video, un: j.k. [post-butterfly effect]

[aeturnus]

[ On the screen is one Cain, also known as Romulus, commonly known in the city as Jacob Kane. He looks normal. Normal as he's ever looked, really, but the confidence that he lacked during the recent event is back in full force and he's very nonchalant about it all. He's at a flimsy-ish table with a laptop off to the side where the camera is obviously his propped up phone instead. ]

Hey! Long-time no talk, Riverview Quarantine. Just a few things. If you met me over the last week and a half or so, that was... technically me but not. You know that thing that was going on? Yeah, that. Don't worry about it. Forget about all that.

Quick catch-up for those who have (or haven't!) met me, I go by Jacob Kane nowadays. [ Not Romulus. Nope. This total 180 is completely normal considering he hardly looks any older or different at all. ] My job while I'm here is designing phone apps. I've been here for about two months now and I think this is my first actual post on the network. Anything interesting happen while I wasn't looking?

to Doom; Still good for lessons?

to Shai; Thank you. For everything you did.

to Natsume; Seen anything like our colorful friend lately?

Comments

[leadintheyoung]

[ Leaning back against the trunk of the tree she's claimed for phone perusal, Líadan listens very intently. 'Write up,' huh? That's... well, isn't it sort of like magick in a way? If he's writing it up, then the expression of the language... maybe becomes the application? She utilizes music and song to a similar effect. ]

I think I may follow you. You use some form of language in your writing and the expression is the application? The language you use... decides its form and function? Am I right?

[ Nevermind that she's imagining him etching some form of runes circular about a phone and something like Friendr just sort of... appearing on the screen? Maybe? ]

[aeturnus]

Something like that. The phone itself interprets the things I write in order to know what to do and where to put the pieces I give it. It's called coding, its own kind of language. There's a few different ways to do it.

[leadintheyoung]

[ She is definitely blinking at her phone a bit. To think that there might be so much to such a thing... but she refocuses her gaze on the man with whom she's speaking, this time with a smile. That curiosity of hers? Very much still active. ]

It sounds like quite the undertaking! Is it difficult to learn this 'coding'? To design these applications? And just how many are there?

[aeturnus]

[ Her curiosity is inspiring a smile in him. He doesn't mind explaining. ]

There's no hard number, really. Lots. Learning coding is about as difficult as any other task but it involves a computer as a go-between and a lot of people aren't comfortable with computers so it can be harder that way.

[leadintheyoung]

What is a computer? Another form of automaton, I presume?

[ She hasn't looked too terribly much into technology since arriving given how busy she's been exploring the city itself and beyond the fence. There's just so much to see, to experience, and -- ]

And what sort of things does one use apps for? I know Friendr is an application for making friends.

[aeturnus]

Oh. Yeah. Bigger than our phones, which means they're stronger and can do all the metaphorical heavy lifting until we figure out how to make things small enough to work well on a phone. Part of why the design is important, because overloading it and being too unwieldy can happen.

[ Oh boy. That question gets a bit of a laugh because well. ]

Apps are "applications," so it's essentially... whatever you can think to make a phone do. There's simple ones and complex ones but it mainly depends on the task. Some out there can walk you through cooking dishes or you could find a game to pass the time.

[leadintheyoung]

Bigger automatons can generally do more, then? Assuming, of course, that phones and computers are of a different sort than, say, those in the kitchen.

[ She's pretty sure they are. Much as she appreciates its service, a toaster doesn't enable her to get in touch with people. A very particular word sees her pause, though. ]

You can play a game on the phone? What kind of game?

[aeturnus]

They're less automatons and more... internal? They don't do anything physical for you like a blender would. It can pretend to think and give you information, though, if someone teaches it properly — which is essentially what coding is. Giving it the right set of instructions.

[ She's rather insightful about it, so Cain's just gonna settle back. He pauses for a moment to look under the table and leans down to reach underneath. There's a noise that almost sounds like 'urs!' before he sits back up. ]

Oh, lots of games. It isn't just one. They don't tend to be complicated because, again, limited hardware in exchange for the portability but they're working on that, too.

[leadintheyoung]

Technology can be very complex, then. I thought as much given my experience when I first arrived here, but it seems there truly is a wealth of information to learn about it. More than I could learn in a day, I'd wager.

[ Considering coding and the like, especially, and her thoughts do run back to the great machines that allow the settlement light and such. She still doesn't wholly understand how that works. ]

Perhaps I'll look into them, then! Do you have a favorite game?

