text | a long string of numbers and digits

[volitaunt]

01101100 01101111 01100011 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110010 01100101 01110001 01110101 01100101 01110011 01110100 00100000 01110000 01101111 01100101 00100000 01100100 01100001 01101101 01100101 01110010 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110000 01110010 01101001 01101111 01110010 01101001 01110100 01111001 00100000 01101101 01100001 01111000 01101001 01101101 01110101 01101101 00100000 01110000 01101100 01100101

[ Translation: location request poe dameron priority maximum please ]

Comments

» text; username: stormborn

[jelmazmo]

I don't understand this equation.

( Though to be fair, arithmetic wasn't a priority in the extremely informal education she'd received. That's what she takes all the numbers for. )

i'm so sorry dany

[volitaunt]

[ An even longer string of ones and zeroes that explains that this is binary not an equation ]

don't be this is hilarious

[jelmazmo]

Are you quite all right? I still don't understand.

( A rather obvious thought occurs to her. )

Teach me how.

[NOT HERE]

[northerndragon]

voice;

[volitaunt]

[ A long pause. BB-8 may or may not be running scenarios for how to teach someone binary when the only available teaching method is binary itself.

He's not a protocol droid?? Or a teaching droid?? HE DOESN'T HAVE THE PROGRAMMING FOR THIS.

(If droids could get headaches.)

He switches over to audio input and gives an apologetic series of chirps and whistles. ]

voice » video

[jelmazmo]

I'm afraid I still can't understand. That's a pretty tune, though.

( She remembers how to switch between the various functions from her orientation setting, so: here is Dany, switching to video so that she can actually be seen. Currently, her head's tilted, her brows knit together in confusion. )

Do you speak the common tongue? Any dialect of Valyrian?

video

[volitaunt]

[ BB-8 changes the feed over to reveal his head dome and the upper part of his body, the rest of him hidden under the low counter his chosen network connection is positioned on. He gives another little chirp in the negative, and adds that he’s never heard of Valyrian. ]

video

[jelmazmo]

( Alas, she still can't make out the chirps and whistles as aught more than song. But it's clear that he's attempting to communicate, and—

—well, the sight of him is something, indeed. )

Is that you? I must admit I've never seen anyone like you before.

( Right, back to business. )

I would come to understand you. Is there someone who might translate or teach me your language?

[volitaunt]

[ BB-8 whistles confirmation. This is indeed him!

Wait, she probably won't get that. So, in answer to both questions, he bobs his head dome forward and then back twice. It's awkward and stilted, but it's clearly a nod. ]

[jelmazmo]

( He is fashioned from some sort of metal and yet still understands her. That nod is clearly an acknowledgment, and Dany is fascinated.

A small smile forms upon her face. )

Good to meet you then, little one. If you might point me toward this individual who might aid me in understanding this language of yours, I'd appreciate it.

( He's a marvel. That much is for certain. And this strange, numerical language barrier poses a challenge she can't help but rise to. )

[volitaunt]

[ BB-8 considers this, his consideration illustrated by the way he wriggles in place, tilting his head dome back and forth. How to communicate a location?

He stands at attention, whistles what is the binary equivalent of AHA, and the image of him vanishes, replaced on the communicator by an image of the communal housing building seen from the outside. He zooms in on the entrance, and then the image vanishes. BB-8 gives an inquisitive little whistle, hoping she understands. ]

[jelmazmo]

( Whatever this creature is, he's adorable. Not at all what she'd expected to find in this new world, but not unpleasant by any means. He reminds her a little of a bird, the way he moves his head, and then—

Then she gives a startled laugh, smiling a little. )

I see; I reside in that building, too. Which floor?

[volitaunt]

[ Another brief contemplation, and then he starts voicing boops. Eleven boops, to be exact, before he gives a long pause and boops three more times to indicate the room number. ]

[jelmazmo]

( Dany easily counts out each sound in her mind, and then nods her head. )

I can take the stairs and be there shortly. I'm on the third floor, second chamber, myself.

( But hey, why not head up? Her image disappears for a minute while she texts Jon to let him know where she'll be and then reappears once she's in the stairwell. Having skirts to hold up means it takes her a bit longer than most to get up to the eleventh floor, which means she finds another way to pass the time: )

Gaomagon ao shifang Valyrio Eglie? ( "Do you understand High Valyrian?" )

[volitaunt]

[ From the tilt of his head dome and the inquisitive whistle, it's pretty clear BB-8 has no idea what she just said. None of his base languages even come close. It sounded nice though?? ]

[jelmazmo]

( The silence tells her all she needs to know; and it's all right. Eventually, she'll communicate more effectively with the little fellow. In the meantime, she makes quick work of the stairwell and arrives at the designated floor within a short while.

Emerging into the common area, she may look as if she owns the space, though she doesn't. Nor does she even know anyone in this building, really, other than Jon. That will change. She knocks on the door, appearing neither nervous nor apprehensive. )

[volitaunt]

[ Poe opens the door with a spoon full of peanut butter sticking out the side of his mouth and the jar in one hand, because he's feckin' dignified.

