It's certainly possible. She might even have been here before, who knows?
[he shakes the train of thought off and finally straightens, turning to look at the actuators with wonder. the fission generator and Otto's hubris had been his undoing, just as the formula and Norman's own hubris had been his. They had each still made something good: the armor, the glider, the actuators and their AI. it's not only worth focusing on, but celebrating]
Hello, there. ... You know, this is the first time I've actually gotten to look at them. They're magnificent, Otto - everything that went wrong with the generator aside. These, on their own? Brilliant. Beautiful. ... Just like you.
[A quiet, low laugh escapes Otto and two of the actuators dip themselves a bit closer to Norman. Their jaws are open, the white-blueish light within a pleasant shine.]
What, these old things? [Making light of the compliment was the first instinct to dawn on him, oops. He takes on a more serious tone soon after, though.] I hadn't expected to ever see them again. Not after the way they were... torn from me, half a year ago.
[Norman quirks an eyebrow at the two curious lights, smiling]
Don't mind him, you two... he doesn't like taking credit where it's due.
... Whatever brought us here, apparently this version of Elias is capable of restoring them... he has enough power to resist the Fog's control over us. Keep us the way we should be. Which means it should be possible in the other Ryslig, somehow. But I'm no quantum physicist.
[The actuator's jaws produce the oddest, rapid little movement at Norman's first remark. It's like they're chittering.]
Hmm... It's hard to say. There are certain minor, unseen differences between universes, even those tied closer together. [And he knows this to be fact, since Dillon remarked that electricity felt different to him in the other Peter's world.] We'd have to find out whether every single natural law, as they exist in Ryslig, applies to Felfri in the same way, as well as the Fog's influence on these laws. Though it would be easier simply to ask Elias.
[he says it without any touch of frustration, simply deferring to the actual doctor of physics on this.]
I'll have to ask him when I get a chance. But for now ...
[he takes out his phone and opens his contacts, selecting Peter]
I can tell Peter to let us know if he's here, and we can figure out a place to meet him. If he doesn't respond, we'll know he's not here. Saves us running around like headless chickens, don't you think?
[Otto's gaze flicks to the smartphone in Norman's hand, and he ends up shaking his head with a wry smile. He wasn't much of a cellular phone person back home, so it hadn't really crossed his mind that they could just... use this thing to call someone without even really needing to look up their phone number somewhere. Or send a message, even, like an SMS.]
[Otto tries not to peek over Norman's shoulder while the man types, but he's sure he approves of the message. He trusts Norman to compile something for the both of them.
When his hand is taken, he squeezes back firmly.]
Yes, let's. I haven't gotten to see too much of this place yet. I was a bit too focused on tracking down familiar faces.
[he chuckles a little, then gestures to their surroundings at large]
If you're hungry, I know there's a massive food court that way that'd give a cardiologist nightmares for months. Or we could see what's in the other direction... honestly, I don't care what we do. I just want to spend time with you where we aren't worried about something or someone... it feels like this is the first time I've really been able to breathe easy in ...
[Oh, that food court sounds so very unappealing to Otto. And he should've expected it, given the appearance of this place, but even so... Ugh. Why, Elias, why.
It's indeed far more important to focus on Norman and on the situation itself. Odd as this place is, it still feels far more normal than Ryslig. Perhaps not more peaceful, but more workable. Easier to adapt to. It's a welcome reprieve, and one to enjoy.]
If you want to keep breathing easy, we should steer clear of that food court. [He nudges Norman's shoulder with his own in a playful manner.] Let's explore elsewhere, just the two of us.
Listen, just because there's a hot dog cart in my lobby doesn't mean it's all I eat.
[he wrinkles his nose at Otto in kind, and takes his hand, happy to lean against him just a little as they head away from the fried food smorgasbord. there are signs for the ball pits, laser tag...]
[Which would be understandable, really. When one's hard at work, the temptation to grab something quick and easy is extremely high. Even so... There should've been a salad bar in that lobby, in Otto's opinion.
When Norman leans against him, Otto leans right back, content with the pressure it brings to his arm. It feels nice. Comforting.]
Oh... So it is. I wonder what sort of movies they'd show in a place like this. [Trøn???]
[if he doesn't like the cart, he can take it up with Mana for putting it there. She'd only been trying to give them An Authentic New York Experience, after all. You can't blame a girl/bird/bat/cryptid for trying.]
Let's have a look.
[Norman pads up to the poster: a small band of people dressed in medieval clothes, brandishing weapons and shields as lines of orange computer text flank the outside margins. "Feberdröm," the poster proclaims in sweeping script. Norman leans in and squints: thankfully not at the woman in the chain mail bikini or her leather armor-clad companions,but the tagline.]
