fandomhigh | Advanced Computers #3, Wednesday Afternoon 7/26

The computer lab is meeting outside today under a tent with Help Desk emblazoned across the front. Each student has their own workstation complete with phone, toolbox and nifty pocket protector.

"As you can see by my mad sign making skillz, we're going to be manning the help desk today." Abby smiled. "As geeks there is a 99.9% chance that someone is going to ask you to fix their computer. Seriously guys, it's going to happen. You need to know your stuff. Not only how to fix technology...but how to deal with people who don't know how to use it."

"Three rules you have to remember." Abby paced and raised her fingers as she counted them off. "One, not everyone is a geek so remember to tone down the techspeak. Two, people will do incredibly stupid things to their computer, try not to cry over the phone when they tell they've never done a virus scan. Three, the first response is always reboot. It doesn't matter that the problem couldn't be solved by that, it's always the first response."

"Okay, the phone lines are open and people can walk in with a problem. Remember the rules, be polite and come to me if there's a problem you can't fix."

[ooc: Post is up and ready to play! I've got an early appointment so I won't be around till later in the day, but you should all be able to play with each other. Have fun!]

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"Thank you for calling, please hold."

"I be not wantin' t'...dammit!"

A few minutes later:

"This be terrible, terrible music!"

After a few *more* minutes, Bridge picks up the phone again.

"Your call is very important to us. Please hold, and one of our trained technicians will be with you shortly," he says, before hitting a random button to transfer the call.

"Pirates could be learnin' a thing or two about evil from ye," Barbossa grumbled. "Hello?"

Alec picked up the phone and frowned as he caught about half the first sentence. "Hello?"

"I be not on hold?" Barbossa asked suspiciously.

"No?" Alec looked at his phone, wondering what'd happened. "I didn't know this phone did that."

"Ye didn't know that yer phone be playin' nothin' but "The Wreck o' the Edmund Fitzgerald?" Barbossa asked. "Let me be the first t' tell ye, then."

"I have no idea what that is, but it sounds boring," Alec said sympathetically. "So what can I do for you?"

"I'd be singin' if fer ye, but even I be not that cruel," Barbossa said. "Me rum holder be fallin' off o' me computer."

"Rum holder?" Alec asked, frowning again; he wasn't sure he'd like the answer to this one.

"Aye, rum holder," Barbossa said. "The bit o' plastic that were holdin' it up be crackin' 'n fallin' off today. It be very difficult fer me t' surf the mighty electronic-type ocean without me trusty mug o' rum."

"As far as I know, computers don't come standard with a rum holder," Alec said slowly. "Where was the rum holder located?"

"In the middle o' the machine," Barbossa said. "Ye push a button 'n the rum holder would pop out. It were most convenient."

"Okay, that? Is the CD drive," Alec said, not at all surprised that this guy had been put on hold. "It's not a rum holder. Have you tried rebooting?"

"Will that be makin' it grow back?" Barbossa asked. "If I be hittin' it wit' me boot?"

Alec thought a moment, then shrugged. "Couldn't hurt to try."

"Okay," Barbossa said, setting the phone down.

Something heavy thudded in the background.

"Now the screen be cracked, too."

Alec nodded solemnly, despite the fact that Barbossa couldn't see him. "You'll have to open it up and see why the rum holder isn't growing back properly."

"Won't that be upsettin' to th' tiny elves inside?"

"If they're not doing their jobs, then they probably need the jolt to start working right again," Alec assured him.

There was the sound of the phone thumping back onto a counter again.

"Ye lazy blighters!" came the voice from far away. "Be growin' me back me rum holder!"

The next sound was the rather unmistakable noise of a hammer hitting a computer. Repeatedly.

"I be figgerin' out the problem!" Barbossa said happily into the phone. "The elves be not home!"

"Great! Unfortunately, it means you'll have to buy a new computer. They'll never return now that they got out," Alec said. "I recommend something round and cheerful and maybe brightly-colored."

"Stupid elves," Barbossa grumbled. "Thank ye fer yer help!"

"No problem," Alec said cheerfully. "And make sure to ask for Sammy if you ever call again."

Re: Phone In

likeguidelines.livejournal.com - 2006-07-26 21:18 (UTC) - Expand