(IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

"That just means I'll have to watch closer... your not wearing a health tracker, are you?"

"No, why would I be wearing a FitBit? And wouldn't you have noticed that?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

Florence: "Lets not talk about the arcade. We'll talk about... tell me about your home. Riask, or whatever you called it. What's the local architecture like?"

"Well, I spent most of my time near Bumundo, which is way up in the sky, at The Top. I understand near The Bottom, it's a wet mess, so it's different there."
...
"They built these platforms all over, setup little buildings, and wind their way up along the cliff side. That's where they had the market, and richer people like the Shuzu lived there."
...
"Poorer people lived in holes dug out of the vegetation that grew along the cliff sides. It was pretty damp, on account of the waterfall, but at least it was dry enough to sleep in."
...
"They had some pretty impressive mines for people who worked entirely with hand tools. Some shafts were tiny, and they needed children to help clear the debris there."

I'll only mention Vasic if prompted with, say, "What were they mining?" or "How did they cook food?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

They don't go through the arcade... they take a brief stop into a service station for plumbing. Royal is already there, having broken some sort of electronic security for them. Or maybe Seven did that.

Seven: "Ok Rook, they're right behind that door. We have 10 minutes before we have to leave. Good luck."

"Is this like the the top level of the aquariums?"

"Do the ten minutes include moving them to a different tank of water?"

Then I step inside and assess what exactly I'm dealing with in here. Something tells me I won't be on eye-level with the Starpus either. Can I see them at all?

I call out, "Can anyone hear me?" Then I try to get in the same mindset as with the Koru Screamer earlier: Can you hear me?

If Julian doesn't get a response with half a minute after he calls out:

What's the point? This isn't working, and I only half-believe it anyway. I'm no Astropic; why would I waste time believing in that? Maybe I can hear, but the Screamer was probably just a coincidence... Should I even bother pretending I'm trying for the rest of the ten minutes?

And if he does get a response:

There's so many things going through my head right now. So many things I practiced how I was supposed to phrase it. So many different questions, so many responses ready. The tumult of feelings of fear, curiosity, power seems to turn my mind blank. Half unaware, I say, "It worked? It actually worked?"

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

"No, why would I be wearing a FitBit? And wouldn't you have noticed that?"

"A Fitbit..." she pulls out her phone and her eyes go wide. "Wow, riask must be an old-fashioned place."

"There are lots of kinds of health monitors, and you're from a weird place. Thought I'd check. You really should wear one. Its basic health."

"Well, I spent most of my time near Bumundo, which is way up in the sky, at The Top. I understand near The Bottom, it's a wet mess, so it's different there."
...
"They built these platforms all over, setup little buildings, and wind their way up along the cliff side. That's where they had the market, and richer people like the Shuzu lived there."
...
"Poorer people lived in holes dug out of the vegetation that grew along the cliff sides. It was pretty damp, on account of the waterfall, but at least it was dry enough to sleep in."
...
"They had some pretty impressive mines for people who worked entirely with hand tools. Some shafts were tiny, and they needed children to help clear the debris there."

Florence is totally missing the physics here: she thinks its a mine built into the face of a cliff.

"They were digging by hand? It sounds like society failed there. What happened? Did everyone leave when the concordance showed up?"

"Is this like the the top level of the aquariums?"

Seven: "Its around the center, or so we think from looking at the plans."

"Do the ten minutes include moving them to a different tank of water?"

Royal: "Yes."

Then I step inside and assess what exactly I'm dealing with in here. Something tells me I won't be on eye-level with the Starpus either. Can I see them at all?

Julian steps through the door. A big section of aquarium is to his left, and the dark walls and lighting fill the room. ahead of him is a steel starcase going up to what looks like an access point for the aquarium, and to a another door. Or he can go forward. He doesn't see any starpus yet.

