing, so feel free and ask even though I can't totally promise I'll be able to do it.

[But still, please ask. Please give him something to do other than miss his friends.]

And okay, last thing I swear, and it's the good part. For everyone who's new here and doesn't know, we have pretty awesome coffee at the bar thanks to Delight. Usually either Emily or I are there to make it, but if we're not just send one of us a message; it's part of the deal with Delight about the coffee to make it, so you're not bothering us or whatever.

So yeah, you might be stuck in a shitty cave, but at least there's coffee. That's something, right?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I'd meant to call when I saw that other fellow taking up the project you'd mentioned was Ashley's.

I am truly sorry, Chris.

Thanks, Carlisle. I mean I know it's just a matter of time for all of us, but it still sucks.

[And that's an understatement, of course.]

Do you know anything about programming games?

Edited 2016-09-02 02:20 (UTC)

[The subject is harmless enough that he leaves the connection on video when he responds.]

A little bit, yeah, but that's mostly Rhys' thing. Have you downloaded the version of Pong he made yet?

Yes. That reality doesn't mean the wound isn't there, still bleeding.

How are you, though?

Pong? No, I didn't... I suppose that's a start. If you've got the time, perhaps the two of you could work together to make something a little more complicated.

Yeah.

I'm okay.

[It's not really true, and he doesn't want to lie to Carlisle but he also doesn't want to say more in public. So he'll leave at that, at least until he toggles the settings to private.]

Maybe not okay. I was dealing with Ash being gone but then with Josh disappearing too it's just really not great.

[That's about as close as he can really get to saying he's not taking the whole thing particularly well.]

Yeah, it's pretty cool. It has multiplayer so two people can play instead of just you versus the computer.

What sort of game would you want if we were able to work on one together?

[He's pretty sure Rhys is busy a lot and Chris is not super confident in his own ability as far as coding games goes, but hey. It's worth a shot.]

[As an expert in the fine art of "insisting things are okay when they're not," Carlisle understands. He expected as much -- seen enough of it with confessors at his church, and done enough of it himself.

But Chris has a lot to worry about. After all, it doesn't sound like his friends will be going back to anywhere good.]

Do you worry about being alone?

Oh, even just something like one of the classic arcade games from the 70s or early 80s shouldn't be too hard with some modern know-how. Asteroids, Space Invaders, Arkanoid... maybe something like Spelunker if you were feeling ambitious. Just as long as it's difficult and there's a high score board.

[There's a few ways to interpret Carlisle's question and Chris is a little concerned that he's caused a lot more worry than he meant to.]

Em, Hannah, and I are kind of sticking together right now. Misery and company and whatever.

[He's glad Hannah doesn't know about what happened to Josh at home, at least.]

He might've been working on some of those already, actually. I think he got requests for Space Invaders and Tetris at least, or something like them, though I dunno how much progress he's made.

If you're willing to settle for something less quality in the meantime though, I've got a bunch of those handheld games from the 90s. Some of them are kind of tough and most keep score, so if you want to borrow one of those...

[He's welcome to.]

[That didn't exactly answer his question, but he lets it slide. He worries about everything, Chris. Don't think you're special.]

Is there anything I can do for you?

Oh, that might be amusing.

How about you bring one down to Delight's bar, and I'll take you up on that offer of coffee while we're at it. I have to say, I'm curious about what part of the deal means you have to make it.

[But!!!!]

I don't think so, but thanks. Really.

[Just simply that he's being sympathetic means a lot. Though perhaps--]

Maybe we could talk again or something, whenever. Have things been okay for you?

Sure. I'll look through the ones I have left and try to pick one that'll, you know, put up the most challenge. Though that isn't saying too much.

[Some of them are tougher than others, but they're still those handheld games. But better than nothing, right?]

Oh, it's just that uh, in exchange for her providing the coffee my friends and I are supposed to kind of... Barista, I guess. Make people happy because they can get served coffee, so it's worth the trade to her.

[He definitely finds it a fair trade overall himself.]

Things have been better.

[And a few seconds later, another message:]

If you would like, I could stop by. I need to head out to check on my plants as it is.

Good, good. Until the day I find a charger for my Vita in the shops here... well, it will have to do, won't it.

And as for Delight, that sounds like a solid plan on her part, then. I know I'll be quite pleased. It's a shame there isn't a proper cafe in the city, really.

If you have some technological expertise, I would be very interested to hear what you've found out about these phones and their function, in as much detail as you're willing to provide.

[That doesn't sound great, but hopefully it isn't something really serious.]

Sure. I'm at home right now but if you want to meet somewhere else that's cool. We do have coffee here though, if that's the deciding factor.

[He may or may not be casually avoiding the bar at the moment.]

Yeah, no problem. I'm not sure exactly how much I can tell you, but they're pretty much modeled after the same kind of phone we have in my world. They have their own coding system though, so the programming that'd work on my phone from home is totally different from what works here. The phones here also don't need to be charged; they just run on Hope's power or something.

[He smiles just a little at the mention of the game system.]

You had a Vita with you when you got here? That's awesome; I just had my iPhone. No luck on chargers so far but there are a few people around with magic who might be able to get it up and going for you.

A cafe would be pretty great, yeah. I mean, what we've got now is a lot better than what we had before, but still.

[Somewhere with more options and also baked good would be really nice. He could use a Starbucks breakfast sandwich.]

Your home is fine. I would like to try more of that coffee.

[He's avoiding walking too many places as it is. He's a little sore from days of coughing up gunk and hiding in his closet.]

Awesome. I'll get some going and leave the front door unlocked.

[In case he doesn't hear him knock from the kitchen.]

sorry, man.
i met 'em both while they were here. seemed like good eggs.

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