Dwanaście--Written
[Filtered from Frederic 1 80% thanks to Hughes]
[Today, Poland has important questions for you, Luceti.]
Question time!!
1. Whos good with hair??? We need a hairdresser totally
2. Where do you get liquid display crystals? Or something like that I dont know but where do you get them? Somebody give me some because I need them
[Last one is a little weirder ( Read more... )
[Today, Poland has important questions for you, Luceti.]
Question time!!
1. Whos good with hair??? We need a hairdresser totally
2. Where do you get liquid display crystals? Or something like that I dont know but where do you get them? Somebody give me some because I need them
[Last one is a little weirder ( Read more... )
So have the following reply, written in a rather stiff-looking but precise script.]
1. I have yet to see any formal sort of announcement as to whether there are any hairdressing facilities in Luceti, but considering the varying disciplines of those studying here, I am positive that there is at least somebody who could be of service to you. [This question is somewhat of interest to Robert as well - after all, his hair's eventually going to need cutting.]
2. What purpose might you be needing the liquid display crystals for? Although at present I confess I have no idea where you could obtain them from, it may be plausible that your request can be somehow dealt with in another fashion if liquid display crystals are unavailable. My expertise is not in the field, but perhaps I could be of some assistance.
3. [Robert hesitates before writing the rest of this.] I... am less than proficient in the field of romance. [Read: He's utterly terrible at it.] But my recommendation to your friend (OOC: Yes, Robert's taking the text at face value; he can't really tell that Poland means himself, even though Poland used "we" up there...) is that your friend re-establish contact with this person - though it may be uncomfortable at first, it is obviously necessary in this situation - and have an honest, rational discussion with this person. If the person does indeed care about your friend, it is quite likely that the person will be willing to listen to whatever your friend has to say. If the conversation is then an amicable one, your friend and this person can see whether they would like to establish a formal relationship or not.
Reply
1. Ya nobody is coming though and ugh I had a bad hair day like a week ago and I needed a salon and there was none so we need one. [Have fun with that run-on sentence.]
2. Seriously??? Oh my gosh yes! I need them for a TV because Japan is making me one that's big and he says he needs liquid display crystals.
3. Why does everybody keep saying he needs to talk to him again?? [Seriously, everybody is saying that. Not the answer he wants to hear.]
Reply
[Robert isn't sure what to make of the answers he gets in return - especially that last one. And... TV?]
1. Perhaps you should make a formal request to whatever passes for government of this place concerning the establishment of a hairdressing salon? Then it would simply be a matter of recruiting capable practitioners. That seems to be more or less how prior businesses here were founded. You would be doing the community a favour if you spearheaded the project, and it is obviously a cause that you support.
2. I am afraid I don't recognize the abbreviation TV. I conclude by this fact that this form of technology is one that is not in use anymore by my time - which would be A.D. 2232, if you use typical time units. Else I might have to give you the time in another format... However, I assure you that if I can find some manner of obtaining liquid display crystals, I will inform you. Though liquid display crystals are rarely in use on Terra, they still find some niche uses where other materials have not outclassed them.
[Robert kind of rolls his eyes at the next answer.]
3. Quite simply, the reason that you keep hearing this response is because it is the most logical one. If you reasonably consider the situation, you will find that the only way for anything constructive to happen is for a conversation to occur. If, for example, your friend and this person were to never speak again, your friend would be sacrificing a potential relationship - and the fact that the person obviously enjoys your friend's company enough to claim attraction to your friend in some manner indicates that your friend and this person have an extensive rapport. It is my opinion that such a relationship should not simply be left by the wayside due to discomfort. [Robert's pretty hypocritical writing that, of course.]
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1. Wait you mean like try to find a way to set this up myself by asking the Malnosso??? [That sounds like work. He's not big on work.]
2. Youre from the future too??? Whoa!! Im from 2010! But oh my gosh you dont have TVs anymore? What do you watch? But if you could get me the liquid display crystals thatd be awesome!!
[More answers he doesn't want to hear.]
3. Extensive rapport?? But what if my friend doesnt like this other guy? Or doesnt think so anyway even if their other friend said they do. and what if the relationship wouldnt work and what if people found out??
Also you talk weird
[Sorry, Robert. He's a little rude sometimes.]
Reply
1. Well, specifically I meant the members of the village itself. I severely doubt the Malnosso would be particularly helpful in this regard... though I have heard talk of more receptive Malnossian scientists who might be willing to assist you.
