themainframe | action + video;

Entry tags:

action + video;

[action;]
[There's a young, blond haired boy sitting at a bench outside of the small (although it's extremely large to him) Tokyo Tower with a blue dog beside him. The Gaomon refuses to stand still, punching and kicking and jumping around, even as Armin sits as still as he can. He's silent, staring at the ground as a million thoughts run through his head (why him? what is this place? he got the explanation but it just brought more questions. was he the only one here? how would he survive here, he's never known anything outside of the walls that wasn't out to eat people.) He sits there for almost an hour until he finally gets to his feet, taking a deep breath and clenching his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He's got to figure this out. He begins to walk, the Gaomon pausing its training to follow him as he begins to look for anybody he would be able to talk to.

And that person is you! Clad in a dark green cloak with the crest of a pair of wings embroidered into the back, Armin's expression is both serious and nervous, and he manages to stay calm as he walks up to you, raising his arm to show his D-Terminal.]

Excuse me-- I just arrived here a short while ago, and I'm afraid that I'm having trouble figuring out how this works. If you're familiar with how it works, would it be all right if I asked you to show me? As well as... a few tips on how to get by around here, if it's not too much trouble.

[video;]
[The video is later in the day, hours after Armin left the Tokyo Tower and learned some locations in Terminal Tokyo and found his way to the newcomers' apartment. He hasn't entered his room yet, but instead seems to be standing in one of the corridors, holding his device to show his face on the camera.]

... This is Armin Arlert of the Scouting Legion.

I've arrived at the housing prepared for newcomers to this world. If there is anybody from the Scouting Legion, Garrison, or Military Police -- or anybody who recognizes those names, I would like to request correspondence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Wheeljack merely gives Armin an eyeroll, aimed towards the sheep in question, before he pulls up the main screen of the D-Terminal.]

Just ignore her. It's what I do.

Now, this is what you'll mainly be usin' it for. It's like a video feed where ya can record things that'll be broadcast to the whole city. It's how ya communicate if you're not gonna go face to face with someone. Or ya could put it in Audio, or text.

Up to you in the end.

I'm going to call you Coconut Head.

You.

[There's a soft whine as her head drops, ears folded back. She can say hi too, you know!]

Ya can also document stuff...like a map. Oh, and they're good flashlights.

[Armin has to tear his eyes away from the sheep, listening and watching to the explanation.. but once Wheeljack is done talking, he opens his mouth to throw back questions.]

I'm unfamiliar with the terms video and broadcast. Back home, there wasn't any technology even remotely close to what is available here. I'm afraid I'm not sure what flashlights or coconuts are, either.

[That gets a slight double take from him, and a bit of an eyebrow perk. In all aspects, Armin LOOKED human enough--but...then again, so did he. Best to just skip the question on that and save it for later.

Now how to simplify it.]

Uh...okay. Imagine us talkin, but we can save it for later. Movin' pictures n' scrap like that. But when you make it, everyone in the city can see it.

And...yannow what light is, right?

[He's not touching 'coconut' right now, because...well, he doesn't really know either.]

[The words fly over his head completely. In an attempt to follow he looks down at his D-terminal and tentatively reaches for a button, hand flying back when the screen changes but calming down quickly enough. This is absolutely insane.]

I know what light is, yes. We didn't get them from devices like these and what I saw on the ceiling of the building I arrived at. We had the sunlight and fire.

[He smirks a little as the kid tests it out.]

Here, lemme show ya instead of tellin'. I'm not good with words anyway. You, over here.

[His head turns to the Sheepmon, who steps forward eagerly. When she does, Wheeljack unclips his own D-Terminal, setting up a private feed from his to Armin's, and holding it out to the digimon.]

Is this where I'm on TV? Hi! Hi mister Coconut Head!

Ya see it on your screen, kid? That's a video. As for a flashlight, think of it like fire on a stick. That you can touch.

[He stares at the screen, watching as the image of the sheep moves in unison with the one standing right there. Is this what "video" is? He still doesn't know what a coconut is.]

You can touch fire in this world?

[You and him both, Armin.]

I wouldn't reccomend touchin' ACTUAL fire. Won't have a nice after effect. But these things give off light like a fire, but no heat.

Like....the moon, kinda.

The moon... I know what that is, but it's hard to imagine.

However, this image also isn't giving off heat like fire does, so I can understand it isn't dangerous. And you can speak to other people through it?

Pretty crazy, huh.

