Darin Altway (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
forgeabettertomorrow) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
shellphones2026-01-19 03:24 pm
forgeabettertomorrow) wrote in shellphones2026-01-19 03:24 pm
Seeking Interested Parties | VIDEO
Type: Video
Sender ID: forgeabettertomorrow | (Darin Altway)
To: Public
Subject: Darin and Zelda have an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT to make
Warnings: N/A
[As the video blips on, Darin walks onto screen from the left. He looks…anxious? Excited? Definitely more energized than usual. He leans forward, the top of the frame cutting off his head so you have a close-up of his torso and not much else.]
Did I do this thing right, Sunshine? I kinda wanna frame this up right.
[ The video feed wobbles a little, the camera going out of focus. Zelda's voice is audible from somewhere off screen. ]
Almost! Don't forget to activate this setting here.
[ The video feed wobbles again, the camera coming back into focus. ]
Alright. Alright, let’s do this.
…Oh holy crap, we’re already recording.
[Darin immediately stiffens as he realizes that he is, in fact, broadcasting.]
Damn piece of— whatever, just go. Okay! Hey everyone! So, I wanted to put this out there publicly because…Zelda and I have some exciting news.
[Darin takes a step back and reaches towards Zelda to take her hand with a wide, excited grin on his face.]
So…I’ve been working on a…on a project. An experiment, really. About the rifts that brought us all here.
[If you were waiting with bated breath for a certain matrimonial announcement, sorry, this isn’t gonna be that. It’s gonna be BETTER. It’s gonna be about SCIENCE.]
I…I’ve made no real secret of the fact that I want to figure the rifts out for…obvious, personal reasons. So, over the last couple of months, I designed something.
[Darin reaches off screen and returns holding what looks like a wireframe cube with a spherical chamber suspended in the center by eight converging rods anchored to the cube’s points.]
This. I call it the Beacon Box. I figured that the Rifts were too…potentially volatile to be controlled but hey, like any other force of nature, you don’t try and tame it, right? You learn to navigate it. I won’t…bore you with the science of it but the short version is I imbued it with an essence of me and my world with the help of the Leviathans and had it cast into the rift. I wasn’t expecting much but…
[Darin excitedly looks at Zelda.]
But we got some data. Zelda got some readings that we’re still parsing but…well, I’ll let her tell you.
[ Zelda, grinning just as excitedly as Darin, gives a little wave to the camera with one hand. In the other, she's holding the Purah Pad. ]
It took a little bit of doing, but I was able to program the Purah Pad to receive periodic transmissions from the Beacon Box while it traversed the Rifts. I believe a number of us have conducted research on the Rifts before, myself included, and a prevailing theory I came across was that the Rifts are related to the Leviathans-- possibly even created by them. So I expected that the energy signature of the Rifts would resemble that of the Leviathans.
[ And here, her grin gets wider. She looks like she's almost vibrating as she clutches the Purah Pad with both hands. ]
But that is not the case at all! Now, these remain preliminary readings, but the energy signature detected from the Rifts differs significantly from that of the Leviathans. Nor do they match any other signatures I've recorded in this world. The Rifts are far, far more powerful.
But that's not all! We recorded a few sudden influxes of energy-- "spikes," if you will-- the timing of which seem to align with the arrival of a few new riftfarers. I believe these spikes are indicative of people-- or even objects-- passing through the rifts. I posit that the same spikes occur with departures as well, although these are rather more difficult to verify.
Now, I've been examining the data produced by these spikes to see if I can't find any patterns or measurable specificity-- things which might help us determine when a passage through the Rifts will occur, or if any of these readings might indicate the world to which they are connecting-- a "world signature." As of now, I've not found any, but employing additional Beacon Boxes will expand the data pool significantly and allow for a much more thorough study of it.
[Darin chimes in now, tossing the Beacon Box back and forth in his hands like a kid waiting his turn to give a presentation.]
I know…it doesn’t sound like much. But it’s a start and this is where I want some help. Creating a Beacon Box requires…well…it requires you to give up something of deep, personal value. Something that can tether you to your world and can, in turn, call out to it. But…if I’m right?
If I’m right, people we’ve lost might be able to find their way back. And the people who want to go home? They might be able to do just that. But like Zelda said, we need more data. If you want to be a part of the project, please reach out to me or Zelda. I’ll be offering the construction of these boxes for free for anyone interested and if there’s anyone out there with even a passing interest in…dimensional space and time rifts? I’d love to work with you.
