Open log + video

[droptheious]

WHO: Varian and you!
WHERE: His labyrinth then outside the Zodiac apartments
WHEN: 1 May
WHAT: Alchemy boy arrives
WARNINGS: Some PTSD in the arrival log.



Varian doesn't recognise the alchemy lab he's wound up in - he's not even sure how he got here. He remembers that weird, uneasy being watched feeling the night before, but that's nothing new. People watch him plenty. Then he went to sleep and found himself...here. The one good thing is that Ruddiger is here too, the raccoon perched on top of his shoulder and chittering anxiously. He wanders around the space, finding upturned flasks of strange, green liquid or broken automaton parts and the realisation that something is deeply wrong starts to settle in his chest.

"H-hello? Um- anyone there?"

He stills for a moment, chewing his bottom lip, waiting for an answer. When one doesn't come, he starts walking again and recognises more and more of the discarded experiments around him. It's like someone put together the worst museum in the world and it consisted only of his failures. Varian's...pretty used to having nightmares about the darker sides of his past, but it's never been like this before.

His anxiety has already been slowly rising, but the second he walks into a man encased in some sort of crystal, it spikes up exponentially. His breath catches in his throat, his eyes wide. He's DEFINITELY experienced this in his nightmares before and it hurts every single time. He backs away from it, into the opposite wall, where he slides down onto the floor, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his face with his hands. Ruddiger slips down to sit in his lap, trying to pat his arm reassuringly, but to little avail.

"Nonononono, not again!" he tries to even out his breathing, but he's not doing a good job of it. "Wake up, wake up, wake up!!"



VIDEO - UN:NOT SET

[Once he's free from his labyrinth and has been shown the way to his new apartment (which is a wild concept, a little house inside a building???) Varian has decided to check out the strange pocket communication device. Ruddiger is behind him, rummaging through the garbage as he stands outside the Zodiac apartment building. Not that anyone can see this, because Varian has his thumb over the camera. So there's just audio and the occasional flicker of light as his hand shifts. ]

Okay, so, apparently I fell through some sort of trans-dimensional rift and now I'm here. I've got some questions I really need answering and apparently, this little device allows me to talk to other people who are similarly trapped in this world. Right? Right. SO!

One - Can someone explain what this electricity thing is? How does it work? How does it generate light? Power? If you can't explain it, can you point me in the direction of a library where I can learn this for myself?

Two - Bouncing off from one, what's with the horseless carriages? I've built automatons in the past, so I'm assuming they run on some sort of internal device, but I've never seen anything like it before in my life. What fuels them?

Three - Where can I get alchemical supplies? My backpack usually has plenty in but I've got nothing for some reason. Is there an apothecary around here somewhere? Equally, does anyone know a good lab space I can use? I have my kitchen in my...home? But I really do need a better space for my future projects.

Four - Speaking of, I have experience in building trans-dimensional portals. I'm going to try and get the supplies needed to figure a way out of here. This is a very different world to what I'm used to, but I'm sure I can figure it out.

Five- Who is Denny? Does-does he own the brightly coloured tavern? They won't accept silver or gold coins there and I need to feed my raccoon. I guess I need to speak to this Denny for that? How do I get in touch with him?

Okay, that should be it for now. I'd appreciate any help you can give me...assuming this thing even works.

Comments

[prontissimo]

Uhhhh—

[ Varian asks good questions. That one stumps Alberto a moment, pausing as he finishes whipping up some pesto and herbs. His eyes search the ceiling thoughtfully as if he'll find a good answer up there. He does not. He's never bothered to research how pasta itself is made. He just has researched recipes on how to make it. He hums in thought to himself, then sets the pesto down with a loud thud, shifting gears rather abruptly. ]

Let's find out!