[aeturnus]

It's the sort of thing people dedicate their lives to. Understanding as much as they can and then finding out more to share with the rest of the world. Other people get by just knowing what's relevant to what they want to do.

Tetris is a classic. Don't know that I'd say I have a favorite phone game in general, though. They're all relatively new.

[leadintheyoung]

So, which are you? There must be some reason you were offered that sort of job and took it.

I'll try Tetris, then, and see how I like it, not that I intend to limit myself. A game is a game and it's good to know a variety of them in my experience.

[aeturnus]

More of the first than the second. It's an easy job for me, but I don't mind that.

There should be an entire section just dedicated to different kinds of games on there. Be careful about the ones that ask you to pay things for little boosts, they can add up real quick.

[leadintheyoung]

I can scarcely confess to being surprised. You have answered every question I've thrown your way better than I might well understand, I'm sure.

I'd ask you to explain that one, but that may be one of those things I have to see with my own eyes to understand. Paying for boosts --

[ And there's a sliver of a pause as she perks. ]

I am Líadan Ní Donnabháin, by the way. You can call me Lí if you'd like. You said your name was Jacob Kane?

[aeturnus]

That comes with practice, too. Nothing wrong with needing to learn something, or the whole human race would be in trouble.

That's right. Nice to meet you, Lí. Just promise me you won't try Candy Crush or whatever sounds like it here until you've gotten the hang of other games. That one's pretty addicting.

[leadintheyoung]

You're human, then?

[ With as many different sorts of people she's seen around, she thinks it's a legitimate question. She herself isn't human, after all, and she's only ever known two races before her arrival in the Quarantine. It isn't the question of race that earns the change in expression, however. ]

The pleasure is mine, Jacob, but... what exactly is this 'Candy Crush' you speak of? Does one make a game of crushing candy? I would think eating it a better choice were I to be honest.

[ Nevermind that she has yet to experience modern candy. ]

[aeturnus]

That's right. Guess it's something that needs a disclaimer here.

[ Yeah, he doesn't mind. It's still weirder than he's used to but he knows how to adapt like a pro. ]

Candy Crush is just the name of the game. Not actually sure why it's candy except for aesthetic and alliteration. Might just be those two factors, honestly.

[leadintheyoung]

I would say so. I don't think I can count the number of different races I've seen since my arrival here.

[ And she can't quite help but stifle a laugh. ]

You do realize this makes me want to look into it all the more.

[aeturnus]

Not to mention the ones that look the same but aren't.

[ He's not going to say "ones that look human" because that's just asking for an argument. Maybe not with Lí, but someone down the line. ]

What, never heard of delayed gratification? It could be like a reward.

[leadintheyoung]

I wonder how many there are? Together, of course, but also those who look similar.

[ Just how many realities exist, anyway? But she's laughing now. Excuse the not-quite snort that precedes it. ]

I've always preferred to take my rewards with some immediacy. I am only guaranteed this moment. Better to live now than waste time planning to live in a time that never arrives.

[ The future, that is, what with it being something like a snake with its tail in its mouth. Tomorrow never gets any closer, after all. ]

[aeturnus]

Way too many, I bet. [ He says it with a laugh because that isn't a comment on the types of people they would be but counting seems counter-intuitive. ]

Huh. Yeah, I've heard similar sentiments. You're not wrong, it's just a different way than I look at it.

[leadintheyoung]

You truly think so?

[ There's a bit of near child-like wonderment as she turns her eyes upward, wondering for a second. Countless realities, countless peoples... it's really quite beyond anything she might have considered from the Isle. ]

I will consider it, though. You have been kind enough to entertain my questions and that is a task at which a great deal many have failed.

[aeturnus]

All things considered, the universe is probably more creative than we are.

[ He'll entertain it, because it's cute and imagination should never really be squashed. As long as someone's not living in it too much. ]

Oh please. You haven't heard "too many questions" until you've got a toddler who just learned the word why.

[leadintheyoung]

I would not be surprised if that were so.

[ And that? Oh, that earns a laugh from her and a good one at that. ]

A toddler? Try several all at the same time and then get back to me. Or better yet, refrain and spare yourself that terrible fate.

[aeturnus]

Been there, done that, have several t-shirts. Maybe you just haven't been asking the right people your questions.

[ Cain spreads his hands out, as if to say he is definitely one of those right people. ]

[leadintheyoung]

Perhaps. Are you making an offer, then?

[ She is lifting in her head just so. It's one thing for her to volunteer a person for that purpose and an entirely different thing for a person to volunteer themselves. ]