Audio; UN: username

[fuelingfire]

For those that might be interested, I have through considerable effort figured out how to tweak these devices into allowing the display of color video and images beyond sepia.

[There is a steady tap tap tap, like a claw on metal.]

Which I would demonstrate, save that this is a physical change to the device and requires me to put in several very small items to function. Thus if you have interest in seeing each other in color, I can be found at the Second Time's The Charm shop, which sells these communicators, for the next several days. Make an appointment. As I am generous, I will not charge for my considerable time and efforts in this, though I will not refuse donations. You will have to turn your device over to me for a bell or so, there's no way around it. If you refuse, you may purchase another, I can update that one, and you may turn in your old one for recycling.

Technically I can't refuse anyone who asks for my aid. But if you are rude, violent, or otherwise not on good behavior something unpleasant may happen to your device while my talons are in its guts. Try to at least feign civility.




[OOC: The first watch update is here, IN LIVING COLOR. Lahabrea absolutely must get his hands on a watch in order to upgrade it. While this interaction can be handwaved!! you may also come visit Lahabrea and have it done in person for delicious CR! He won't refuse anyone, and he'll take into account rude people at least making an effort at being polite. Upgrades are freeeee! Make an appointment (in this thread or inboxes or etc I don't mind~) and come get your color upgrade!

Although he didn't mention it in this notice, he's willing to teach others how to do this as well, so other people can do upgrades! If you're interested, find an excuse to ask him! I welcome any and all assistance; the more hands I get the faster I can do future upgrades too!]

Comments

[fuelingfire]

[By the time Mettaton returns!!!

His watch sits complete and inert on the tabletop, on a bit of folded napkin. Any identifying marks, artwork and inscription have been left precisely as they were; there's no outward visible sign anything has changed at all!

But of course that'll change as soon as it's turned on..

As the puca bursts back in, the Ascian briefly glances up, then returns to picking at a completely different watch.]

Unfortunately, yes. As it is a hardware change, every single one must be manually altered. I have taken the liberty to making a few changes so future potential upgrades are easier to manage, but so long as components must be added, only those who come for such changes may utilize them.

[glitzandglamour]

[It would come as a surprise to anyone that Mettaton hasn't done much to his watch as of yet, or else it would have been repulsively noteworthy to start. No, it's rather default... save for the pictures on it, of which there are many. Many, and also absolutely terrible. (For everyone's sake, we can only hope Lahabrea did not rifle through them. Devices aren't password protected, after all: it was left in his hands in good faith, and a bit of carelessness and trust to boot.)

Mettaton slinks back into his seat before Lahabrea's work table. He... readily assumes the one sitting to the side is his, and picks it up between delicate fingers, ears attentive. Powering it to life idly, Mettaton glances up with a quirk of his brow.]

Every single one? You have your work cut out to you. [His brow's furrowed, and a small frown works its way onto his synthetic features. Actually, it's a bit of a pout.] And knowing that lots of our fellow Mirrorbound and citizens alike will squander your generous offer...

[Mettaton clicks his tongue. He is obviously less pleased about this obstacle now that he's had time to digest it rather than bouncing excitedly into getting the upgrade for himself, and his ears lean back irately. The thought that some Mirrorbound would be content to squander the opportunity to see Mettaton in full color is a terrible one.]

Something must be done about that.

[fuelingfire]

Every single one.

[There were problems with that, of course, given how wildly unsocial Lahabrea tends to be and the amount of interaction required to get the job done - not much but still more than none.

The watch acts and looks completely normal! It powers up precisely as it's supposed to, it isn't until camera settings are gotten into that anything seems different at all. There is a single color photograph lurking in Mettaton's most recent photos, of ... the wall. It's not very exciting. But it's not sepia. It's walnut.]

The built-in structure is simply incapable of doing what needs to be done. New watches may have the modifications built in, and there's negotiations in the works to implement such, but I have no way to manage it long distance.

[He frowns. It's not something he much likes.]

Had I the option, I would certainly not be leaving my services at the beck and call of any mortal who deigns dignify my extensive work with a moment's notice.

[glitzandglamour]

[Mettaton motions at first as though he's about to get familiar to his newly fixed device, casting his attention down to it and tapping it with his fingers, but it slowly drifts down to his lap as he listens to Lahabrea's woes, both with poor tech and his dissatisfaction with the task. MTT tilts his head, his large ears bobbing with the motion.]

Are you under contract? How come you have no option? [That would make sense. Otherwise yeah, why would Lahabrea be out here doing this like a charity case?] I couldn't help but notice you didn't demand recompense... So, why?

[He's still thinking about how to push this update onto everyone, pushing it with advertisement and charm... But if Lahabrea is reluctant to do it at all, there would have to be a few alterations to that plan.]

[fuelingfire]

The desired outcome has no other method of reaching it. Nothing forces me to comply save my own wishes.

[So why is an Ascian of all people, bothering to help mortals at all? He hated them, he made no secret of it, scorned their weakness and frailty. Everything they did was a point of derision, something to mock at best.

And here he is probably spending countless hours in working on a device of mortal creation, to go back into mortal possession.

He spreads his hands, talons half-sheathed. His smile is anything but pleasant, it has far, far too much fang in it.]

The beast I have been saddled with takes immense satisfaction in knowing that every single life which gains pleasure or joy from seeing a color picture or watching a color video, either in love or in hate, is only by my generosity.

[He sets a small screwdriver down, leaning back a little. He still didn't have his wings. When would he?]

There have been small donations here and there, it helps towards the costs. But a flat fee would render the work labor paid for and thus the customer may do what they wish, for they are paying. But donation.. and offer of free efforts on my part, means if someone so much as twitches in a way I don't like, I will destroy their device outright and they will never gain what they desire.

[That.. definitely sounds like dragon level pride and pettiness.]

[glitzandglamour]

[Yes, Mettaton does know the way of Ascians. Helping humans like this seems to be with some end in mind. Hell, even humans operate like this, he knows.

When Lahabrea bares his fangs, Mettaton's expression remains wide and curious. But his ears... Oh, his ears. They rise, alert in his alarm. No matter how he tries, Lahabrea strikes him as a Dragon here, and his Puca-brain associates those teeth too far with a twice-over encounter with possible ruination. But aside from the disobedient ears, his face is collected. One could say it's the beast in him that reacts with fear, natural for a Puca.

Rationally, though, this isn't threatening. Mettaton knows this. And ultimately... he nods after sparing Lahabrea's reason some thought.]

I see. Makes sense! [If Mettaton had it in him to just make these devices do their thing, he'd probably do it for some similarly selfish reason. He shrugs with an arm and a renewed smile of his own, though there's nothing threatening about it.] Whatever satisfies you, sweetheart. Speaking of.

[Mettaton tucks his hand... probably wherever he got the watch from. A folded wad of notes is placed on the table—a generous donation, though he knows well that most Dragons are plenty capable of earning oodles of money just for selling a scale.]

I appreciate it. It's a step in the right direction for this poor, drab city.