1;; (briefly) video, voice, action
[Blank is not a morning person. She isn't even a daylight person, really. More used to being shut up in a dark room for days hours on end with the only light coming from her computer screens, the glare of the Gardens' sun had made her squint, whine pathetically from the brightness, and roll over in an attempt to go back to sleep
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If you really were dreaming, I'm sure you'd have an easier time with the technology-- as it is, it's some sort of organic mechanical intelligence. Which usually behaves intuitively, but does have its uncooperative moments.
You aren't dreaming, though, you're in a place called the Gardens-- and you do have captors! Though I'm not one of them. Just a fellow inmate.
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"Uncooperative" is right. Not that I ever had a green thumb, but geez!
[She rubs her eyes, blinking hard, trying to catch a strong glimpse of Reeve through the temporary mirror.] ....not dreaming, you're telling me. Sorry if that's kinda hard to believe, miss. I mean, we're talking through a plant, like you said.
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[Watching the feed flicker in and out, Reeve draws a quick (hopefully correct) conclusion.]
Let's see if we can stabilize this-- all right, instead of press and then release, press, hold for 10 seconds, then release.
Then press once more. The problem might be that the Vine can't distinguish all of what it thinks are your instructions from one another-- this should act a kind of reset. I'll wait!
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[Blank can roll with this; these are technical instructions, something her brain is much more gifted in dealing with than sentient plants. The video feed cuts out again and stays out instead of immediately flickering back. A minute passes as, unseen, Blank does what Reeve suggests. Then it returns, Blank looks cautiously hopeful....and grins when the feed proves stable.]
...wow, it worked! This is way better.
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I can see that! Well done-- [Reeve chuckles wryly.] and welcome to the Gardens, it'll only get more odd from here on out.
Fixing the resolution on a plant that carries audio and video signals is a fairly good indicator of what you're in for.
I'm curious, what do you do normally-- in your own world?
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AWKWARD QUESTION....hrm, how to lie and still technically tell the truth?]
Oh, just crunching numbers for the government.
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Ah, I see-- you're either an accountant, or a scientist of some sort.
We have that much in common, I'm a government employee myself-- urban development.
Not that my particular skill set is in much demand here.
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[That gets a snort out of her.] It's a hard life for us, huh? I'm more used to codes, not wildlife.
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Oh yes, plenty of both, actually. Perhaps it's the lot of scientists and researchers in any universe-- though I certainly hope not! I do my best to facilitate change and progress, but it's an uphill battle, and some days I swear there seem to be funds for everything else but my work.
It's a challenge for me, living here-- but I do come originally from a rural area, so it's not so unfamiliar? However, I'm a terrible cook, so I'm glad my house mate can fit that bill! She also fits the "armed defense bill" which I'm also no great shakes at.
What sort of coding do you do, Doctor?
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Oh, mainly keeping an information network running and making sure all the machines in our building work like they're supposed to. You know the feds - they record everything, so someone has to be around to handle all that data.
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As for "some people"-- believe me, I'm well aquatinted with "some people". There always seems to be money for a new weapon or black project, but rarely for repairs to an existing facility or new construction outside the capitol. It's maddening.
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