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[Marco gets the feeling he doesn't even have to run a conversion to decipher this message, but he does it anyway.
If only to facilitate his response.]
01001001001000000110010001101111011011100010011101110100001000000110001101100001011100100110010100101110
If only to facilitate his response.]
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our color is going to be purple
i'm not insisting on everyone wearing the same stuff but purple ties or something
i guess
i honestly have no idea what i'm doing when it comes to weddings
i'm not insisting on everyone wearing the same stuff but purple ties or something
i guess
i honestly have no idea what i'm doing when it comes to weddings
[One day late in July, Marco will find this waiting for him whenever he next reaches for the network:]
marco
i need your help
i have an important project
but i cant get it working by myself :(
marco
i need your help
i have an important project
but i cant get it working by myself :(
[For Marco, the network is almost always within reach. If his response is delayed, it's because he needs a moment to temporarily pull himself out of the cloud of misery and self-loathing and thinking-about-how-evil-he-is that's been looming over him.]
What do you need?
What do you need?
[It's been a rough couple of weeks, to put it mildly. Now that the... unpleasantness... is behind them Fiddleford wants nothing more than to aggressively pretend it never happened at all. He can't erase his mind anymore and he's accepted that after more than two years in this place but old habits die hard. He can at least move on and hope he moves fast enough for it not to catch up to him.
Anyway he has something else to agonize over, like how he is at this point days late for his one-year anniversary with Marco.]
hey hon if you're up to it i've got somethin for you in the living room
[It's inelegant, maybe. Okay, it's definitely inelegant. He's doing his best.]
Anyway he has something else to agonize over, like how he is at this point days late for his one-year anniversary with Marco.]
hey hon if you're up to it i've got somethin for you in the living room
[It's inelegant, maybe. Okay, it's definitely inelegant. He's doing his best.]
i'm building something
something to mess up the fog god next month
so she can't bring more monsters
but i don't think i can write the controls
when i try it doesn't work : (
and
i need you to bring me something
[...]
come to the arcade?
something to mess up the fog god next month
so she can't bring more monsters
but i don't think i can write the controls
when i try it doesn't work : (
and
i need you to bring me something
[...]
come to the arcade?
[Ayup. The anniversary. Their anniversary. The anniversary that has barely been on Marco's mind for a multitude of reasons.]
uh
Coming.
[Surely, there's nothing to the fact that it takes Marco 20 minutes or so to get home. Never mind where he was or what he was doing.]
I'm [Oh what is he doing, he can just SAY it.]
I'm... home?
uh
Coming.
[Surely, there's nothing to the fact that it takes Marco 20 minutes or so to get home. Never mind where he was or what he was doing.]
I'm [Oh what is he doing, he can just SAY it.]
I'm... home?
yes :)
[When Marco enters the Fourth God's room, the body in the back hangs as usual, unmoving. But in the center of the room sits a large, impressive machine, crackling with electricity in vacuum tubes. It looks like nothing more than a prop pulled straight from an old sci-fi horror movie, with the casing removed... except it has more gravity to it, somehow. It draws the eyes.]
[Small robots scuttle across the floor, carting things to and fro.]
[There's a distinct gap somewhere in the middle of the machine, where something is clearly missing. But it does have a screen, and a keyboard.]
[When Marco enters the Fourth God's room, the body in the back hangs as usual, unmoving. But in the center of the room sits a large, impressive machine, crackling with electricity in vacuum tubes. It looks like nothing more than a prop pulled straight from an old sci-fi horror movie, with the casing removed... except it has more gravity to it, somehow. It draws the eyes.]
[Small robots scuttle across the floor, carting things to and fro.]
[There's a distinct gap somewhere in the middle of the machine, where something is clearly missing. But it does have a screen, and a keyboard.]
[Wow.
Just looking at that thing, Marco honestly cannot fathom what it is or what it might actually do. However, none of that makes him question his presence here. In fact, he's fascinated.
The gap, in particular, catches his attention. Engineering is not his thing and he's sure Elias knows that; sure, he could put a computer together, but that's different. He's learned about those. He does not, in fact, have Fiddleford's impressive knack for just knowing how things are supposed to fit together in a delicate piece of machinery.
His gaze moves on, then, and falls on the keyboard. Careful to step over the small robots without bumping into them, Marco moves closer and rests a hand on the keys. It's more likely that he's here for this.]
So is this [... Wait. Elias is right there.] I mean-- Is this the, uh... [WAIT... NO... Hold on...]
What... are you more comfortable with? Voice or text? H-Have I asked before? Sorry. Lot on my mind.
Just looking at that thing, Marco honestly cannot fathom what it is or what it might actually do. However, none of that makes him question his presence here. In fact, he's fascinated.
The gap, in particular, catches his attention. Engineering is not his thing and he's sure Elias knows that; sure, he could put a computer together, but that's different. He's learned about those. He does not, in fact, have Fiddleford's impressive knack for just knowing how things are supposed to fit together in a delicate piece of machinery.
