thisavrou | video; november 12

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video; november 12

[The video opens on the face of a young man, smiling nervously into the camera. He looks human enough, the glowing white markings on the left side of his face the only sign of abnormality. Those, and a gentle ticking sound that can be heard just beneath his voice.]

Hello everyone. This is Calla. I hope I’m not disturbing anyone, but I think I may need a Creator’s assistance with… well, this.

[The camera turns, revealing that Calla is currently in the bartering block—and that one of the tables in front of him is heaped with food: alien produce, jars of what looked like candied fruits and pickled vegetables, a few sacks of unknown grain, and some kind of large, sinuous fish of unknown species.]

I think there was some kind of misunderstanding. These locals seemed to think that I… won these things? [It happened multiple times. They would ask, he would answer, and the conversation would carry on for as long as the Creator was interested—and then they’d hand him something from a market stall or behind a counter, beaming. They were so insistent that Calla couldn’t outright refuse their generosity. That doesn’t mean he isn’t bewildered by it.]

I’m, um, not sure where any of this should go. Or how much of it is edible and to whom. [The camera pans somewhat accusatorily towards the fish.] So if anyone is more experienced with er… eating… I would very much appreciate their assistance!

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[Oh hey, look. It's your roomie! Dressed nicely in flower patterned gown for once and with proper makeup on her face, looking at the camera with curiosity.]

Seems like you've been busy.

[At least the first respondent is a familiar face—albeit more made up this time.]

Well, I figured there wasn’t much I could do on the station during the day, [Calla says, a touch sheepishly. The bar can only be cleaned so many times.] Though to be perfectly honest, I didn’t really work for any of this. People just… gave it to me.

[And it would be confounding enough if people were paying him for work. That’s not how things are supposed to go at all.]

Maybe they thought you were cute. [winkwink]

Did they tell just what all they gave to you?

[Calla laughs.] I suppose that’s a possibility.

[He knows he’s cute, tyvm.]

Well, they told me, but I didn’t understand most of it. None of them are foods I’ve ever heard of… [The list of foods he has heard of is relatively small, but J doesn’t have to know that.]

No names or anything?

Well either way, you should bring them to our room. We'll figure something out.

Oh, they had names. I’d just sound very foolish trying to say most of them aloud.

[A pause.] I… er… already promised some of it to other people. [He says, expression abashed.] But I can bring whatever’s left!

I'm very offended and hurt that I'm not the first one you thought about. Here I was thinking we had something. [She might just joking.]

[There’s a moment there, after the first few words, where Calla seems to physically shrink, expression changing quickly from panic to contrition—only to grow uncertain as J goes on.

Is she… joking? She has to be, right?

He’s not going to say anything quite yet. Just going to wait very, very carefully for the other shoe to drop.]

[And J waits for him to reply, react to the teasing joke with another or then brush it off. But he freezes and stares at the camera like he's messed up for real. A frown forms on her forehead while she waits, feeling confused just for a moment before it hits her.

Ah. Right. Sometimes he's so much like a human that she forgets him not being one.]

That was a joke.

[To his credit, he recovers quickly. Tension uncoils and he breathes a sigh of relief.]

Okay, good. I mean, I thought you were, but I wanted to be sure. [A small laugh, still shaded with nervous energy.

And now that he’s ascertained that he isn’t in trouble and can in fact joke back...]

You’re just going to have to be faster next time, I’m afraid.

Or alternatively you could switch your priorities, dear.

My priority is keeping everyone happy, [Calla says airily.] If I gave one person everything after offering to everyone, I run the risk of offending someone. And that’s never good.

Anyway, [Calla says, turning the camera back to the table of food.] Enough of my prattling on. What should I bring back for you?

True. But friends should always come first.

[She takes a better look at the food on display.] I suppose none of them are sweet? The fruit looks most appetizing.

How do you-- alright. Well, I'd say trade it for whatever the hell it is you do sustain yourself with. That's the obvious choice.

Trade it? [For the “obvious choice,” it sure seems counter-intuitive to Calla.] Is that allowed?

I don't see why not, long as the person or things you got it from don't find out you retraded. Like regifting at X-mas, minus the ugly socks.

Ah. [Calla doesn’t look entirely reassured.] Do you believe they’d be offended if I didn’t— [suspicious glance at the pile of food.] Eat it myself.

[He’s not planning on trying. But it might be useful to know if he sees any of the same locals again.]

....If you're really that worried, just tell them you've got the runs and you can only have liquids for a bit.

[seems simple]

Edited 2017-11-17 03:16 (UTC)

I'd be interested in some of it. I've been hoping to get more things to cook.

[Seriously he's so tired of blue cubes. He's a foodie. Spare him this misery.]

Sure! Is there anything in particular you want?

The grains look interesting in particular.

I'm almost sorry you can't enjoy it, but I've been told eating isn't as pleasant for a program when it's been required of them. That might not be the rule, but it's what I've heard.

[The statement takes a moment to absorb. “Eating isn't as pleasant for a program when it's been required of them.” Why would it be required of them? Calla supposes a Creator could insist, though to what end, he isn’t sure.

…

~~Absent any clarifying information, he’s going to assume it’s a fetish thing.~~]

There’s no need to be sorry, [Calla reassures the man.] It isn’t as if I can want something I’ve never had. [He’s sure the senses of taste and smell have their own pleasures. But judging by the faces he’s seen Creators make when downing a particularly strong intoxicant, he’s sure they have their downsides as well.]