He hears the voices in his head immediately. But not talking to him. about him.
Scratchy Voice: "That's a fidget door. Ignore them"
Rumbly Voice: "there's nothing wrong with the tank."
Scratchy Voice: "Maybe they don't know that."
High piercing Voice: "That's not fidget , that's a Speaker."
Rumbly Voice: "Yeah, it is. Hey, its that small fierce one you woke up."
Deep Voice: "Oh, Hey. Yeah. Huh."

I call out, "Can anyone hear me?" Then I try to get in the same mindset as with the Koru Screamer earlier: Can you hear me?

Deep Voice: "Yeah, I hear you. You're back."

There's so many things going through my head right now. So many things I practiced how I was supposed to phrase it. So many different questions, so many responses ready. The tumult of feelings of fear, curiosity, power seems to turn my mind blank. Half unaware, I say, "It worked? It actually worked?"

Deep Voice: "I hear you. I hear you. Speak quieter please."

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

"A Fitbit..." she pulls out her phone and her eyes go wide. "Wow, riask must be an old-fashioned place."

I'm briefly confused, and then answer, "Riask only has pocket watches. FitBits are from, before Riask."

Originally Posted by ericthered

"There are lots of kinds of health monitors, and you're from a weird place. Thought I'd check. You really should wear one. Its basic health."

"Well, if you say so."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Florence is totally missing the physics here: she thinks its a mine built into the face of a cliff.

"They were digging by hand? It sounds like society failed there. What happened? Did everyone leave when the concordance showed up?"

"I don't know what happened. As far as I can tell if society did fail that was from before any history. They seem to think they're the biggest fish around though. I hadn't even heard of the Concordance until two days ago when I woke up here."

Originally Posted by ericthered

He hears the voices in his head immediately. But not talking to him. about him.
Scratchy Voice: "That's a fidget door. Ignore them"
Rumbly Voice: "there's nothing wrong with the tank."
Scratchy Voice: "Maybe they don't know that."
High piercing Voice: "That's not fidget , that's a Speaker."
Rumbly Voice: "Yeah, it is. Hey, its that small fierce one you woke up."
Deep Voice: "Oh, Hey. Yeah. Huh."

Hm... 4/9, maybe?

Originally Posted by ericthered

Deep Voice: "Yeah, I hear you. You're back."

Deep Voice: "I hear you. I hear you. Speak quieter please."

I decide to literally talk more quietly and whisper, "Sorry, is this better?"

And if it isn't better, then...

"I'm sorry, I don't know how to talk any quieter."

Continuing on:

"So, how could you tell who I was before I said anything? Could you see me from wherever you are?"

"What's a fidget? Is that what you call the maintenance people?"

I suddenly remember that I actually came here for a reason. I decide to start with a few more questions before addressing why I came here.

"So, do the people who run the aquariums, are they treating you right? Like feeding you, making sure the tanks are clean, making sure you get everything you want, that kinda thing?"

"Do you like moving spaceships around? Do you think the Concordance, the people who own the ships, is giving you a fair share for your work?"

"There're people out in the outside world, apparently you don't get to talk to them much, if at all. Is there anything you'd like to tell them?"

And then I guess tomorrow I'll decide what Julian goes with next.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Julian steps through the door. A big section of aquarium is to his left, and the dark walls and lighting fill the room. ahead of him is a steel starcase going up to what looks like an access point for the aquarium, and to a another door. Or he can go forward. He doesn't see any starpus yet.

Well if I can hear them and can't see them I might as well see what's up the stairs. I doubt there's a line of sight restriction.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

I'm briefly confused, and then answer, "Riask only has pocket watches. FitBits are from, before Riask."

"Pocket watches? You're kidding me. You're making this up."

"Well, if you say so."

"Here, take this then." She hands him something that looks for all the world like a fitbit.

"I don't know what happened. As far as I can tell if society did fail that was from before any history. They seem to think they're the biggest fish around though. I hadn't even heard of the Concordance until two days ago when I woke up here."

