[Chris is quiet while Carlisle rambles, pleased to potentially actually be useful, but... That description doesn't exactly ring any bells, and maybe it's something he doesn't know about after all. That'd be his luck.
But okay, don't jump to any conclusions either way; first thing's first...]
Uh... I think it might help if I can see one? Can you switch over to video or I can meet up with you or something?
Oh, right! Yes, that might be helpful. One moment.
[Time to figure out how he does this again. It's so much easier to just start one way and never bother changing, but he should have thought about that before making his call. Ah, there's the button.
No wait, that's the one to hang up. He calls back immediately, with video this time. He looks mortified and is doing a bad job at hiding the fact that he's practically turning purple from embarrassment.]
Sorry about that! So this is one of them.
[He turns the camera around, and there on his table is this:
His voice continues from off-camera.]
I'm not sure who Simon is or what he's questing about, but that fellow on the left definitely looks like an undead of some sort. I don't know anyone with that complexion who isn't one.
[It takes a moment to figure out Carlisle accidentally hung up, and by the time he does he's already getting a call back. So it's with a bit of a grin that Chris answers the call this time, though he refrains from actually saying anything at how embarrassed Carlisle looks.
Plus he's way more distracted by the sight of the toy, his eyes lighting up both from recognition and from just seeing something that is even slightly close to a video game. Calling one of these things a video game is being really generous in his opinion, but in Hadriel he'll take what he can get.]
Ohman, yeah, I know what these are! I mean, I've never like, seen this specific one before, but my cousin had a bunch of these things when I was really little.
[He has vague memories of playing with them when she was babysitting.]
They're uh, they're games. Kind of super shitty games, but still; Simon's the blond guy on the front there, and yeah he's fighting a vampire. It's part of a series of games called Castlevania that are actually pretty cool.
[He gives a small wave and disconnects, then heads toward the spire; the fourth spire is actually relatively close to where he is, so getting there doesn't take that long. But okay, eight flights of stairs may possibly have worn off the novelty in one go, and by the time he knocks on Carlisle's door he's actually taken his hoodie off and tied it around his waist.]
It's okay. At least if I like, pass out this is the place to do it.
[He offers Carlisle a small grin to make it clear he's joking as he steps in, glancing around briefly at their surroundings before turning his attention toward all the games.
Wow, that's a lot of games.]
Dude, this is awesome.
[He steps over to pick up Sonic, turning the game on and grinning toward Carlisle again.]
I had this one. Or, well, my cousin did, but whatever. I think I still remember how to play it.
[And if not, he can figure it out. This is totally the best thing to happen here in awhile.]
[Carlisle blinks at Chris' question, astounded that Chris walked in here and managed to do in twenty second what he hadn't managed in several hours.]
You do know how to turn them on, then? I was thinking they might be defective somehow. I kept pressing the screen, but they don't react the way the little devices they gave us do. And one of them made a noise when I hit one of the buttons over and over, but then I couldn't get it to work after that.
[He shoots Space Fight a dirty look.]
But yes, I'd be thrilled to see how they work. Let me get my notes.
[He darts over to the table and grabs up his papers first, then his pen, refilling it with ink from a jar that's sitting on the table. The man does have a lot of ink.]
All right, ready. Just describe how you turn it on and how it works, and I'll jot down a few things next to my diagrams.
Yeah, these things kind of predate touch-screens by like, fifteen years.
[He's exaggerating, but only by a little. And Chris decides not to point out that one of the buttons is labeled with 'On/Start' and instead nods, waiting for Carlisle to collect his papers and pen; the ink causes his smile to falter briefly, but he shoves his concerns aside for now to focus on explaining instead.]
Okay. So, to turn this one on, just hit this button the far right here. Not the super tiny one; I think that like, hard resets the whole thing if it freezes or whatever, but you don't need it to actually play.
The objective of Sonic games is usually to pick up rings and not die, and these handheld games are like, super simple compared to normal games, so... Basically this thing over here is the D-pad, and you pretty the direction you want to go. The buttons on the other side are special moves or options.
[What's simple for Chris is handled as though it were the most complicated thing in the world by Carlisle; he scribbles notes and draws arrows on his diagram, marking where specific buttons are and their functions.]
So it's... some kind of interactive story about this "Sonic 3 the Hedgehog" and his quest to gather rings?
[Forgive him; he has no reference at all for these devices.]
It's Sonic the Hedgehog 3, though I can see how it'd be confusing.
[Because if you didn't already know it'd definitely look like Sonic 3 the Hedgehog. Nice graphic design skills, people.]
But yeah, sort of. Sonic is a really, really fast hedgehog who's collecting power rings to defeat some guy in a flying robot suit. Or something. Wow it sounds stupid said like that.
[Also Chris realizes he doesn't actually know the plot of Sonic, but then again does anyone?]
A lot of games don't make that much sense, though. Suspension of disbelief or whatever.
[Carlisle looks up at Chris with one of those incredulous looks as he continues writing, mouthing but hedgehogs aren't fast? as he does. Technology continues to make no sense.]
