Video - OT*ALL*

[ubuntu_programmer]

[The message flickers as it comes through, turning on all devices that can receive the network. The background is a grimy blanket hung on a wall haphazardly, with bits of numbers and letters scrawled on the wall sticking out above. In the foreground is a tired and worse for the wear looking Ian. Of course, they could be tired because it was two in the morning. Or because they have been working for hours without break.]

"Let's try it this way then," [they said. There was an exhaustion in their voice that implied that this was far from the first attempt, and that they had little expectation this one would go any better.]

"Alright, let's try this. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten. One Six Seven Eight Fifteen. Note to self, change my Steam password. Not that anyone's hearing this, because that would mean things worked. And clearly they didn't. Again. Someone has got to bring Chell coffee beans and soon...."

[Clearly the tired Ian was unaware that the message did in fact go out. To everyone. Anyone who responded to Ian was likely to surprise them... But then again, anyone who responded was likely in for a few surprises themselves.....]

Comments

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

[Ian jumped slightly, surprised, then looked over.]

"Oh, it's an hour already? Sorry, didn't hear it ring. I'll have to fix that too, I suppose."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Oh, it hasn't been an hour, but it called me!"

[Evie says cheerfully.]

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"It... of course it did. Well, I knew it wasn't fixed yet..." [They muttered.]

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Oh. I can hang up again if you want!"

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"No, it's fine, if you want to watch me work, I guess. I'm coming to get used to it," [added, dryly.]

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Okay!"

[Evie cheerily watches for a while.]

"What do you do to fix it?"

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Since it is software, mostly programming and cursing at it. If it was hardware I could give it a smack too..."

[Images flickered, one after another before landing on a pencil sketch of a dragon about to hit an unplugged computer with a hammer. It had the caption "If you can hit it with a hammer, it is hardware. If all you can do is swear at it, it is software."]

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

[The very literal-minded Evie tilted her head at it.]

"But wouldn't that make it worse and it would break?"

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Might make me feel better..." [Muttered.] "But yes."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Oh. Yeah, sometimes Kalin gets mad and says things like that too. But he usually doesn't do it."

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Yes. But be careful what you say anyway. Words can hurt as much as a hammer sometimes..."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Radley tells him that too! I don't like to say things that might hurt people. I don't understand why anybody likes being mean."

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Sometimes people feel like the only way they can feel better about themselves is if they see others feeling worse. So they make it happen."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

“That’s really mean. But … I guess they must be pretty sad inside to feel like that.”

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Could be. Could well be."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

“I should try to help them feel better so they won’t want to be mean!”

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I hope you manage to." [Ian... Ian used to be that idealistic. Now they were more focused on helping those who actually wanted help.]

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

“I’ll try as soon as I find someone!”

[Evie chirped. She loved helping those who wanted help too!]

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"The Isle is full of people like that. Not the Miserycalled, but the teachers. I wouldn't recommend coming here though."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Why? If they need help, someone should help them!"

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Aaaaand... that's why you wound up in Auradon probably," [they muttered under their breath.]

[They shook their head.]

"Some people don't want help."

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Like Team Rocket? Most of them don't seem to want to leave. I don't understand why they want to hurt Pokemon!"

Re: Video

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I don't understand it either. But... I have learned there are always people that both want and need help. More than we can help. So burning out trying to help those who don't want to be helped, who refuse to listen...." [A head shake.]

Re: Video

[radleyslittleevie]

"Yeah.... I guess that makes sense. I just had to run away from Team Rocket because they kept trying to hurt me and everyone after they took us away. I wish I could help everyone!"

CW: jumpscare. feel free to DM if you want me to edit.

[ubuntu_programmer]

[So many complex things they wanted to say, that they managed to not say at the last moment.]

[While they were thinking, though the whole thing glitched out with a horrifying jumpscare from some horror indie game before the connection failed altogether.]