Whose Round Is It Anyway?

[reallymean]

[Early in the day - well before her own abduction - Allura's voice comes across the network, the pattern of her thought-speech quick, but oddly lacking inflection.]

Given recent events, I think it's time we work out just which of our patrons is hosting this Jaunt, and whether or not we can allow their preferences to dictate how we go about freeing those who've been captured.

Does anyone have any insight into which of the Arcana are playing this round?

Or into the security measures we're likely to see at the detainment facility?

Comments

[photonicfighter]

Seeing as I'm at the facility, I wish I had more information to share. But they're doing a fairly good job in keeping us ignorant as to what's happening.

...isn't there a way to replay memories? I've never tried that, but don't people do that? Would that be helpful?

[neverfeltthatway]

That is possible, yes, and it's a fairly easy skill to pick up. Would you like me to teach you?

[photonicfighter]

Is it? Yes, please! At least, if it's not likely to be noisy or disruptive. I'm trying not to do anything to compromise our cover, in here.

[neverfeltthatway]

It's unlikely to be noisy or disruptive, as it will all be happening in your mind and on the network.

Do you mind if I join you? It's easier to do this in person, even if we do all the talking on the network. Ah - by 'in person', I mean that I would send a psychic projection to you. I won't physically be there, so only you would be able to see or hear me.

[photonicfighter]

Join me? But, but I'm... [The protest trails off as he continues to explain himself, however.]

I don't mind. I didn't know that was something that was possible, either!

-> [Action]

[neverfeltthatway]

There's a lot that's possible with the network. I've been figuring it out for more than three and a half years, and I'm sure I'm nowhere near finished.

Okay. I'm about to appear beside you, so try not to react too much if there's anyone around.

***

[A moment later, he does indeed appear beside her, looking for all the world as if he's really there. There's no indication he's not, unless and until she tries to touch him.] Hello.

[photonicfighter]

I've managed to notice the things that people do on the network... but there's a lot that isn't immediately obvious, is there?

...ah. Right.

[Back in the cell that she's sharing with Zed, she sits up on her cot and shifts to one side, letting out a sigh and staring straight ahead. Nope, nothing's there, nothing's happening... though wait, something is there. She can't keep herself from glancing to Armin out of the corner of her eye.]

`You look so real!`

[neverfeltthatway]

There is. More than I would ever have thought possible, at least. I can explain some to you later, if you like.

[He smiles faintly at her excitement, then sticks his arm through the wall behind them to demonstrate.]

I do. The network is able to transmit a version of me that looks as real as I do. But that shouldn't be all too surprising, considering everything else it can do. I can create entire virtual environments that look and even feel as real as anything.

[photonicfighter]

[It's going to feel odd, carrying on a conversation with someone without really looking at them, so she feigns another sigh and shifts on the cot so that she's facing Armin instead. She can just keep quiet and... pretend she's staring off into space, or something.]

`It reminds me of an Augmented Reality display... Am I the only one able to see you? Or can anyone on the network pick that up?`

[neverfeltthatway]

Right now, you're the only who can see me. I don't think I've ever tried to project to more than one person at once, so I'm not sure whether that would work.

[He purses his lips at how obviously distracted she is by having to pretend she's not talking to him, considering.]

...If this is too strange, we can just do it through the network. Or I could create a mind palace for us to work in, so you could talk aloud and not have to worry about being spotted or acting strange.

[photonicfighter]

`I suppose that's something worth testing? Maybe another time.`

[Gosh, he has so many interesting ideas to propose. Her eyebrows give a little lift,
though her expression otherwise remains the same.]

`Would I be unconscious if you made a mind palace? I'm not really familiar with that, either. But I don't want to risk losing consciousness and letting myself revert to my real form. That will DEFINITELY upset the people here.`

[neverfeltthatway]

No, I have the advanced form of mind palace projection, so we would be fully aware of both places. You might look like you're distracted or spacing out a little, if your concentration is on the mind palace, but there's no fear of going unconscious from it.