His gaze moves on, then, and falls on the keyboard. Careful to step over the small robots without bumping into them, Marco moves closer and rests a hand on the keys. It's more likely that he's here for this.]
So is this [... Wait. Elias is right there.] I mean-- Is this the, uh... [WAIT... NO... Hold on...]
What... are you more comfortable with? Voice or text? H-Have I asked before? Sorry. Lot on my mind.
[Screens flicker on in corners of the room as Marco enters, but they don't light up with words until he's done speaking. When letters do start appearing, Marco will feel them showing up in his head at the same moment.]
it's ok :)
it's the same for me
i dont mind which one you pick
[The scurrying robots slow, then restart their motion - but now, they make way wherever Marco steps.]
this is it!
it's missing two things
but i know you can help me with both, marco!
the code, and
[For a moment the screens pause.]
and i need a monster
so my machine can understand what she does
it can't be one of my friends
i'm protecting you, so it's not the same
it's ok :)
it's the same for me
i dont mind which one you pick
[The scurrying robots slow, then restart their motion - but now, they make way wherever Marco steps.]
this is it!
it's missing two things
but i know you can help me with both, marco!
the code, and
[For a moment the screens pause.]
and i need a monster
so my machine can understand what she does
it can't be one of my friends
i'm protecting you, so it's not the same
[... A monster? Is that what the gap is for?
He gets the idea, he's pretty sure. Whoever he finds, the machine will analyse something about them - be it their genes, or their brainwaves, or both, or God knows what - and that will lead to... a way to permanently reverse the changes, maybe? That would defeat the point of bringing new people in. If they could even find a way to just keep her from snatching people away from their homes, though...
Imagine.
Marco considers the possibility that the process may not be pleasant for whoever goes in the gap. People weren't exactly fans of that whole... thing where all of their minds were connected, and this may be about as invasive. And while he's never been one to say that the ends justify the means... Isn't that exactly the case, here? Wouldn't this be for everyone's good, in the end?
That said, the most pressing concern in his mind is actually...]
Most people don't trust me.
If I had my voice I might be able to lure someone but
Wait I mean I have THE voice, the one you gave me, but that's not...
Maybe if I could...
God no I'd need so many humans to safely bring me a monster
Someone would notice
I'll have to think of something else.
He gets the idea, he's pretty sure. Whoever he finds, the machine will analyse something about them - be it their genes, or their brainwaves, or both, or God knows what - and that will lead to... a way to permanently reverse the changes, maybe? That would defeat the point of bringing new people in. If they could even find a way to just keep her from snatching people away from their homes, though...
Imagine.
Marco considers the possibility that the process may not be pleasant for whoever goes in the gap. People weren't exactly fans of that whole... thing where all of their minds were connected, and this may be about as invasive. And while he's never been one to say that the ends justify the means... Isn't that exactly the case, here? Wouldn't this be for everyone's good, in the end?
That said, the most pressing concern in his mind is actually...]
Most people don't trust me.
If I had my voice I might be able to lure someone but
Wait I mean I have THE voice, the one you gave me, but that's not...
Maybe if I could...
God no I'd need so many humans to safely bring me a monster
Someone would notice
I'll have to think of something else.
you don't need to bring them all the way
if you get them to the arcade
i can take care of all the rest
i know you'll figure something out, marco
i trust you
if you get them to the arcade
i can take care of all the rest
i know you'll figure something out, marco
i trust you
fiddleford probably likes you in anything
and nobody else is going to care much
it is my wedding, i get to be the prettiest bitch in the place ;)
and nobody else is going to care much
it is my wedding, i get to be the prettiest bitch in the place ;)
[Being able to communicate so effortlessly with just their minds is both a blessing and a curse in some ways, like how they can have whole conversations while sitting three feet apart and never saying a word and not realize. It's silly.]
I, ah.
[Fiddleford sits curled in the living room, his tail taking up the vast majority of the couch. When Marco enters he rises up a little. There is something wrapped in newspaper sitting on the coffee table. It could have been nicer, probably, and he already feels bad that it wasn't.]
I know it's a little short notice and all and we didn't have anythin' planned but, uh. We hit the one year mark a couple days ago and I thought -- I mean I figured I ought to get you somethin'.
I, ah.
[Fiddleford sits curled in the living room, his tail taking up the vast majority of the couch. When Marco enters he rises up a little. There is something wrapped in newspaper sitting on the coffee table. It could have been nicer, probably, and he already feels bad that it wasn't.]
I know it's a little short notice and all and we didn't have anythin' planned but, uh. We hit the one year mark a couple days ago and I thought -- I mean I figured I ought to get you somethin'.
Edited 2017-08-05 08:58 (UTC)
[The look on Marco's face at that moment is probably enough to make it obvious their anniversary was the last thing on his mind. His cheeks go red with embarrassment. God, he just forgot? Really? Even the project he's busy with doesn't exactly feel like a good excuse for something like that.
Still, he tries a smile. He's trying it moments after realising there's no way Fiddleford hasn't caught on to the fact that he forgot, but damn it, he's trying.]
