[video] Nowadays it is only the unreadable that occurs

[depicted]

[Dorian posts from his Fire Sector suite, a transcription of some pages of books he found in the Emperor's library in hand. The transcription is, of course, in the local language, and that is why he speaks]

In the interest of actually being able to read anything useful we might come across, rather than puzzling over it like it's the Voynich manuscript, I thought it might be prudent to attempt to gather together the work of those of us who have been trying to crack the language. I know there are at least a few—if there are resources to be shared, then we may all make a bit more progress. [He has been working on this for some time, and it is audible in every stubborn syllable.] At the very least, it can't possibly hurt.

Comments

[depicted]

It is not. It's to prove that you have no idea what you're doing.

[monstrous]

Whatever makes you feel better, mate. [And there is an air of smugness as he turns a page, his eyes back on the book]

[depicted]

[Toby is so annoying that Dorian doesn't even know what to do with him. He is just going to drop onto the couch and read and sulk.]

[monstrous]

[Toby reads for a while, and a sulking puppy is cute for a while, but eventually you want to play with them and make them wag their tail again. So Toby gets up, dropping his own book on top of Dorian] Let's take a break and do something fun. Unless this is your idea of fun. Then I can find something to do with Ali instead. [The carpet perks up at his name]

[depicted]

[Dorian catches Toby's book. He looks up at Toby with the same look a puppy gets after its master has implied there may just be a walk in the future.] This certainly isn't my idea of fun. Whatever you want, I'm game for.

[monstrous]

Hunting probably isn't a good idea just yet, and well, with your whole - [Toby stuffs his hands in his pockets and rocks on his heels, tight-lipped and with his eyes widening.]

[As Toby lands back on his heels, he smiles] But I'm sure that won't be a real problem. So tell me, what sorts of things do good people do for fun around here?

[depicted]

You know I don't really have the stomach for hunting anyway. [Dorian snaps both books shut.] Same old, mostly. Only without video games.

[monstrous]

[Toby deflates. Way to be a buzzkill Dorian] I'd nearly forgotten about that part.

[depicted]

Sorry. [Not that sorry.] Austerity measures and all that. Still easier to put up with than Maggie Thatcher.

[monstrous]

You could try to look less happy about it. [Now it's this idiot's turn to sulk over important things]

[depicted]

How can I be unhappy about not being near Margaret Thatcher?

[monstrous]

You know what I'm talking about. [beat] And Maggie's not so bad, at least if you're not a decadent. [Blood-sucking bros got each other's backs, yo.]

[depicted]

[He almost laughs.] I knew I couldn't stand your aesthetic tastes. I didn't realize you had horrible politics, too.

[Dorian touches Toby's wrist, by which he means that Toby should sit with him.] And I'm not happy about the absence of video games and the like. I can hardly use my mobile.

[monstrous]

[Toby's still sulking as he sits, but he can't resist looking at Dorian with a mixture of confusion and curiosity] Mobile? You've got one of those things?

[depicted]

No, let me get it for you. It's in my desk. [He pushes off of Toby and takes the mobile out of his desk, returning to hand it over to Toby. It clearly looks very different.] They're like this, now.

[monstrous]

[Toby turns it over in his hands, looking it over] It's so small. How's it even work when it's this size? [Toby holds it up to his ear and shakes it, before bringing it in front of his face, turning the phone over and around some more as he examines it]

[depicted]

Computer chips got smaller. [He presses the power button.] And faster, and better.

[monstrous]

[Toby smiles as the cell phone comes on, uncertainly navigating the phone but becoming more confident with it as he goes] When did all this happen?

[depicted]

[Toby is so endearing that Dorian can't look away.] Uh, over the last two decades? Really seemed to kickstart after the 2000s.

[monstrous]

Get ou - [But Toby stops mid-sentence] There's Tetris on here! [Toby would be annoyed Dorian hadn't said something earlier, but he's busy playing Tetris now, sorry]

[depicted]

[Oh no.] It's got limited batteries, and there's nowhere to recharge it. You have less than twenty four hours of Tetris available to you.

[monstrous]

[What cruel fate is this? Toby looks away from the screen as if he was just slayed by Dorian's words] Less than twenty-four hours?

[depicted]

Yeah. I don't have my charger with me, and even if I did, there's nothing to plug it into. Unless you can find a way to get electricity in there, that's all you get.

[monstrous]

There's got to be -- [This is Terrible!] -- but what about scientists? There have to be those types. Kids do experiments with electricity, a proper scientist shouldn't have any problem.

[depicted]

I can ask around . . .