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--]
[He doesn't seem to realize Chris was asking about the ink stains rather than his reaction.]
I'm fine, I assure you. Just easily rattled, unfortunately.
[He looks at the game again, pressing a few more of the buttons. It beeps, there's a garbled explosion, and the sound that comes with a Game Over. He just looks more confused by it, but at least he figures out one button: Off.
The device goes quiet, the screen blank once more, and he lets out a sigh.]
Right. I'll experiment a little with this one. Seems a bit less complicated than the others. Less buttons to press, and only two directions on the, er... D-pad.
[He'd meant that too, but realizes his question was probably too general for Carlisle to realize he'd been concerned about the bandages. Not just the ink stains, though that's part of it, but what the bandage is for to begin with.
But he just nods at the answer, for now--he knows that feel, bro--and watches Carlisle's ill-fated attempt at playing the game.]
Yeah, you can get it. Just remember these things are old and kind of slow to react, so don't like... Let it get you too frustrated.
[And he hesitates a moment, before deciding on a way to reapproach his earlier question, but the game gives a good excuse.]
Especially if like... Did you hurt your arm? These things aren't exactly good for your wrists and whatever, especially if you're already hurt or something.
[He rubs at his arm for a moment, making a quick consideration before he undoes the bandage, unwrapping it bit by bit.]
It's not an injury, or not anymore.
[The glove beneath the bandage looks like it might have been like its partner on his left arm -- long, tight-fitting, covering his limb all the way from the sleeve of his jacket to his hands. Unfortunately, it's been mutilated somewhere along the way: the fabric is torn in several places, barely held together by thin strips between the gaping holes. The already dark material is even darker in those areas, blood having stained the threads from a dark blue to a blackish brown. In contrast to his ruined glove, his arm beneath it looks fine, as pristine as the rest of his pale skin. He is a healer, after all.]
I ran into a monster almost immediately after arriving here. I thought for sure I'd lose my arm for a moment.
[Or several moments. Several, panic-stricken moments.]
[Chris watches curiously, if a bit apprehensively, while Carlisle takes off the bandage; it's not a huge surprise to see the semi-matching glove, even if he wonders why Carlisle didn't just take it off, but it is a surprise to see that his arm seems totally fine. It's a good surprise, though.
He winces sympathetically as Carlisle explains.]
Ouch. Yeah, some of the monsters that show up in the arena are kind of... Worse than others.
[And really awful.]
Glad your arm's okay, though. Do you like... Does your healing stuff work on yourself, or...?
[Though in this place it isn't super realistic; he remembers for a moment just how seriously Maketh had been hurt during the last event, and then quickly shoves the thought away.]
I feel like we should uh... Probably figure out some sort of system for looking out for new arrivals when they show up in the arena.
[He's kind of thinking outloud here, but it's half to Carlisle too, if he has an opinion on the idea. It's really good that he was able to heal himself, but what if he couldn't or it had been worse or something? The new arrivals are all alone and really vulnerable.]
An organization would be nice for such an occurrence. I was lucky to have people show up when they did to help me. I might not have an arm if they hadn't.
[He has another nervous laugh, as though it's funny now that it's all in the past. It's not. It's still terrifying to think about.]
[He knows that nervous laugh and shifts awkwardly on his feet a moment, deciding what to say.]
If you um... If you want to talk or anything, like... I dunno. That sort of thing just kind of gets worse if you pretend it's all cool when it isn't, so...
[He's given more hypocritical advice before, but not by a whole lot. Still, the offer's genuine, especially since he doesn't really know if Carlisle has any friends here yet.]
[Carlisle looks almost as taken aback by the offer as he was by the beeping from the game just moments before.]
I appreciate the offer, but I- I assure you that I am perfectly fine. Near-death experiences are nothing new! Just something you, ah. That you ad- adjust to.
[Marvel at what might be the world's worst outright liar. He can gloss over the truth and smooth things over when it comes to diplomatic discussions, but ask him to lie about himself or something that is still robbing him of sleep last night, and he falls to pieces.
And then he does that thing where he doesn't even let the silence hang for a fraction of a second before changing topics so he doesn't have to think about that one anymore.]
You know, I have been a terrible host. Let me clear off this couch and you have a seat.
[Just going to pick up all of those games he doesn't understand and set them on the table before grabbing the armchair for himself.]
[Yeah, you're not convincing anyone Carlisle, but part of being good with people is knowing when to not push. The offer's there and that's the important part, hopefully, so Chris lets Carlisle change the subject without protest.
