Beckett of the Mnemosyne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bookofnope) wrote2015-10-04 01:39 pm
bookofnope) wrote2015-10-04 01:39 pm
[IC Contact -- Snowblind]
[There is a click noise. It sounds as though it might be judging you.]
Ah, of course - I'd almost forgotten...
[He trails off idly as he flicks the tablet to video mode. Looking all right on his end, at least - mostly all right. Dying didn't fix the visible weight loss, and apparently hasn't completely done away with the fever either - he's all sorts of confused about that - but that's all physical, and minor. Somehow, he looks distinctly less haggard than last time. Than almost all of the last times.]
I suppose this will have to - wait, don't tell me you haven't gotten a properly working tablet yet?
[He trails off idly as he flicks the tablet to video mode. Looking all right on his end, at least - mostly all right. Dying didn't fix the visible weight loss, and apparently hasn't completely done away with the fever either - he's all sorts of confused about that - but that's all physical, and minor. Somehow, he looks distinctly less haggard than last time. Than almost all of the last times.]
I suppose this will have to - wait, don't tell me you haven't gotten a properly working tablet yet?
Well. Not as good as it might have been. [He allows himself a dry chuckle there, because part of him was hoping for the change, and he recognizes the absurdity of it.] But - yes. Thank you.
[But to business. Briefly he considers his options.] I'm travelling east out of the funeral home. I'd like to join you, but conditions are not ideal - not certain I'll be able to make it across the tunnels. How was it, last you saw?
[But to business. Briefly he considers his options.] I'm travelling east out of the funeral home. I'd like to join you, but conditions are not ideal - not certain I'll be able to make it across the tunnels. How was it, last you saw?
[If it isn't just the call he'd been waiting for. Expecting? Dreading? Probably not dreading, but Beckett is a little surprised that Steve is being so helpful here. How nice of Peggy not to set him off, though... she did seem a woman to fight her own battles.
Neutral all-business it is.]
Honestly, a lot of it is convenience. I had an easier in for talking to her than most, and her being quick on the uptake doesn't hurt - and you must admit, your situation is rather unique, once one becomes aware of the time gap. Doubly so when one is aware - ah. [His voice drops a little when the realization clicks. So that was who Steve saw in the morgue that day. Well. That easy in just got very very complicated.]
It isn't personal, if that is your worry. I hardly have some vested interest in keeping you all to myself. [He half-jokes without thinking; his thoughts are all elsewhere.]
Neutral all-business it is.]
Honestly, a lot of it is convenience. I had an easier in for talking to her than most, and her being quick on the uptake doesn't hurt - and you must admit, your situation is rather unique, once one becomes aware of the time gap. Doubly so when one is aware - ah. [His voice drops a little when the realization clicks. So that was who Steve saw in the morgue that day. Well. That easy in just got very very complicated.]
It isn't personal, if that is your worry. I hardly have some vested interest in keeping you all to myself. [He half-jokes without thinking; his thoughts are all elsewhere.]
bet ter than still
gone
*He'd say 'dead' but Beckett was kinda dead before? Or something? He doesn't really understand 'vampire.'*
tunnels were nor mal when iwas there
ido not know now
iknow it is
cold snow
more than be fore
harder to travel out side
if we cannot meet
now soon
we can meet
lat er
*Because they're going to at some point, damnit.*
gone
*He'd say 'dead' but Beckett was kinda dead before? Or something? He doesn't really understand 'vampire.'*
tunnels were nor mal when iwas there
ido not know now
iknow it is
cold snow
more than be fore
harder to travel out side
if we cannot meet
now soon
we can meet
lat er
*Because they're going to at some point, damnit.*
[Beckett gives a small hum of assent.] We have been lucky, haven't we? More than many seekers I've known in my days.
[There's an odd softness to his voice. Maybe from remembering. It's brief anyway.]
I'll start South after meeting with Angel and Rhys - they have some plans for tonight, I understand. If it's at all possible, I'll come to you. I've seen the video - thank you for that - and I think... [Another quick hum, thoughtful this time.] You saw it too, didn't you? NIMA, in a different form again.
[There's an odd softness to his voice. Maybe from remembering. It's brief anyway.]
