exsilium | 01 ☢ video

[The camera clicks on to reveal a skinny kid with a mess of brown hair. He's holding the tablet in front of him, so the view's a bit shaky; it doesn't help that he's fidgeting and gesturing with his other hand as he speaks, first and foremost being a quick and awkward wave hello.]

Hey. Hello? This is on, right? You know, they should put a light on these things to show they're transmitting. Maybe they do, I didn't really - [Barely a pause as he checks himself, gets back on track.]

Sorry. Hi, my name's Peter. Peter Parker. So I got the welcome tour, and I guess my big question is - where can we get decent food around here?

[Priorities. He got most of the relevant info the other day, anyway. He almost looks like he's done, but then he abruptly remembers something and speaks up again in a rush.] And I made a thing. I mean, I didn't really make it, I just re-made it. I probably messed some of it up, but I guess nobody here's going to know any better, right?

It's for Collette, but I figured anybody could use it. Let me know if you have questions, or just type "help" and it should cover the bases. And don't forget to use your lanterns. [And Peter out - no wait, just kidding. He's half a second from ending the transmission before he stops.]

It's a game, by the way. The thing.

[He's done for real this time, pending an attachment:]

► ATTACHMENT 1: zork.exe

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh, oops.]

I can probably add an audio component. Or the tablets might have one already - text to talk? [He's not entirely sure that'd work, but he could try.]

But it's an adventure game. Theoretically. It's kind of dwarfed by the actual time war adventure.

Oh, I see. Tablets are hard to function when you only have claws.

[ Pardon. ]

Sorry? Did you say claws?

Yes, I'm not human, I don't have fingers. I'm a dragon, so I have claws instead.

[ OH DAMN IT'S A DRAGON he heard about you guys ]

Seriously? You're a - I'm talking to a dragon?

... yeah, I can see how the tablet would be hard to work. If I get an audio function working, I'll let you know. [ Awkward pause, then- ] Do dragons do a lot of gaming?

Yes, you are.

I don't know what gaming is. Is it like playing a game?

[ Check that off the bucket list. ]

Yeah, playing a game. Kind of. What are dragon games usually like?

My nestmates and I tend to throw gemstones at each other so one can catch it, whether it is with their jaws or talons or even their tails and wings.We tug each other off some of the cliff face above the grotto so we can see who can reach the waterfall first. We tussle a lot.

[ Throw gemstones at each other, why not. ]

Gemstones? Really, that's a game? You have a lot of gemstones laying around, or... ?

No, not really. The gemstones were embedded in the nest that had some fine wire woven to it. I found out a way to pry them loose, that's all.

Oh. Well, still more gemstones than I've got.

Do you guys ever do racing games? See who can fly the fastest?

We can't fly. We tried, but all we did was crash to the ground. We race by running and try to jump the highest.

[ Dragons who can't fly, that's sad. ]

But you've got wings? Does that mean it's possible?

It's possible, I just think our wings aren't big enough for flight, that's all.

Oh. Well, that's good. You're young? Is that what that means?

And I'm betting this place is even more of a culture shock for you than it is for me. Did you even have people where you came from?

It's been a long time since I hatched, but I think I am young.

I'm not sure. Before I came here I lived in a cave inside a mountain that I never left. I think there a few who come from my world, but since I never explored my own world before, I can't say for sure.

Well we definitely don't have dragons where I'm from, so it's cool to meet you.

Sorry, did I catch your name?

01 ☢ video

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice

voice