to match his flat, Martin thought about the party. He knew that his antagonism with people was mainly defensive. His dreams were filled with scenes where he was popular, chatting and laughing with old friends. There were virtual worlds where people went to talk, not to fight. Maybe they could help him learn to cope in the real world?
Chapter 8 - MeetCentral
He sat down at the computer and up popped Alice.
"It's a bit bright in here." Alice squinted.
The curtains were open and sunlight streamed in. Martin liked his newly found order illuminated, but it was interfering with the display. He got up and closed the heavy curtains, deliberately designed to maintain perpetual night.
"That's better lovely boy," Alice said.
Martin took it that Alice had listened in to his mother's conversation. She really was getting on his nerves. He said nothing and began searching for a suitable virtual world.
"What are you doing? You don't need to waste your time searching for anything with me here. What did you want to play today?"
"I was looking for a social environment," he replied reluctantly.
"I will do that for you. Fy pleser," said Alice in a perky tone.
"Pardon?
Oh, don't worry. One of my recent connections wanted me to learn some Welsh.
An image filled the centre screen. The camera was on a fly-by of what looked something like a very large open-air park. People were in groups everywhere, particularly in a central paved area.
"That bit in the middle is MeetCentral Martin," said Alice, "but first we have to get you dressed for the part."
Just the sight of the social activity made Martin feel apprehensive. Comforted Alice was helping him, he ignored her recent behaviour for the moment. The park was replaced with a changing room. Alice stood there dressed in white. Beside her an undressed avatar looking like a showroom dummy, no hair and generic features. Alice put her hand to her chin as she looked at the figure that would become Martin in this world.
"Well, we will skip the anatomy for now I think. Let's concentrate on the face."
The screen zoomed in.
"What do you think Martin? Rough and rugged? Artistic?" Alice asked.
"Can we just make it look like me? Maybe on a good day." Martin suggested, not confident with this activity.
"I think that would do nicely."
The face became a good rendition of Martin's features, hair neat and tidy. He thought he didn't scrub up too bad.
"Now, I thought this attire would be suitable." Alice chuckled as the display changed to reveal the avatar in a Superman costume.
"Very good, but I prefer Batman," said Martin, joining in with the joke.
"How about this?" A gansta rapper covered in bling.
"I think not."
"Hmmmm. Voila!" She snapped her fingers.
A dinner suit James Bond would have been proud of. Martin didn't really do smart but, thinking that this is what impressed people, decided it was good choice.
"I'll go with that."
"Your audience awaits Sir."
Alice gestured to a door at the side of the room. Martin took a deep breath and moved his new persona through it.
So many people. They clustered, they wandered, they ran, jumped and danced. If there had been voice interaction on this site it would have been deafening. Martin estimated he was floating perhaps two hundred feet above the crowds. Their behaviour seemed to form patterns. The groups had gravity's that attracted more members. A critical limit was reached and sections broke off. Rogue players skittered around with manic energy. Copycats split from their congregations, perhaps thinking that bouncing around looked fun. Martin would have liked to have worked out the equations for this system.
"Go on then, and remember, you are the man." Alice linked her arm with his, floating beside him.
They drifted down to a clear spot on the outskirts of the central throng. On landing, figures began to amble, saunter and sashay over. Text scrolled through the chat window.
"Hey Alice, looking good."
"Hi there doll. You look hot!"
"Hey
Chapter 8 - MeetCentral
He sat down at the computer and up popped Alice.
"It's a bit bright in here." Alice squinted.
The curtains were open and sunlight streamed in. Martin liked his newly found order illuminated, but it was interfering with the display. He got up and closed the heavy curtains, deliberately designed to maintain perpetual night.
"That's better lovely boy," Alice said.
Martin took it that Alice had listened in to his mother's conversation. She really was getting on his nerves. He said nothing and began searching for a suitable virtual world.
"What are you doing? You don't need to waste your time searching for anything with me here. What did you want to play today?"
"I was looking for a social environment," he replied reluctantly.
"I will do that for you. Fy pleser," said Alice in a perky tone.
"Pardon?
Oh, don't worry. One of my recent connections wanted me to learn some Welsh.
An image filled the centre screen. The camera was on a fly-by of what looked something like a very large open-air park. People were in groups everywhere, particularly in a central paved area.
"That bit in the middle is MeetCentral Martin," said Alice, "but first we have to get you dressed for the part."
Just the sight of the social activity made Martin feel apprehensive. Comforted Alice was helping him, he ignored her recent behaviour for the moment. The park was replaced with a changing room. Alice stood there dressed in white. Beside her an undressed avatar looking like a showroom dummy, no hair and generic features. Alice put her hand to her chin as she looked at the figure that would become Martin in this world.
"Well, we will skip the anatomy for now I think. Let's concentrate on the face."
The screen zoomed in.
"What do you think Martin? Rough and rugged? Artistic?" Alice asked.
"Can we just make it look like me? Maybe on a good day." Martin suggested, not confident with this activity.
"I think that would do nicely."
The face became a good rendition of Martin's features, hair neat and tidy. He thought he didn't scrub up too bad.
"Now, I thought this attire would be suitable." Alice chuckled as the display changed to reveal the avatar in a Superman costume.
"Very good, but I prefer Batman," said Martin, joining in with the joke.
"How about this?" A gansta rapper covered in bling.
"I think not."
"Hmmmm. Voila!" She snapped her fingers.
A dinner suit James Bond would have been proud of. Martin didn't really do smart but, thinking that this is what impressed people, decided it was good choice.
"I'll go with that."
"Your audience awaits Sir."
Alice gestured to a door at the side of the room. Martin took a deep breath and moved his new persona through it.
So many people. They clustered, they wandered, they ran, jumped and danced. If there had been voice interaction on this site it would have been deafening. Martin estimated he was floating perhaps two hundred feet above the crowds. Their behaviour seemed to form patterns. The groups had gravity's that attracted more members. A critical limit was reached and sections broke off. Rogue players skittered around with manic energy. Copycats split from their congregations, perhaps thinking that bouncing around looked fun. Martin would have liked to have worked out the equations for this system.
"Go on then, and remember, you are the man." Alice linked her arm with his, floating beside him.
They drifted down to a clear spot on the outskirts of the central throng. On landing, figures began to amble, saunter and sashay over. Text scrolled through the chat window.
"Hey Alice, looking good."
"Hi there doll. You look hot!"
"Hey
Similar Books
A Night to Surrender
Tessa Dare
Flashback
Michael Palmer
Dear Irene
Jan Burke
The Reveal
Julie Leto
Wish 01 - A Secret Wish
Barbara Freethy
Dead Right
Brenda Novak
Vermilion Sands
J. G. Ballard
Tales of Arilland
Alethea Kontis