[ He flings open a cabinet, revealing a wide collection of glass jars of all sizes and contents... but indeed, the whole bottom shelf is just various types of pasta in tall, clear canisters, all crowded together. He pulls out a few different kinds — trenette, rigatoni, capellini, farfalle — and spreads the jars out unceremoniously across the table for Varian to inspect. Then, he reaches over Ruddiger with a long stretch to snatch his phone up from where it'd been sitting on the table in front of him, the phone still playing opera aloud, and quickly googles "what is pasta made of," before laying the phone down flat in front of Varian on the table with a showy wave of his hand to present the search results. ]

Ecco— Pasta's made out of that. Then you boil it and add stuff and it becomes amazing.

[ He just... leaves all that without any further explanation, either, and returns to the stove. This is maybe starting to seem like Varian did not stumble across a natural-born teacher... but Alberto sure has the confidence of one. The good intent is there? He continues his explanation offhandedly as he shleps the pot off the stove and dumps its contents into a copper colander over the sink, a huge cloud of steam billowing up around him as he does. ]

That's the Any Question Ever Answer-er, by the way — another feature on the Everything Machine. ...It's as it sounds. More or less.

[droptheious]

[Going to the phone is not something Varian ever thought of. He's still getting used to it, after all, and he never realise you could just...ask it questions. So he watches Alberto do his thing with poorly concealed wonder. He leans in to peer at the screen and...well, there it is, all the information just like that. Varian's eyes widen, and he pulls his own out of his pocket, staring at it. ]

Wait. You can ask this any question and it'll give you the answer? It's- it's like having a whole library in your pocket?

[Just a WHOLE library. RIGHT THERE. He can learn so much from this is this is true. The pasta is interesting and hey, he's going to get to eat some soon, but the important takeaway here is all the KNOWLEDGE!!!]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto looks over his shoulder at Varian, smirking, self-satisfied at having struck his mark. He had a feeling that'd be a hit. He goes about tossing the trenette and vegetables in pesto in the colander animatedly, fluidly, before splitting the pasta four equal ways (because of course the raccoon gets a person-sized serving); the fourth serving, however, goes straight into a tupperware and set aside. Alberto's obviously sending the pair home with leftovers. He speaks while he divvies up the food, and continues while delivering a pitcher of water from the fridge, along with the three mismatched glasses, to the table to start. ]

You can ask it almost any question. Sometimes you stump it, which is kinda fun, but also kinda sucks cuz then you don't get your answer... But usually it's smart enough to figure it out if you dig deeper. It's only gonna know stuff other people will know, too, though — not like... where you left your shoes. Information, y'know. Photographs. Aaand people's opinions, hah. And funny little movies. All kinds of stuff. Go on, ask it something~ Let's see what you find!

[ If Alberto knew what a library was, this wouldn't need explanation. But alas, he does not, and shows zero reaction to the word. He sticks three forks in his pants pocket, then balances the three pasta bowls in his hands very carefully, using the two to hold up the one in between as if in a delicate performance act as he approaches the table. But surprisingly, nothing is dropped, and the table is set smoothly. He whips the three forks out from his pocket, keeps his own, hands the next to Varian, and then hesitates when reaching to hand the third to Ruddiger... ...and opts to quietly set it on the table beside the bowl instead. Whoops. He turns a awkward little grin on Varian at that, eager to read his reaction to his explanation of Google and hear what the other kid came up with to search for. ]

Ehhh~?

[droptheious]

[Varian does, at least take note of the Tupperware- he's not exactly sure what it is (seriously, WHAT'S PLASTIC???) but he's largely distracted by this Everything Machine. ]

Right. I kind of figured that. But okay, sure.

[Ruddiger picks up the fork in his little raccoon paw and then...genuinely starts stabbing at the pasta. He has no idea how to use it and neither does Varian, really. He's going for a more...scooping action. Of course, it doesn't help he's distracted by the phone- following Alberto's lead and checking out this google. He stares at it for a moment before typing in `what is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?`.

He knows the answer already, he's...testing it.]

Huh. How about that, it worked! And it's right!

