( video | un: revanche )

[nilhilistic]

Greetings, people of Aldrip.

I am a new arrival to this place. My name is Rafal. I am a dragon from another world. As familiar as I am with the mechanics of multiple worlds and travel between then, I am afraid the technology gap here is rather large. I would like to request the aid of a master, someone who is proficient in it and is willing to teach me.

Of course, this does not need to be for free. You are welcome to request a boon or a favor. I lack money at this juncture but I will see to it soon enough. I am no longer in the business of resurrecting the dead and I do not kill for others . . . but I am open-minded in other requests.

Thank you.

— Ah, yes, a picture of my true form since that seems to be a sticking point among skeptics.

Comments

[nilhilistic]

[ does he want to fight that logic . . . probably not. ]

But surely you are not from space. You are from a planet in space, correct?

[ isn't space like. a vacuum. rafal knows that much. even his father never traveled that far. ]

Which planet is it?

[starguy]

I mean, I was born on a planet that's in space, yeah.

[ He agrees with this logic. ]

I'm from Earth! But I live up in space, on a ship called the Milano. And I traveled all over the galaxy before I ended up grounded here.

[nilhilistic]

[ ah. a flicker of sympathy runs through his expression. ]

That must be quite taxing when you are used to a certain amount of freedom.

[starguy]

[ Peter does actually look a bit serious at that. ]

Yeah, it... it sucks, a lot, honestly. I miss it out there.

[ He looks down and away for a moment, his mood a little dampened but if anything, this is more honest than the faux-bright cheer he had a moment ago, so don't sweat it, Rafal. ]

But you didn't come all this way to hear about me being lonely, huh? I promised I'd help you out with your tech, and that's what I plan to do.

[ He holds his hand out for the phone. ]

[nilhilistic]

I do not mind it.

But I welcome your expertise.

[ rafal hands the phone over without fanfare. to him, it is just a device and the idea of privacy is not concerning. he's too blunt to bother lying to anyone. ]

[starguy]

[ Peter waves a hand, dismissing his concern. Now is not the time for self-reflection, it's fine. He's fine! ]

Great! Let's take a look here...

[ Peter definitely snoops a little bit as far as text messages go, but mostly he is just checking to see how much Rafal has managed to change from the default settings... ]

Looks like you've got some of the messaging down alright, unless you want some more help there. Do you need help taking picture, or using the apps? There's a couple of games on here too, if you get super bored.

[nilhilistic]

I understood the picture taking . . . but what are "apps"?

And why does everyone care about "gaming"?

[starguy]

Apps, you know! Like appetizers. They're like bite-sized programs that run on your phone. There's one that pulls up the maps, and one that lets you draw... stuff like that.

[ I am sorry for this misinformation, he's decided to be a bit of a stinker but like... harmlessly? Well, he thinks it's harmless. ]

Gaming is just playing games. [ He shrugs. He is from the 80s so he doesn't get it... although he thinks Snake and Tetris are VERY cool. ] The games on here are pretty sweet! You could probably play against your friends, get a whole thing going.

[nilhilistic]

So I keep hearing, but I don't see the value of games that do not test your physical prowess. What is the point of it?

[ how can winning a game virtually have any value? ]

[starguy]

Eh, it's not always about physical strength, man. It's about having fun!

[ Sometimes it's the friends you make along the way. ]

[nilhilistic]

I have never done anything for the purpose of fun before.

[starguy]

[ Peter's jaw drops, his brow furrowing in confusion for a few seconds before breaking out into a smile.

This guy is just like Drax. ]

Oh my god, I have got to show you how to have fun!

[nilhilistic]

[ rafal looks deeply skeptical. ]

Must you?

[starguy]

[ Peter nods very fast. ]

I must.

[ You're making his day here, Rafal. ]

We'll start with games, alright? I bet you'd love Tetris.

[nilhilistic]

[ he sighs. ]

Fine. Show me the Tetanus.

[starguy]

Tetris.

[ Peter smiles, pulling the game up on Rafal's phone. ]

You start by putting down these shapes, see? And you can turn 'em before they hit the bottom. Then when you make a line.... [ He demonstrates. ] Ta-da! The line disappears and you get points.

[nilhilistic]

Riveting.

And how do you win?

[starguy]

You don't! You play until you lose, then you try to beat your friends' high score.

[ Factually incorrect but he does not know or expect Rafal to reach level 29+ and he's definitely never made it there himself... ]

[nilhilistic]

[ rafal doesn't grasp this. ]

That seems like an exercise in masochism. Who plays if not to win?

[starguy]

It's about the journey, man, not the destination! And once you get into it, it's totally zen.

[ He holds out the phone for Rafal to take. ]

Just try it! Ooh, and you can tap up to make the bricks fall instantly, so you don't have to wait for 'em to fall at first, when it's still going super slow.

[nilhilistic]

[ hrff. ]

Fine, I will try this. But I fail to see the point of a journey if you do not have a destination!

[starguy]

Yes!!

[ Peter pumps his fist in victory. There may not be a win scenario for Tetris, but Peter is defs winning at this "teach Rafal how to have fun" quest. Probably. ]

Haven't you ever heard the phrase "maybe the real reward was the friends you made along the way?"

[nilhilistic]

[ bluntly: ]

No. Because I have no friends.

[starguy]

[ Peter laughs. Not like, at what Rafal said, but because that response was so Drax, he legitimately smiles super wide. ]

Well, that's where your wrong, bud. [ He holds out his arms. ] Because guess what? We're friends now!

[ He didn't even ask. He's just going for it. ]

[nilhilistic]

[ that is enough to startle him somewhat. ]

We are? Just like that?