(no subject)

[a1enzo]

"Dot?" Enzo calls (at a reasonable indoor volume, thank you), emerging from the hall closet. "Where's the icon you got for Annabelle? She's ready to visit."

Comments

[a1enzo]

"You should see the ones in the..." He checks himself, makes sure no one is in earshot, and continues, "the Supercomputer. Remember, that's where you met me. Try not to act too impressed, 'cept by the tourist stuff. Mainframe's not a big system, we've just done a lot."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle nods in understanding, "I think I can manage that," she says with a small smile.

[a1enzo]

"Awesome."

They come down near a small kiosk with a sign by it:
Mainframe System Scans
8 Units
Next Tour in 9 Nanoseconds

[aeons_crackshot]

It takes Annabelle a second to convert 9 Nanoseconds into User timescale, but she manages it. "Do I just wait here for the tour guide, or do I need to go somewhere else?" she asks Enzo.

[a1enzo]

"You just pay and wait here."

Indeed, there is already a small crowd forming, mostly binomes but some sprites as well, including a few with odd limbs or rivets who effectively demonstrate how sprites are not entirely restricted to the humanoid norm.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle nods in understanding. "I'm guessing you're not going on the tour?" she asks with a grin. He lives here, after all.

Annabelle does not gawk at the crowd. Being a Milliways veteran has its advantages in the coping with weirdness department.

[a1enzo]

"Nah, I'll meet up with you after."

[nofileext]

"Hello, Guardian!" says a passing binome (causing Enzo to puff up a bit). "Who's your friend?"

[a1enzo]

"Oh, hi, Mrs. Yotta. This is Annabelle Newfield. She, uh..." A sudden inspiration strikes. "She came to the Academy as a guest speaker! 'Cause she's a Hero format."

[aeons_crackshot]

"I could hardly resist the opportunity to take a tour of Mainframe, especially since Enzo offered to show me a few things left off the usual itinerary."

[nofileext]

"Well, we're very honoured, Ms. Newfield. There have been so many new faces in the system lately, it's hard to process!"

[aeons_crackshot]

"Oh, the honor is all mine. You have a lovely system here."

[nofileext]

"That's very kind of you, dear. Enzo, you should show her the art museum."

[a1enzo]

Enzo tries not to roll his eyes. "Sure, Mrs. Yotta."

[aeons_crackshot]

"I'll certainly have a look at it if we have time," Annabelle replies with a smile. Its contents can't possibly be any worse than the modern art that Annabelle has seen in some books she got from the Bar.

[nofileext]

They managed to preserve some of Hex's art. You'd be surprised.

Mrs. Yotta nods happily (and for a 0, that means nodding the entire middle part of her body).

"Well, I was just off to do some shopping. Enjoy your stay, dear!"

[aeons_crackshot]

"I'm sure I will," she replies with a smile. "Thank you for your recommendation."

As Mrs. Yotta heads off to do her shopping, Annabelle hands over the money for the tour....