"How'd they loose track of earth? they shouldn't have had enough time to really do that."

I decide to literally talk more quietly and whisper, "Sorry, is this better?"

Deep Voice: "Not really, no."

"I'm sorry, I don't know how to talk any quieter."

High piercing Voice: "That's impressive for a speaker."

"So, how could you tell who I was before I said anything? Could you see me from wherever you are?"

Rumbly: "Sight? where did you learn to think? we can see. We can detect your mind. Its quite distinctive."
Scratchy: "Maybe this is what young speakers feel like."

"What's a fidget? Is that what you call the maintenance people?"

High Piercing: "Maybe? fidget hurts my brain less than... whatever it is you just said. Fidgets come and fix the tank when its broken. Or to keep it from breaking."

"So, do the people who run the aquariums, are they treating you right? Like feeding you, making sure the tanks are clean, making sure you get everything you want, that kinda thing?"

High Piercing: "What, at <fuzzy blurry spatial concept> station?"
Deep: "Hey, who are you anyway? you feel off. And like you're lost."



Leaving the rest for the answer to that.

Well if I can hear them and can't see them I might as well see what's up the stairs. I doubt there's a line of sight restriction.

He gets to the top of the stairs, and sees the top of the tank. They have buckets, a wire hook, a kitchen knife, a sink, and a wire mesh over the tank.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

"Pocket watches? You're kidding me. You're making this up."

"No, I'm serious. I lifted one from a guy and set it an hour ahead so he'd miss a meeting."

Originally Posted by ericthered

"Here, take this then." She hands him something that looks for all the world like a fitbit.

I put it on my wrist. "Seems about the same to me."

Originally Posted by ericthered

"How'd they loose track of earth? they shouldn't have had enough time to really do that."

"I dunno. They don't seem to have space travel either. Heck, can't even see the stars."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Deep Voice: "Not really, no."

High piercing Voice: "That's impressive for a speaker."

I wince. I don't like getting shouted at either. That has to be sarcastic. I really wish I had some idea how to speak in this way more quietly.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Rumbly: "Sight? where did you learn to think? we can see. We can detect your mind. Its quite distinctive."
Scratchy: "Maybe this is what young speakers feel like."

"Learn to think?" If it wasn't alluding to telepathy, I'd have to think for an hour about that one... "I only started yesterday. That's not what I usually think of with sight."

Originally Posted by ericthered

High Piercing: "Maybe? fidget hurts my brain less than... whatever it is you just said. Fidgets come and fix the tank when its broken. Or to keep it from breaking."

"And feed you, maybe?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

High Piercing: "What, at <fuzzy blurry spatial concept> station?"

"Well, that's here right?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

Deep: "Hey, who are you anyway? you feel off. And like you're lost."

I curse my thoughtlesness. "Where are my manners? I'm Julian. I'm interested if your being treated right."

That's pretty astute, though I guess if you read minds I guess it isn't surprising. "Yeah, I'm lost. I got here two days ago. I have no idea how I got here either. Risk before that for that matter."

Originally Posted by ericthered

He gets to the top of the stairs, and sees the top of the tank. They have buckets, a wire hook, a kitchen knife, a sink, and a wire mesh over the tank.

I guess this is where they chum the fish for the Starpus. I check if the mesh could be removed in some way.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

"I dunno. They don't seem to have space travel either. Heck, can't even see the stars."

Florence: "Do you know how to get back there?"

"Learn to think?" If it wasn't alluding to telepathy, I'd have to think for an hour about that one... "I only started yesterday. That's not what I usually think of with sight."

Scratchy: "They didn't tell us we'd have to teach you to speak."

"And feed you, maybe?"

High Piercing: "fidgits don't feed us. That's feeders. And speakers, sometimes."

"Well, that's here right?"

High Piercing: "yeah, <fuzzy blurry spatial concept>"

I curse my thoughtlessness. "Where are my manners? I'm Julian. I'm interested if your being treated right."