Right, so all of these games have different stories, presumably like their titles. A little like books, except with screens and buttons and you control something in them and they make noise, so... not at all like books now that I think about it.
No, actually, that's pretty much right. I mean, they're just like... Interactive stories, I guess. They're fun, especially if you're bored, and the kinds of video games we have now back home are way more advanced than these. They can look almost real.
[Carlisle glosses over that note with a dismissive wave of his hand, because now he's interested in these 'games.' An interactive book about an unusually fast, jewellery-obsessed hedgehog doesn't sound like fun, but maybe he just needs some hands-on experience. And Chris seems fine after handling one of the devices, so surely it can't hurt.
He looks down at Space Fight in his hands, smirking as he finds the On/Start button on the far right.]
I suppose it could be educational to try one of—
[And then the device beeps loudly at him and he drops it in an instant, leaping back as though it were a venomous snake snapping at him from the grass. The handheld lands with a thunk on the floor, and he shoots Chris an "Is it supposed to do that?" look.]
[He has so many questions, but he's not sure if that's a distracted waveoff or an 'I don't want to talk about it' waveoff so he lets it go for now. He turns his own game back on, trying out the first level for a few seconds, glancing back up toward Carlise just in time for the game to beep and Carlisle to jump; Chris does too, more in reaction to Carlisle than anything else, and when he realizes it was just because of the beep he fixes Carlise with a 'Really?' look in return.]
Dude, it won't hurt you. The sound effects usually aren't like, that helpful, but they're part of the game.
[He lets out a nervous sort of laugh and retrieves the game from the floor, his hands shaking. Books don't make sounds, okay? Not unless they're not really books and are monsters in disguise instead, like mimics. He's already had one glove ruined by a mimic pretending to be a box -- he doesn't need the other one trashed, too.]
O- of course. Just, ah. Wasn't really prepared for it to make a fuss like that.
[He eyes the game in one hand, picking at the bandage that covers his right arm idly. It has acquired a few more ink stains since he last saw Chris, some faded, while others are darker, fresher; that stuff just doesn't want to come out in the wash.]
[He really shouldn't be judging considering he jumped just because Carlisle did, which is an even lamer reason than being startled by a beep, and he definitely feels a little guilty about it when he notices Carlisle's hands shaking.]
No it's um... It's cool, I mean, you don't have this kind of stuff where you're from, right?
[He offers a small smile, hopefully reassuring, though the movement draws his attention toward the ink stains and he has to ask--]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
audio
But okay, don't jump to any conclusions either way; first thing's first...]
Uh... I think it might help if I can see one? Can you switch over to video or I can meet up with you or something?
audio → video
[Time to figure out how he does this again. It's so much easier to just start one way and never bother changing, but he should have thought about that before making his call. Ah, there's the button.
No wait, that's the one to hang up. He calls back immediately, with video this time. He looks mortified and is doing a bad job at hiding the fact that he's practically turning purple from embarrassment.]
Sorry about that! So this is one of them.
[He turns the camera around, and there on his table is this:
His voice continues from off-camera.]
I'm not sure who Simon is or what he's questing about, but that fellow on the left definitely looks like an undead of some sort. I don't know anyone with that complexion who isn't one.
video
Plus he's way more distracted by the sight of the toy, his eyes lighting up both from recognition and from just seeing something that is even slightly close to a video game. Calling one of these things a video game is being really generous in his opinion, but in Hadriel he'll take what he can get.]
Ohman, yeah, I know what these are! I mean, I've never like, seen this specific one before, but my cousin had a bunch of these things when I was really little.
[He has vague memories of playing with them when she was babysitting.]
They're uh, they're games. Kind of super shitty games, but still; Simon's the blond guy on the front there, and yeah he's fighting a vampire. It's part of a series of games called Castlevania that are actually pretty cool.
video
Oh. So there's supposed to be more with this lad with the armor? I've only got one with him on it.
video
[Sorry now it's Chris' turn to be probably making no sense.]
video
Er.
[His eyes dart back to the rest of his couch, which is off-screen and probably littered with these things.]
How about I just bring these to you, and you can maybe show me how they're supposed to work?
video
Yeah, definitely! Though like, I can come to you if you want this time.
[Since Carlisle was nice enough to come to him last time, and Chris sort of owes him a lot more than that anyway.]
video
[OH THANK GOODNESS HE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE ALL THESE THINGS DOWN THE STAIRS.]
... I'm, ah, going to go ahead and apologize for the stairs.
video
It's cool. I hadn't been able to like, actually walk up stairs for like five months until you healed me, so the novelty still hasn't worn off.
Not promising I'll be there super quick, though.
[He's still not exactly the athletic type.]
video
I shall see you whenever you get here, then?
video --> action
Yeah, see you in a bit.
[He gives a small wave and disconnects, then heads toward the spire; the fourth spire is actually relatively close to where he is, so getting there doesn't take that long. But okay, eight flights of stairs may possibly have worn off the novelty in one go, and by the time he knocks on Carlisle's door he's actually taken his hoodie off and tied it around his waist.]
just actioning forever
Chris, thank you for coming. Sorry again about the stairs. I'm almost certain this tower gets taller every day.
