[audio/action]

[maskedtyrant]

[How strange.]

[...Well, moreso than usual.]

[Codi's already tried chatting up the locals, and while they seem friendly and forthcoming enough about most things--where she is, where the best places to eat and hang out are, the weather--none of them are terribly interested in the important things, that being, why. Why exactly is she here? Why is that weird poem carved on the fountain, and why is everyone so paranoid about it? Why is the journal she woke up with the only thing willing to answer these questions?]

[Also, why does the journal talk to her? Sure, some of the entries that magically appear are written, but many others are dictations that spontaneously stop and start when she flips the page, and Codi's not quite sure how she feels about this. It's cool, she thinks? The fact that it's not electronic is kind of interesting. Can she make one, too?]

[She supposes there's only one way to find out. Plopping down on the central fountain after her third circuit of the island town and harbor, the ginger lazily flips open her journal to a random blank page and, after a moment's inspection of the yellowed corners, brazenly yells into the cover: ]

Hey! Is this on?

[...Yeah, she's new around here. How could you tell?]

Comments

voice;

[melodyssong]

Hi. You don't need to be so loud, you know. We can hear you perfectly clear.

[voice]

[maskedtyrant]

[Yes, she sees it now--even if they couldn't hear her, the journal appears to have written down what she says as she says it. Even in larger text, too! How convenient!]

I knew that. [Honestly not sure if she would have felt stupider had the journal not picked up her voice at all, and she was just yelling at a book in the middle of the road. Small victories!] I was just wondering if I had to do something to get it working first. You know, say the magic words or whatever. How does it even know I'm talking to you right now? I don't see any sensors or speakers or anything...I guess they could be built into the pages, right?

[voice]

[melodyssong]

Ah, that's the magic of magical objects. The answer is not the most obvious when you first look at it, but look closer and you'll see it. In this case however, it's just magic I believe.

[voice]

[maskedtyrant]

...Right.

[Can't tell if trolling or serious. Assume trolling. Even if she's not, this should be entertaining.]

In your clear expertise of the subject, what kind of magic would you say these are using?

[voice]

[melodyssong]

My guess would be an enchanted object in which an item is charmed to be used in a certain way. In this case communication. Sometimes an enchanted object is set up as a booby trap as well, but not this journal, otherwise just by opening it something would have happened.

[She is serious.]

[voice]

[maskedtyrant]

[Wow. Someone crazier than she is! Codi is genuinely impressed.]

I see! I'm astounded I didn't think of that before. What other magical items have you come across in this magical world of magic?

[Okay she might be breaking down just a little bit.]

action;

[ironicprince]

[Dirk has made a couple rounds of the town, wandered enough to know it was a good idea to swap out his god tier duds for his regular ones for the moment, and was heading back to the fountain when he hears the shout. It startles the smaller robot following him, making him jump, but himself and the seven foot bot trailing behind barely even blink.

There's a moment's pause where he debates before walking over and stopping a few feet away from her, his two bots trailing behind him.]

Yo. Pretty sure the whole fucking square could hear you with that, you don't gotta scream at it. Think of it like a cell phone. There's a high probability you just pissed a lot of people off, or at the very least annoyed the crap out of them.

[maskedtyrant]

[Codi doesn't look up at first, still fiddling with the journal.]

'Yo' yourself! [She frowns as words--her own--begin to etch themselves on the open page, which she regards with much confusion before giving up and shutting the book closed.] Ah, I'm sure they don't mind--quiet bunch, but they seem nice enough so far. [Finally chancing a look up at the one addressing her: ] Besides, I wouldn't be so loud if I didn't want to be heard, you...ah...

[ROBOTS]

[Codi's expression melts from shock to barely-contained excitement in the span of several seconds, eyes glittering as they flicker back and forth between the two electronic companions while never once settling on the boring human in front of them.]

...Who are those guys? They yours?