"Their story is over. But their lives are just beginning." ... That tells me absolutely nothing.
For now, though, he'll focus his attention on the poster, taking in all the curious little details. What is with those outfits? See, this is why he's more of a docudrama person. Believable, historical accuracy beats nonsensical fiction any day. He'll try not to be too much of a buzzkill, though. Rosie's already given him enough earfuls about that in the past.]
It looks like Conan the Barbarian, but with a grander budget.
[a snort of laughter] You say that as though either of us would have actually sat through Conan the Barbarian.
[Norman turns to the person manning the box office] Excuse me, what can you tell me about this?
"Oh, it's the number one movie in Bavan, has been all month. It's about these people who find out that what they thought was their whole real life was just one gigantic dream, and they have to figure out how to wake up. People who like just about all kinds of movies have come out saying they loved it: action movie fans, philosophical indie drama types, sci-fi people..."
[Fair, he's never sat through it. He's caught glimpses of it, though. It was a thing.
He listens to the plot summary with a light frown, his gaze straying towards the poster again. So the odd outfits are part of the dream they have to wake up from, right? That must be what it is. Alright, now he can tolerate it more.]
... Putting it like that, that doesn't even sound half bad.
[it's a little noise of agreement, as he gives the poster a second thoughtful look of his own. he raises an eyebrow, glancing at Otto out of the corner of his eye]
You wanna try it? Been a long time since I've been to a movie.
[Tempting... Very tempting. One of the tentacles is already inching closer to the ticket booth, as if to say "go for it!" Otto hesitates, though, his gaze going from the poster to the ticket booth, then on to Norman.]
... No word from Peter yet? [What if something happens and they're too busy seeing a movie to react?]
Yes and no ... it looks like he's having difficulty getting good reception.
[he looks up at the marquee, then texts Peter back, hunting-and-pecking at the little screen, making faces when he fat-fingers a letter or two and has to fix it]
Next show doesn't start for another fifteen minutes or so. And I'm sure it'll be showing again tomorrow if we have to leave to help Peter.
[Hmmm... Does the reception problem imply that Peter's still in Ryslig? It'd make sense if the smartphones were struggling to connect to a network based in an adjacent universe. And if he is in Ryslig, is he better off there?
Otto hums thoughtfully, standing up a bit straighter.]
Then, let's give it another ten minutes and buy the tickets if there's no clear sign of trouble.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ninetydegrees
(no subject)
21/10/22 14:03 (UTC)[he shakes the train of thought off and finally straightens, turning to look at the actuators with wonder.
the fission generator and Otto's hubris had been his undoing, just as the formula and Norman's own hubris had been his. They had each still made something good: the armor, the glider, the actuators and their AI. it's not only worth focusing on, but celebrating]
Hello, there. ... You know, this is the first time I've actually gotten to look at them. They're magnificent, Otto - everything that went wrong with the generator aside. These, on their own? Brilliant. Beautiful. ... Just like you.
(no subject)
21/10/22 15:57 (UTC)What, these old things? [Making light of the compliment was the first instinct to dawn on him, oops. He takes on a more serious tone soon after, though.] I hadn't expected to ever see them again. Not after the way they were... torn from me, half a year ago.
(no subject)
21/10/22 16:03 (UTC)Don't mind him, you two... he doesn't like taking credit where it's due.
... Whatever brought us here, apparently this version of Elias is capable of restoring them... he has enough power to resist the Fog's control over us. Keep us the way we should be. Which means it should be possible in the other Ryslig, somehow. But I'm no quantum physicist.
(no subject)
21/10/22 16:17 (UTC)Hmm... It's hard to say. There are certain minor, unseen differences between universes, even those tied closer together. [And he knows this to be fact, since Dillon remarked that electricity felt different to him in the other Peter's world.] We'd have to find out whether every single natural law, as they exist in Ryslig, applies to Felfri in the same way, as well as the Fog's influence on these laws. Though it would be easier simply to ask Elias.
(no subject)
29/10/22 22:55 (UTC)[he says it without any touch of frustration, simply deferring to the actual doctor of physics on this.]
I'll have to ask him when I get a chance. But for now ...
[he takes out his phone and opens his contacts, selecting Peter]
I can tell Peter to let us know if he's here, and we can figure out a place to meet him. If he doesn't respond, we'll know he's not here. Saves us running around like headless chickens, don't you think?
(no subject)
30/10/22 10:51 (UTC)Of course. Yes. That would be best.
guess which word autocorrect tried to capitalize in this tag?