I'll start South after meeting with Angel and Rhys - they have some plans for tonight, I understand. If it's at all possible, I'll come to you. I've seen the video - thank you for that - and I think... [Another quick hum, thoughtful this time.] You saw it too, didn't you? NIMA, in a different form again.
yes
wewere luck y to come
back
*Its still weird if he thinks about it. But so many things were wrong here.*
isaw
angel, yes
with wings
and voice
she saw too, we could not ex plain
rydia saw moth er's drag on
familiar
may be gaurd ian ?
but house didnot know
his
whathe saw
he said may be learn ing
wewere luck y to come
back
*Its still weird if he thinks about it. But so many things were wrong here.*
isaw
angel, yes
with wings
and voice
she saw too, we could not ex plain
rydia saw moth er's drag on
familiar
may be gaurd ian ?
but house didnot know
his
whathe saw
he said may be learn ing
Learning... [Beckett echoes, thoughtful as he reflects back on Rydia's story.]
It certainly sounds plausible. But learning to what? Appear in forms that would be significant to us? To what end? It wasn't trying to communicate, unless it was the act of communication itself that was deadly. [A beat. Well, it could be...] which is not itself impossible, if we go back to the theory that it is something beyond the capacity of a human-like mind to comprehend. Very Old Testament. "Man shall not see me and live"? That would be why it needs the Admin.
It certainly sounds plausible. But learning to what? Appear in forms that would be significant to us? To what end? It wasn't trying to communicate, unless it was the act of communication itself that was deadly. [A beat. Well, it could be...] which is not itself impossible, if we go back to the theory that it is something beyond the capacity of a human-like mind to comprehend. Very Old Testament. "Man shall not see me and live"? That would be why it needs the Admin.
learn ing to
fam il iar ?
learn ing
us
if bey ond human mind
would not be
effects
past death
for those who just wat ched
?
*He hasn't noticed anything, at least. Well, beyond whatever those emotions were, but that only happened for Beckett's death, not the others.*
you think @admin is
proxy
?
for ? NIMA ?
some thing else ?
is win ter
proxy
for NIMA
oth er NIMA
some thing else
or
n o n e
?
are
WE
proxy
or just
t o y s
?
fam il iar ?
learn ing
us
if bey ond human mind
would not be
effects
past death
for those who just wat ched
?
*He hasn't noticed anything, at least. Well, beyond whatever those emotions were, but that only happened for Beckett's death, not the others.*
you think @admin is
proxy
?
for ? NIMA ?
some thing else ?
is win ter
proxy
for NIMA
oth er NIMA
some thing else
or
n o n e
?
are
WE
proxy
or just
t o y s
?
Good point. Maybe watching in itself doesn't suffice as full exposure. It would be handy if we could know the actual cause of death... no, I'm not doing it again, thank you very much. [It's probably a joke. Probably.]
But I am reasonably sure that the Admin is... proxy may be a good word, yes. Some kind of servitor, human or formerly human, that serves as NIMA's organ of communication and interaction to our own reality. What that makes Winter... I'm not certain. She claimed to be an AI... it goes against my intuition to think that there is more than one NIMA, but if it is technological rather than mystical in nature, I suppose my own experience is irrelevant. [He sounds... less annoyed about it than he normally would. But still, annoyed.]
I would like to think that our incompatibility with NIMA would indicate that we are not associated with or that strongly influenced by it. Toys, though... you'll have to elaborate.
But I am reasonably sure that the Admin is... proxy may be a good word, yes. Some kind of servitor, human or formerly human, that serves as NIMA's organ of communication and interaction to our own reality. What that makes Winter... I'm not certain. She claimed to be an AI... it goes against my intuition to think that there is more than one NIMA, but if it is technological rather than mystical in nature, I suppose my own experience is irrelevant. [He sounds... less annoyed about it than he normally would. But still, annoyed.]