[At this point, Darin turns to Zelda, grinning from ear to ear. Unable to contain his excitement anymore, he sweeps her up into a giant bear hug, twirling her off screen to cries of “I did it!”]
(OOC NOTE: This is the start of the EXTREMELY LONG RUNNING BEACON BOX PLOT. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. I'll draft up an OOC write-up later but the short version is that Darin is looking for ways to navigate the rifts. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me here, hit me up at Bitterbearface n Discord, or ping me on plurk at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
bitterbearface For the purposes of this post, please place in the subject line if you'd like to speak with DARIN or ZELDA specifically. If you have no preference, leave it blank!)
Sender ID: forgeabettertomorrow | (Darin Altway)
To: Public
Subject: Darin and Zelda have an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT to make
Warnings: N/A
[As the video blips on, Darin walks onto screen from the left. He looks…anxious? Excited? Definitely more energized than usual. He leans forward, the top of the frame cutting off his head so you have a close-up of his torso and not much else.]
Did I do this thing right, Sunshine? I kinda wanna frame this up right.
[ The video feed wobbles a little, the camera going out of focus. Zelda's voice is audible from somewhere off screen. ]
Almost! Don't forget to activate this setting here.
[ The video feed wobbles again, the camera coming back into focus. ]
Alright. Alright, let’s do this.
…Oh holy crap, we’re already recording.
[Darin immediately stiffens as he realizes that he is, in fact, broadcasting.]
Damn piece of— whatever, just go. Okay! Hey everyone! So, I wanted to put this out there publicly because…Zelda and I have some exciting news.
[Darin takes a step back and reaches towards Zelda to take her hand with a wide, excited grin on his face.]
So…I’ve been working on a…on a project. An experiment, really. About the rifts that brought us all here.
[If you were waiting with bated breath for a certain matrimonial announcement, sorry, this isn’t gonna be that. It’s gonna be BETTER. It’s gonna be about SCIENCE.]
I…I’ve made no real secret of the fact that I want to figure the rifts out for…obvious, personal reasons. So, over the last couple of months, I designed something.
[Darin reaches off screen and returns holding what looks like a wireframe cube with a spherical chamber suspended in the center by eight converging rods anchored to the cube’s points.]
This. I call it the Beacon Box. I figured that the Rifts were too…potentially volatile to be controlled but hey, like any other force of nature, you don’t try and tame it, right? You learn to navigate it. I won’t…bore you with the science of it but the short version is I imbued it with an essence of me and my world with the help of the Leviathans and had it cast into the rift. I wasn’t expecting much but…
[Darin excitedly looks at Zelda.]
But we got some data. Zelda got some readings that we’re still parsing but…well, I’ll let her tell you.
[ Zelda, grinning just as excitedly as Darin, gives a little wave to the camera with one hand. In the other, she's holding the Purah Pad. ]
It took a little bit of doing, but I was able to program the Purah Pad to receive periodic transmissions from the Beacon Box while it traversed the Rifts. I believe a number of us have conducted research on the Rifts before, myself included, and a prevailing theory I came across was that the Rifts are related to the Leviathans-- possibly even created by them. So I expected that the energy signature of the Rifts would resemble that of the Leviathans.
[ And here, her grin gets wider. She looks like she's almost vibrating as she clutches the Purah Pad with both hands. ]
But that is not the case at all! Now, these remain preliminary readings, but the energy signature detected from the Rifts differs significantly from that of the Leviathans. Nor do they match any other signatures I've recorded in this world. The Rifts are far, far more powerful.
But that's not all! We recorded a few sudden influxes of energy-- "spikes," if you will-- the timing of which seem to align with the arrival of a few new riftfarers. I believe these spikes are indicative of people-- or even objects-- passing through the rifts. I posit that the same spikes occur with departures as well, although these are rather more difficult to verify.
Now, I've been examining the data produced by these spikes to see if I can't find any patterns or measurable specificity-- things which might help us determine when a passage through the Rifts will occur, or if any of these readings might indicate the world to which they are connecting-- a "world signature." As of now, I've not found any, but employing additional Beacon Boxes will expand the data pool significantly and allow for a much more thorough study of it.
[Darin chimes in now, tossing the Beacon Box back and forth in his hands like a kid waiting his turn to give a presentation.]
I know…it doesn’t sound like much. But it’s a start and this is where I want some help. Creating a Beacon Box requires…well…it requires you to give up something of deep, personal value. Something that can tether you to your world and can, in turn, call out to it. But…if I’m right?