Or much protest, anyway.]
I-It's fine, bro, don't worry about it.
[He's unfazed by bad hosting, if this even counted as such, which it doesn't. But he'll take the offered empty seat on the couch anyway, setting the Sonic game on the pile on the table before picking up Taz-Mania to look it over.]
Would you uh... Mind if I took one of these? Whichever one you don't want; I want to see if like, they're normal inside, or...
[Carlisle eases himself into the seat, reaching to the table and shoving the stopper into the bottle of ink before it gets knocked over and ruins the floor.]
I'll be honest in that I'll probably only keep one of these, now that I know what they are. I'd picked up the first one because I thought it might be important, or perhaps something that might help us get home. Then I saw a different one and grabbed it, but then there were so many others, and I think I got carried away.
[As he tends to do with everything, from note-taking to panicking to pretending he's perfectly fine when he's clearly still suffering some trauma.]
I think I'll do just fine with, ah, Space Fight here. I'll master it, then I can come grab a different one from you later, if you'd like to take the rest.
[He will never come get another game, Chris. He will never master Space Fight. Don't let him fool you.]
[His eyes light up a little at that, because omg games? Several games? Ash and Josh will be pleased, and probably so will Emily even if she denies it, and of course he's super excited about the prospect of even really terrible video games. So Carlisle's pretty much made his day, here.
Though, from a practical standpoint--]
They could still be useful in some way besides just boredom, I mean... If they're not just normal, then they might tell us something.
[And as for mastering Space Fight he won't give up on you, Carlisle.]
I'm sure I can like, give you some tips if you need them, but you can get it.
I may take you up on that at some point, thank you.
[He's just hoping Chris can find something useful with them -- Carlisle does like the way he brightens at the prospect of having all the rest of them, so perhaps his hoarding won't be a complete waste.
Oh right, hosting.]
It's been some time since I had company, so I'm afraid I'm not a very good host. I'd offer you a drink, but all I have here is water and Dwarven ale. Not exactly the type of beverages you save for having people over.
[He shrugs casually at the next comments, offering Carlisle another smile.]
Don't worry about it. Believe me, you'd have like... A long way to go to be considered not a good host.
[He hardly notices that sort of formality to begin with, and there's no way to be a worse host than Josh was on the mountain, so. And okay, he has to ask--]
I uh... I do have to say I've never heard of Dwarven ale though. I'm gonna guess it's like, exactly what it sounds like?
[And he remembers something else he should mention.]
Oh, also, do you like coffee? Because me and my friends made a deal with Delight about coffee at her bar and it's like, really good coffee.
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[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.
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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.]
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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.
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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.
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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.]
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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.]
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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.
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[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.]
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Dude, it won't hurt you. The sound effects usually aren't like, that helpful, but they're part of the game.
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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.]
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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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I'm fine, I assure you. Just easily rattled, unfortunately.
[He looks at the game again, pressing a few more of the buttons. It beeps, there's a garbled explosion, and the sound that comes with a Game Over. He just looks more confused by it, but at least he figures out one button: Off.
The device goes quiet, the screen blank once more, and he lets out a sigh.]
Right. I'll experiment a little with this one. Seems a bit less complicated than the others. Less buttons to press, and only two directions on the, er... D-pad.
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But he just nods at the answer, for now--he knows that feel, bro--and watches Carlisle's ill-fated attempt at playing the game.]
Yeah, you can get it. Just remember these things are old and kind of slow to react, so don't like... Let it get you too frustrated.
[And he hesitates a moment, before deciding on a way to reapproach his earlier question, but the game gives a good excuse.]
Especially if like... Did you hurt your arm? These things aren't exactly good for your wrists and whatever, especially if you're already hurt or something.
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[He rubs at his arm for a moment, making a quick consideration before he undoes the bandage, unwrapping it bit by bit.]
It's not an injury, or not anymore.
[The glove beneath the bandage looks like it might have been like its partner on his left arm -- long, tight-fitting, covering his limb all the way from the sleeve of his jacket to his hands. Unfortunately, it's been mutilated somewhere along the way: the fabric is torn in several places, barely held together by thin strips between the gaping holes. The already dark material is even darker in those areas, blood having stained the threads from a dark blue to a blackish brown. In contrast to his ruined glove, his arm beneath it looks fine, as pristine as the rest of his pale skin. He is a healer, after all.]
