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[stridercentric]

[Ever since Bro arrived in Vatheon, he's been impressed by the amount of skilled techies. People are going around building robot dogs like it's no big deal and his younger alternate self was seen beating the shit out of a pretty goddamn amazing strifebot. This is the sort of thing that had always caught his interest when he was younger, even if he never made a real hobby out of it. It still catches his interest now.

So he decides to take the plunge and rekindle that old passion. It's never too late to gain more skills, especially when you know this is kinda your last chance to do so. He's got the perfect project in mind to get him started, too.]

so we got a lotta techies here right? the folks with the l33t skills and way too much free time on their hands. put down your screwdrivers and start reading.

in my world theres legend of a kickass device. born in the dark recesses of a hollywood directors mind and shaped by cheap special effects. it doesnt exist for real but boy howdy do fanboys cream their pants at the prospect of it being a thing. santa still gets like five hundred requests a year for these rad toys and he has to disappoint every single hopeful sap who asks. people have been trying to build this thing for decades but gravitys keeping them down. literally.

its called a hoverboard. not a rocketboard. not a skateboard. definitely not a surfboard. doesnt work over water anyway. its gotta hover like 10 inches above the ground.

but were not on my world anymore and i think the brilliant minds here can make a legit hoverboard. and show me how the fuck youre making the hovering work because ive got nothing.

so what say you?

[...]

p.s. if you use magic to make it hover youre disqualified. were defying laws of nature with science here so wizards need not apply.

Comments

[onlyasign]

I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. DAVE WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED OUT AS WELL AS HE DID IF THAT WERE THE CASE.

AND I THINK WE NEED ROLE MODELS FOR A LOT LONGER THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO ADMIT. IT'S NOT AS THOUGH YOU SUDDENLY OUTGROW THEM, JUST BECAUSE YOU REACH A CERTAIN AGE.

[stridercentric]

[It takes a while for Bro to respond, because he's not exactly sure how to respond. What's his view on this matter? He doesn't even know. Much as he'd like to take credit for how strong his brother's become, the fact remains that currently, there's three years' worth of Dave being a slick badass without Bro's guidance.

He spends a minute or two tapping his fingers on the desk and staring blankly at the screen before he can get himself to reply.]

role models dont need to be around physically. whats important is remembering their lessons and ideals.

i mean. hell. some people dont even get to meet their role model face to face. think i ever got to chill with jim henson? or eminem? fuck. i wish.

so yeah. im here now but that doesnt change a hell of a lot.

[onlyasign]

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. HOWEVER, WANTING TO MAKE SOMEONE PROUD OF YOU CAN BE AN INCREDIBLY MOTIVATING FORCE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE, BUT WOULD YOU HAVE WANTED TO? HAD YOU GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY? IF ONLY TO TELL THEM HOW MUCH THEY IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?

IT CHANGES MORE THAN YOU KNOW... DIRK? IS YOUR NAME DIRK TOO? ANYWAY, IT CHANGES MORE THAN YOU REALIZE.

[stridercentric]

man. i think i mighta gone down on one knee and proposed if id met either face to face. my chill facade would crumble away to reveal the giddy fanboy within. just a complete lack of self control. thats how badass these guys are.

and no. i mean. yeah sure my names dirk but fuck that. people stopped calling me that years ago. mostly because i told them to. its bro now.

it doesnt change shit. what happens in vatheon stays in vatheon and all that jazz.

[onlyasign]

THEY MUST BE VERY BADASS INDEED.

ALL RIGHT, BRO IT IS, THEN. THAT WILL KEEP THINGS FOR GETTING CONFUSING.

THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. ALTERNATELY, YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AS A CHANCE TO SET THINGS RIGHT WITH YOURSELF, AND SAY OR DO WHATEVER YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO BEFORE. YOU CAN EITHER VIEW VATHEON AS WASTED TIME, OR AS GIFTED TIME.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

[stridercentric]

well bless my lucky stars. this must be my lucky day. im getting profound wisdom from a troll.

trouble is youre missing the point by miles. you can bet your ass im making the best of things here. i can live it up all i want. no limits. no regrets.

it just still doesnt change shit.

[onlyasign]

DOESN'T IT?

[stridercentric]

nope.

i get what youre trying to say man. really. i do.

it just doesnt change that anything i tell dave in this place is gonna be worthless the sec he leaves. hes still gonna be missing me. im still not gonna get to fight by his side.

like i said. what happens in vatheon stays in vatheon and thats what makes it grade a bullshit.

[And Bro is so glad this stuff is filtered. Because, really, it's nobody's business. It's barely the Sufferer's business, for that matter. Why is he still responding to this guy?]

[onlyasign]

[Why indeed? Although now Bro has touched on a pretty sensitive issue for Sufferer as well: he's already failed in his own timeline, and anything he does here won't change that.]

I'M SORRY. SOMETIMES I GET A LITTLE OVERZEALOUS WITH WHAT I SAY. I DIDN'T INTEND TO...

SORRY.

I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE NOW.

[stridercentric]

[Oh. Well. Now he feels a little bad. Anyone who apologizes twice like that really means it.]

no man. dont worry about it. i get it.

so. are you another troll who cant hold his liquor or are you good to go out boozing sometime?

[Considering Sufferer knows Dave so well and has heard about Bro, the best thing to do is meet him in person. Trolls tend to be good company anyway, as far as his experiences from the past few months go.]

[onlyasign]

[Yes, the change in topic is good.]

I ONCE DRANK A HIGHBLOOD UNDER THE TABLE. THEN PSII AND I THREW UP IN TWENTY-TWO LITTLE BUSHES ON THE WAY HOME.

[stridercentric]

only twenty two? that aint too bad.

[onlyasign]

IT WAS MOSTLY PSII, HONESTLY. I THINK I JUST THREW UP TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. HE JUST KEPT GOING.

[stridercentric]

sounds like that guys stomachs some kinda black hole if it can hold that much puke.

[onlyasign]

HE HAS A THING FOR THE NUMBER TWO, SO AFTER THE THIRD BUSH, IT WAS TWENTY TWO BUSHES OR NONE AT ALL.

[stridercentric]

gotta admire a guy who sticks by his principles.

but yeah. point is. if you wanna go out boozing sometime hit me up. ill be there. maybe bring some troll buddies. the more the merrier.

[onlyasign]

THANKS, BRO. I WOULD LIKE THAT.

[stridercentric]

just be sure to remember what an honor this is. only a select few get invited for drinks with the bro.

[onlyasign]

I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S A RARE PRIVILEGE TO GET TO HANG OUT WITH ME, BUT THAT WOULD BE A LIE. I HANG OUT WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYONE.

[stridercentric]

yeah. well. at least youre being honest about that.