IC Contact - Exsilium

[maddeninghatter]

[ Thirty seconds of tuneless humming--beeeeeeeeep! ]

Comments

[velveteened]

I was -

( it then occurs to him, from the way break holds up the tablet, what the problem may actually be. he pauses, a little tempted to laugh. )

- what's wrong with it?

[maddeninghatter]

[ Oz knows, he was the first to know. But somehow, it's the little annoyances that bother him the most. Even so, if the tablet is broken, he needs to get it replaced straight away; that said, he'd rather not get it replaced if he can help it. Although he strongly suspects the network is monitored, he would still rather not make it so easy for the Initiative to see what he's been up to. ]

Tch!

When it reads back text messages, some of it is nonsense. The last messages you sent me were completely nonsense. So it seems to be getting worse.

[velveteened]

( WHOOPS.

he approaches the sofa to take the tablet if break will let him, and see - or hear as it were - for himself exactly what it is the device is 'saying.' )

[maddeninghatter]

[ On the one hand, he really doesn't want YOU to see what he's been up to, either, Oz. But... urgh... all right, fine. He relinquishes the tablet, reluctantly.

When pressed, it says in response to Oz's first text: ]

open parenthesis star caret oh caret star close parenthesis

You see? What the devil is that all about?

[velveteened]

( he takes the tablet and carefully presses it to activate the voice function; when it's done he - can't help it, he starts to laugh. )

So even things like this have their limits!

[maddeninghatter]

Eh?

[ You unloveable brat ]

What's so funny?

[velveteened]

It's exactly what I sent you! Only, ( and he hands the device back to break, leaning over the back of the sofa to reread his text ) it's a little too exact. You can make something called "emotes" - like little faces - with the keyboards!

( there's the obvious pitfall to sending those to a blind man in the first place, to which he adds - )

But I thought the tablets would be able to say something like, "you've received a happy face emote," or something.

[maddeninghatter]

[ ... ]

Oh, I see. Ha! Ha! Ha! Well, well. I must say that makes more sense.

[ He sets his tablet aside and spreads his arms wide. ]

All is forgiven. Now come and hug your cuddly papa, okay?

[ If Oz sees a GLINT in Break's sightless eye, that's just his imagination. ]

[velveteened]

( ...ah. well that's in no way ominous. )

Wouldn't I need a cuddly papa in the first place, to be able to do that?

( straightens up, in no way because it puts a little extra distance between them.... )

[maddeninghatter]

[ He could make some pithy remark in response to that.

Or he could just LUNGE!!!

There's a good chance that there's a choke hold in your future, Oz. ]

1/2

[velveteened]

( WHY IS THIS HAPPENING )

[velveteened]

( WELL DOWN THEY GO

and not for the first or last time he wonders if break is really blind )

[maddeninghatter]

[ It's okay Oz, he's just going to rub your head... ]

I'm touched, the way you always are thinking of me!

[ ...with his knuckles. ]

[velveteened]

( that is not even remotely comforting! )

Well, that's good.

( sounding dreadfully reassured, as he reaches to push those hands away. )

[maddeninghatter]

[ He does let go (EVENTUALLY!) because...

he's had... an idea... ]

Say--

What sorts of faces can one make with the keyboard?

[velveteened]

( is he going to regret this!! )

Any kind of faces!

[maddeninghatter]

Animal faces? Like dogs or...

[ in the most innocent of innocent voices ever, how could you suspect such an innocent person ever? ]

...cats?

[velveteened]

( as if he doesn't immediately understand what break is going for.

luckily it's hilarious and an objective he's on board with. )

Yes, that's right. Anything.

[maddeninghatter]

Oh, reaaaaaaallllllly?

[ A few moments of thought and then: a bit of dictation.

He'll even show you his handiwork, Oz, because he's nice like that. ]

[velveteened]

That's good! But you can even do more like -

( - that! )