Diplomacy

I spent two and a half hours last night trying to get my new printer to work. I had spent three hours the day before doing the same. I enjoy these kinds of challenges because it feels great when all the effort pays off, but it was exhausting. 

Enter Characters: 

Computer (Machine1)

Printer (Machine2)

The most frustrating thing was that Machine2 worked perfectly the first day I set it up. Then suddenly, last night, it got lost in the ether. I mean, both machines were communicating beautifully and it seemed like we were headed for success. Whatever happened to cause the glitch, we still don’t know. But maddeningly, just when it appeared we were getting somewhere, we came to an impasse and negotiations broke down. Neither side would budge. 

It was baffling, given the ground we had gained together, lock-step, on the first day. From my perspective, it honestly appeared to come down to a disagreement as to who was going to modulate first in order to set the toner for collaboration. It all seemed so irrational, watching these two turn into knuckleheads.

After sitting through another round of negotiations this morning, I was starting to lose hope. We went over the same ground one more time. Nothing. I had an idea. How about an intervention, an emissary that would work for both sides? I was pretty sure that Lan Cord was still living nearby, even though it rarely did this kind of work any more. I thought, “hmm, perhaps when these two consider the limitations this would bring upon them both, one of them will loosen their grip, and the other will be kind.” Before initiating this bold move, I suggested that maybe one had misconstrued the other’s constructive signal. “Both of you, please, come to your sensors,” I delicately pleaded. 

I sat down with Machine1 and prepared it for its last chance to show civility with Machine2.  I then temporarily exiled Machine2 and expunged all records. I had actually half-heartedly tried this maneuver several times already during negotiations, so I wasn’t exactly optimistic. Then I thought, “Maybe Machine2 will have had time to process all that was at stake and decide to reconnect with Machine1 for the benefit of all.”  And suddenly, to my great surprise, Machine2 conceded, and Machine1 humbly took the lead with barely an eep.

And so, after long hours trudging through muck, tripping over the same sticking points again and again, it seems we have an agreement on the table. Both parties are happy to serve. 

Machine accomplished.