I ran into a monster almost immediately after arriving here. I thought for sure I'd lose my arm for a moment.
[Or several moments. Several, panic-stricken moments.]
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He winces sympathetically as Carlisle explains.]
Ouch. Yeah, some of the monsters that show up in the arena are kind of... Worse than others.
[And really awful.]
Glad your arm's okay, though. Do you like... Does your healing stuff work on yourself, or...?
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[Painful. Horrific. Agonizing.]
Grievous on myself, but I suppose there is a first time for everything.
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Hopefully a last time too.
[Though in this place it isn't super realistic; he remembers for a moment just how seriously Maketh had been hurt during the last event, and then quickly shoves the thought away.]
I feel like we should uh... Probably figure out some sort of system for looking out for new arrivals when they show up in the arena.
[He's kind of thinking outloud here, but it's half to Carlisle too, if he has an opinion on the idea. It's really good that he was able to heal himself, but what if he couldn't or it had been worse or something? The new arrivals are all alone and really vulnerable.]
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[He has another nervous laugh, as though it's funny now that it's all in the past. It's not. It's still terrifying to think about.]
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If you um... If you want to talk or anything, like... I dunno. That sort of thing just kind of gets worse if you pretend it's all cool when it isn't, so...
[He's given more hypocritical advice before, but not by a whole lot. Still, the offer's genuine, especially since he doesn't really know if Carlisle has any friends here yet.]
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I appreciate the offer, but I- I assure you that I am perfectly fine. Near-death experiences are nothing new! Just something you, ah. That you ad- adjust to.
[Marvel at what might be the world's worst outright liar. He can gloss over the truth and smooth things over when it comes to diplomatic discussions, but ask him to lie about himself or something that is still robbing him of sleep last night, and he falls to pieces.
And then he does that thing where he doesn't even let the silence hang for a fraction of a second before changing topics so he doesn't have to think about that one anymore.]
You know, I have been a terrible host. Let me clear off this couch and you have a seat.
[Just going to pick up all of those games he doesn't understand and set them on the table before grabbing the armchair for himself.]
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Or much protest, anyway.]
I-It's fine, bro, don't worry about it.
[He's unfazed by bad hosting, if this even counted as such, which it doesn't. But he'll take the offered empty seat on the couch anyway, setting the Sonic game on the pile on the table before picking up Taz-Mania to look it over.]
Would you uh... Mind if I took one of these? Whichever one you don't want; I want to see if like, they're normal inside, or...
[Or something else.]
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I'll be honest in that I'll probably only keep one of these, now that I know what they are. I'd picked up the first one because I thought it might be important, or perhaps something that might help us get home. Then I saw a different one and grabbed it, but then there were so many others, and I think I got carried away.
[As he tends to do with everything, from note-taking to panicking to pretending he's perfectly fine when he's clearly still suffering some trauma.]
I think I'll do just fine with, ah, Space Fight here. I'll master it, then I can come grab a different one from you later, if you'd like to take the rest.
[He will never come get another game, Chris. He will never master Space Fight. Don't let him fool you.]
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[His eyes light up a little at that, because omg games? Several games? Ash and Josh will be pleased, and probably so will Emily even if she denies it, and of course he's super excited about the prospect of even really terrible video games. So Carlisle's pretty much made his day, here.
Though, from a practical standpoint--]
They could still be useful in some way besides just boredom, I mean... If they're not just normal, then they might tell us something.
[And as for mastering Space Fight he won't give up on you, Carlisle.]
I'm sure I can like, give you some tips if you need them, but you can get it.
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[He's just hoping Chris can find something useful with them -- Carlisle does like the way he brightens at the prospect of having all the rest of them, so perhaps his hoarding won't be a complete waste.
Oh right, hosting.]
It's been some time since I had company, so I'm afraid I'm not a very good host. I'd offer you a drink, but all I have here is water and Dwarven ale. Not exactly the type of beverages you save for having people over.
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[He shrugs casually at the next comments, offering Carlisle another smile.]
Don't worry about it. Believe me, you'd have like... A long way to go to be considered not a good host.
[He hardly notices that sort of formality to begin with, and there's no way to be a worse host than Josh was on the mountain, so. And okay, he has to ask--]
I uh... I do have to say I've never heard of Dwarven ale though. I'm gonna guess it's like, exactly what it sounds like?
[And he remembers something else he should mention.]
Oh, also, do you like coffee? Because me and my friends made a deal with Delight about coffee at her bar and it's like, really good coffee.
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