metalogs | (closed) | good old fashioned romance

[ Having other loved ones is both wonderful and vital. Balthier conceptually agrees, but right now his loved ones are inaccessible and therefore far from his mind for pure self preservation. Also, he's only really concerned about here and now tonight.

Balthier accepts the laptop and follows the lessons decently -- he does have a mind for machines. The track pad is awkward but he'll get the hang of it. ]

I'm impressed how well this is laid out for the size of hands, though I will say, it's a good thing I don't have a delicate ego and a deep need to be competent at tasks or I would be immensely frustrated with the childish way I operate this.

[ Yeah. The pride is going to be an obstacle to learning. ]

[It's just the early steps, but that's okay. Seemed like Balthier had a young roommate to help him, and David intended to be available for questions too.]

Honestly, it's laid out for the very idea of multiple sorts of users, but if you become adept at this in the future, we can get custom things made for you, things to help you have comfort. I prefer properly sized computers over laptops, because I like larger keyboards. But that's a matter for another time. And honestly? I expect you're going to learn this well, Balthier. There is nothing about you that hasn't made me come to believe you'll adapt to this like a dream. Now, let me show you how to log in and how to access the internet. We're going to start with search engines and video services that can have tutorials to help you learn more things at your own pace.

[And of course there's the whole slow process for getting through all of that. First was the password for the computer, which David had made 'Strahl' to help make it easy to remember, though he did talk about importance of difficult passwords in the future because of people that might get in for that. And, once he had the internet browser up he taught Balthier how to search by directing him in searching for the name of the chinese restaurant he was going to order from. Once that page was up David smiled.]

Okay, this is where we order. I chose a restaurant that has pictures of the dishes online, so we're going to figure out what we want, and I'll teach you how to place orders online. What I teach you here will absolutely reflect a lot of how the internet ordering systems will work.

[He doesn't bother talking about making guest accounts or e-mail addresses. Those can wait. And hell, he doesn't need to warn Balthier over tracking software yet, he wrote the guy an amazing anti-tracking software and set him up with a year of a good VPN.]

[ David is an encouraging and helpful teacher. Balthier lets him explain even things he already has some grasp on, because why not make sure he has it throughly? ]

I can certainly see the infinite applications of being more dextrous with technology. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited to explore, and that I didn't like some challenge.

[ The concept of access codes is not foreign at all, so that's easy enough. He'll change it once he's more comfortable, though he expects anything on this computer will be accessible to David. He's too good of a pirate not to think through what others can do, especially to him. Now he doesn't expect David to violate his privacy but there will be some things he'll keep in a notebook thank you. Or order on someone else's machine if he wants to be doubly sure it's a surprise.

Searching isn't bad either. He knew how to navigate the equivalent of the Dewey Decimal system in the libraries at home, as well as how to use an index. He's also already had Peter show him basic search functions, but tips are helpful, as is the idea of which websites provide which sorts of information. Because that's really what he needs: a mental map of what information goes where and how they connect. Balthier can navigate anything once he understands how the information is ordered. He'll keep at it until he can.

He does type like an old person, though. The arrangement of the letters makes no sense to him. ]

Who decided the keyboard layout? Are all keyboards the same?

[ He asks as he follows the ordering steps. This is extremely easy, which is encouraging. Honestly, none of it has been terrible. It's just a lot of new information to get used to. Doing actual tasks like ordering will help learn faster; he's already quite facile with the maps app.

It's kind of David to try to spare him any worry, but tracking was literally the first question he asked Peter before he was willing to use his phone. ]

This connects to a central network, because I have to submit my information. That presumably means someone could track me or my behavior back, doesn't it? I don't particularly care if anyone knows I am ordering Chinese food, but I can think of situations I would want information to be more secure. I also know everyone uses these. Have we accepted an all-seeing overlord, or are there ways to work around that?

[Security minded was a very good choice actually. David would be ashamed of Balthier if he didn't think of needing to keep some stuff private, and not completely trusting electronics when there's a technopath around. But hte keyboard comment makes David laugh.]

It's called the QWERTY system, based on the first six letters on the keyboard. It was actually developed during the days of typewriters. The system was developed deliberately to slow typing down, because if you typed too fast, keys on a fully mechanical typewriter could hit each other and get stuck. They had to develop something slower to make the hand need to move more for common keys to make everything go a bit slower. There are more efficient ones, like DVORAK, and honestly I could reprogram your keyboard to do anything you like, and then rekey it myself. Though for typing, there are actually games that can help you learn how to type better, though most of them are based on qwerty keyboard layouts.

[He's definitely impressed by Balthier's approach with that question, even as he's making a list mentally of what he wants.]