[He'll just take it in stride. There's tons of things he reacted to here with that same confusion. Like...breathing.]

That's exactly it. Let's ya talk with who ya want, no matter where they are.

So you didn't have ANY of this stuff from your world? Weiiird...

[He shakes his head at the sheep, not questioning for now how it can talk.]

Nothing even close to it. Do they receive my messages immediately? How do I send them...?

[Wheeljack won't mind keeping the topic off her. The less attention she gets, the better, in his mind.]

Yeeep. Pretty much instantly. See this button here, kid?

[His hand gestures to a small red button on the device.]

That's how ya record. For the video thing I showed ya. Otherwise, ya type right here, and choose who it goes to. Soon as you hit send, they get it.

Believe me, you'll get used to it.

[But then, something hits You, and her head darts around, almost slinging those groceries out of her mouth.]

Hey...where's YOUR Digimon?

[You's question is answered when a pair of gloved hands appear on Armin's shoulders and his Gaomon hoists himself up to peer over at the screen. Armin tilts back under the weight for a second, but he straightens himself again and glances at his creature.]

I think you mean him. He's been around... he comes back every few minutes though.

You have to... type? Is that similar to writing?

[And as soon as she sees the Gaomon, she herself transforms back into her Gazimon form, completely dropping the bags (nice going, You) and scampering up Wheeljack's own shoulders, hanging on in much the same way.]

Of course he does! He's waited his WHOLE life to meet you!

Ya hear that, kid? You're stuck with em. Believe me, it's not as fun as it sounds.

[But at the question, he gives a nod, and a little smirk.]

Just like that, only instead'a havin' to write it out, ya can push a button and it makes the letter for ya.

I was told something similar, earlier. It's still difficult to fully grasp the concept of that, but I'm grateful that he's at least keeping us out of trouble.

[The Gaomon is as quiet as ever, simply hanging off of Armin's shoulders. They both look comfortable enough with it, although Armin takes a moment to shoo his Digimon's feet off what look like large metal boxes strapped to his legs.]

Typing... If I type the words, the recipient is then able to read exactly what I write? How do I send my messages?

[Those metal boxes get a look of curiosity from the bot. They weren't exactly the most streamlined pieces of equipment, so he can only wonder what exactly they accomplish. But that's a question for later.]

Ahhhh yep! That's what we're best at. I've helped Wheeljack here out a bunch of times.

[And actually, that gets a laugh out of him.]

Won't lie, she's good at it.

Ya send the messages just like ya would with the video and audio, with this button here. Whatever ya type is what gets sent.

[The button. He doesn't press the button yet, but he memorizes what it looks like and nods, staring at the screen before finding how to exit out of it. The basic information, for now, should be enough.]

How do I decide who will receive it? The way this seems to work... I'd have to let it know who to send to, won't I?

Ah yeah, right.

[His hand glides over the screen to the side, pulling up a list of everyone in the city. With a flick of his finger, he scrolls down it.]

List's right here. Just pick who ya want, or pick no one if ya want it to go to everyone. Simple as that.

[The scrolling is fast. One name catches Armin's attention, but he doesn't want to draw Wheeljack's attention to that just yet, and he doesn't want to make a big deal of it unless he actually--]

... All of these names are the people who are currently residing here, then?

Pretty much.

[He stops at the bottom of the list, at his own name, before continuing.]

Just pick who ya want from here--[And he taps his own name; better than to someone random.]--and types a simple message out, hitting the send button.

Within moments, his own beeps, which he pulls out.]

See? Nothin' to it.

Like writing letters to people but FASTER!

[It sent already?! Armin's eyes widen as he looks to Wheeljack's terminal, unable to believe that such fast communication was, in fact, capable.]

... Technology can come this far. That's-- that's amazing.

[That's adorable.

Seeing Armin's wide eyes just earns a little glint in his own.]

Yep. And even farther, sometimes.

Are those achievements also observable in this world?

[A hand reaches out, patting Armin's head lightly. If anything, there's a small smirk on those lips.]

Believe me, kid. Anythin's possible here.

[Whoa-- he steps back immediately, eyes widened in surprise at the sudden initiated contact.]

I-- all right. I'll keep my eyes opened.

Heh, 'pologies. It's habit.

[His hand drops, a little too used to that gesture thanks to Hiccup.]

But good, you'll miss a lot if ya don't.

[With one hand, he grabs the groceries that You dropped, giving a two fingered salute.]

Guess I'll see ya around. Welcome to...yeah, whatever this place is.