[He finally takes a bite out of his food and lets out a soft considerate hum. ]

It's...got an interesting texture. Kinda soft but also not?

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's stunned to see the raccoon pick up the fork and take a stab at it. His look of amazement shifts to a look of delight, but then when he notices Varian scooping at the noodles, just as Alberto had done when he first was introduced to pasta (well, at least, his, uh, second time), his smile turns to a knowing smirk, glancing between his two guests. This is great. He likes being in a teaching role in any capacity — though it's almost always self-appointed... He lifts his fork and taps on the table with his other hand to get their attention, then demonstrates twisting his own pasta onto his fork, just as Massimo had shown him, quietly smiling at both of them before taking his own first bite. There's no hint of judgment — just example. Raccoons are clearly smarter than cats, so he's involving Ruddiger like any other person until he doesn't seem to be understood. He's fascinated by the creature, though, and is trying to not stare too much... but he's definitely allowing himself to stare a little, watching the animal eat while Varian putzes on the phone.

The review of the food is met with an enthusiastic nod and a look of pride, another knowing little smirk, idly pointing his empty fork at Varian to gesture while he talks... with his mouth full. ]

Mmph! Yeah, that's called al dente. That means it's perfect. Pasta shouldn't be too hard or too soft. You gotta cook it just so~ S'good, right? I made the pesto myself, too! ...Never buy pesto in a jar. They sell it already made in the super-stores here, but just— don't. Save yourself.

[ He delivers that last line with a comically serious expression, a dark, heavy tone in his voice all of a sudden, to tag on this wise warning before a much more pointed bite. Ostensibly a lesson learned from first-hand experience? He tried store-bought pesto once, at random, because it was very cheap, and never again. He got what he got. But really he's just... gassing himself up... for something very simple, which he has little expertise on, but still much conviction about. Still counts for something. ]

[droptheious]

[Varian watches Alberto twisting his fork, quietly observing it before mimicking the gesture. Finding that works a lot better in eating the pasta (and no doubt involved complicated physics that Varian quietly listed in his head) and continues with the process. Ruddiger, too, seems to get it after a few other tries. ]

Uh...right, okay. We don't really...do a lot of that back home anyway. Like. Stores. With things in jars. I'm still getting used to...well. Things being like, instant? I guess? Everything is homemade back home.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's unable to conceal how tickled he is watching the raccoon use a fork correctly to eat pasta. He has no idea what this animal even is, but he keeps looking toward him during conversation and smirking in delight. Smartest not-cat ever? He continues talking with his mouth full off and on, gesturing with his hands as he speaks and using the fork as a rhetorical prop. ]

Nahhh, same here. That's a "this place" thing, I think. Back home was wayyy, erm— ...s-simpler? Not easier, exactly. But— also not as convenient. Everything here's about convenience... There are even little shops literally called convenience stores. Heh. ...It's weird, but not hard. You guys seem smart. You'll get the hang of it quick.

[ He flashes Varian an encouraging smile and takes a large, pointed bite of pasta. But then, with that rare compliment — though still gesturing and talking with his mouth full — he does finally turn the stage over. ]

So, where're you from? You recognized when I was speaking Italian. ¿Hablas spañolo? Or just English? Or what?

[ Look, he knows about the existence of three languages. He only knew about one language until he came here and magically found himself multilingual. He's taking a stab in the dark. It's exciting stuff. ...Even if his Itañol is not quite on the mark. ]

[droptheious]

Why do people need everything so fast? Seems to me there'd be a dip in quality if everything's made so quickly.

[You can't have an artesian work FAST after all.]

Uhhhhh, I don't speak English. I mean- until I got here? I'm still not sure how I can speak it now? I recognised Italian because I have a friend who speaks it. I'm from Corona.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto just shrugs dismissively and hums to the beat of "I dunno" at the remark about the dip in quality, taking another large bite of pasta. ...L-Look around... He could hang a sign that says "pawn shop" outside his front door and probably make a killing by accident. He's not in the slightest concerned with quality, functionality, or artesian work. He likes stuff. ]

I'unno where that is. But I never heard of anywhere but Italy — or any language but Italian — before I came here... So I'm right there with ya.