Okay, you're beyond bright. Yes, you're completely correct. A general rule of thumb on the internet is 'if you can't tell what they're selling, the answer is you'. Most sites, search engines, and yes, ordering systems, track what you purchase and make a sort of profile for you, to target ads and the like. It's horrible. But...

[He taps the screen and the indicator of two add-ons running in the corner]

This button shows you that a VPN is live. We'll talk about that later. Basically it allows you to mask what country you're from, by accessing things through servers in another country. It's a low end thing that acts similarly to how hackers behave for safety and to throw people off. Think of it like having credentials on a ship that claim you're from a whole other nation. It also means you can access versions of sites available only in other nations. Meanwhile this one here, this is a combination ad-blocker and privacy app. This one I coded just for you. Basically you'll do what you want, and when you conclude your transactions on a site and close it, this thing goes through a process first of scrubbing what are called 'cookies'. Things that track your behavior and all that stuff. It also, when you first go to a site, finds any settings it has that tell them 'no you can't keep my information thanks' and toggles them immediately on.

Over time, I'll try and make you something a bit less quickly thrown together, for security purposes. That will include things like encryption cyphers and the like. And that's going on before I teach you about media piracy.

How ubiquitous is this layout? It's the same as my phone, right? If it's the one I'm going to use most often I might as well learn it.

[ The more he learns about computers the more he can see both the value of David's powers and the potential for danger should he ever lose or cross the man. It's nothing personal. Balthier quite honestly doesn't like acknowledging that possibility, but he's been betrayed before. So yes, he's security minded.

The sourness of the thought is balanced by David's enthusiasm for his questions. Balthier knows he's bright, but having a literal genius compliment his mind is up there with the thrill of chaste kisses and feeling seen. ]

Selling people's behavior and information -- I can't say I'm actually surprised. It's not a far step from what already goes on in my society. Though I'm curious what research potential there is for mass recorded points of human behavior. The potential to understand how people learn or make choices seems enormous as well, provided that information is taken in a way that divorces it from tracing back to individuals and making them vulnerable.

[ Okay if he had been born here there's a non-zero chance he'd have ended up in programming or data science or social psychology. ]

Look at me, hiding in plain sight from the comfort of my home. I would make a joke about doesn't that make you the modern pirate, with your dashing clothes and roguish smokescreens to fool the clawing hands of those in power of the flow of information, but I'm guessing by the phrase "media piracy" that has another connotation.

I think one of the strangest parts about being here is speaking the language and yet often missing half the meaning. And I live for subtext. Woe that I ever complained I was getting bored in Ivalice.

[ He's honestly loving all the challenge and learning, as much as he's been a little hesitant to start. It's why he loves conning and treasure.

He turns his attention to the pictures on the menu. ]

The pork buns, seaweed salad, and spicy tripe all look excellent, though really there's nothing on here I wouldn't eat. I think I have had some similar dishes but not exactly the same.

It's the most common form of layout in this country.

[Oh dear, smarter and smarter. David nods at Balthier's conclusions about studying people.]

Back home there are whole ad campaigns based around this sort of understanding of human behavior. An app on your phone might show a few thousand people the same ad multiple times, with the tiniest tweaks, to determine which gets the most response. ANd guess what? Now ads from that company are more likely to follow that format, no matter what it's selling. It's horrible and manipulative. You already see the scary things about the computer age. I think you'll adapt well with practice.

[And damn if Balthier doesn't earn a wider smile and a kiss on the cheek for the whole 'fool the clawing hands of those in power' comment. What a man.]

Modern piracy has many forms, and the whole clawing hands thing, that's more hacktivists. People who are activists and their main tool for it is hacking, which is breaking into other people's systems, or organizations' systems to get at their data to either stop them or reveal what they're hiding. Media piracy, which is mostly just called 'pirating' is basically getting media content without paying for it. I feel like it's a complex crime that is, in some cases, rather victimless. And most of those cases are against major media moguls, or frankly television companies because of how shitty they are these days. Though you're not wrong about language. Hold on.

[He directs Balthier through opening another tab to search for this world's equivalent of Urban Dictionary.]

This here? This is a dictionary for phrases, online and in social situations, that may help you understand different terms. The other place to check is Wikipedia. Between those two, you can get general understanding of a lot of language that makes less sense. So plenty of resources to learn with. But we can come back to that. Menu first.

I think what I want to do with the dinner is ordering a lot of small things. What we don't eat that you like or neither of us care about as much I can live here. If you're living with a young man, he'll be a bottomless pit, and free food never hurt anyone. If not, I can pass it off to Bart.

I'll see how I fare on my own, but games are excellent for accelerated learning of repetitive tasks -- why you have so many war strategy ones. I may loop back and ask you for those.