2. Most Terrans have direct connections to massive databases in their residences; these databases have access to all the information currently available to Terra. One could watch all the holovideos that one pleased. Conceivably there are enough data for one to watch holovideos for several generations.
If by chance you do discover a manner of finding liquid display crystals before I do, I would much like to hear about it myself. If such material can be found here in Luceti, it is thoroughly possible that other materials may be procured as well.
[Robert furrows his brow at all these questions. He's going to have to do this systematically.]
3.
a) By "extensive rapport" I am referring to the presence of a close relationship that one has maintained for long enough that one can be reasonably certain of all members of the relationship obtaining some sort of benefit from it.
b) If your friend did not like this other person, what sort of meaning would this situation have to begin with? Your friend would have never been interested in the other person long enough for there to be a relationship at all, in that case. [Robert does not understand the meaning of "like" as a synonym for "has attraction to". This concept will need to be explained to him.]
c) The most accurate way to judge whether a relationship will function or not is to see whether or not all members of the relationship are willing to put effort into maintaining it. It is notoriously difficult to maintain a relationship if there is no open communication between its members. I would say that your friend and the person your friend is thinking of having a relationship with would be the most qualified to judge whether or not the relationship would be workable long-term.
d) There is no shame in having a relationship. As long as all members are consenting and comfortable, what does it matter? The opinion of other people should not be a factor as to whether your friend should be with a person that your friend wants to be with - the only people capable of making such a decision are the ones directly involved in said relationship. [If Robert could write with conviction, he would do so. This is one of the many tenets of Terran humanism that he strongly supports.
The next bit catches him a little off-guard.]
... e) My vernacular is the most professional and acceptable manner of speaking amongst certified scientists at the Randi Institute. [By that, he means he didn't even realize it was weird.]
Reply
1. But I dont think anybody knows how to cut hair and style it and I kind of do but Im not going to do it. I need someone to do it for me.
2. Whats a holovideo?
But Ill totally tell you OK?
[...WHY ARE THERE LETTERS NOW?]
Um are we going by the alphabet now??? But I dont get what youre saying. Other than you saying other people shouldnt matter and I agree but like with this it sort of matters and that they should know if itll work maybe but my friend knows it wont so.
And what's a vernacular?
Reply
1. Point duly acknowledged. However, it is an important subject, considering that many of the ones here will likely need to have their respective hair cut at some point. Perhaps there is literature on the subject at the library if somebody would be willing to study it? [Robert would, but he'd totally be fulfilling a stereotype. And even beyond that, he's too practical to do fancy hairstyles.]
2. [It's still jarring to be around people who don't intrisically know these things.] ... Ah. A holovideo is an audiovisual feed where the visual portion is conveyed by three-dimensionally-projected imagery, to better convey perspective and depth than a two-dimensional image would.
As for the lettered part - I was simply trying to keep your questions organized, as otherwise it would have been a rather disjointed paragraph. But I digress...
If your friend knows that the relationship will not work, then it is up to your friend to inform the person interested in him of this fact. That is the only ethical thing to do. Otherwise your friend will simply be leaving the person in a position where the person is indefinitely unaware - and knowing is always better than remaining ignorant. [Or at least Robert thinks so.]
As for your question - vernacular is a style of speech or communication and generally encompasses word choice and inflection.
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1. You really think somebody could study about it?? Like thatd actually work? [And suddenly, he has an idea.]
2. So its kind of like TV except not. OK got it!! Thats kind of cool
I still dont really get it but OK. Using the alphabet is confusing though
So I should tell them? But I dont know. I dont really want to hurt their feelings. [Which...actually shows how much the person means to them. Considering Poland just doesn't think about these things usually.]
Why didnt you just say something easier then?
Reply
1. Yes, I do believe that someone could research the process. Perhaps even teach an extracurricular class in the school... you might wish to contact Ms. Raine Sage on that prospect.
2. I am glad to have been able to answer your questions. Perhaps, if I can ever obtain my nanocomputer here, I shall show you a holovideo from its databanks.
3. I apologize for confusing you. I shall maintain this format, then, and use paragraph breaks to indicate a change instead.
Ah, is this situation about you instead? [He's genuinely curious. It's not an aggressive question; he just literally couldn't tell.] I suppose the answer is the same regardless...
But, in terms of hurting the other person's feelings - I sincerely believe that the other person's feelings would be injured more severely by you or your friend withholding the truth than from you or your friend's honesty. One who is a close friend would probably appreciate being told the truth, regardless of how painful it may be initially.
Ah. I... did not realize I was presenting a language barrier. [The next part is hesitant and a little small.] I suppose that I have never had to consider this before.