I would like to think that our incompatibility with NIMA would indicate that we are not associated with or that strongly influenced by it. Toys, though... you'll have to elaborate.
house might
*He'd indicated that to get the best results he should, at least. And House seemed like the type to follow that up...eventually.*
they said
more than one
town
had admin
did al so have NIMA
?
could be multi ple NIMA s
or could all be
o n e
wemust find
toys
play things
pawns
pie ces in exper i ment
labrats ?
peo ple thi ngs us
for @admin nima ???
to u s e
*He doesn't like being someone else's pawn. He's supposed to be the one manipulating things.*
*He'd indicated that to get the best results he should, at least. And House seemed like the type to follow that up...eventually.*
they said
more than one
town
had admin
did al so have NIMA
?
could be multi ple NIMA s
or could all be
o n e
wemust find
toys
play things
pawns
pie ces in exper i ment
labrats ?
peo ple thi ngs us
for @admin nima ???
to u s e
*He doesn't like being someone else's pawn. He's supposed to be the one manipulating things.*
Edited (came back to look at this later and find i borked the code. oops) 2016-04-14 13:36 (UTC)
[This Clayton can't help but be surprised about. Beckett looks so...so much healthier. It's odd. And now that he thinks about it, he's been a lot more agreeable, too. Kind of unsettling actually. It's like he doesn't even realize that anything's wrong, that he's died...does he not remember what happened? No, he remembers dying, he has an "explanation." He knows what's going on.]
Tablet's still broken. Wouldn't mind getting that explanation even if we're not in the same room. Don't worry, I'll believe you.
Tablet's still broken. Wouldn't mind getting that explanation even if we're not in the same room. Don't worry, I'll believe you.
Still? You know, I'm passing up a golden opportunity to tut at you. Although I suppose tutting by text does not quite have the same impact.
[Delaying, rather, perhaps considering what exactly he wants to say. An explanation, right - but the truth is it's more like a confession. He looks away, fixes his tinted glasses on his nose and looks back. A little like he's torn between wanting and not wanting to force more expression into his normally sealed face.]
Well. Part of it was suspecting that I wouldn't last much longer one way or another, [he says at last.] It's a very human thing, isn't it? Better in a blaze of glory than sick in bed?
[Delaying, rather, perhaps considering what exactly he wants to say. An explanation, right - but the truth is it's more like a confession. He looks away, fixes his tinted glasses on his nose and looks back. A little like he's torn between wanting and not wanting to force more expression into his normally sealed face.]
Well. Part of it was suspecting that I wouldn't last much longer one way or another, [he says at last.] It's a very human thing, isn't it? Better in a blaze of glory than sick in bed?
I don't know that it's all that unique. Tifa's friend Cloud... I can't claim to know him well, but I don't think the one that was here before and died is the same one that is here now. At the very least he seems to be from a different point in their timeline, a future point. He doesn't remember being here any more than Peggy back home did. ...I'd be cautious asking Tifa about it, she didn't seem comfortable confronting the idea when I brought it up.
...When one is aware...?
No, I... don't think I thought it was. Like I said, just trying to figure out what about our situation you found especially interesting. And I guess also wondering what's got you interested in the subject in general. ...Speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time pondering the subject in general and specifically related to myself, even before Peggy showed up and added another piece to the puzzle.
...When one is aware...?
No, I... don't think I thought it was. Like I said, just trying to figure out what about our situation you found especially interesting. And I guess also wondering what's got you interested in the subject in general. ...Speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time pondering the subject in general and specifically related to myself, even before Peggy showed up and added another piece to the puzzle.
Is he? I hadn't realized. I will have to ask them, regardless of comfort. [His voice falters a little. This is what he gets for being reluctant to speak to people unless necessary. It wasn't like this before...]
But I do understand your reaction in the morgue, now. I wonder if the other Cloud's body is still stored somewhere, if he and Tifa are in the same situation? I suppose it does all add up to a conclusion, just not a very comfortable one. Ah, well. Another day, another piece of bad news.
[He would end it there, trailing off, except he knows Steve well enough to be reasonably sure he wouldn't just let him off the hook, nor be content with the Kindred brand of cryptic. His voice is still carefully neutral.] Any abnormality might be a clue, but existential curiosity aside, I'm sure you wouldn't be terribly surprised to hear that one acquires enemies in three hundred years of active unlife. If I might wake up tomorrow find an elder with a dim view of my research on the network, I'd like to be as pre-warned as possible.
[This is a blatant lie, but it comes out smooth. It isn't wrong, after all, just totally unrelated to his real motivation.]
