Open Post: Curiosity

[sporesprouter]

Tress is, as she often is, in her workshop. However, what she is doing in her workshop is not even close to her usual activities.

Instead of her usual array of spores and sprouter's gear, she has found some more standard tools which are sitting on the table next to a rubber mat that is holding... a toaster. She secreted one from a kitchen that isn't particularly used. To the side are a couple books from the library as well as her open notebook.

She turns the toaster upside down and starts undoing some screws on the bottom of the case.

After all, the best way to figure something out is often to gain practical knowledge.

Comments

[aflashbastard]

“I suppose,” Crowley says, peering at the toaster. “I never got the hang of machines and electrical wiring, but… I did get pretty good at the internet.”

[sporesprouter]

She glances up at him curiously. "What's the internet?"

[aflashbastard]

“Oh, it’s - er, a whole thing,” Crowley says quite helpfully, but he does pull it together. “It’s a way for all of the computers around the world to… connect with each other and exchange and share information. And disinformation. And memes. You can look anything up on it, and I mean anything.¹”

¹There are even some parts of the internet that Crowley avoids.

[sporesprouter]

She nods slowly. "So it's like an impossibly large library?"

[aflashbastard]

“Yeah. Kinda. It’s all accessible on your computer - except it’s not really like a library because half the time you’re not sure if what you’re reading is true or not. Everyone has too much to say and too many places to say it.”

[sporesprouter]

"That sounds a bit awful. I'm curious, though. What's a computer?"

[aflashbastard]

"It is pretty awful," Crowley admits, though with a small amount of delight. The other demons in Hell don't fully understand how useful the internet could be for the Infernal Cause. "A computer is... do you know what a television is? Or anything with a screen?"

[sporesprouter]

She nods. "Things with screens, yes. A couple, anyway. Magic from other worlds."

[aflashbastard]

Crowley nods. “That’s basically what computers are - except without magic. And with the internet.”

[sporesprouter]

She nods, thinking. "So... there are screens all over the world that are connected each other and share information, but since anyone can put something there, you have to be careful because the information might be wrong. I suppose if you found consistently trustworthy sources and made sure to stick to them, it could be useful."

[aflashbastard]

“Yeah, sounds about right,” Crowley says. “And you also never want to read the comments.”

[sporesprouter]

"All right... why not¹?"

¹ She asks, in a comment on the internet.

[aflashbastard]

“Well, you can imagine the sort of drivel that humanity can come up with if they’re unrestricted… if they’re mostly anonymous,” Crowley replies. He pauses a second. “Can you?”

[sporesprouter]

"I can imagine some people saying some awful things, I suppose, yes."

[aflashbastard]

Crowley crosses his arms and leans back against the table he was leaning against. “I don’t suppose you’d read the comments anyway. You’re too… well, you know.¹”

¹Does she?

[sporesprouter]

Tress blinks. "I'm too what¹?"

¹ She does not.

[aflashbastard]

“You’re too good,” he says, and he does sound mildly disgusted - even if he does mean it as a compliment. Yes, we are also confused, even outside of a footnote.

[sporesprouter]

Tress is a little bit baffled, but she is at least gamely attempting to keep up. "Too good to read comments on the... internet?"

[aflashbastard]

“Yeah,” Crowley says, as if that explains everything. “No,” which is very conflicting, “you’re just genuinely Good with a capital G and it’s baffling how you’ve ended up here with the rest of us bastards.”

[sporesprouter]

She blinks. "What? I think everyone here's been very kind, really."

[aflashbastard]

“Kind is different. Kind is easy. It’s all action. I could be kind if I wanted.” He has actually been rather kind, though he would never admit it. “Good is… different. It’s all about perspective.”

[sporesprouter]

"So I'm Good because of my perspective? And that's why you think I shouldn't be here?"

[aflashbastard]

“Mmm,” he nods, though that doesn’t quite encapsulate what he was thinking. Even Aziraphale is more of a bastard than she is.

[sporesprouter]

Tress manages a somewhat rueful smile. "Well, I wish that whatever force was in charge of this place actually agreed with you, then."

[aflashbastard]

“If only,” Crowley says, then gives her a small nod before heading out the door again.