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1. I dont know [Contacting someone he doesn't know? No, Poland doesn't work like that. But at the same time, he really does want a nice hair salon. This might be a hard decision he'll have to make.]
2. Totally?? Oh my gosh thatd be really cool!! Dude does yours have cable?
3. Thanks!
[Crap, he slipped again. He keeps doing that.] No, its not about me! Its about my friend! I just messed up or something but it's NOT ME
I guess youre right. But I dont know. Its weird because...its weird. [Mostly because he isn't used to this sort of thing and some part of him wants to believe it'd work, but he knows he wouldn't.]
Ya people dont always know all those words. I totally have never seen vernacular before
Reply
1. I must contact Ms. Raine Sage myself subsequently, as I wish to become a teacher. Perhaps we can make our request together, or I may make it on your behalf?
2. "Cable"? Ah, another term I do not recognize. My databanks may be compromised due to the lack of connection to Terra's planetwide databases, but I will see what I can do.
3. [Here is where Robert's writing becomes a little... terse?] You hardly need to be so anxious about it. If it were your problem, it would be very commendable that you are asking for help for it. Asking for help is a very intelligent thing to do; certainly it is much better than blundering about.
[Were Robert capable of writing gently, he probably would. As gently as he can seem, anyway.] I understand that romantic relationships can be... difficult. It is especially difficult in such a scenario where one person is interested and the other is not. But... usually, a rational, clear-minded approach will help to deal with the situation. The important thing is to try to remain calm and objective; becoming distraught will only serve to make things worse.
I suppose my vocabulary is somewhat... advanced for this place... At any rate, I will try to be more mindful of my words. Or perhaps include definitions.
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2. Oh my gosh you dont have cable in the future? Thats so horrible!! Its like here. But OK?? I dont get it but OK!!
3. ...its smart to ask for help? [This is something he never thought of.]
My friend is totally calm!! But [Poland cannot find it in him to able to go to the other person. He can't. He could try and then he'd just go right back. Deep down, he knows he should. But that's not easy.] whatever
OK cool!!! Definitons would sooo help
Reply
1. As you wish. I shall mention it my next broadcast.
2. I am curious to witness this "cable" you speak of... perhaps I may see it if you obtain access to it here?
3. Yes. It is very intelligent to request help when necessary. [Even though Robert hates admitting he doesn't know things, even he knows this much.]
Perhaps someone might assist your friend - like yourself - in speaking to this person? It might... make it easier. [Robert knows how it feels, feeling that sort of crushing anxiety. And sometimes, the idea of somebody to support you - it really helps when dealing with it.
Not like Robert has anybody to support him. Or did until now, anyway...]
At least it would be less uncomfortable than for your friend to go alone.
I really do recommend that your friend do something, though. It... [Robert falters, and then writes the next part in very small letters - almost shameful script.] You should do everything in your power to hold onto a relationship, lest it be wrested from your grasp.
Reply
1. Thanks!!!
2. OK!! I cant really explain it but its really cool and I can watch stuff with it. But Japan keeps telling me we dont have cable here
3. I never knew that [Because Poland doesn't very often ask for help with serious things until he desperately needs it. Everything else that's small? Sure. But no, to everything else.]
You think someone could? Because I totally know who could help and thatd be a lot of help
You so have a good point!!
[And that last bit calls out to him because he does know that. He doesn't have many real friends or anything like that.]
I know. Youre right because I should do something
Reply
2. This Japan seems as though he is very technologically-inclined. Perhaps I could meet him one of these days? (OOC: Robert doesn't recognize the country names "Japan", "Poland", et cetera, because Terra hasn't had any political boundaries for a good century or so. The Hetalia cast would probably find that really disturbing.)
3. Then it is good that you have been informed. Perhaps in future you would wish to ask for help more readily... Although asking for help can be quite discomforting, it is often that people will be willing to assist you - or at least I have discovered such here. [Rather unwillingly, he might add.]
I definitely think that someone could assist you in this regard. And if you can think of someone already to assist, so much the better.
I... have personal experience with this situation. I... would not wish for you to make the same mistake as I did.
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2. I dont know. Probably!! He goes by Honda or Kiku or something here??? I dont know. But hes the guy that bows a lot
3. I guess. Asking for help is whatever [It's awkward and weird admitting you need help. Poland's not so good at admitting he needs help.]
Ya I totally have someone so that could help! Thanks!!!
Oh really?? What happened??? [Yeah, just going ahead and asking. He's curious and wants to know. Manners are another thing Poland is not so good at.]
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