And then he blinks at Daenerys, because she is, in fact, feckin dignified.

There's no good way to scrape peanut butter off a spoon with your teeth, and even less of a good way to try and swallow it all at once. Give him a second. ] Hi. Um.

[ BB-8 gives an excited trill from inside and comes rolling around Poe's legs to peep a greeting at her. ] ...Ah. So you know him.

[ Poe opens the door wider, stepping back so that Dany can come inside if she wants to. ] Please, come in. Seems like Bee's been busy. I think he knows more people here than I do.

[jelmazmo]

( Well, this is an unexpected sight; and it's difficult not to appear amused. One corner of her mouth twitches upward once, twice; but she just barely restrains a little smile. )

Good day, ser. I was directed here by a little—ah.

( Allright: the trilling sound does make her smile. ) —fellow. Yes, it seems you can teach me to comprehend just what it is he says with all those numbers.

( Dany inclines her head in thanks, and moves gracefully past him into the apartment. She turns her gaze to the small droid, and raises an eyebrow. )

Thank you. That wouldn't surprise me. He's friendly.

( To put it mildly! )

[volitaunt]

[ There’s something about her that gets him to straighten up. He sets the snack aside, shoulders square, hands drifting into parade rest behind his back before he realizes what he’s doing. ] You mean binary? I’ve been getting a lot of questions about that. I’m better at teaching people how to shoot things down than I think I’ll be at languages, but I’m happy to try.

[ The General, he thinks abruptly. This young woman reminds him of Leia Organa. ] I’m Poe Dameron. His name’s BB-8.

[jelmazmo]

Binary. ( The word rolls strangely off her tongue, and her head tilts to one side as she glances from his face to the droid and back again. ) I suppose. At first, I'd thought he was posing a mathematical equation. But I would appreciate the assistance in learning it.

What do you mean by that: you're better at shooting things down? Are you an archer, ser?

( A smile flickers across her face, gaining in warmth and she inclines her head again. ) Daenerys of House Targaryen. It's good to meet you.

[volitaunt]

It's a numerical language. [ That's the best way he can describe it, at least.

Poe pauses at the question. He hasn't encountered anyone who doesn't think gun when he says something like that, and he didn't even know what a gun was until this place. They're downright primitive. To have her assume archer-- ]

No. I'm a starfighter pilot. [ Best to get the terminology out there, see how she reacts.

BB-8 whistles, wriggling in place, and Poe smiles down at him. ] Bee is my flight partner.

[jelmazmo]

Using but two characters. How do they form words? ( Can any language be more difficult to learn than Dothraki? If this is, she's up for the challenge.

And then she's tilting her head, something familiar to be found in that term. )

You mean one of those ships that sails through the stars beyond this place? I've heard a little of those from a young woman I met.

( Dany glances down, smiling faintly at the whistle. )

His good cheer must make maintaining morale a simpler task. He assists you, as well?

[volitaunt]

Each individual set of numbers is one letter. What BB-8 speaks is compressed binary, a kind of shorthand for the ones and zeroes.

[ Probably. That's probably how it works. I'm not from a galaxy far far away I have no actual idea. ]

Yeah. Unfortunately, we don't seem to have any of those here. Not ones that can get very far, anyway. [ He's curious which young woman she means--Rey, maybe?--but it feels rude to ask.

It feels rude, but Poe is Poe. ] Was her name Rey, by any chance? [ Poe grins down at BB-8. ] Yeah. He keeps me flying straight, brings me home safe. Huh buddy?

[ BB-8's "yep!" is, as ever, easy to translate. ]

[jelmazmo]

I see. In less than a year, I learned to speak Dothraki fluently; if you would teach me, I would aim to be as successful.

( Of course, Poe has no idea who the Dothraki people are, or how difficult their language is for many. )

A pity. I would see those stars, and admire their beauty. And whatever worlds and peoples exist out there.

( Since she's technically out there anyway in being so far away from Westeros. His question has her nodding her head, expression softer. )

Yes. So you both are from the same—what did she call it: galaxy? 'System'? ( Need to brush up a bit on the lingo there, Dany. )

I know how that is. Drogon does that for me; one of my dragons.

[volitaunt]

Like I said, I'm glad to try--if you can't do it, it'll probably be more my teaching than your ability.

[ Poe likes her, he decides. She's ambitious, which he can appreciate, even if ambition has never been one of his own particular qualities. ]

I wish you could. They're worth the trip. Rey and me are from the same galaxy. Different systems. Galaxy's the whole thing; a system is a group of planets and moons.

[ It's a rough explanation, but it'll do for the time being, unless she has questions. BESIDES, SHE JUST SAID SOMETHING WAY MORE INTERESTING THAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GALAXIES AND SYSTEMS. ]

Dragon? You fly on a dragon.