voidtreckernet | Poi 05

...It's Rich.

[Might as well not bother with preamble, though that's certainly odd for him. Odder still that he has the video off, even if there's still the faint strumming of guitar suggesting that he's nervously plucking at strings as he often does.]

I'm 18 now, according to the roster. Guess I missed my birthday. I knew it was coming up, but I was kinda distracted with stuff.

[Like having a mental crisis for the better part of two months at least.]

Anyways, was just wondering like... what's the longest someone's been stuck here before they got to go back home? Maybe, uh, maybe it was wishful thinking? But I was kinda thinking with the whole Ministry investigation and how fucking useless I am on the missions that the train would boot me off by now.

[He's really trying to laugh, trying to make that sound like a joke.]

Just. Was thinking about it. At this point, my friends back home probably assume my dad stabbed me or shit... maybe they'll believe those messages we got to send at that river, but more likely they'll think I'm nuts.

[Just another certified Rich Goranski Comedy Routine. He'll be here all week, folks.]

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I'd rather worry about other people's. I mean, your reason for having a birthday sounds way more important than mine. Mine's just... another year I've been kicking around. Haven't really celebrated it since I lost my mom.

[She was the one who really cared enough to make it special. With her gone, there wasn't anything special about it, especially in this place he hated.

It's frustrating that people are being so stubborn about that...]

I mean, you can try to make it a big deal if you want, but I'm not agreeing to any party or anything. If I wanted to be a real ass, I could just lock myself in my room until you gave up.

We can at least agree no party. But even if it's just spending time with a friend as a way to pass the day and not linger. Would that help?

[Keep minds focused on other things perhaps. After all sounds like he at least has decent enough reason to perhaps not.]

After all sounds like your not having a great time, so even if it's only for one day I just figured to try and help keep yourself busy because talking about things I am not the best at. There are better people at that than I am.

...I guess maybe I wouldn't mind spending the day with someone.

[Even just to stay distracted, he'd appreciate that much, even if he hates to ask for even that much.]

I'm kind of a jerk when I'm in a bad mood, though. I won't blame you if you decide you can't put up with me any longer.

I know how to handle jerks. I also was one in the past which I guess helps.

[Yes he basically will just snap right back. But he knows what they are like.]

But I will ask, do you have a favourite carriage you prefer to go to?

Not really? I... I mean, I like music a lot. Or games, so I'm usually those two places, or I guess the kitchen, but that's obvious.

The kitchen is a great place. It's where the food comes from.

[To be fair... it was one of Allen's favourite places for that reason. He appreciates it and appreciates those who usually prepare it.]

At least that gives us three options. We can try and make something... Downside is that could go horribly wrong depending on what we try. Games I can do as I have tried to learn some of them. Still not great at most except the fighting ones so if you wanted a decent win any other would work. Music wise... Not great at ideas with that one as I like to listen to it while training sometimes, but I don't know how to play anything beyond one song on the piano.

Yeah... I actually don't mind cooking too, so I tend to do a lot of work in there. You don't cook?

[He could still manage to teach him something simple at least without it blowing up in their faces.]

But other than that, I guess I don't mind playing a racing game or something... or maybe just watching you play an old RPG. Those are classics for a reason.

Oh, I do. Just not like a lot of stuff. Learning more recipes as I go, but still not a lot. Still takes ages to make all that I need for myself if I do that alone though.

[Downside to having innocence or more specifically the kind he has. Burns more calories and thus has to eat a lot more.]

RPG... That short for roleplaying game, right? Why are those classics? But I'd give it a shot.

If there's anything you ever want to learn, give me a shout. I've picked up on a lot of different cooking techniques since I came here. I'm better with sweets and baking, but still.

And hey, if you're starving, I can come up with some quick meals, too!

[He laughs a little and shrugs.]

I think maybe it's just that most classics fit into that category, not that all RPGs are immediately classics. Back then, people wanted to write fantasy epics and quests, and we didn't have the fancy graphics necessary for a lot of other genres.

Sweets and baking...

[Allen just really likes food, so it was something he was at least going to consider. Thankfully though he isn't starving at the moment.]

I see... I mean I might not necessarily get it because games as a whole is a new thing and my idea of fun was training. But hey roleplaying games sound like fun. It's like playing someone else and not yourself.

[Everyone likes food! Rich is a big fan, now that he has the resources to actually cook for himself. He's a big fan of games as well, though, so he smiles a bit when Allen agrees.]

Yeah! It's a bit of escapism, really. And considering this place, I think we could all use a bit of that.

I guess, though I never knew until I started travelling worlds that such a thing was a thing.

[But that was mostly because he had no choice to have a moment. He had a job and something he had to do for the most part. Little time for escapism.]

But hey, part of what I am trying to do is to try and not be like I was back home. I guess it's called trying to actually be a teenager.

[He was at least going to go with that as it's name as he stated to move.]

But hey you know more than me in this subject so would that make you my teacher?

[Rich's smile becomes a little softer as they walk along, a bit of longing in his own eyes. He's pretty sure their situations are different, but what Allen is saying still sounds familiar.]

Funny enough, that's kind of what I've been working on myself. Being a teenager... or at least not being as bad as I was back home. I don't want... someone else saying who I have to be.

[He gapes a bit when he hears that question, feeling a bit embarrassed.]

What? You don't need a teacher for stuff like video games, do you? Do you mean like... teaching you to be a teenager?

I can understand that.

[Though it was more being told that he will be someone else someday, or at least no longer exist because of them.]

I mean, depends on the game right? Some of them don't really tell you what to do and so I can get confused. As for teaching how to be a teenager... I mean to me you seemed to understand it more than I did anyway. Even if you did just say you are working on yourself.

[It's a tough thing, having your life dictated by someone other than yourself. It's something Rich has thought a lot about lately... but at least video games are a nice distraction.]

Well, I can be your tutorial for that... and I don't know about the teen stuff, but if you ever have any questions, you can let me know!

We at least can learn about the teen stuff together, right?

[Because that was the best way to learn, right?]

But games probably the easier thing to learn. [He soon paused for a moment.]

Actually should really egt the game set up and ready shouldn't I?

Poi 05 - Voice

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