If I’m right, people we’ve lost might be able to find their way back. And the people who want to go home? They might be able to do just that. But like Zelda said, we need more data. If you want to be a part of the project, please reach out to me or Zelda. I’ll be offering the construction of these boxes for free for anyone interested and if there’s anyone out there with even a passing interest in…dimensional space and time rifts? I’d love to work with you.
[At this point, Darin turns to Zelda, grinning from ear to ear. Unable to contain his excitement anymore, he sweeps her up into a giant bear hug, twirling her off screen to cries of “I did it!”]
(OOC NOTE: This is the start of the EXTREMELY LONG RUNNING BEACON BOX PLOT. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE. I'll draft up an OOC write-up later but the short version is that Darin is looking for ways to navigate the rifts. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me here, hit me up at Bitterbearface n Discord, or ping me on plurk at
[VIDEO]; un:forgeabettertomorrow
Let's just say there isn't much I can't handle.
I understand your concerns about security and it's something I've been considering. As for replicating and profiting off of my idea? I don't think many people can do either one. I'm not planning on making the schematics widely available and I can't see how money can really be made off of this. Not when I'm offering the opportunity to have one made for free.
As for the items...it would really only be harming themselves if they brought something that wasn't theirs, wouldn't it?
voice (he's ~mysterious~ (=bad at face to face communication)
[ He just has a pessimistic view of humanity... which is very justified, to be fair. ]
Are you always there to protect your workshop? Can your Sunshine handle herself? Threatened with the other's death, will either of you give up the schematics?
THAT'S FINE, Darin will just keep being the showman on video
Darin sees this guy giving Zelda the softball questions. He gets it. She's cute, right?]...I'm not. No. And Zelda can handle herself just fine. She's handled herself without me before and I have every confidence that she doesn't need me the way some people might think.
The security of the workshop is a good point, I'll grant you that. But anyone thinking they can do anything to Zelda?
...It'll be the last mistake they make. I won't have to give up the schematics. I don't do well with ultimatums.
Because I tend to break every rule put in front of me.
[There's an edge in his voice. Something dangerous and powerful. Something he's reining in.]
Besides, I have faith in people. And yeah, I can be proven wrong but I'd rather be proven wrong than lose that.
no subject
Given that you continue to breathe, you are failing to break at least one rule.
[ Contrarian that he is, Ulpianus absolutely definitely needs to point that out.
(Please god don't let Ulpianus pick a fight with yet another couple by being a contrarian asshole please)]Only a fool ignores reality in favour of his beliefs.
[ That one is something Ulpianus had to learn himself, but he allows no indication of that, delivering the statement matter-of-factly. That said, back to the topic at hand: ]
What will you do once you run out of volunteers or objects they can donate?
no subject
I'm harder to kill than most realize and plenty have tried. And so what if that makes me a fool? You're adhering so desperately to reality because maybe you forgot how to believe. In a way, aren't those your beliefs you're sticking so fervently to?
If I run out of volunteers or objects, I survey and parse the data. I wait until a new opportunity presents itself. As long as I wake up in the morning, that's another step towards my goal!
no subject
So you have no plan. Perhaps I should be discussing this with Miss Zelda instead.
no subject
I think being able to pivot is important!
And hey, I know my girlfriend is cute, but you can't have her. I'm perfectly open to discussion.
Let's just keep the veiled threats to a minimum, yeah? We're all friends here.
no subject
[ The line about Zelda throws Ulpianus off enough that he abandons his train of thought. Why would he want to have her, whatever that means? He just wants to talk about the scientific method of this research?.. ]
no subject
[Darin just rolls along without a second thought.]
Look, I appreciate your concerns and your input. And I would love to hear more if you want to drop by the forge.
If you're worried about someone attacking me, feel free to test me if you'd like. Pretty confident I can handle most of what people can dish out towards me.
Besides, you don't seem like a bad person.
no subject
He ~conveniently~ ignores the offer to test Darin's skill. While he is fully ready to do so, arranging it beforehand would entirely defeat the purpose of checking the boy's ability to handle an unexpected attack. ]
There is no need for meeting in person. Talking through these... 'shellphones' is sufficient.
[ A hint of disdain in the word "shellphones", because he's a giant snob about technology. ]
Who has the control over where and when the rifts open?
no subject
Honestly, that's another thing I hope the boxes will tell me.