[ironicprince]

[Dirk sees that blatant ignorance and doesn't think too much of it. Honestly, if he were in the same position without his bots he'd probably be doing the same damned thing.]

Yeah, they are. This is Sawtooth- [The taller bot gives a nod of his head.] and Squarewave. [And the smaller one is a little more energetic, fidgeting with excitement as he speaks once he's acknowledged.] Yooo, how's it hangin'?

[maskedtyrant]

[And then Codi loses her composure entirely.]

[Her hands come up to her mouth to try and stifle the shriek of delight that escapes it, but the gesture is fairly useless at this point, as she's already jumped to her feet and squirming in place, giggling excitedly into her palms.]

--Oh my god, he's so cute! [Burbling with anticipation, Codi feels motivated enough to pull her attention away to Dirk for the briefest of moments.] Can I...Is he nice? Can I touch him?

[ironicprince]

What you want all up in my grill?

[Despite his question, Squarewave really doesn't look like he'd mind too much, and Dirk just shrugs. He's just glad the bastard is adhering to the rules he'd had to lay down earlier about no random rap battles, they don't have time for that shit right now.]

He's got an advanced AI that makes him think and learn like a person, they both do, he's just a bit more energetic. I built them both to be rapbots at different levels, but while Sawtooth was made for combat as well, Squarewave's more basic and totally fucking harmless. So sure, touch him if you want but try not to molest him or some weird shit like that.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

Yes, it's on!

Ah...don't feel bad, it's kind of strange, the first time you talk to anyone here.

[Voice]

[maskedtyrant]

Feel bad? Why would I feel bad about figuring out something I don't understand?

[What is embarrassment? Your foreign concepts are baffling!]

Thanks for confirming, though! It makes a lot more sense now--I just didn't know if I needed to press a button or something to make it start recording. Not gonna lie, it's kind of weird! I mean...everything, not just the book.

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

[Slight hesitation, then Winry says brightly.]

You shouldn't! Not at all!

And you're welcome. This place is pretty weird. I'm still getting used to it.

[Voice]

[maskedtyrant]

Oh! So you just got here, too?

[Voice]

[hands4healing]

I've been here about a month! So I'm still new...some people have been here longer.

written;

[dersite_dj]

nah its just a ghost journal

[voice]

[maskedtyrant]

[My kingdom for a pen...ah well. Silly thing writes down whatever she says anyways.]

Oh, sure--that was my second guess. I mean, right up until it started talking back.

[Tangible eye-roll. She sounds amused, though.]

Any more brilliant glimpses of insight for me?

written;

[dersite_dj]

no i think the whole ghost journal thing covers it
mystery solved velma
but i guess its more like pirate ghosts
sorry i wasnt entirely clear on the profession of the ghosts

[Not that Dave didn't have his share of questions, but where would he be without being a douche?]

[voice]

[maskedtyrant]

[Codi has no problems with this--it doesn't seem like whoever this is plans on giving her any information, so she might as well have some fun here, right?]

Ghost professions are basically the most important types of professions. I am severely disappointed that you did not inform me of this earlier, and my outlook on life will be forever stained with the consequences of your oversight.

written;

[dersite_dj]

tragic that this was my last strike
as your guide and mentor ive failed for the last time and now i have to turn in my spectral blinged out badge
id turn in my gun too but all ive got is this legendary sword
though shit the component of its named after a gun
this got shitty quick

[oceanicbutterfly]

Yes, it's on. [That is a decision Karen now regrets.] Was there something you needed?

[maskedtyrant]

Well I was mostly just trying to figure out how to get this thing to record what I say, and I think that's been taken care of.

[Hence, the replies.]

But if you're offering, I could do with having some questions answered. How long have you been here?

[oceanicbutterfly]

Just over two months. A lot of us arrived at the same time.

[maskedtyrant]

Odd...and people keep showing up, I guess. In the same little clumps or just constantly?