31/10/22 13:07 (UTC)[it takes a little fumbling, but he sends Peter a message in the sense of Texting Dads Everywhere]
There. That ought do it.
[he takes Otto's hand again and smiles]
Now then, wanna take a look around?
it was clearly "party"
31/10/22 18:16 (UTC)When his hand is taken, he squeezes back firmly.]
Yes, let's. I haven't gotten to see too much of this place yet. I was a bit too focused on tracking down familiar faces.
Clearly!
11/11/22 15:36 (UTC)[he chuckles a little, then gestures to their surroundings at large]
If you're hungry, I know there's a massive food court that way that'd give a cardiologist nightmares for months. Or we could see what's in the other direction... honestly, I don't care what we do. I just want to spend time with you where we aren't worried about something or someone... it feels like this is the first time I've really been able to breathe easy in ...
[he shakes his head, amazed] ... Almost a year.
(no subject)
11/11/22 17:50 (UTC)It's indeed far more important to focus on Norman and on the situation itself. Odd as this place is, it still feels far more normal than Ryslig. Perhaps not more peaceful, but more workable. Easier to adapt to. It's a welcome reprieve, and one to enjoy.]
If you want to keep breathing easy, we should steer clear of that food court. [He nudges Norman's shoulder with his own in a playful manner.] Let's explore elsewhere, just the two of us.
(no subject)
14/11/22 16:32 (UTC)[he wrinkles his nose at Otto in kind, and takes his hand, happy to lean against him just a little as they head away from the fried food smorgasbord. there are signs for the ball pits, laser tag...]
... Is that a movie theater?
(no subject)
14/11/22 17:27 (UTC)[Which would be understandable, really. When one's hard at work, the temptation to grab something quick and easy is extremely high. Even so... There should've been a salad bar in that lobby, in Otto's opinion.
When Norman leans against him, Otto leans right back, content with the pressure it brings to his arm. It feels nice. Comforting.]
Oh... So it is. I wonder what sort of movies they'd show in a place like this. [Trøn???]
(no subject)
14/11/22 20:04 (UTC)Let's have a look.
[Norman pads up to the poster: a small band of people dressed in medieval clothes, brandishing weapons and shields as lines of orange computer text flank the outside margins. "Feberdröm," the poster proclaims in sweeping script. Norman leans in and squints: thankfully not at the woman in the chain mail bikini or her leather armor-clad companions,but the tagline.]
"Their story is over. But their lives are just beginning." ... That tells me absolutely nothing.
(no subject)
15/11/22 11:54 (UTC)For now, though, he'll focus his attention on the poster, taking in all the curious little details. What is with those outfits? See, this is why he's more of a docudrama person. Believable, historical accuracy beats nonsensical fiction any day. He'll try not to be too much of a buzzkill, though. Rosie's already given him enough earfuls about that in the past.]
It looks like Conan the Barbarian, but with a grander budget.
(no subject)
17/11/22 00:55 (UTC)[Norman turns to the person manning the box office] Excuse me, what can you tell me about this?
"Oh, it's the number one movie in Bavan, has been all month. It's about these people who find out that what they thought was their whole real life was just one gigantic dream, and they have to figure out how to wake up. People who like just about all kinds of movies have come out saying they loved it: action movie fans, philosophical indie drama types, sci-fi people..."
Huh...
(no subject)
18/11/22 09:33 (UTC)He listens to the plot summary with a light frown, his gaze straying towards the poster again. So the odd outfits are part of the dream they have to wake up from, right? That must be what it is. Alright, now he can tolerate it more.]
... Putting it like that, that doesn't even sound half bad.
(no subject)
6/12/22 04:03 (UTC)[it's a little noise of agreement, as he gives the poster a second thoughtful look of his own. he raises an eyebrow, glancing at Otto out of the corner of his eye]
You wanna try it? Been a long time since I've been to a movie.
(no subject)
6/12/22 10:47 (UTC)... No word from Peter yet? [What if something happens and they're too busy seeing a movie to react?]
(no subject)
7/12/22 03:15 (UTC)Yes and no ... it looks like he's having difficulty getting good reception.
[he looks up at the marquee, then texts Peter back, hunting-and-pecking at the little screen, making faces when he fat-fingers a letter or two and has to fix it]
Next show doesn't start for another fifteen minutes or so. And I'm sure it'll be showing again tomorrow if we have to leave to help Peter.
(no subject)
7/12/22 11:38 (UTC)Otto hums thoughtfully, standing up a bit straighter.]
Then, let's give it another ten minutes and buy the tickets if there's no clear sign of trouble.