[photonicfighter]

`Oh. I'd be happy to try that, then, if you think it would work better.`

[She is not concerned that Zed will do anything strange in the meanwhile mostly because she's pretty sure he's not that kind of weirdo. Preemptively, she settles back against the wall, resting her hands in her lap and getting a little more comfortable.]

[neverfeltthatway]

Probably. You just look a little distracted, and I know how weird it can be when you can't acknowledge you're talking to someone.

[It's not a necessary step, but there's no reason not to make her more comfortable for this, and it'll probably help her concentration while she's learning too.

He thinks for a minute, then nods at her once and vanishes. At the same time, a door opens up in her mind. If she walks through it, she'll find herself on top of a gigantic wall, fifty meter tall, looking out over an expanse of wild forest and mountain and grassland as far as the eye can see.]

[photonicfighter]

[It's an odd feeling, the thing that Armin just did. It feels like there's something that she should pay attention to, look closely at, and so she does... and then she's in, atop the wall and staring at the scenery, and looking absolutely astonished.]

....what a view!

[A moment is taken to turn around, to look down at herself, to turn back to stare out at the woods and mountains... and then she pivots on one foot to look around for Armin.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin is beside her on the wall, sitting quietly. Her exclamation brings out a small, somewhat bittersweet smile as he turns to follow her gaze.]

It is, isn't it?

[photonicfighter]

[Oh, there he is! There's a moment of delighted discovery on her face, before she moves in closer to sit across from him, cross-legged.]

I like it! It makes me want to hike out into it...

[Then she briefly bows her head in a kind of apology, laughing.]

But that's not what this is about. Sorry. How should we start?

[neverfeltthatway]

[It's nice to see someone appreciate the landscape without the fear and horror that comes with it, but at the same time, it's sad, because Armin knows he'll never really be able to see it that way.]

Of course. First, can you tell me what you've been able to do with the network so far? That will give me a good reference for where to start.

[photonicfighter]

[Dakki nods.]

I've figured out how to browse back to see things that were already on it, and I can show what I'm seeing while I'm seeing it. I know that I can definitely do those things. Beyond that, though, I haven't tried much.

[neverfeltthatway]

All right. Those are the most important ones to know when you're figuring out how to share memories. In a way, you're combining the two.

At its simplest, imagine going back through your memories the way you go the network, finding the one you want, and then streaming what you see there.

[photonicfighter]

Combining... oh! You're right! [She is absolutely, honestly surprised by this realization.]

That sounds fairly straightforward. Let me try...

[Her head dips forward slightly and her mouth flattens into a line as she gives this a first attempt. What should she share first, though? Armin isn't going to be picking up anything from her, just yet.]

[neverfeltthatway]

Wait a moment! [He exclaims, almost laughing, surprised and charmed at her eagerness.] That's the essence of it, but it's more complicated than that.

A memory is different from just your senses - it's more, and harder to share. Thoughts and emotions are more complicated. You have to create a pathway to stream like you do with your senses, but it has to be one that will hold everything you're trying to send through.

[photonicfighter]

Ah? [Up goes her head again, and she listens attentively.]

That's true, isn't it? Human memory isn't a perfect thing. My own is modeled on that, and I don't have perfect recall. It's generally better, but not always better. Should I focus first on remembering clearly, and then on transmitting it?

[neverfeltthatway]

You need to focus on the memory, remembering it clearly - what you heard and saw and felt, what you were thinking, what you were feeling. Then you need to construct a pathway that can transmit that. Remembering clearly helps, but it isn't enough, not by itself.

...It's not easy to explain in words. It doesn't translate well. If it's all right, I've found that the easiest way to teach someone how to share memories is to share a memory with them, and then to share the memory of sharing that memory. That way, you get the knowledge directly, you can both remember and feel how I do it. Would that be all right?

[reallymean]

Are there any visible cameras? How do the cells open? How many guards have you seen?

Seeing your memories could be helpful, if you can learn to share them.