[ Except Varian's quite a few steps ahead since he, y'know, knows of the world. Never mind that. Alberto points his fork at Varian, raising his brow quizzically. Not a great host, having never really... done this before... But he means well. ]

What's "Corona" like? Sounds fancy. What'd you do there?

[droptheious]

I mean...I know other countries exist. I just...haven't been to them. It's in Europe?

[Once he's actually settled here he can say it's basically Germany, but he doesn't have that information right now, alas. And at least he doesn't seem too bothered about the fork pointing. He's not really one for decorum at the best of times.]

It's...nice. Like, overly nice sometimes? The people are super friendly and forgiving about everything. They have a celebration just about every other week. [He'd only really call court fancy. ]

I'm the royal engineer. It's my job to create new scientific advancements for the kingdom.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto is marveling at this description. People being super forgiving about everything is even more magical sounding than a big celebration every week. But Varian's job is most impressive of all, Alberto's eyes even growing wide. ]

So you're basically the best scientist — in the whole country? That's so cool...! You're, like, my age! Amazza! What do you make?!

[ Do you see those stars in his eyes, Varian? Maybe another science enthusiast in the midst...? ]

[droptheious]

[Oh wow, that's a lot of admiration and Varian's not sure what to do with that. Usually, he's the one looking up doe-eyed at others. He doesn't know how to handle being on the receiving end of this. ]

H-hah, a little bit older, but yeah.

[When he was Alberto's age he was trying to murder the royal family with robots. ]

But yeah, I guess that's...me. I um, make all sorts of things. But the thing I'm proud of that I not long finished was a hot water system for the whole kingdom. [A beat.] I'm from a long time in the past to...here, so...we didn't have running water before, much less hot running water. It took me years to figure out, and now everyone gets it.

[EVERYONE. He was very adamant this was not something that would be given only to the rich. Every single resident of Corona, from the richest to the poorest would have access to this, and he'd fight for that for every single thing he made for the rest of his days. Thankfully, he knows Rapunzel will be in his corner for that. ]

sorry this is so late! I know it's super old and you've been trimming your inbox, nbd if we drop it.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto listens on in awe as he eats his pasta, his intrigue clearly captured. Running water was indeed a novelty to him, too, so meeting someone who invented it is sort of mind-blowing...? ]

That's so cool...! I never knew about running water until a couple seasons ago! You came up with it. What else have you come up with?

[ Varian could give virtually any answer, Alberto already can tell, without losing his rapt attention. The young scientist has obviously has gained a fan right away... ]

[droptheious]

[Varian's not used to people being this enraptured with his work. He pauses for a moment to try and process this, before letting out a breath and smiling.]

Hah, yeah. It was hard work, but I'm pretty proud of it.

[A few of his inventions are definitely...bad. And he's not about to get into his past with a relative stranger, so he thinks about what might excite someone Alberto's age, and aims for what excited HIM when he was that age.]

I made a lot of chemical compounds. I have one that makes a really sticky substance, it's almost impossible to escape from.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto doesn't know what chemicals are. Or compounds. But he knows what "sticky substance" means, and that sounds... err— ]

Pfft, gross? Hah. Why'd you make that? Who were you sticking to what? Heh~

[ Cuz what does he care about being nosy with a total stranger. What are boundaries. Inquiring minds want to know! ]

[droptheious]

[What ARE boundaries, honestly. At least Varian doesn't mind talking about this carefully selected topic.]

Oh, well I'd made them to keep pests out of the crops in my village. [He casts a pointed look at Ruddiger, who does not pause in eating.] Someone was eating all the food we were growing and I wanted a humane solution to...discourage it.