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]

We're not sure what Crowley is looking for, but it definitely isn't Tress in the workshop with the toaster... He still pauses for a second, though, to watch what she's doing.

"What did that toaster do to you?"

[sporesprouter]

"It got me wondering how it works." Tress carefully pries a heating wire array away from its setting. "It's interesting." She looks up. "Oh, and hello."

[aflashbastard]

“Hi,” he says. The last time they talked was when she was questioning him about Damien and he pointed her astray. He wonders if she ever found the random individual he was describing. “What’s so interesting about it? It’s just… wires and metal bits.”

[sporesprouter]

"It's what the wires and metal bits do. It's an interesting gadget. I'm trying to work out if I can modify the principle to make something similar whenever I get back home." Yes, it still manages to be a when for her.

[aflashbastard]

“You really think you’re getting home, don’t you?” Crowley asks, leaning against one of the tables. This isn’t said in any sort of malicious way. It’s more… marveling.

[sporesprouter]

"I have to think I'm getting home eventually. Otherwise it's giving up on home and everyone I care about there, and I can't give up on them."

[aflashbastard]

"Doesn't that make it worse?" Crowley asks, after a moment. "The daily disappointment that you're not home yet?"

[sporesprouter]

"I think disappointment is better than hopelessness. It's not the first time I've been separated from loved ones for a long time." In the interest of accuracy, though, she clarifies. "It is the first time under these particular circumstances, obviously, but the principle's the same."

[aflashbastard]

“Disappointment daily or hopelessness on the regular,” Crowley laughs a little. Sounds like a deal Hell would make. “And so… you’re taking apart a toaster.”

[sporesprouter]

"It's a little bit of variety?"

[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?