[ Balthier listens to the explanation of adaptive ads. He sighs at David's tale. ]

And here I thought in another corner of the universe humans might not use something with unlimited potential for good to simply manipulate and profit. That damn romantic heart again.

[ He does not dislike this about himself. He dislikes constantly finding people disappointing.

David's quick kiss, on the other hand, is both surprising and very satisfying. Being called intelligent by someone who knows, and getting affection for it? Yes, thank you. ]

I may make you repeat the resource list so I can write it down -- something to consult while I practice.

That sounds excellent for dinner. I'll defer to your suggestions.

[ He chuckles at the bottomless pit comment. He's not very many years past that in his own life. ]

I'll be happy to help you find them.

[Romantic hearts were sadly poorly suited to this world. Idealism and romanticism and hope weren't as common as they should be.]

I'll be happy to do so. NOw, let's get to this ordering.

[He samples his tea and works through the large order with Balthier, getting them appetizers, various entrees, and of course sides. Plus a nice dessert. Once the order is in, he shows Balthier how to put in the card information and delivery information to make sure it shows up for them. And once that's done, he takes a moment to just breathe.]

Okay, now do you want to keep working on this stuff before the food arrives, or would you like to see the entertainment care package I made for you? Using, of course, piracy. I figured it would please you more.

[ They weren't well suited to his last world either, and that hasn't stopped him yet. It's nice to have a space where he doesn't have to be as worried about that being a liability.

He follows the rest of David's instruction, sipping at tea himself. It's so intimate and normal to be making domestic purchases in lounge clothes in a private apartment. Not that that's a life he's ever had before. He thinks he understands the appeal.

The piracy comment gets a hearty laugh from him. ]

Sir, are you trying to seduce me with your wit and good looks? Because it is working.

[ And the thoughtfulness. The humor. The kindness. The attentive listening. ]

I think I'd like to have enough cognitive energy to react to the entertainment, and now you have me curious about both piracy and this care package.

[There is an intimacy in how close they are to each other in this place and time. And fuck, he wanted to have more of this. Little domestic moments of warmth. But he knows that's too much to seek too soon.]

Sir, I am certain I've already seduced you with my wit and good looks, and merely have not consummated the seduction.

[As he said it, he leaned into almost whisper in Balthier's ear, as if he intends to earn that consummation now. And instead he stands up, taking the laptop with him.]

Alright, we're going to hook this up to the television. Come on, new lesson.

[He's also a tease.]

[ Time may not always be the friend of romance, but it is the happy companion of slower, deeper things. Balthier has had that with friendship, but never with love. He's unfamiliar with this desire for domestic warmth. But it's there.

Those thoughts immediately derail with David's hot breath on his ear and teasing comment. Balthier was completely unprepared for that change in tone and actually chokes on his tea, which turns into a laughing cough as he tries to clear his lungs. The next response is between gasps as he tries to clear his throat. ]

Well now you've seen me be about as suave as a dying cat.

[ When David does decide to seduce Balthier, he is going to be absolutely helpless. He can at least recover his dignity by teasing back a little. And starting to think about how to get David to be speechless on a future date. He hadn't let himself think about that too much, sink too much into plans that may not materialize, but he's finally discarding the 'ifs.' So long as he can help it, they'll keep seeing each other. ]

You know I never was the kind of student who pictured getting together with the professor, but tonight I'm understanding the appeal.

[ His throat is mostly clear, but his eyes are still a little red from coughing. He sets down the tea and goes to join David. ]

[And here David was, used to things being put off and put off until they crashed together. Something that built slowly, like fire carefuly spreading through kindling, was so refreshing and wonderful. And to make Balthier choke like that was enough for a knowing smile.]

I assure you, you're quite suave at all times.

[The 'hot for teacher' effective comment did earn a bark of laughter from David.]

All my years of teaching and guidance, that's never been one where I was on the teacher side of it. Thank you, for a new experience. Now come here and let's both forego the innuendo of putting plugs into ports while we get these electronics set up. I need to teach you the maddening way of how USBs have only two sides but you need to rotate them about twenty times before you figure out how to get them in.

[ Balthier cocks an eyebrow. It wouldn't really surprise him if David were into older men with some authority. Balthier has one of those things. Not that he wants that kind of power imbalance between them in any real way, but he's an actor, and teasing is so easy. ]

I'm certain there are things I can teach you, should you prefer the other role. Or we can be true gentleman and trade back and forth.

[ He laughs at the port comment though. ]

Skies above, I don't even know what to say to that other than, of course that's a standard innuendo. Next you're going to tell me USB is universal sex dialect or something of the sort. Teach away, dashing instructor.

[Older men with authority? No, not really. He had been into the woman ho had brought him to Xavier's though. Not that Dani had been too much older than him.]

I think I like the idea of trade. It does make the world go round. And seems to work for us I think. And no, this is a USB.

