Fourth Floor Common Room | Sunday Evening | 9/5/2010

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

It was with great hesitation that Elphaba turned on the TV in the common room. While the roving hands did quite vex her, she was not wishing to spend any more time this weekend cooped up in her room.

While a trip outdoors seemed the best idea, she had seen the unattended television and had felt compelled to come investigate it. She reached gingerly with her verdigris fingers, switching it on with a careful press of the button. She found the remote and sat down on the sofa, exploring what each button could do, what wonders the television could deliver.

Except Elphaba didn't really think of the television shows as wonderous. For her, it was more like traveling the terrible trappings of television. She couldn't stay on one channel for much longer than a few minutes, but she felt the need to look at each and every one.

[ooc: Open like a common room!]

Comments

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"You're right," Elphaba said, though she thought almost anyone could guess that fact about her. "Oz has many amazing things, but these are not amongst them. I can only imagine what terrible effects these have on children and the empty-headed."

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

"Disastrous ones," Wes replied, only half-joking. "I'm rather appalled the school administration chose to station them here, actually. Particularly considering the potential ramifications on students' academic records."

Mainly he didn't like loud TV noise while he was studying in his room down the hall. But that would not be as good an argument.

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

Elphaba looked a little puzzled. She tilted her head, hoping he would explain. "No one had said they were so awful, before," she said. "Can you tell me more of this?"

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

"It might be argued that I exaggerated slightly," he admitted. "But the bombardment with idiotic programs designed to melt viewers' brains and distract them from issues more deserving of their attention. I for one envy anyone who lives in a dimension devoid of such things."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"It can actually melt your brain?" Elphaba said, skeptical. "That seems like something they wouldn't let near the students."

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

Right. Hadn't he learned from talking to that Dutch kid the other day that he had to work on being more literal?

"Ah - it's a figure of speech," he explained. "I simply meant that television can have adverse effects on one's mental capacity."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"I understand," Elphaba said. "I did not think you were being literal, but these things are so strange to me that I had to make sure. I have yet to find a good use for them."

She shrugged, shaking her head. "I do not think I will use them much, in the future."

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

"A wise decision," said Wesley. Anyone opposed to the idiot box was a-okay with him. "I'm Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, by the way," he added, holding out a hand to shake.

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"Elphaba Thropp," she introduced, shaking his hand. "Since I will not have them when I leave, it seems foolish to try and get too used to them. Much like the phones, even though Zack has told me I shall need one here."

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

"Ah, yes, mobile phones," said Wesley, as if they were some ancient invention he hadn't heard of in years. "I myself only accepted the one my father gave me with great reluctance. They're not yet very common back where I live. Or 'when,' I should say. And I quite understand why that is - all they've done for me thus far is subject me to a number of very irritating conversations I rather wish I hadn't taken part in."

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

Elphaba frowned a bit, not sure what to say. "I do not suppose you are versed in other topics?" she said, hoping to change the subject of conversation. "These machines are not something I can speak of for long before exhausting my knowledge."