[Audio] You have died of dysentery.

[wallcrawler]

Who: Peter Parker and all you bored Flooters
Broadcast: Audio
Action: At the Iskaulit's arcade! Because look, drifting is kinda boring
When: Today!

[Space travel was still definitely cool, but Pete'd started getting a little restless. So, he'd gone and visited the Iskaulit for a bit and see what he could find to help kill the time. It only took him a little bit of exploration before coming across the arcade, and...well, from the sound of things, that's had some mixed results.]

So, anybody know who to talk to about getting some new games for the arcade? I'm fine with the classics, but Asteroids just feels... weird when you're actually on a space ship playing it.

[Also a little like tempting fate, and no thank you, he is not about to jinx his involuntary space adventure.]

Also? I'm not really sure where the Flootgon trail is, but losing half the party to... space dysentery seems excessive. It's only been ten minutes!

[No he has no idea what any of the weird-sounding diseases in this game are, he can only assume they're more or less analogous to the same ones found in the far more familiar version of this game.

And that frustration soon gives way to an exasperated sigh and some grumbling under his breath, because no, this game's not done.]

...aaand there goes another one. Because of course no one boils any water, just drink it straight from the fever swamp!

[Yes, he's still playing. Because at some point, morbid curiosity just takes over, and you have to wonder just how far your small group of pixelated pioneers can make it before they're all wiped out by poor hygiene and sanitation choices.]

Comments

audio back~

[pidge_out]

[Did someone say video games?]

Flootgon Trail. Wow. [There's totally a bit of an amused snicker in there, too.]

The AI in those kinds of games are always totally borked. I'm sure I could get into the code and make some tweaks, but then you'd lose the challenge of facing space dysentery at every turn.

[wallcrawler]

You know, I'm okay with that. Let's give space diphtheria a chance at the limelight.

[Or at least, whatever airborne disease the Flootgon Trailblazers might have had to deal with. At least then it's not their terrible judgment when it comes to stagnant water that's killing 'em all off.]

And hey, worst-case scenario: you break it, but I finally get someone to play air hockey with. Either way, I'm not seeing much of a downside to this plan.

[pidge_out]

[This time there's not only a snicker, but an amused snort as well.] Sounds like you're just really, really bored.

You know what? Asteroids might be worth modifying, too. Maybe into something that feels a little bit less like we're shooting down our own fleet.

[wallcrawler]

That's actually not a bad idea. You can find a way to turn that into a head-to-head match up, jinxing us all might be worth a few play-throughs!

[Dodge asteroids and another ship! It could be fun! Though the robot staff might object to too much tampering.

But it's all good because the arcade'd probably eat more credits this way, right? They'd be being responsible hooligans!]

[pidge_out]

Hmm... Yeah, that shouldn't be too hard. Is there more than one machine?

[And have another little chuckle.] It's just an old-school digital space battle. I'm sure there won't be any jinxing.

[wallcrawler]

Oh, yeah- plenty of machines, just not a lot of variety to them.

Kind of a weird problem for an arcade to have, really...

[pidge_out]

Ohh, then we can totally set up an entire PvP situation and have tournaments.

[wallcrawler]

Hey, sure- though I mean, I wouldn't be able to help with any of the hard stuff. I'd be happy to spread the word and join it, but I think the point's to have more operational machines, not less.

[And this teenager doesn't know the first thing about code. Other than the part where he shouldn't touch it, anyway.]

[pidge_out]

[Pidge is totally grinning, and it's definitely audible.] I didn't say I'd convert all the machines. I'd cordon off a section for potential two-on-two matches.

So besides Asteroids and Flootgon Trail- [Which is still funny, hehehe.] -what else is over there?

[wallcrawler]

From the look of it? Some side-scrolling Mario clone, Boxing... Tetris...

[Why entertain cheap copies of the others and then get the real deal for that one?]

Mostly super retro stuff- actually a little surprised Pong's not around here!