[He steps aside to let Chris in. His couch is indeed littered with more of the handheld devices: aside from Simon's Quest on the table, there's Beetlejuice, Skeleton Warriors, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Gauntlet, The Terminator, The Shadow, Space Fight, Taz-Mania, and Power Rangers. Clearly, he got as many different ones as he could before fleeing for his life from a swarm of flaming insects.
Also on the table are a few pages where he's made some rudimentary sketches of the devices. It might be important -- he never knows.]
same!
[He offers Carlisle a small grin to make it clear he's joking as he steps in, glancing around briefly at their surroundings before turning his attention toward all the games.
Wow, that's a lot of games.]
Dude, this is awesome.
[He steps over to pick up Sonic, turning the game on and grinning toward Carlisle again.]
I had this one. Or, well, my cousin did, but whatever. I think I still remember how to play it.
[And if not, he can figure it out. This is totally the best thing to happen here in awhile.]
Wanna see how it works?
no subject
You do know how to turn them on, then? I was thinking they might be defective somehow. I kept pressing the screen, but they don't react the way the little devices they gave us do. And one of them made a noise when I hit one of the buttons over and over, but then I couldn't get it to work after that.
[He shoots Space Fight a dirty look.]
But yes, I'd be thrilled to see how they work. Let me get my notes.
[He darts over to the table and grabs up his papers first, then his pen, refilling it with ink from a jar that's sitting on the table. The man does have a lot of ink.]
All right, ready. Just describe how you turn it on and how it works, and I'll jot down a few things next to my diagrams.
no subject
[He's exaggerating, but only by a little. And Chris decides not to point out that one of the buttons is labeled with 'On/Start' and instead nods, waiting for Carlisle to collect his papers and pen; the ink causes his smile to falter briefly, but he shoves his concerns aside for now to focus on explaining instead.]
Okay. So, to turn this one on, just hit this button the far right here. Not the super tiny one; I think that like, hard resets the whole thing if it freezes or whatever, but you don't need it to actually play.
The objective of Sonic games is usually to pick up rings and not die, and these handheld games are like, super simple compared to normal games, so... Basically this thing over here is the D-pad, and you pretty the direction you want to go. The buttons on the other side are special moves or options.
no subject
So it's... some kind of interactive story about this "Sonic 3 the Hedgehog" and his quest to gather rings?
[Forgive him; he has no reference at all for these devices.]
no subject
It's Sonic the Hedgehog 3, though I can see how it'd be confusing.
[Because if you didn't already know it'd definitely look like Sonic 3 the Hedgehog. Nice graphic design skills, people.]
But yeah, sort of. Sonic is a really, really fast hedgehog who's collecting power rings to defeat some guy in a flying robot suit. Or something. Wow it sounds stupid said like that.
[Also Chris realizes he doesn't actually know the plot of Sonic, but then again does anyone?]
A lot of games don't make that much sense, though. Suspension of disbelief or whatever.
no subject
Right, so all of these games have different stories, presumably like their titles. A little like books, except with screens and buttons and you control something in them and they make noise, so... not at all like books now that I think about it.
no subject
No, actually, that's pretty much right. I mean, they're just like... Interactive stories, I guess. They're fun, especially if you're bored, and the kinds of video games we have now back home are way more advanced than these. They can look almost real.
[Those PS4 graphics, man.]
no subject
I think I'd prefer something that doesn't look real. Hallucinations and illusions are terrible enough as it is.
[He caps his pen, setting his papers on the table and picking up Space Fight.]
So these are some kind of toys, then? For children?
[He looks at the device in his hands dubiously.]
no subject
Is that like, a common problem where you're from?
[He's curious, but asks it casually enough. The last remark earns mock offense.]
They're totally not just for children, okay, they're also for immature adults. But yeah, pretty much; they're toys.
no subject
[Carlisle glosses over that note with a dismissive wave of his hand, because now he's interested in these 'games.' An interactive book about an unusually fast, jewellery-obsessed hedgehog doesn't sound like fun, but maybe he just needs some hands-on experience. And Chris seems fine after handling one of the devices, so surely it can't hurt.
He looks down at Space Fight in his hands, smirking as he finds the On/Start button on the far right.]
I suppose it could be educational to try one of—
[And then the device beeps loudly at him and he drops it in an instant, leaping back as though it were a venomous snake snapping at him from the grass. The handheld lands with a thunk on the floor, and he shoots Chris an "Is it supposed to do that?" look.]
no subject
Dude, it won't hurt you. The sound effects usually aren't like, that helpful, but they're part of the game.
no subject
O- of course. Just, ah. Wasn't really prepared for it to make a fuss like that.
[He eyes the game in one hand, picking at the bandage that covers his right arm idly. It has acquired a few more ink stains since he last saw Chris, some faded, while others are darker, fresher; that stuff just doesn't want to come out in the wash.]
no subject
No it's um... It's cool, I mean, you don't have this kind of stuff where you're from, right?
[He offers a small smile, hopefully reassuring, though the movement draws his attention toward the ink stains and he has to ask--]
You okay? Besides being startled, I mean.
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