Ian In The Wrong Place? - OTA

[ubuntu_programmer]

Open/locked?: Open
Who: Ian and whomsoever encounters them
What: Ian arrives in Auradon
Warnings: Some angst, maybe?


There was a figure slumped by the wall, their white and black hair disheveled, their glasses on the grass beside them. Their small suitcase was over their legs, their backpack dangling from one arm. After a moment they groaned and lifted a hand to their head. "Did I get hit by a truck or something...?" They mumbled.

Eyes opening, they looked around. "Well that's not good. I can't afford to be hallucinating now." They picked up their round lensed glasses and checked them before putting them on, then fished a phone out of their pocket. "No bars. Of course. I need to write an algorithm that will allow my phone to find signal from anywhere in the world. Of course, I should still be close enough to get signal anyway, hallucination or no. So... what is actually going on here...?"

Comments

[ubuntu_programmer]

"There has to be a way, I'll figure it out. I assure you I am quite good with technology."

[under_the_raptors_wings]

That earned an eyebrow raise. "I didn't say there wasn't, just that their tech probably isn't the best base. I mean, uh, if anything, you own would be better just because it's attuned to your reality." His and Rren's might be an even better base, but that entered the realm of things he was not comfortable offering. Whether or not it would work.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"But there is nothing to say I cannot combine both."

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae shrugged then. "I suppose not." He rubbed at the back of his neck. "Right uh. I guess I was going to have Rren meet us at the kitchen, so uh. I can lead there next?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Thank you. I appreciate it. Even if I don't appreciate the situation all that much."

[under_the_raptors_wings]

"I... can't say I do much either." It had been how long now since he'd left home now? All of it hoping to help Aqua and to save those of his friends he could? He tried not to think about it, to trust Aqua that when they went back it would be to the same moment. Because if she was wrong, he'd left for nothing, and he couldn't handle that.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"So why aren’t you fighting it more?" They asked, but not angrily. More... confused.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

"Because I don't know how. Even if it worked the same as the alternate universes that people have experience with back home, which I am told it doesn't, I still wouldn't know." He pushed his hands through his messy hair. "I mean uh I studied xenobiology and animal medicine in school, not multidimensional physics."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Well luckily for you I am a genius who happens to have a focus in all sorts of physics others have considered weird. Let me at what passes for experts here, and I'll see what I have to build to get us home." They said with utter confidence.

Multidimensional theory might only be theory, but they at least had a basis to start from with that.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

The utter confidence earned a sharply arched eyebrow and it was a moment before Æn'kae managed a real reply. "I don't know who has the best knowledge of alternate universes like this one. But as far as those documented where I'm from, Rren knows about most incidents." Classified or no. But they didn't need to hear that part from him. Rren would probably share, but that was their information to share, not his.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Rren who you said I am about to meet?"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae nodded and waved in the direction of the kitchen where he'd told Rren to meet them. "Ie."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"E?"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

A pause. Was that what he'd sounded like to this person? Huh. Well, it was a word that wasn't translated (Rren thought it was because the translator mistook it for some other word) so his accent must have confused matters? Either that or the translator had attempted something and mixed things up. Either way, he chewed his lip as he tried to dredge up the Ængliish word. "Yes?"

[ubuntu_programmer]

"...Yes?"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

He furrowed his brow, working back irritation again. This person was just trying to understand him, he had no reason to be irritated. "That's what ie means."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Oh. You're speaking Japanese? I'm sorry, I didn't realize it. Gotta admit, didn't expect aliens to speak Japanese, but I guess I probably should have." A small smile.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

A moment of baffled confusion followed. "No um, I don't know that language, but that may kind of explain why the translator has trouble with that word when it usually catches words with a direct translation. While some people I've known can speak Terrha languages, I can't. Even after some attempts to learn one." He rubbed at the back of his neck at the admission. What? This person seemed very smart and he didn't like admitting that he just. Was abysmal at learning languages.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Huh... a translator issue? Well, maybe I can fix that for you. Shouldn't be too complex... Want to let me take a look at it?"

[under_the_raptors_wings]

That earned a reaction before Æn'kae could stop it. He took a step back. If he were a cat he would have bristled, as it was he tensed up notably. "No. Uh. It actually is very complicated. It's constantly learning and given a brief exposure can translate languages not in its databanks. Also I uh... it's implanted in my brain. So uh... No."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Yeaaaah, no. I may be able to do a lot, scientifically, but I'm not about to dabble in neurosurgery without a lot more training than I have now. Complicated I can handle, cutting open someone's brain? I'll pass, thanks."

[under_the_raptors_wings]

When Æn'kae blanched, the green undertones to his skin became more visible briefly. He'd forgotten how crude medicine was at this point. The idea of actually needing to cut open someone's brain churned his stomach. He might have been okay normally, but he was already rattled by the idea of anyone messing with his head at all. Even knowing it wouldn't happen. "I uh, I should... kitchen's this way," he mumbled after recovering enough to do so.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Right. Are... you going to be okay?" They asked, concerned.

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae waved the concern off as he resumed the path to the kitchen. "It was just a jarring reminder of how different medical procedures must have been. I'll be fine." Of course, this entirely failed to address that the reaction started before said reminder.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"How would it be done by your people?"