But I do understand your reaction in the morgue, now. I wonder if the other Cloud's body is still stored somewhere, if he and Tifa are in the same situation? I suppose it does all add up to a conclusion, just not a very comfortable one. Ah, well. Another day, another piece of bad news.
[He would end it there, trailing off, except he knows Steve well enough to be reasonably sure he wouldn't just let him off the hook, nor be content with the Kindred brand of cryptic. His voice is still carefully neutral.] Any abnormality might be a clue, but existential curiosity aside, I'm sure you wouldn't be terribly surprised to hear that one acquires enemies in three hundred years of active unlife. If I might wake up tomorrow find an elder with a dim view of my research on the network, I'd like to be as pre-warned as possible.
[This is a blatant lie, but it comes out smooth. It isn't wrong, after all, just totally unrelated to his real motivation.]
[England is too relieved to finally receive a message from Beckett; it's only been a few days, but he's checked every single one of them, hoping that maybe Beckett had messaged him back and he'd just missed the notification.
He gets out his sigh of relief before he turns on his audio feed. There's some delay as he tries to rein in his emotions.]
I assume you mean feelings regarding my state of being rather than anything personal. [Since it would be pretty cruel to just outright ask if England felt any emotion about Beckett's death, and of course England isn't going to assume that Beckett would do that.] If that is the case, then no, I didn't. But I would have under normal circumstances. We can feel it when our people are suffering.
He gets out his sigh of relief before he turns on his audio feed. There's some delay as he tries to rein in his emotions.]
I assume you mean feelings regarding my state of being rather than anything personal. [Since it would be pretty cruel to just outright ask if England felt any emotion about Beckett's death, and of course England isn't going to assume that Beckett would do that.] If that is the case, then no, I didn't. But I would have under normal circumstances. We can feel it when our people are suffering.
Hm. [For a short while, this monosyllabic is the only response. It's a strange situation. Beckett resents presupposed loyalties more than anything else in the world; no one claims him, and if he'd always resisted the association by blood on which Kindred society hinges, how much lesser in the association by mortal birth? But England puts it in terms he didn't quite expect. There's still resentment there, too deep-rooted to consciously dislodge, but there is also curiosity.]
I have heard of the spiritual embodiment of certain ideas. Not nationhood, but cities, if they have sufficient character... you aren't a spirit. [And after a moment, because that is always on his mind:] and you are now, de facto, as human as anyone else here.
I have heard of the spiritual embodiment of certain ideas. Not nationhood, but cities, if they have sufficient character... you aren't a spirit. [And after a moment, because that is always on his mind:] and you are now, de facto, as human as anyone else here.
House is welcome to it. [Quick and clipped. He understands the desire for another test, but... no. Not until he's fully understood the first one, certainly.]
All the references to NIMA we've seen so far have seemed to treat it as a proper noun. Not "a" NIMA... but you are right about what Winter said. Perhaps we are connecting the dots in the wrong way. The admin could precede NIMA, though I'm certain the connection is there, now.
[The explanation makes him pause, finding himself rubbing his eyes in a tired, foggy gesture for the first time since the sharp, delicious energy of waking up alive. He doesn't like this idea anymore than Brian does.] It's a common speculation here. But I just... cannot see it coming together. An experiment has a goal. What is the goal of this? What is possibly being learned here? If anything, I would suspect that our presence is the undesired side effect of an experiment, not the subject itself.
All the references to NIMA we've seen so far have seemed to treat it as a proper noun. Not "a" NIMA... but you are right about what Winter said. Perhaps we are connecting the dots in the wrong way. The admin could precede NIMA, though I'm certain the connection is there, now.
[The explanation makes him pause, finding himself rubbing his eyes in a tired, foggy gesture for the first time since the sharp, delicious energy of waking up alive. He doesn't like this idea anymore than Brian does.] It's a common speculation here. But I just... cannot see it coming together. An experiment has a goal. What is the goal of this? What is possibly being learned here? If anything, I would suspect that our presence is the undesired side effect of an experiment, not the subject itself.
de pends on what
NIMA
means standsfor
most wecannot know
yet
but fornow itseems
they she @admin NIMA ? ot her ?
donot have a
goal
forus
NIMA
means standsfor
most wecannot know
yet
but fornow itseems
they she @admin NIMA ? ot her ?
donot have a
goal
forus
Like so much else. We need more information. I suspect we've exhausted our options in the morgues for now, though, unless and until we find a way to observe what happens after the normal point of no return. Perhaps with... non-digital...
