Personal Log #18 - [Action - All Day]

[spohkh]

The Dome:

[One of the simulator doors is wide open for anyone to see inside, and for the most part, the room is empty... except for a tv, and a large couch; the back of which is facing the door. For anyone who knows the Vulcan well, they'll recognize the cap of neat, black hair sticking above the back of the couch. What will seem odd though are the sounds coming from the room...

...sounds, for those who would recognize them, that resemble something like video games from the mid eighties to early nineties.

If anyone dares to venture into the room and walks around the couch, they'll see the floor littered with games for the various consoles set up by the tv. Currently, Spock is engrossed with Super Mario Bros for the SNES, his eyebrows and mouth fixated in a scary looking frown as he navigates through the levels.]



[ooc: Spock has been gone for just about two weeks, and is now suffering under a inconvenient effect: he's addicted to video games. For those who would like to jump in on this, there are extra controllers. *hint hint*
Also, it's good to be back~ /hugs everyone/]

Comments

[spohkh]

[Spock doesn't look away from the screen, but his head does tilt.]

Eleytheria, it would seem that I am playing a game. What is more disconcerting however is the fact that I cannot seem to stop... nor to I possess the desire to. Would you care to join me?

[winds_voice]

This is a game?

[He was aware of games played among people... like that 'volleyball' for instance... but nothing on a square machine that involved using a device. And he couldn't stop playing it? Was that part of the game too?

Eley sits, rather fascinated by the whole concept.]

I am not sure if I understand how this game is supposed to be played. You say you cannot stop playing? Perhaps you are simply enjoying it more than you realise.

[spohkh]

Hmm, that idea does have merit, however, I am not prone to the human concept of 'fun', so I am uncertain.

[Spock pauses the game and hands Eley a controller, resetting the game to two player.]

You are the one clad in green known as 'Luigi.'


[This was a bit surreal, wasn't it?]

[winds_voice]

[Eley takes one of the controllers and just... stares at it. What were all these buttons for? And at Spock's comment he simply tilts his head in confusion.]

What do you mean by... 'I am'? I am Eleytheria, not Luigi.

[spohkh]

[The Vulcan quirks an eyebrow, and then remembers who he is speaking to. His new found addiction to video games has made him more impatient...]

It is a game, and you are playing a character by the name of Luigi. Experiment by pressing some of the buttons. You hold the controller like this. [Spock holds up his own controller to give Eley an example. They could always move on to Mario Kart, he has it around here somewhere...]

[winds_voice]

I see...

[Sort of. Well, at least he can hold the controller properly, going by Spock's example. It did feel more natural this way; the buttons seemed to match where his thumbs could reach.

At his suggestion, Eley starts to push some of the buttons to see what they do, realising that the little green man on the screen seemed to move in different ways depending on what was pressed. Running, jumping, ducking... it was a very strange experience for the Spirit but he was willing to give it a chance.

...his first mistake being to drop down into one of the pits on the level, causing everything to stop momentarily. Eley looks rather concerned.]

Did I do something wrong?

[spohkh]

There are hazards that will cause you to lose your character one life. After you go through five lives, your game will end.
[Spock's turn starts up...]

Perhaps you would like to try a different game? [For Spock, it doesn't really matter, as long as they're playing something.]

[winds_voice]

This character has multiple lives? Interesting... then you have multiple chances to rectify your mistakes.

[All right, perhaps you're thinking a bit too deeply about this Eley. There were so many different games in here though that he honestly didn't mind trying new ones either. He gives a nod to his friend.]

Let us try something else. Did you have anything in mind?

[spohkh]

Perhaps something easier, one that does not have such a definitive 'game over'...

[The Vulcan searches for another cartridge, and comes up with one... 'Pokemon Stadium.']

Perhaps this one?

[winds_voice]

[Eley looks at the name of the game and notes the familiar terminology.]

A game about Pokemon? I have learned a little about these creatures lately, so I would be interested to see what this... game has to offer.

[A stadium... did that mean battles perhaps, like Red had shown him in the Battledome previously?]

[spohkh]

[Spock nods and puts in the game. He goes to the battle arena, and encourages Eley to choose his pokemon.]


They all have some elemental affinity, I have found that it is good to choose one of each.

[winds_voice]

[Eley nods. That was something he had started to learn about during his training sessions with Red. But wow, were there really this many Pokemon in his world? He scrolls down the list, spotting a few familiar faces among the other strange monsters.]

Red's Pokemon are here? Does he know about this? Pikachu, Saur and Snorlax...

[He feels as though he should choose them, in reverence to his friend. Pikachu, Snorlax and Venusaur enter his party and Machoke too, whom he recognises as a previous opponent. Hmm... Gyarados reminded him a little of Thalassa from home and Arcanine was rather like a firey Erimia. Yes this should do.]

I believe I am ready.

[spohkh]

[The Vulcan tilts his head curiously.]

Red? Who is Red? And what do you mean his pokemon are here? Is this not a game?
[For a moment, Spock's addiction to video games made him forget that in Luceti, all universes can intermingle.]

[winds_voice]

Red is a friend of mine, here in Luceti. He has companions which are the same species as some of the Pokemon reflected in this... game.

But why would they feel the need to build a game around the concept of Pokemon battling if they already partake in such things in their daily lives?

[It still puzzled him that a game like this actually existed. Something about it seemed redundant. Was there another world where these same creatures were only part of a game?]

[spohkh]

Hmm, there are many universes represented here in Luceti. In my universe, as far as I am aware, Pokemon are not real. They exist only in these games.

[Very odd concept, actually.]

[winds_voice]

A simulation of another world... Well then, are you ready to play? I cannot say how accurate this game portrays the world of Pokemon, but we may be able to learn from it.

[Eley still has to try to learn, even when it comes to something designed solely for fun, sob.]

[spohkh]

[The Vulcan shakes his head and pauses the game to look over at Eley.]

Perhaps learning is not the goal here.
[He doesn't know what he's saying...]

[winds_voice]

[Oh... wait a minute, was Spock implying that he was just playing this game for fun?]

Surely you would embrace the chance to learn in any scenario. Why else would you so readily pick up a game that is unfamiliar to you and play it with so much enthusiasm?

[spohkh]

[Spock frowned to himself. Why was he saying these things?]

The purpose... the purpose is perhaps for recreation only. To enjoy, and be with those whom you are playing with.

[Spock looks at Eley, a slight confusion in his eyes.]
Are you having fun, Eleytheria?

[winds_voice]

[Eley takes a moment to respond. He seems to be looking at Spock rather strangely. Did he really just effectively tell him that he was just doing this purely for fun? And in a way that made perfect sense to him?

Well... was he having fun? He's not sure.]

I am certainly enjoying your company and am eager to learn more about these... box games. But... am I having fun? I am not certain. I am sure I will be, once we continue.

[Looking to Spock again, he notes the confusion in his eyes.]

Are you... all right?

[spohkh]

I do not know.

[It was an honest enough answer, but Spock's attention on Eley veered back to the tv, and he started up the video game once more.
He couldn't stop.]

[winds_voice]

But you seem to be having fun yes? Or at least... you wish to have fun. Is that not a good thing?

[Sorry Spock, he's a little bit distracted from the game right now. He wants to know if you're actually all right here.]

[spohkh]

Fun is an illogical concept. To partake in an activity purely for enjoyment is a waste of time... it is... um...

[The Vulcan blinks... his hands lowering, the controller resting in his lap as he stares at the game over on the screen.]