darkbishop | NOCTIUM INBOX

[ He gets a nod, at that. She can understand this to some extent. ]

I understand. We have phones where I'm from, but I'd only ever used them in the human world for shinigami purposes. The technology here is far more advanced and extremely complex; I've never seen anything like it before.

[ It's so much to take in, isn't it. ]

However, I've learned a couple of things, such as how to send photos and messages to other people. If you need assistance with that, I can show you how to do that.

There's a way to send photos?

[He's at least worked out the network and many of the other functions, but it is absolutely a slow-going process. While he can't see an immediate use for sending photos, it could be helpful to know?? He's gotta learn everything.]

I would appreciate the assistance, yes. It is good to know I'm not the only one finding all of this vastly different.

Why yes, there is!

[ Somehow, this seems to get her to perk up a little. It may be the fact that she gets to teach someone how the phones (sort of) work and feel smart... She pulls open her phone and does some tapping. She pulls up a blank text message and points to an icon that resembles a camera. ]

All you need to do is tap this icon, [ She does so, and a variety of blurry photos pop up onto the screen. ] and then tap the photo you'd like to send. It's very simple!

Ah, I see. That isn't particularly difficult.

[Huh! There are so many things you can click on... One of these days, he's just going to have to try clicking Everything.]

I appreciate the assistance; most of this is straightforward once it is explained, but it doesn't always seem obvious initially.

[Thank god people in the tdm helped him set his phone to silent because he would hate it by now otherwise.]

It is, isn't it? Taking to this device has been a lot easier than I anticipated.

[ Look at them, making technological progress. Proud of u two. ]

It seems as though learning the phone's one of the easier things about this world. There's a lot going on here that I don't quite understand, even when someone lays it out for me.

Agreed. I feel as though I've spent the majority of my time here studying to simply catch up, much less learn anything of value.

[Though catching up is valuable itself, he's aware of that. It's said in a wry tone more than anything else; he's not genuinely upset about it, at least.]

What have you learned so far? Perhaps we can compare notes...

[ If anything, that is. Might be good to help one another out here. ]

I've learned quite a bit about these devices, though obviously I still have more to learn.

[Here, let him pull his phone out and flip through a few settings; he's actually worked out how to text pretty well and has learned how to mute his damn phone so it doesn't make noise at him all the time, but we're still pretty much looking at the basics here. He's a quick study, but it's kind of hard to catch up when you're a Ye Olde...]

You've learned how to mute your phone?!

[ That's the best part about all of this, oh my god. Rukia is immediately going to pick that up from Hubert, because goodness this thing can be real noisy sometimes?? ]

I see. That should be very useful then, though I do worry I'll forget to check it if someone tries to contact me...

It seems as though you're able to change the sound if you dislike the one it's currently set to.

[Give him a sec to go through the options... Here's how you can do that if you want to look through them!]

Unfortunately, it seems that you'll have to remember to check it on your own without the sound. I haven't found another way for it to notify you.

Oh! These are ringtones. I'm familiar with this concept; the phone I used back at home had these as well.

[ But they didn't sound nearly this...clear? Crisp? She's so impressed. ... Don't mind her Hubert, she's going to try out every single one. Please stop her. ]

[.............you know, this might as well happen.

So no, he won't stop her. He will sit here and listen to every single ringtone and try very hard not to make a face. This is his lot in life now. Hubert von Vestra suffers so much.]

[ You're a good man, Hubert.

She at least doesn't listen to each one all the way through, but he'll be treated to an assortment of sounds. Rukia eventually settles on one that's at least nicer on the ears and puts her phone down, looking at Hubert with a grin on her face. ]

Well, that was fun!

[ FOR SOME PEOPLE, SURE... ]

[FOR ONE OF US...]

They certainly do have a lot of options.

They do. Far more than my old phone did, at least.

[ Now that Hell is officially over, Rukia goes back to just casually looking at her screen. She flips through some of the screens before finally forming a question: ]

"gemBANKING"...? What is that?

[he's Free.........

from that, at least.]

That one seems to be a resource to track your income. I haven't gone through that one very thoroughly, however.

[Enough to get the general idea, not enough to really know how it works, in other words.]

Ah. And income is earned...through Manna, was it?

[ Which is like. Fantastic......just fantastic.... ]

Yes.

[Which is absolutely fantastic.]

It... certainly is a unique system.

[That's the nicest thing he can say about it.]

It really is.

[ Thanks, they both hate it. ]

I can see you aren't fond of it either, Vestra-san. What do you intend to do in order to survive here?

[There's something odd about being called by surname, but given the -san on the end, he's assuming that's some form of proper address. He'll leave it be for now.]

Strike bargains with likeminded individuals to produce enough Manna to keep our overseers at bay - at least initially.

[It's blunt, but there's no reason not to be when we both clearly aren't here for this concept.]

I see...

[ She actually seems to give this a lot of thought. There's a quiet moment that passes in which Rukia seems to be weighing her options, and she makes a slightly embarrassed expression, eyes shifting so they're looking off to the side. ]

By "likeminded individuals," are you referring to others who are also looking at this transactionally?

[He's noticed, but he won't mention it.]

That's correct. There are at least a few of us who would prefer to avoid more... casual physical contact.

[Those of us who are touchy and need awhile to properly open up so we don't punch someone on reflex for trying to hug us, in other words.]

[ A nod at that, then: ]

I understand. I'm not really one for physical contact myself, but it is a necessity here, isn't it? So...

[ A pause, then: ]

If you aren't opposed, I may take you up on that. Physical contact to mutually ensure our survival here.

[Hubert doesn't have to think too hard about that, he nods.]

Precisely. Seeing as how we are neighbors, it will be convenient in case either of us need to obtain Manna quickly, to keep them from routinely pestering us, of course.

Right. I'm glad we're in agreement on this.

[ Well, that was easier than she expected to be. She looks a little less tense now, and there's a small smile on her face. She clears her throat a little. ]

What kinds of physical gestures would be simple enough for something like this?

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