Rumbly: "A human name. You don't have a thinking name yet, do you?"
Deep: "The deal is being honored."

That's pretty astute, though I guess if you read minds I guess it isn't surprising. "Yeah, I'm lost. I got here two days ago. I have no idea how I got here either. Risk before that for that matter."

High Piercing: "Is "here" our home, or is "here" <fuzzy blurry spatial concept>?"

I guess this is where they chum the fish for the Starpus. I check if the mesh could be removed in some way.

Yes, there is a manual latch.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Florence: "Do you know how to get back there?"

"No, I wasn't awake when I left. I just woke up here and that was that."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Scratchy: "They didn't tell us we'd have to teach you to speak."

"Who are 'they'?" I feel uneasy; why does it feel like a door is sliding shut?

Originally Posted by ericthered

High Piercing: "yeah, <fuzzy blurry spatial concept>"

How exactly does the concept 'sound' when 'spoken'? Words that go by too fast to get any details from, but the idea that it relates to a place? A blur of pictures and sounds that seem to imply a place? Incomprehensible gibberish or noise that still feels like it's referring to some place? A void of anything but it still feels like that a place is being related?

Originally Posted by ericthered

Rumbly: "A human name. You don't have a thinking name yet, do you?"

"No, I don't. Should I?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

Deep: "The deal is being honored."

"What deal?"

Did, the person, whoever dropped me here only drop me here because they were supplying an Astropic? Or was this all an elaborate trick by Royal and company? No, they would have lied about the possibility of cloning.

Originally Posted by ericthered

High Piercing: "Is "here" our home, or is "here" <fuzzy blurry spatial concept>?"

"The, uh," I try to think loudly about the fuzzy spatial one. "The one that's not a word."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Yes, there is a manual latch.

Hm... Could be as good as a lock or it could be to keep the cover in place. Easy enough to open all the same.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

"No, I wasn't awake when I left. I just woke up here and that was that."

Disappointed noise.

"Who are 'they'?" I feel uneasy; why does it feel like a door is sliding shut?

Scratchy: "The other speakers, of course."

How exactly does the concept 'sound' when 'spoken'? Words that go by too fast to get any details from, but the idea that it relates to a place? A blur of pictures and sounds that seem to imply a place? Incomprehensible gibberish or noise that still feels like it's referring to some place? A void of anything but it still feels like that a place is being related?

A void that seems to imply distance from a bunch of other voids.

"No, I don't. Should I?"

Rumbly: "Yes, we don't want to deal with your human name. sounds without meaning. You need a name with meaning. With intent."
High Piercing: "We haven't told him our names yet. I am Hungry Singer."

"What deal?"

Deep: "The Deal. The things we agreed to do, and the things they agreed to give us. Food, Home, and Life for Travel through <fuzzy spatial concept of universe>"

"The, uh," I try to think loudly about the fuzzy spatial one. "The one that's not a word."

Thinking about the fuzzy spatial concept works. And somehow, it means here.
Hungry Singer: "You have no memory of arriving in the system? for True?"
Deep: "Maybe he's too sensitive to the travel. hurts his mind."
Hungry Singer: "But then why wouldn't another speaker be here with him?"

Hm... Could be as good as a lock or it could be to keep the cover in place. Easy enough to open all the same.

Will he open it?

Over the Radio Royal asks: "We hear your half of the conversation. tell us when we can move."

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Disappointed noise.

It's kind of funny that I can't tell if Florence is just at a loss for words or if you forgot that this was part of the previous conversation.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Scratchy: "The other speakers, of course."

"And before I arrived they told you to expect another (a new?) speaker?"

It would be so easy to trick them, just say I'm the new speaker and we're bringing you to another tank, but... "I don't think I'm the speaker they told you about."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Rumbly: "Yes, we don't want to deal with your human name. sounds without meaning. You need a name with meaning. With intent."

