ding dong dell - video feed

[vendettastool]

[ Welcome to CUBEnix's office where the sleek design of modern tech merges with the back drop of ye old Art Deco interior. There's huge computer screens hanging from brackets from the ceiling, the beeps of an arcade game in the background and a bunch of scrolling code on the computer screen behind Yoon-sung. The man himself is dressed in his usual style of business casual by way of a designer brand though he had upgraded his usual scoop neck shirt for something less revealing to spare anyone of seeing his scarring. He also has acquired a spent bullet that someone strung on a piece of rawhide to turn into a necklace. ]

First off, I should welcome all our lovely new users to the Retrospec world where things don't make sense, and we are all going insane. The app is just our way to know who is part of the end users of this framework and who isn't. What I mean by that is those that can see and use the app are those who also notice all the changes happening in the world around us. Congratulations. We're all lost souls connected by a ghost program. If you have any questions about my experiences with it, just ask.

[ Because he is probably one of the few people who has managed to peek at the coding even if he didn't see anything of note. ] Second, what does love mean to you?

Comments

[matchbreaker]

I don't know? I'm just asking what you're saying. I'd always figured it was magic, but what you're saying is that we're all playing some Last Fantasy type thing?

[vendettastool]

Considering that Last Fantasy is my company's baby, it's what first comes to mind when people talk about how this isn't our real world. I can be a lot wrong, but isn't it normal to think in familiar terms first in any case?

Which means that you might be more familiar with magic, while I'm looking at this in the form of scifi. And since they never really have come out to say exactly what they used, we can always just keep guessing as to what is happening, right?

[matchbreaker]

No, no, you have a point. My way of thinking is just being lazy on my part - well, lazy and what I saw in August seemed so impossible I have no idea how technology would even *create* a library like that. It's not like the world my soul's apparently from had magic in it other than... vampires who are basically mage.

... There weren't witches or wizards, I mean. I think.

But oh, you're that Last Fantasy guy? I'm going to be new player soon, I think! I won a big sub and play set recently after all.

[ from Ninja Warrior. ]

[vendettastool]

All you need is the right framework and anything is possible with code. Mage is another name for magic-users tbh.

I'm the Last Fantasy guy, yes. You did? Cool, I hope you enjoy it. Not everyone is good with games like ours.

[matchbreaker]

So what you were getting at there is that we should be looking at all this as if it were code? Or what did you mean by your experiences?

Mmhm! For the Ninja Warrior thing. No idea if I'll like it (no offense!) but my son's girlfriend's a fan so I'll probably hassle her to help me figure it out so I don't have this waste away.

Also love is love. I'm not sure what needs to be defined there.

[vendettastool]

I'm thinking that it might be one of the things running the background keeping this whole system together. I mean, we did find code pieces and parts of electronic grids during the days of being three inches high.

As long as someone enjoys it is all that matters, right?

Okay, so how far would you go for love?

[matchbreaker]

Oh did we? I didn't really hear about that (or I forgot). Given its an app and those weird generator things under the university, it's clear there *some* technology and such involved at least.

How far? That sounds a little foreboding but . . . I suppose as far as needs to be taken?

[vendettastool]

We did, right before that stuff with the barcodes and whatever happened. I had a list of stuff we've found but I might have it in my other pants.

Would you kill for love?

[matchbreaker]

what

Okay so you so realize that both of those statements make you sound bizarre, right?

[vendettastool]

I keep the list on a USB driver and it's on a keyring clipped to my workout pants. I haven't transferred all the stuff out of the pockets yet.

And I know it makes me sound weird, but I have a good reason why I am asking that.

[matchbreaker]

Killing people is a heavy question to ask. It's a heavier thing to answer, and I don't think it's right for me to just come out and say that. Actually, anyone who would I have many questions about.

But I'm also a mother, and that means its my job to do whatever I need to for my sons. Love's something unconditional like that, for me.

[vendettastool]

In reality, I know it's not an easy thing to say or ask, but in a hypothetical situation, it's something to think about.

I think that a lot of parents feel that way. Not all, but there are a lot that will do anything to protect their children because of a parental love. I know Father will do a lot to keep me safe.

[matchbreaker]

Personally, I'd like to think all. But I also know that's not the same, even if that's something that feels anathema to me.

I suppose I did prove some of what I'd do in August.

[vendettastool]

Yeah, I would like to think that too, but it's not always the case.

Would you do the same if it was your parents?

[matchbreaker]

Obviously?

[ . . . . Look. ]

[vendettastool]

Even if it would hurt them in the process?

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Wait. ]

I might've misunderstood your question. Of course I'd save my parents (even if they've passed on now, I mean in theory)

But you meant if they caused the trouble?

[vendettastool]

Something like that. If they were doing something that you feel is wrong and that you need to stop them, would you still do it if it hurt them because you love them?

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . How specific. Is this man going through something? ]

Yes.

It's actually a little easier for someone older, because they're more likely to understand. I said love's not finite, and its not - but that doesn't mean that you allow everything. Sometimes it means being the harshest at admonishing them.

[vendettastool]

[ Yes. Though she isn't actually hitting the reason why he is bringing any of this up. ]

I'm not so sure that is the case. Sometimes older people settle into their bad habits like teak.

But how harsh are you willing to be towards them?

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . ]

I'm not sure if I'm dancing around the issue or you are at this point.

Look, the fact is that my parents passed on and were great people. If you're in trouble, do you want help?

[vendettastool]

I guess it's me.

I just.

Had a not so good memory in which my other decided to be dramatic in forcing his father to stop something serious.

[matchbreaker]

[ Oh. ]

I see. I'm sorry that you had to experience something scary.

[vendettastool]

I don't think that scary describes it? It's more sad in a way.

[matchbreaker]

Sad, then. Genuinely.

Are you hoping to understand where you were coming from?