devoutish | IC contact for maskormenace

[he winces at the port out mention.]

'Least they're together, I guess. Crazy how imPorts kind of gather pets, right? My-- friend left behind his cat. I'd hate to think what would happen if we both fucked off.

There are imPorts that gather zoos. Me, though, I like having dogs. I've got a few at home.

[He opens up the whiskey, pouring a glass for Archie and a half-glass for himself.]

Which friend are you talking about, then?

Yeah. I got some bunnies back home but I think I'm gonna put 'em up for adoption 'fore they're in the same situation.

[he frowns, looking over to alfie briefly before going back to the dogs.]

Just-- someone from my world. Guy called Maxie. [his tone is clipped, suddenly.] I've known him for most of my life and I didn't expect him to get a cat... guess that's just how stuff happens.

[Oh, Alfie notices that. He raises his eyebrows at Archie, letting him know that he notices it, but doesn't question him about it. Not yet, anyway.]

You've got rabbits at your place? Why not keep them and find somebody who'll take 'em in if you do fuck off?

I got something from home after being ported out briefly which, uh...

[he pauses.]

This is gonna sound insane, but she's basically a baby whale that I can't just let out into the ocean here, because of how animals work back home. So all expenses and effort is now focused on her.

It's one of those Pokemon things, isn't it.

If that saves me from having to explain literally anything about her biology, [he says, getting up to grab that glass and have a sip.] then yes.

She is. She's called Wailmer.

[Alfie sloshes his around in the glass, not drinking just yet.]

And where are you keeping it?

[archie rests his forehead on his hand and... holds up a palm sized red and white ball]

She's in here. All 6ft of her.

You're gonna have to show me how that works someday, mate.

[He glances up at the ceiling, then at the dogs.]

Not in here.

[Just. In case that wasn't obvious. Archie gets some weird ideas sometimes.]

Yeah, not here, [he agrees, looking around.] The dogs would scare her.

[it's... a reason, at least. maybe not the right one. he takes another gulp of whiskey.]

It's something unique to our world, anyway. Data conversion.

What's so unique about it?

The fact I haven't seen anythin' like it from anyone else's world? Even the one where they're travellin' around in space and shit.

Mm, yeah, but how does it work? The name doesn't sound so unique; one would think data could be converted anywhere.

Being hit with the ball turns Pokémon into a form of energy that can be absorbed by it... but they still exist inside the ball. It's a simulated environment for them, 'cause they're still aware and stuff. They can also be put into the PC by this sort of conversion... like downloading it onto your comm?

[very anime.]

They can also be released and reformed into flesh from data any time. You can convert any kind of data, but can't usually convert living matter into it. That's what's unique.

You upload and download animals.

[That's what he's getting from this. His lingo is still a little rusty.]

Yeah. Yeah, all right; that's unique.

Uh huh.

[he shrugs, taking another sip. no point going into further detail.]

It's not cruel, before you ask. They're fully aware of what's happening. I'd wager if my dog that can break through walls didn't like what I was doing to him, [another sip.] then I'd know.

I wasn't gonna ask.

[The weird shit you do with your weird animals is your weird business, Archie. He finally takes a sip of his own whiskey, though largely he's still sloshing it around more than he's drinking.]

And I am sorry about your friend.

Thanks.

[it's not clear if he says it in regards to his pokémon proclivity or the loss of maxie. archie shrugs, putting wailmer's ball away.

he takes a long pull of his drink before sighing, shaking his head.] Ain't that the way here? Maybe he'll be back tomorrow. Maybe I'll never see him again. He was from a different timeline within our own universe, so everything was as complicated as it possibly could be.

It's why I haven't gotten too close with anybody here.

[He admits, giving the closest dog a pat.]

Suppose it's not avoidable all the time, though. Feelings are funny things.

Sometimes it's hard to avoid doing so.

[for him, anyway. he shrugs.]

...And when it's someone from home you're already-- [he makes a face.] Maxie was a terrible grouchy sod, but I really feel like half a person without him. It's ridiculous.

You knew some other version of him, then?

Yeah.

[he puts his finger on the counter, drawing a short, imaginary line.]

We talked about it a lot. It seems like... everything is the same, up until a certain point. [he lowers another finger, making the imaginary line have an imaginary fork shape.] Then it splits. Stuff I did, he did. Stuff he did, I did.

It's... shed a new light on our fucked up, weird relationship. If nothing else.

Is it all like that? Mirror images?

Pretty much. There are some minor differences, given the fact we're not literally the same person, but... that's just about it.

IC contact for maskormenace

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