Carrots!
At some point (and it was such a good idea I can only assume it was someone else's) it occurred to me how to deal with Sparks' activities, which is why I'm standing stock still as she climbs over me. The still part is partially to show my lack of romantic interest in her, but mostly surprise. the standing part is entirely due to the fact I can't sit down. There are carrots everywhere. The lounge is bursting with them. The halls are stacked to the ceiling. The basement is stuffed full. Various disused labs have earthy plant-smells coming from behind bulging doors.
I'll say this for Id, When he sets out to screw around, he doesn't screw around.
Eventually Sparks notices I'm not actually responding to her advances, and mercifully leaves me alone. I slope off in search of Id - I'm not sure whether to boot his backside or congratulate him, but the decision is taken away from me by being unable to find him. Instead I head home feeling something of a cad for treating Sparks that way.
The next day I'm in the labs bright and early for some reason, listening to the radio in stunned disbelief as the newscaster outlines the carrot shortage. Without warning a whirlwind of pure energy hurtles into the lounge, waving some notes and shouting "Johnjohnjohnjohnjohnjohnjohnjohn." Sparks is definitely in the building.
I immediately brace for anything I can think of at once - being leaped on, hugged, kissed, kicked, exposed as stormAngel, denounced as a coward... Of course, she just wouldn't be Sparks if I could pre-empt her. "John" she exclaims breathlessly "you must build me a computer. A trinary computer."
A Wha?
This is going to be fun. I don't even know what a trinary computer is, yes somehow this young woman is unshakingly convinced that I can build one. After all, can't I build reactive armour and collapsible wings? I protest that one was self organising and the other, while having over a hundred moving parts does so in roughly three cubic feet of volume, which isn't exactly computer-chip scale, yet somehow it all comes out as "err, wow, no, hang on..." which doesn't quite get my point across. Eventually she understands my protestations, but it's fairly clear she thinks I'm lying just to spite her.
I am such a cad.
I'll say this for Id, When he sets out to screw around, he doesn't screw around.
Eventually Sparks notices I'm not actually responding to her advances, and mercifully leaves me alone. I slope off in search of Id - I'm not sure whether to boot his backside or congratulate him, but the decision is taken away from me by being unable to find him. Instead I head home feeling something of a cad for treating Sparks that way.
The next day I'm in the labs bright and early for some reason, listening to the radio in stunned disbelief as the newscaster outlines the carrot shortage. Without warning a whirlwind of pure energy hurtles into the lounge, waving some notes and shouting "Johnjohnjohnjohnjohnjohnjohnjohn." Sparks is definitely in the building.
I immediately brace for anything I can think of at once - being leaped on, hugged, kissed, kicked, exposed as stormAngel, denounced as a coward... Of course, she just wouldn't be Sparks if I could pre-empt her. "John" she exclaims breathlessly "you must build me a computer. A trinary computer."
A Wha?
This is going to be fun. I don't even know what a trinary computer is, yes somehow this young woman is unshakingly convinced that I can build one. After all, can't I build reactive armour and collapsible wings? I protest that one was self organising and the other, while having over a hundred moving parts does so in roughly three cubic feet of volume, which isn't exactly computer-chip scale, yet somehow it all comes out as "err, wow, no, hang on..." which doesn't quite get my point across. Eventually she understands my protestations, but it's fairly clear she thinks I'm lying just to spite her.
I am such a cad.