You’re welcome to the grains if you’d like them, [Calla says, glancing at the food with the expression of someone who definitely doesn’t know what the man is talking about.] I’d be happy for you to take them off my hands.

Thanks. I appreciate it. Would I owe you anything?

[He likes to be fair, when he can.]

Not at all.

I've got a pack of small ravenous children to feet and I can trade you some batteries or favors for some of that?

[Calla doesn’t have much experience with children. Really, almost everything he does know about them is from the hearsay of the Gardens’ patrons. Which means he knows that children are both a source of exasperation and oftentimes, extreme concern.]

Oh, I can’t ask for payment, [Calla demurs.] I’d be happy enough if you took some of this off my hands.

[ Nihlus hasn't interacted with them enough to feel exasperation yet, but he's definitely felt the extreme concern end of the equation on multiple occasions now. ]

Please, a favor at least. I don't want you getting nothing in return.

[Well, this feels like a trap. Calla’s intention going into this had not been having a Creator in his debt. There’s an awkward pause before he responds.]

Well, if you really insist… I think I’d just prefer the batteries—if you aren’t using them, I mean. [A wince.] I’d just rather not have you owe me anything.

Not that I don’t think you’d make good on it, [he adds quickly, smiling apologetically.] It’s just… well, you know…

[Weird.]

A healthy trade is an important part of a healthy community, [ Nihlus replies brightly with his own shrug in return. ] Besides, I still have spares around. Where should I leave them?

Unit 2 of the blank suites is fine! Though I would advise that you knock first—my roommate might be in.

[ Oh, yeah. J. Well, she didn't seem the sort to have any use for batteries either way. ]

I'll try and have it delivered in a couple hours, then. Thank you.

Greetings!

Normally, these things are a sign of...

[Cultural interchange is money, here; that tracks.

As to why it's in that form.

...Working...]

...I have questions.

Edited (i know what closing tags are and how to use them) 2017-11-13 19:41 (UTC)

[Oh hey, it’s that guy. The one Calla has seen around a few times and definitely has not had any strange, inexplicable dreams about ever.]

Sure, hit me.

[What dream? The hot tub dream indelible mechanical recall ensures he will remember every awkward moment of forever?

That didn't happen. Even if it happened, it's not like they know each other, or like this guy has any idea.

Yep. Didn't happen.

Slowly:]

Okay. I'd. Ah.

[Disregard all reference Creators; elide it entirely. Guy uses deferential, polite cadence. Analysis suggests a better approach vector to be...]

Pardon the initial inquiry: do you, yourself, actually eat?

[Hey, at least Clu isn’t stuck with the default mental image of Calla as wearing shiny swim shorts.

At least Calla's dreamt version of the other Program doesn’t seem too accurate. He sounds far less confident in real life.]

No. I’m a Program. [Said in the uncertain tone of someone who thought something was obvious but isn’t so sure now. Whether Gold Circuits is really a Created or just pretending to be, shouldn’t he already know something like that?]

[Of course he's less confident out here. This brave new world is one great big threat dressed up as an endless guessing game.

One in which Clu himself is apparently Just That Fixated on the throat circuitry of an entertainer he doesn't even know. Given that he dreamed about it.

Didn't. Happen.]

Ah. Call it...A failed conjecture.

You're not from my world, true, but you're a Program. Users like their pizza and their reflections: it's not impossible, and I didn't want to assume.

Still: if you don't eat, why'd they give you food? It's not like food is money; they're bartering all kinds of things...What value has it got to you?

What value has it got for them?

I mean, why fish? That's not gonna keep.

And. Just. [Sweep of the hand] Why?

[It’s a fair point. Creators make all sorts of strange requests for custom Created, including sometimes making the reflection aspect more literal—but if they’ve ever given a Program a digestive system, Calla’s never heard of it.

He smiles sympathetically as the other Program’s questions grow more exasperated.]

Well, a simple answer might be that they believed I could eat. It’s, ah, something I’ve noticed since I left Earth. [His smile grows bemused.] They don’t always know what I am.

[Then, almost questioning.] What we are.

[Has he noticed too?]

Holy shit. [Church is practically attacking the camera with how insistently he's pointing.] Hey, no no no-- screw the fish, go back to the other crap.

[He means the jars of candied fruits because OH MAN does he want them.]

[~~Why is this man so angry at the fish.~~ Calla moves the camera back towards the rest of the table, voice uncertain in the background.]

Er… Is that better?

Yeah, just-- little more to the left-- STOP!

[Church is just leaning closer to the screen, directing where Calla's pointing the camera on his side, until he sees what he's still pretty sure is some kind of bag of dried pineapple. Or at least some alien fruit that looks exactly the same.]

Dibs. Dibs on the yellow ones. Actually-- dibs on the whole lot.

[Okay, this man is just very passionate about food in general, it seems.]

Sure thing. Is it possible you could pick them up now? [An apologetic smile.] I’d just hate for someone to try and nab it before you did.

[See: he does not want to get caught in the crossfire of any ensuing argument between Creators—especially not over fruit.]

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video; november 12

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video; BUT ARE YOU SURE THESE ARE CASH AND NOT WEDDING GIFTS.

video; ADMITTEDLY NO

video; ENJOY THAT THOUGHT THEN. o/

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