nexus_crossings | Language LOL: Translator Malfunction

Entry tags:

event,
lol

Language LOL: Translator Malfunction

You know what's cool? Chatting with your pals. Reading the Internet. Navigating the roads because you can understand the Gods-damned street signs. You know what's not cool? Not being able to do any of that. By that metric, one might describe today in the Nexus decidedly uncool.

It's utterly without warning that the multiversal hub goes from automatic to manual translation. Shop signs, radio and television broadcasts, conversations on the streets between vendors and friends and businesspeople are suddenly a jarring cacophony of dissonant languages. Then there's the silence. Then there's the shouting. Turns out people get pissed off when nobody understands them!

Momentary chaos dies down as the average people of the Nexus come to grips with their new situation. Shopkeepers wait outside their stores and stands with expectant expressions, impatiently waiting for the translator to pull itself together and start working again.

Except...

It sort of doesn't.

No, it super doesn't.

Citizens of the Nexus, it would appear you're going to have to adjust...

((The temporary LANGUAGE LOL is now underway! It's freeform fun until you're done and participation is completely optional. Don't feel like this event should stop you from making threads which are unaffected by the LOL in the mean time. If you want your Language LOL'd character to interact with a non-LOL thread, please ask the OP if they want to play that dynamic first. For the OOC and organization post, GO HERE. ))

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Steve's touch brushes out a little of the braviary's sulk in addition to his feathers. The fact that he can't understand anyone has him as anxious as Sarah and Ethel, and he regrets losing his friends in the crowd. Having his two favorite people here -- even with that jerk, too -- has done a lot to comfort him.

It's a good plan, and Adia nods agreeably. She has a brief discussion with Caspar in their foreign language. He sounds reluctant, but her persuasive voice seems to sway him over. He gives Steve an expectant look. Let's get going, then.

"Bee baksun Bucky." Steve gives the braviary one more loving pat before taking a step back and nodding toward Caspar.

"Sorry about that." Steve looks over his shoulder toward the Cylon once they're out of sight of Adia and Bucky. "I didn't want to risk Buck flying off again if I tried to move him, and with the translator down I wasn't going to trust the AV field to keep your fingers safe with the mood he's in right now."

He's got his trusty leatherbound notebook and pencil in one hand while they walk, though he's not pushing it on Caspar. Doesn't want the other to feel pressured to talk if he doesn't want to.

"Brave," Bucky chirps back, in considerably brighter spirits despite not understanding Steve. He gets to stay with Adia and Steve is taking that stuffed suit away from her. Winning!

Well, winning except for that kiss that Caspar and Adia share before he follows Steve further into the Plaza. Grrr. Bucky glares at the Cylon's back until he's well out of sight. Jerk.

Steve's explanation is met with predictable silence, a brief nod the only indication that Caspar understood him. But after a minute, he gestures for the notebook and pencil.

Thanks. I'm pretty sure that's his default mood towards me, though.

"He's...he was hurt pretty bad when I found him. I'm guessing it must have been his previous owner. It took him a long time to trust me and Adia, but he's been fiercely protective of us both ever since. Especially Adia, since I've been gone."

Steve rubs at the back of his neck, clearly guilty over the way the pokemon treats Caspar. Wants to say it'll get better with time, but he's really not sure it will with now antagonistic Caspar is right back lots of times. Gestures for him to keep the notebook with him for now so he can 'talk' whenever he likes.

"Besides, the other two like you just fine and are less likely to hide from a familiar face."

She told me. He knows all about Bucky's tragic backstory. Truthfully, he doesn't fault the braviary for being protective. In fact, he's grateful that Bucky's been keeping watch over Adia -- just not when it interferes with his time with her. But he doesn't need the added weight of Steve's guilt, so he manages a wry smile. It's okay. Really.

Besides, there are two other pokémon to find. Two that Caspar likes right back and hopes are doing okay in what must be a scary situation for them both. So what's the plan? Or do we just call for them?

"Oh, uh. I was actually going to head over to Nana's diner and see if they hid there. I stop there pretty regularly so it's possible they went back to someplace they recognized. And if they weren't there, I could pick up some treats to maybe lure them out with."