Mine's... My gift, I mean, it's probably going to be a little late... Ha. Heh. [He picks up Fiddleford's Mystery Gift and carefully unwraps it, mumbling:] Hope you don't mind.
Still, he tries a smile. He's trying it moments after realising there's no way Fiddleford hasn't caught on to the fact that he forgot, but damn it, he's trying.]
Mine's... My gift, I mean, it's probably going to be a little late... Ha. Heh. [He picks up Fiddleford's Mystery Gift and carefully unwraps it, mumbling:] Hope you don't mind.
[Yeah, he... he kind of figured when Marco didn't bring it up for days that Marco had just plumb forgot. He also thought maybe Marco was measuring it different. He's counting from that first kiss, but maybe Marco doesn't consider that the official start of things. For all he knows Marco was going to wait until October rolled around, considering that's when they got their rings.
But that's just overthinking things, isn't it.]
Oh, it's -- I mean I didn't expect... it's fine. If it's late.
[The newspaper peels back to reveal a book. He looked for a long time for something he thought Marco would like: a book on the technological marvels in Bavan's recent history, an illustrated guide to the peninsula -- at one point he considered a cookbook, just as a pointed reminder to Marco that he still thinks eating is important regardless of whether it's necessary.
Eventually he settled on none of them. Instead he's selected a romance novel, because he knows Marco has a soft spot for them. It's typical Ryslig fare: a human falls in love with a monster, shenanigans ensue, and eventually the monster is cured via the power of love.]
I hope it's a good one. I skimmed it and it seemed nice enough.
But that's just overthinking things, isn't it.]
Oh, it's -- I mean I didn't expect... it's fine. If it's late.
[The newspaper peels back to reveal a book. He looked for a long time for something he thought Marco would like: a book on the technological marvels in Bavan's recent history, an illustrated guide to the peninsula -- at one point he considered a cookbook, just as a pointed reminder to Marco that he still thinks eating is important regardless of whether it's necessary.
Eventually he settled on none of them. Instead he's selected a romance novel, because he knows Marco has a soft spot for them. It's typical Ryslig fare: a human falls in love with a monster, shenanigans ensue, and eventually the monster is cured via the power of love.]
I hope it's a good one. I skimmed it and it seemed nice enough.
[Oh. Oh, geez, he's blushing again. You'd think it might be silly to get embarrassed over your boyfriend knowing you like to read this kind of stuff when your boyfriend also knows what you like to get off to, but hey, go figure.]
Uh-- Wow.
[He checks the blurb on the back cover. These monster romance novels... He may have peeked into one or two back home, before the day he found out monsters were very real. Now they kind of... feel different, huh? Now he gets to put himself in the monster's shoes.
He realises that maybe he's been quiet for just a little too long, so he takes his eyes off the book and smiles at Fiddleford.]
It's lovely. Thanks. I'll, ah... I'll let you know how it goes. If... that's something you might be interested in.
Uh-- Wow.
[He checks the blurb on the back cover. These monster romance novels... He may have peeked into one or two back home, before the day he found out monsters were very real. Now they kind of... feel different, huh? Now he gets to put himself in the monster's shoes.
He realises that maybe he's been quiet for just a little too long, so he takes his eyes off the book and smiles at Fiddleford.]
It's lovely. Thanks. I'll, ah... I'll let you know how it goes. If... that's something you might be interested in.
[That blush is a good sign, he thinks. It means things aren't too odd between them even after the events of the previous couple of weeks, which is good. They're resilient. It's one of their best qualities, always has been.]
Oh, sure, I'd like that.
[Romance novels aren't exactly his genre but they're a thing he could share with Marco, certainly. Couples ought to have things like that, he thinks. It's nice. Normal.]
Here, c'mon, sit down. [He pats his tail with one hand in what he hopes is an inviting sort of way.] Sorry, I don't mean to be takin' up the whole couch but y'know it's hard not to.
Oh, sure, I'd like that.
[Romance novels aren't exactly his genre but they're a thing he could share with Marco, certainly. Couples ought to have things like that, he thinks. It's nice. Normal.]
Here, c'mon, sit down. [He pats his tail with one hand in what he hopes is an inviting sort of way.] Sorry, I don't mean to be takin' up the whole couch but y'know it's hard not to.
Heh. I find it charming, honestly.
[He's not even kidding. Marco sits down, and he can't help thinking back to that one conversation they had - the one about making the best out of Monster Things, and owning them, and all that. That was a nice talk. One he's been struggling to keep in mind in the face of some recent events, but still nice.]
I'm sorry. [He leans against Fiddleford's torso.] I've had a lot on my mind lately.
[... It feels like he says that every time.]
[He's not even kidding. Marco sits down, and he can't help thinking back to that one conversation they had - the one about making the best out of Monster Things, and owning them, and all that. That was a nice talk. One he's been struggling to keep in mind in the face of some recent events, but still nice.]
I'm sorry. [He leans against Fiddleford's torso.] I've had a lot on my mind lately.
[... It feels like he says that every time.]
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