A name with meaning... Useless orphan? Nosy thief? Rock pusher? Petulant coward? Guess they're all descriptive enough of me... But, if I don't have to be Julian Hayden, maybe I don't need to be any of the other things either?

But who am I? Julian Hayden doesn't light up when he's drawn on. Yes... that'll do. I try to get this message across without speaking: I am Burning Light.

Originally Posted by ericthered

High Piercing: "We haven't told him our names yet. I am Hungry Singer."

My curiosity gets the better of me. "You like to sing? What does it sound like when a Starpus sings?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

Deep: "The Deal. The things we agreed to do, and the things they agreed to give us. Food, Home, and Life for Travel through <fuzzy spatial concept of universe>"

Well this might be easier if they have a concept of deals already. "I see. The speakers give you food and allow you to live, and in exchange you move them through <fuzzy concept of universe>. Do you think this is a fair deal?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

Thinking about the fuzzy spatial concept works. And somehow, it means here.
Hungry Singer: "You have no memory of arriving in the system? for True?"

This is why I'm not sure if there was a mistake up at the top. Regardless, if asked Julian will answer about not knowing about how he arrived. And if he wasn't asked and this happens anyway, well then I guess that has a different answer.

"I was asleep. How would I have a memory of something that happened while I was asleep?"

Originally Posted by ericthered

Deep: "Maybe he's too sensitive to the travel. hurts his mind."
Hungry Singer: "But then why wouldn't another speaker be here with him?"

"You see, it's stuff like that that makes me wonder if I'm the one you were expecting."

Originally Posted by ericthered

Will he open it?

Yeah, let's unlatch this now. Save time later.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Over the Radio Royal asks: "We hear your half of the conversation. tell us when we can move."

If there's a button to acknowledge, I press it, otherwise I continue the conversation. Talking to someone the can't hear might confuse matters.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

It's kind of funny that I can't tell if Florence is just at a loss for words or if you forgot that this was part of the previous conversation.

That's Florence making a disappointed noise.

"And before I arrived they told you to expect another (a new?) speaker?"

It would be so easy to trick them, just say I'm the new speaker and we're bringing you to another tank, but... "I don't think I'm the speaker they told you about."

Scratchy: "They said nothing of the kind. At least not that I remember. Did you talk to them? Maybe they can help you not be lost"

A name with meaning... Useless orphan? Nosy thief? Rock pusher? Petulant coward? Guess they're all descriptive enough of me... But, if I don't have to be Julian Hayden, maybe I don't need to be any of the other things either?

But who am I? Julian Hayden doesn't light up when he's drawn on. Yes... that'll do. I try to get this message across without speaking: I am Burning Light.

Rumbly: "Your name is Sunbeam? or Hot Light?"
Hungry Singer: "The hot part is human. we need to change it."

My curiosity gets the better of me. "You like to sing? What does it sound like when a Starpus sings?"

You feeling a swelling feeling of desire to experience something new and regret for missed opportunities from Hungry Singer. After five seconds, it fades.



Scratchy: "Like that."

Well this might be easier if they have a concept of deals already. "I see. The speakers give you food and allow you to live, and in exchange you move them through <fuzzy concept of universe>. Do you think this is a fair deal?"

Hungry Singer: "We're not complaining, no. It feels good to Travel so far, to have our mind's strengthened. Its a joy. I am glad I made this deal"
Deep: "It is a good deal, yes."

"I was asleep. How would I have a memory of something that happened while I was asleep?"

Hungry Singer: "You don't need to know how we do it, you just need to know the box you travel in. And those human names you travel to."

"You see, it's stuff like that that makes me wonder if I'm the one you were expecting."

I think we'll sort that out with

Did you talk to them? Maybe they can help you not be lost

Yeah, let's unlatch this now. Save time later.

If there's a button to acknowledge, I press it, otherwise I continue the conversation. Talking to someone the can't hear might confuse matters.

He unlatches the screen and pushes an acknowledge button. emoji for the win