It's not the best plan but Steve can't really think of much else given how chaotic everything is right now. Even if he and Nana can't talk to each other he knows he can point at a picture or doodle it for her and she'll know what he's asking for.

Eat at the same place three plus times a week for a couple of years and they get to know you pretty well.

It's not like Caspar has any alternative suggestions. When was the last time he went looking for a missing animal? Uh, never. He'll defer to Steve on this one.

The name reminds him of something, though. On their way to the diner, he jots down another note. Is there an actual Nana, or is that just the name?

"It's technically called the Galley Diner, but the lady who runs the place insists on everyone calling her Nana. You know, like Grandma only simplified. It's on the way to my apartment, and I eat there a lot. It can be really...isolating. Being in the Nexus. She made me feel like I was at home."

It wasn't quite the same, but Steve appreciated the effort nonetheless. It was enough. And now he can't quite imagine a home without seeing Nana at least once a week. She's always looking after him.

"Oh but, we don't have to stop by and eat. She'll understand that you don't do that much. I just want to see if Sarah or Ethel stopped by. She spoils them rotten."

Caspar nods to show he's listening, although his thoughts are slowly drifting elsewhere. To Adia, who called her grandmother Nana. To Steve's admittance of isolation. Hard to believe someone like him would feel that way.

His attention snaps back when he mentions Caspar's eating habits, and the Cylon suppresses an eye roll. It's not a big deal he jots down. Sure, it's a pain when humans need to sit around and eat and socialize and give him funny looks about it, but he knows Steve is only going there to look for his pokémon.

Or... maybe that was some kind of forewarning. Grandmothers like to feed people, right? His fake memory grandmother did. He thinks. All those implanted memories get fuzzy if he thinks about them too hard.

It's not hard to wonder at why the Galley Diner reminds Steve of home. The whole restaurant is only eight tables large with a long counter and several more stools lined up alongside it. The smell of meat cooking and bread baking hits the cold air the moment Steve pulls open the door, letting a cloud of delectable aromas waft outside.

"Nana? It's Steve have you see--oof!"
"Grow grow!!" Sarah used headbutt! Critical hit!

Steve doubles over while Sarah runs around Steve in a circle barking cheerfully before running the same tight circle around Caspar, sniffing eagerly at his shoes for a solid ten seconds before trying to jump up on him and give him a hug.

"There you are! Steve y'all had me worried sick y'hear me? Poor Sarah comes running in here an' no sight of you I thought you was gone again."

The older dark skinned woman who's ambling to the doorway takes no pity on Steve still trying to catch his breath, shaking a wooden spoon at him before Caspar catches her eye. Her accent is different from Steve's, a drawl and softness to her words that matches her glowing cheeks and wide smile.

"Y'all brought a friend? Steve stand up straight an' introduce me to the nice young man."

"Caspar, this is Nana." Wheeze. Don't mind Steve, he'll be fine.
"Growlithe!" Sarah might not understand all the words right now, but she knows those names! She's here too don't forget her!

Caspar only gets a moment to take in his surroundings before Steve is bum-rushed by a familiar-looking growlithe. He smirks in amusement, at least until Sarah decides that he's her next target. "προσέξτε το κοστούμι," he says, holding out his hands so she'll settle down and keep all that bright orange fur off his pristine wool coat. When she calms down a little, he crouches down to pet her properly, a nice scratch about the ears. "καλό κορίτσι, Sarah."

His head turns as Nana approaches. It's a small measure of relief that he understands her, and when she asks for an introduction, he stands up from his crouch and unconsciously straightens his shoulders. Should he say something despite the language barrier? He wants to be respectful. "Ah... χάρηκα για τη γνωριμία, Nana." He looks to Steve for help. Stop wheezing and help him make a good impression, dammit.

Do robots understand 'getting the wind knocked out of them'? Steve might have to give Caspar a personal lesson in that if he's going to give Steve that impatient look too many more times. Or just not stop Sarah from giving him the same enthusiastic greeting she just gave Steve.