[pidge_out]

[An audible shrug.] Probably because it's hard to rip off Pong without just... being Pong.

Though technically Tetris should be in the same boat, so... who knows.

[wallcrawler]

Preeeetty sure that's never stopped anyone before.

[They could just call it Tennis or Ping Pong or something.]

Oh, there's also non-video stuff too. Ski-ball seems normal enough, and I kinda wonder if the crane game's as rigged as the ones back home. Can't say I recognize any of the prizes, though. Half of 'em look like stuffed monsters or something.

[pidge_out]

[Snicker.] Fair enough.

They're probably supposed to be cute animals. By alien standards, anyway.

[wallcrawler]

Well, I can't really say for sure until I see the real thing. But they could be!

[So sayeth the nature nerd.]

What's your name, anyway? Doesn't really seem like this place sees a lot of business, it probably wouldn't hurt to know who to call if I ever want to come down here again- oh, I'm Pete by the way!

[pidge_out]

At the very least, somebody thinks they're cute. Or something.

Nice to meet you- though I guess technically we haven't actually met and are just talking. I'm Pidge. And now that I know there's an arcade, I'll totally be a frequent visitor.

[wallcrawler]

Well, you're always welcome to stop by and see if we can't reach a consensus- we're off planet and I'm out of work, so my schedule's definitely clear. Plus the robots aren't great for conversation, they just keep warning me not to break anything...

[That and school's not...really a concern. Something he's trying not to think about.]

I can even promise to leave a couple of the high score boards untouched. You know, make sure we're both warmed up before we try destroying one another's records.

[He will not be destroying anyone's records. He's going to be lucky to break into the Top 20. The pre-generated Top 20.]

[pidge_out]

We'd have to make the entire fleet vote once we've made our picks, too.

[Pidge snorts through her chuckles, playfully rolling her eyes even if Pete can't see it.]

You're on, then. First to top the pre-generated Top Ten scores should get a prize.

[wallcrawler]

Well, unless that prize is a cheap stuffed animal of undetermined cuteness, how 'bout loser pays back the winner's tab?

[Please don't bankrupt him, Pidge]

Unless you've got some reason to think we'd get the votes back soon, anyway.

[pidge_out]

No, most people are probably so busy with their own issues that they wouldn't even notice the poll. Paying back the tab sounds good to me.

[No backing out of it now, Pete. Pidge makes no promises of mercy.]

[wallcrawler]

Cool, I'll see you soon then!

[He'll just be...trying to choose games wisely for a bit. He's used to having to keep track of multiple things at once, so maybe Asteroids and Tetris is his best bet at avoiding humiliation here...]

I'll be sure to keep the tab low for you!

[...famous last words]

[pidge_out]

[Oh, if Pete could see the smirk on Pidge's face.]

You sound pretty confident.

[wallcrawler]

Shouldn't I be? What's the fun in going into a challenge expecting to lose? Kinda hard to work up the right motivation that way.

[But no he definitely is starting to get a bad, bad feeling in the pit of his wallet.]

[pidge_out]

[Meanwhile, Pidge's wallet is already feeling a little fatter.] Right. Let's hope you're not biting off more than you can chew. [And she's totally heading over there to at least get a look at what kind of machinery she'll be working with.]

action!

[wallcrawler]

[Hey, not like he has to pay rent or anything. He loses, he still gets some video game company- he's not seeing the downside, here. He wasn't kidding about it being dead, either- unless she's the type to mistake him for one of the robots, he's definitely the only one around.

Although things really aren't going so smoothly for him on the arcade front. Turns out most of his skill dealing with multiple objects flying around him comes from an early-warning system entirely incompatible with video games. Go figure. He's already gone and lost his last life to flying debris- again, for the sixth time- by the time Pidge shows up.]

Okay, full disclosure: I might not be the best tag team partner if you ever get that Asteroids tourney up and running.

[But hey, he's... almost there! He's only a few hundred points away from the bottom rung! Progress!]