[video]

[scootch]

[The journal clicks to life - shaky at first, then clearing up to show Ellie's excited face.]

Oh man- is this what used to happen during Christmas? The whole surprise-gifts-under-the-tree or whatever... it's kind of late, and yeah, there's no tree, but--!!

[She turns the journal around to show her sparsely-decorated apartment at first, and then, when she fixes it, a big, box-style arcade machine, the game title of "The Turning" splashed across the front in faded letters. It looks kind of beaten up, but not in too terrible a condition.]

Does anybody know about this game? It's supposed to be so cool, I heard all about it from a friend back home. I can't get it to work, though... they're supposed to be plugged in, right? It's in the middle of the room, so the cord won't reach anything.

Can somebody strong come over and help me move it? I wanna give it a try! ...And if it doesn't work, would anybody know how to fix this kind of thing?

Comments

[video]

[painfully]

[Looking doubtfully at that giant box thing.]

I can probably help you move it, but... what is it?

[Voice]

[rutagraveolens]

I heard presents are usually delivered by Santa! He comes down the chimmey and leaves presents under the tree. But maybe this is how Christmas is celebrated here?

What is that thing?

[video]

[scootch]

It's an arcade game machine! They used to be really popular on my world.

[Voice]

[scootch]

Dunno. This is my first Christmas, so... maybe?

Have you ever heard of arcade games? It's one of those.

[Voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Arcade games? No, I haven't. [It might be something found in the Capitol, or maybe even District 3, but definitely not 11.]

If you get it working, can I see it?

[Voice]

[scootch]

Sure! You should definitely try it. I was told it's the greatest game ever made.

[Written]

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

[An arcade game. There's something Ginia never expected to see in Luceti. Brings back memories of wasting quarters on lightgun games and skeeball, turning in tickets for useless trinkets easily lost or broken by the end of the day.]

Arcade games usually have a panel you can remove to get to the electronics. Most of the time it's on the back. If it doesn't turn on after being plugged in and being switched on, unplug it and turn it off, and take the panel off.

[Voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Do you know how to play it?

[Written]

[scootch]

[Oh dear. Her writing isn't exactly eloquent - she can do it, but lack practice or need makes it kind of a mess - but she tries.]

Really? Okay, I'll have to try that. [...] Are they easy to break? I don't want to wreck it by taking it apart the wrong way.

[Voice]

[scootch]

Nope! Never done it before.

[Said entirely too cheerfully.]

[Written]

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

Arcade games are pretty sturdy. Most of the cabinets I knew had locks to keep the service panel in place and to prevent kids from removing it. If you didn't get keys, it's possible there's not a lock on it or there's just regular screws holding it in place.

[A pause.]

You can talk if you want to, by the way.

[Voice]

[rutagraveolens]

[Oh well! First time for everything!]

Are those games common in your world?

[Video]

[respect_points47]

[Now that's something she's never seen before, but it looks pretty interesting!]

If it does need to be fixed, I could probably help. I've been messing with machines since I was little.

video

[theboywiththebook]

You got an arcade game for Christmas?

[This is the sound of a very excited and very jealous eleven year old. Wow, suddenly his pixie dust kind of looks cruddy in comparison. He hasn't had time for video games in ages.

Well, he totally needs to see this in person.]

I can try and help you move it. But, I'll bring an extension cord just in case.

[video]

[painfully]

I... don't think we had those in Panem. It kind of looks like a television, but I don't remember games like that. At least not in the districts.

[Who knows, maybe these things existed in the Capitol. Effie would know, maybe. Or maybe it's just his memory failing.]

Anyway, did you want to move it right now?

[Video]

[wildbluevagner]

An arcade game? Sweet! I don't think I've ever heard of that one... and I have to say, I'm no repairman. But I do happen to be the best mover you could hope for! All I ask in return is to get some free plays on it if it can work!

[Video]

[voiceinthedark]

Oh man, that looks awesome!

I can probably get Simon to come over with me and we can take a look at it, if you want.

[video]

[scootch]

Well, the sooner it's moved, the sooner I'll know if it works, so... yeah.

[You know you want to come over and give it a try, dude.]

[Voice]

[scootch]

They used to be. There were whole stores just for playing games like this. Kids would come in and play for hours, or at least until they ran out of money.

[At least, that's how the stories went.]

[scootch]

You don't mind?

[She asks, as she's already switching to audio. Oh well, the lady'd said it, so Ellie will take her word for it.]

Oh, okay. Um... I'll look for some keys, but I'm pretty sure there aren't any. And I'll try the back panel, too.

[Video]

[scootch]

Have you ever fixed a machine like this?

video

[scootch]

[...Kid, no, please, you're just as little as she is.]

Uh... I think this is one of those things where we need a big guy around to do the heavy lifting for us.

[No shame in getting someone else to do the tough work.]

An extension cord might do the trick, though. If you've got one.

[Video]

[scootch]

Sure, but I get first dibs! It's my Christmas present, after all.

[She'd totally let other people play, though, assuming they don't break it. ...And that's assuming it is working.]

[Video]

[scootch]

Awesome. If either of you guys can get it going, I'd totally owe you one!

[Video]

[wildbluevagner]

Great! Of course you can get your dibs. What kind of monster would I be not to let a girl enjoy her Christmas present first?

So, where am I headed?