[He holds up the cable that will connect the laptop to the external hard drive. He shows off that and the HDMI cable and explains how to connect those in to external and television respectively, and of course there is some clumsy cable work from him before undoing them all and having Balthier take over connecting things.]

So, what's your opinion on opera and musical theater?

[ Don't mind Balthier he's projecting some of his own poor decisions.

He agrees, though, that he likes the back and forth that is already settling into a rhythm between them.

The cables aren't too complicated, especially since the shapes are generally 1:1 fits. He is glad for the demonstration and insistence he do it himself. That's a much faster way to learn. ]

Opera we have. I quite like some of them; the poor quality ones are painfully long. I am assuming musical theater is plays that have a musical component but different structure than operas. Which sounds up my alley.

[That's fair. Bad decisions were a thing that life did from time to time.]

Well, there's some light opera you might like. Gilbert and Sullivan may speak to you. But yes Musical Theater is different. It's stage performances that are also musical ones. So it's acting and singing and music.

[ David stop are you going to make him watch a pirate musical? He will protest loudly about piracy and enjoy every minute of it. ]

We have some forms like that, but they're generally considered lower brow; not that that's ever stopped anything from being excellent entertainment.

[Yes, he is totally going to make the man watch a pirate musical if he is willing. They can laugh together over it. He's also got Erol Flynn on this external. And plenty of other things along the theme. Including Muppet Treasure Island. Sure there are other things too, like political intrigue things, and sci-fi, but that one vein was there every now and then.]

Lower brow? That can bite me. Fun is fun, nd anything else is silly. In fact, muscials are getting a resurgence back home. Operas are considered very high end though.

I like anything good, and a good deal that’s not, regardless of classification. It’s one of my moral and mental failings, according to my schooling, my father, and most of the aristocracy.

[ He grins. David has of course thought about every detail of the evening. ]

I take it you have one in mind?

I expect your aristocracy would find me to be low brow as well.

[David grins and nods, then gives Balthier the wireless mouse, directing him to plug in the USB. With that a knock comes at the door, and David nods for Balthier to head back to the couch.]

I'll get it. My order, my tip.

[With that he goes to the door to answer it. Soon he's coming back with two brown bags of food that he starts to arrange the cartons on the table. And of course the soy sauce and fortune cookies go on the side too.]

Let's serve up and I'll show you how to access the external. We'll get things ready and watch our operetta.

They never were good judges of anything meaningful. I think their disapproval may be the best endorsement you could receive. Though I would be delighted to have you on my arm at one of those parties.

[ Balthier returns to the couch and helps unwrap things as much as he can. ]

This smells divine. I suppose I should have gotten more serving spoons.

Oh god, high class parties are not my most fun idea, unless it's for a charity or fundraiser. I don't like the little 'you are only valuable for elbow rubbing' mood. It displeases me. I am worth so much more than that.

[David smirks and reaches into the take out bag for the plastic forks.]

I suppose these will have to do. Tah-dah! Plastic. Hane of the world, and also very useful.

[ Balthier grins at that protest, because there’s something endearing about seeing David adamantly against something, and because he deeply understands that feeling. ]

To be clear we would be crashing. As pirates. Or maybe I’d plant myself in the room and you could come steal me away. After we destroy some sensibilities and swipe some treasure.

[ But his hand finds David’s shoulder. Of course he’s worth more than that. ]

Ah yes a question I still desire an answer on. Plastic etymologically means malleable but I’m sensing it’s a hard material used for a variety of shapes — highly moldable. And nonporous so good for containers. You say bane — something is problematic about it. Dirty to produce? Unethical ingredients?

Crashing I would be down for. And I do like the idea of stealing you away and scandalizing people. That sounds like the right kind of eyes on us.

[Damn but Balthier makes leaps so quickly. David is just beaming. This is why the man compels him so. He bet if he left bread crumbs the man would chase them down so quickly. What a wonder.]

Yes, highly moldable, nonporous. In fact, it's more than all of that. There's lots of colors for it, it's sort of cheap, you can make multiple versions, some of it is recyclable. But the process of making it is dirty, the origin of it is destructive, the processes related to plastics creation are highly unethical and dirty and horrible. And slowly destroying our planet. And, on top of it all, it's lasting. Paper, wood, they break down. Stone, metal, whatever if they're in the wild. PLastic? It doesn't go away.

[ Balthier will be occupied with that fantasy when he’s replaying tonight later this week. Right now he is absolutely basking in David’s grin at his plastic commentary. ]

Sounds like my father and his friends would have loved the stuff. What a horrific way to be immortal. I’ll have to amend my desire for infamous legacy to “does not destroy the planet in the process.”

[ Actually that had probably been on there since the destruction from the nethecite. ]

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