Huff. Cough, cough. Okay. Whew.

"The translator in the Nexus is broken but Caspar here can read and write English fluently, it's just when he talks..."

"Comes out soundin' like somethin' outta Charlie Brown." She gives a nod of her head in understanding before bending down and scooping up the notebook Steve had been carrying on him and passing it over to Caspar. "I can't understand a word you're sayin' honey but any friend of Steve's is a friend of mine. Aren't you looking just sharp as a tack in that outfit of yours too? Steve, you let this one get away you're crazy."

"He's happily taken Nana. Also I don't think he prefers my type." Steve runs a hand down his face but it's all taken good-naturedly. He's much happier to crouch down and give Sarah some pats on the head.

Looks like Caspar doesn't need a lesson in getting the wind knocked out of him because Nana's love advice to Steve seems to do that just fine. He stands there with a flabbergasted look on his face, color rising in his cheeks. Thank goodness Steve answers for him, because it's a moment or two before he even notices the notebook being pressed into his hands.

That's right. He should write a reply.

Thank you for the compliment. I have a girlfriend. He remembers the reason they're here in the first place and regains (most of) his composure. Have you seen Ethel at all?

"Come on in all three of ya before you catch a cold. Ethel's cozied up under one of the tables and hasn't moved since she an' Sarah showed up."

Sure enough, the little dino is huddled under one of the tables looking forlorn and afraid until Sarah bounds over and starts barking at her.When she does poke her head out to investigate she lights up before thumping over to Steve and Caspar.

She missed you so much Steve! It was scary and she was lost and she can't understand anyone. Though she gives Caspar's leg a soft bump too. Thank you for helping find her friend Steve, other human.

Caspar steps fully inside as directed. There is a subtle, but distinct look of relief on his face when Nana informs them that Ethel is in the diner. He had been legitimately concerned about the little dinosaur and her lack of resistance to the cold.

"γεια, Ethel," he says warmly. He crouches down, his expression softening into a smile as he returns the soft bump with a gentle polishing motion on the crest of her shiny head. Of course, Sarah takes this as an invitation for some more pets, too, and nudges Caspar off his feet and onto his ass. Undignified! But the Cylon only chuckles a little and resumes the patting. Someone is secretly a softie for cute animals!

"Oh boy, now you've gone an' done it..." Nana shakes her head and heads back behind the counter to tidy up while Steve tries desperately to hold in a chuckle at Caspar being overpowered by the Pokemon.

Ethel keeps nuzzling at his leg and Sarah's got her paws on his arm in a makeshift hug while he's petting her. Yessss, yesssss love usss!

"Well, Bucky might be a lost cause but these two seem quite attached to you, Caspar."

He tries his best to give both animals the attention they crave. He's like a different person down there on the floor, smiling softly at their loving antics.

"είναι καλά κορίτσια," he replies, before remembering that Steve won't be able to understand him. Reluctantly, he wraps up the petting session, standing up and dusting off his coat. He writes something in the notebook and shows it to Steve.

Bucky and I have too much in common to get along. He looks almost a little regretful about that. Sarah and Ethel are very sweet. Will you be able to get them home without them running off again?

Steve glances around the near-empty cafe before nodding to Caspar. He gives each pokemon a loving pat before straightening up himself. Sarah and Ethel are lounging at their feet now, just pleased to have found their human friends again.

"Yeah. I think I'll stay here until this wears off or until they're calm enough to follow me home. Can you thank Adia for me for looking after Bucky? I know they get along real well but I am sorry for him ruining your afternoon out together."

Caspar shrugs at the apology. He's used to it, Steve. He doesn't like it and he's too petty to let Bucky's behavior completely roll off his back, but he's not about to break a bond between a girl and her bird. That would imply that he's the jealous one, and he's trying to be the bigger person here.

I will. And I think the translator malfunction is what put the real damper on our afternoon, so no worries.

He looks back down at the lounging pokémon and his smile returns.

It was worth it to know that all of them are safe.

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Language LOL: Translator Malfunction

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