[An idea begins to brew there. He trails off to catch its tail, before resuming.]
Either way, they do seem invested in keeping us alive, at least, which is nice. And well-behaved, which is somewhat less nice, but we can't do much about it while we can be rendered immobile and unconscious at the drop of a spiderfish-sting.
[An idea begins to brew there. He trails off to catch its tail, before resuming.]
Either way, they do seem invested in keeping us alive, at least, which is nice. And well-behaved, which is somewhat less nice, but we can't do much about it while we can be rendered immobile and unconscious at the drop of a spiderfish-sting.
jay mayhave had
camera
but heis gone
may be tim
but he wouldnot help
*Cause Tim is a butt :(*
unless ican bring
cor rect tim
out
should see if has
first
*ANYway.*
well be haved for some
they donot seemto care of
mur der
they just donot want us to geto them
or their
equip ment
*Which brings him back to one of Beckett's earlier statements...*
whatis
angel rhys
plan ning for
to night
?
camera
but heis gone
may be tim
but he wouldnot help
*Cause Tim is a butt :(*
unless ican bring
cor rect tim
out
should see if has
first
*ANYway.*
well be haved for some
they donot seemto care of
mur der
they just donot want us to geto them
or their
equip ment
*Which brings him back to one of Beckett's earlier statements...*
whatis
angel rhys
plan ning for
to night
?
[Oh - the two Tim problem again. There's a quick uneasy lurch in Beckett's stomach at the thought of speaking to the man. He remembers their last conversation too well, although something in the emotional weight of the memory is... off. Strangely hazy.]
If he does have what we need, we can always take it without involving him, if necessary. For a good cause. The idea has merit... building a mechanical camera is easy, but we'll need some components that would be tricky to find, maybe impossible.
[Really, people these days have become so dependent on technological toys, he remembers back when...]
They did seem rather cross with House and Rhys after the latest round. I'm not sure. But as for tonight - [they are not on a secure channel - there are no secure channels. He has to be careful.] Without going into details, she'll be asking us to create disruptions to keep the admin busy, and I believe the plan is worth contributing to.
If he does have what we need, we can always take it without involving him, if necessary. For a good cause. The idea has merit... building a mechanical camera is easy, but we'll need some components that would be tricky to find, maybe impossible.
[Really, people these days have become so dependent on technological toys, he remembers back when...]
They did seem rather cross with House and Rhys after the latest round. I'm not sure. But as for tonight - [they are not on a secure channel - there are no secure channels. He has to be careful.] Without going into details, she'll be asking us to create disruptions to keep the admin busy, and I believe the plan is worth contributing to.
[Clayton sees red.]
No, it isn't. It's not a human thing to give up. It's not a human thing to want to die. It's not a human thing to die just for the hell of it. You're treating this like a joke and it's disgusting. What's wrong with you?
No, it isn't. It's not a human thing to give up. It's not a human thing to want to die. It's not a human thing to die just for the hell of it. You're treating this like a joke and it's disgusting. What's wrong with you?
we wouldneed to keepit from
spi ders
too
*That could be an even bigger problem than getting Tim to cooperate.*
iwill see what ican
do
spi ders
too
*That could be an even bigger problem than getting Tim to cooperate.*
iwill see what ican
do
[Even without voice feed, the tone behind Clayton's words is clear. Beckett scowls, but rather than launching a counterattack, he looks away again. What is wrong with me?]
I didn't want to die. [Just from the look on his face, it's clear that he's half thinking out loud.] I remember being desperate. I can't quite - grasp it now. What could have pushed me that far? Maybe I do not have as much of an explanation for you as I'd have liked.
I didn't want to die. [Just from the look on his face, it's clear that he's half thinking out loud.] I remember being desperate. I can't quite - grasp it now. What could have pushed me that far? Maybe I do not have as much of an explanation for you as I'd have liked.
My hope is that the spiders would not care about mechanical equipment, though let's burn that bridge when we get to it... see about Tim. Let me know if I can help, though I'm reasonably sure he dislikes me rather a lot.
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