quatre ϟ

[kyrannical]

[phone]

[He's put off making this call for as long as possible, because in some ways, it makes it more official. But his need to know overcomes that.]

...Anyone who has been... droned before, or-- or anyone who would have this sort of knowledge, really, could you tell me... how aware they are? Of everything that's happening? Are they better off this way?

Comments

[walking_nuke]

... I got some first-hand accounts I picked up on'is, but'ey don't paint'a whole picture I think.

[There's a background of anger in Balin's voice—having to experience a housemate getting permanently droned for the first time will do that to you.]

[graffitis]

Wish I knew. I can't figure 'em out-- never been turned into one, either, but no complaint there.

[ And a pause, thoughtful. He lost someone too, a while back. ]

Guess I've been assuming they won't remember any of it.

[kyrannical]

I'm afraid I don't have any accounts, so if you'd like to share...

[He tries to sound lighthearted, but he's not doing so well]

[kyrannical]

I've been... hoping. The least they should get is that.

[walking_nuke]

Ahright ... well, see—one or two people I talked to who got droned an' came back? They said'ey were aware of everything. Like watchin' somebody else drive—but others've said'ey remember gettin' sent back to where they came from while they were droned. Which would mean' somethin' else was takin'eir place.

[A beat passes.]

So I dunno what to think, but I don't see how both of'ose things can be happenin' at once. Not for everybody.

[kyrannical]

The first sounds... truly horrible.

...As does the second, in certain cases. [She wouldn't be happy about someone else having control of her body, with or without her awareness-- but if it meant she was back home...?]

[...well, there were still problems with that, but it would be the best of the possibilities]

I don't know why I'm surprised, that there's no rest even then, not here.

[action] angry teenager thread!!!!!

[bleuflag]

[CRACKOOM]

[The house of Kiske currently has its own personalized, nasty microburst in the forecast- and probably has for several days now.]

[Sin is still locked in his room, even if his power is wreaking havoc outside.]

Re: [action] go to your room oh wait!!!!!! and then I forgot english

[kyrannical]

['Thunder does not erupt from nothing,' after all.]

[He sighs at the latest one-- he has no idea how to talk to Sin right now, and there's a small part of him that wants to join him and throw his own tantrum.]

[He lays his sword down gently-- he hasn't missed that, and the exchange just makes him angrier, as if the town is taunting him, his wife for his sword again-- and climbs the stairs. Just getting up doesn't give him any bright ideas, but after hesitating for a second he knocks; this can't be healthy, for either of them.]

[walking_nuke]

Yeah. The sons of bitches runnin'is place are gonna have a lot to answer for, if we ever get a shot at 'em. An' I'm not even sure if it's possible, since we know for sure now that'is place is some kinda virtual reality sim.

[kyrannical]

Still, I feel that progress is at least being made.

[It's easier to pick something important to focus on, devote all of his energy towards so he doesn't have time to dwell-- especially when getting them all out could save them from having to sit back and watch.]

I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with this 'virtual reality,' but wasn't the belief that the one in control is also inside?

[walking_nuke]

[Oh—whoops. Hoo boy, so this guy's another person who's not familiar with VR ... if he's from Earth that puts him at least before the Sixties, right? Or maybe not from Earth at all, like Caesar and—Virginia. Still, better to ask first—]

Uh ... sorta. You know anything about computers? Or have 'em where you're from?

[kyrannical]

I've heard of them, but I don't have much experience with them at all. I understand the basics, however-- it's similar to an illusion, correct?

[walking_nuke]

If you mean VR when you say'at—yeah, kinda, but'ey're programs run by computers. Which is where my doubts come in—we still don't got any idea where'a "virtual" ends and'a "reality" begins.

[kyrannical]

I'm not sure I follow.

[action] go to YOUR room!!! oops

[bleuflag]

Go away.

[The bitter, muffled-through-sheets shout comes almost immediately as he knocks, and the thunder rumbles louder-- shaking the house.]

[Enter if ye daaare]

[graffitis]

I hear you. Better than having to watch without any influence.

[walking_nuke]

Look at'it'is way—I've met a bunch of people who've got some crazy firepower up'eir sleeve. Like'is one kid who turned out to be freakin' Gilgamesh, an' he had'is sword'at's so powerful it's what caused Earth's continental drift. An'a town was full of'is gas'at forced you to be open an' honest, so there's no way he was lyin' about it.

But I've never heard of 'em breakin' outta here. Seems like nobody has, unless'ey get droned. No matter what kind of superpowers or magic or heavy metal that'a town's given 'em back. An' I don't think'a town would even let us have our stuff back if we could use 'em to break outta here directly.

[Another beat. Balin can be long-winded when he wants to be!]

If'is whole place is a VR program runnin' on some computer somewhere, who's to say it's gotta stop with just'a town an'a drones? If all they're doin' is simulatin' our stuff rather than actually givin' it back, it'd explain why nobody's ever broken outta here—'cause it'd just be data that'a guys runnin'is place have absolute control over.

Which gets me thinkin'—how much of us is really us?

Re: [action] you can't tell me what to do!!!

[kyrannical]

[He was expecting that, but it still makes him flinch away, before he dares to enter.]

[(And, out of necessity, prepares to defend immediately)]

Sin...

[kyrannical]

Better than having them stuck here at all-- any of us, of course, but...

Re: [action] well neither can you!!!

[bleuflag]

I said get out!

[Sin growls and rolls up from his bed, a flick of his hand throwing a messy arc of lightning straight towards Ky as he enters- nothing so refined as a Stun Edge, his control too awkward for that.]

[It looks like his eye might be a little bleary, but it's hard to tell- he's keeping his head turned away to the patch-side.]

[kyrannical]

...I believe I see what you're saying. If we're inside this... program, and they can control what we get in here, how can we be sure of what we're perceiving?

Re: [action] I'm your dad I'm supposed to do that!!!

[kyrannical]

[He barely shifts his hand to deflect it, a splash of blue lightning meeting it as they both fizzle out. He's still hanging out in the doorway instead of actually entering the room, more because he's not sure what to do than for any other reason.]

[He's definitely not going to call attention to that, of all things.]

It's... if I can get you anything...

Re: [action] YOU'RE NOT MY REAL REAL DAD

[bleuflag]

No. [He cuts him off almost immediately, shooting a narrow, sharp glare before turning his back completely on his bed, legs crossed, Chimaki in one arm.]

Just get out. I don't wanna see you.

Re: [action] but... I am your real dad ;n;

[kyrannical]

[He glances down and away, not really able to blame him.]

I know. I... I want to see her too.

Re: [action] wrong!! hth!!!

[bleuflag]

Why couldn't you be the one to go.

[He sullenly mutters, hugging Chimaki closer.]

It's always her that suffers...