(no subject)

[claudiometer]

So, question. Does anyone have a thing that charges things up? I need to figure out if I've made a functional lightcycle or if it's just a pretty but useless baton.

It was that or find a salad to laugh into. [That part's quieter; she probably didn't mean to broadcast it. Either way, Claudia would like some help with a thing pls.]

If it's working, I'll start taking requests. Only a couple at a time, though, I need to make sure I have time to... you know. Eat and sleep.

Comments

[creativefool]

So you got into the code and busted CE to actually edit 'n manipulate it into somethin' physical? Something like that? Man. That's good thinking.

And if you've got this bit done, you can do the rest. Heh. I'd love to see it workin'...

[claudiometer]

Damn right I can. Mucking around with computers and electricity is my jam, this is just another way to do that.

...Huh. I wonder... you know that Grid thing with rerouting electrical surges?

[creativefool]

Redirection, yeah. I can't do it myself, but ... you thinkin' someone could do somethin' with it? I dunno, zap the current into where it's needed?

[claudiometer]

I bet if I Teslaed someone who was... probably holding one of the batons, they could reroute it.

It might be worth a try sometime, if there's anyone around who can do it. Worst that'll happen is it doesn't work and I knock them out for a minute or so.

[creativefool]

Sounds like a plan to me. Uh, if anyone doesn't mind gettin' zapped to try the thing.

[claudiometer]

It takes a lot more than I'd use for this for a Tesla shot to be lethal. Helena and I have both walked away from it more than once. And I probably did worse to myself making the supercharged handcuffs.

Obviously I'd ask whoever if they're game first, and if they don't already have a lightcycle they get a free prize. But either way, it's nowhere near fatal.

[creativefool]

Nah, figured that'd be the case.

...super...charged handcuffs? Do I even wanna know?

[claudiometer]

20,000-volt current at the press of a button. Some dipshit in high school said I couldn't do it, so I decided to shut him up. Totally worth getting suspended.

They're not here, though. Artie insisted on shelving them when I started working at the Warehouse. Probably trying to keep me from using them on him again.

[creativefool]

...you made them in high school. Damn.

[...yep, there goes another entry onto Kanji's 'this is what smart people do' list.]

[claudiometer]

Needed an outlet for my creativity and I've never been any good at art. [Music's another story, but she won't be admitting to that one any time soon. If ever.]

What about you? What takes up your free time when you're yourself?

[creativefool]

[Still. There's a moment before he replies-]

Mostly makin' stuff myself... Art business, and I do a lot of textile work, knittin' and sewin'.

[claudiometer]

Well, damn, you got me outclassed on like, three fronts. I tend to make my brother sew stuff for me. Well, I would if he was here, anyway. [Aaaand that's a sad moment especially after Nova Venezia MOVING ON]

You say that like it's nothing. Why're you so down on yourself?

[creativefool]

Eh? What makes ya think that? I know I'm good at it. Pretty sure I can make the cutest shit in the whole'f Liminal Space. Things that're gonna make peoples' teeth hurt two worlds over.

[But ... still. It's not exactly ... intellectual.]

[claudiometer]

I bet you do. [And she says that completely seriously. There's an adorable scarab monodrone in her room that'll back her up on this point - infiltrating or not, that's his work.

...Hmm. On second thought, she's taking this one private. She doesn't know the kid very well, but if she can guess accurately here, he doesn't deserve to have his issues spread all over the network. He's a sweetie, he doesn't need that.]

But... let me guess, you got it in your head that 'smart' is one kind of thing and not one you do very well. Never mind that it takes a lot of planning to pull off a creative project with anything halfway resembling success. You answered my first question like you don't think knitting's nearly as impressive as science-based work. They're not ranked, they're equivalent. I couldn't knit a potholder if my life depended on it, but I can hack into any computer system you put in front of me.

[From halfway around the world, once.]

[creativefool]

[Gh-! Yeah, it's a good job that she can't see him here. Keeping it private-]

It just ... I just ... No, I just grew up around all this stuff. It's just ... what I've got a feel for. It's not the same as what you do. There's ... logic and calculation and all the rest of it in there.

I woulda screwed up my first year in high school totally if I hadn't ... gotten lucky. All I do is keep trying. I can get through things like that, sure, but ... that ain't the same.

Private

[claudiometer]

I 'just' grew up around computers. I 'just' grew up putting random stuff together to see what I could make it do. How's that different? How's there no calculation in figuring out how much material you're going to need to make something? In taking measurements for someone's clothes? How's there no logic in deciding what color combination to go with?

Ah. The school trap. School's good at one or two specific things, and one of them is telling people Smart is Good Grades. Two of the smartest people I know had no formal schooling. Would've been barred from it, in fact. [It's only a guess when it comes to Mrs. Frederic, but Claudia knows she's older than she looks, and it's not far from there to 'may have been freed as a child.' If she was lucky enough to go to school, it probably wasn't a very good one.]

The fact that it doesn't come naturally to you means you have to work harder at it. The fact that you're putting the work in anyway means you might actually understand it better out the other end than someone who doesn't have to try so hard. We can take it for granted sometimes.

Re: Private

[creativefool]

I... no, that's not right, I'm...

[His mind's racing, conflicted. He might just have his head in his hands, here.]

Y'... you don't have to say that. Not for me.

Private

[claudiometer]

Why not? It's true. You have a good head on your shoulders. Does it really matter if the stuff you apply it to doesn't get you straight As?

Or... whatever the Japanese equivalent is.

Private:

[creativefool]

[There might be a slight hint of a laugh there. Not much of one, but...]

...dunno. Depends.

Private

[claudiometer]

What does it depend on?

Re: Private

[creativefool]

[He's kind of pushing away a bit, here, not quite breaking the connection but it's shaky. Sure, he understands she's trying to help, but ...]

Gotta get through school. Got in there in the first place, right? An' if I want t' go to college, kinda thinkin' about it but ain't sure... they're gonna care... I know it ain't everythin', but...

Private

[claudiometer]

Think really carefully about college before you commit. I tried it because I thought it was what I should do and it sucked.

...wait, got in?

Re: Private

[creativefool]

Yeah, I didn't think I wanted to go at all once, didn't think I was gonna need it, but kinda been wondering... uh. Y'know, high school entrance tests?

Private

[claudiometer]

Oh, right. Not really a thing in the States, we're more interested in testing people to make sure they're ready to leave...

Actually. Now that I think about it, Japanese high school entrance exams are so hellacious I've heard horror stories about them. And you got in on the first try? That's gotta count for something.

Re: Private

[creativefool]

You don't? Huh. Yeah, it was damn tough, still dunno how I managed sometimes. I ... kinda hadn't had a good year comin' up to it.