A Question of Changes [A couple days into liminal]

[mytearsaremine]

Uh, hi. I'm Jolie. And I'm not screaming at you all this time. Sorry about that. I was just kind of scared and stuff, and didn't know what I was doing, since I'd kind of just showed up and all. But now I do, so no more yelling.

Only now I kind of have a question? And I wanted to ask as many of you as possible, so I guess I'm doing it here, and like this, even if it's kind of creepy still that people talk in my head. But it's not a bad talking in my head, and everybody says you can't do anything to me with it, so I'd better get used to it, right? And no better way to get used to something than to do it.

So anyway, the question, right. Do these Trump guys ever... change what you were before you got here? Like, your abilities or appearance or something? Besides the mark things. I've seen a couple of those. I mean like other things.

Has that happened to anybody?

Comments

[brokers]

Unless the world we visit is one that is accustomed to species other than humanity, no. Neither those who are native to that world nor those of us who are Infiltrating will notice anything amiss. I believe it would be inconvenient to our captors' designs if we were to incite panic on every undeveloped world we visited.

[mytearsaremine]

That's pretty weird. What if you had like. Extra limbs and stuff? That could carry things and knock things around. Will people notice that or write it off as like your elbow or the wind or something?

[brokers]

It's possible. It's better not to draw too much attention to any appendages or powers beyond what is common to the world, however. The screen that protects us from exposure only covers so much - if too many of us are incautious, we will alert the natives to the fact that there is something wrong. It's happened before.

[mytearsaremine]

Keep carrying things around in the tentacles to a minimum. Got it. What happens when people find out about us? Is it bad?

[brokers]

Typically. At best, they assume we are a hostile faction. At worst, we are otherworldly invaders of unknown origin and uncertain motive.

[mytearsaremine]

Well, we kind of are, aren't we? Otherworldy invaders of unknown origin and all that. I hope we're not usually hostile, though, right?

[brokers]

Whether or not we can be considered hostile is a matter of perspective.

[mytearsaremine]

What's that mean? I mean, we're not going in shooting them or anything, right?

[brokers]

Not initially, perhaps, but Jaunts have come to violence more than once in the past.

[mytearsaremine]

Oh geez. Really? I'm not sure I... well, okay, I probably could hurt somebody if I really wanted to. I'd feel really bad about it, but I could. But I'd really rather not. Can we not if we don't want to?

[brokers]

Of course. Not everyone is equipped for violence, and there are frequently other tasks that need to be accomplished.

[mytearsaremine]

Oh good. That's really good to know. How often does that kind of thing happen? I mean, things got pretty nuts in this Jaunt, didn't it?

[brokers]

Yes, it did. And it happens with some frequency - we are often set into the middle of social or political upheaval, and those situations are not always safe, even without the introduction of outside elements.

[mytearsaremine]

Great.

[That's sarcasm. Not sure if that comes through the toneless network very well.]

Well, I guess if they want us to fix things, they're not usually going to be fun things.

[brokers]

I would not say they want us to fix things. Change them, certainly, but those changes are not necessarily for the better.

[mytearsaremine]

Why would they want to change something for the worse? That sucks.

[brokers]

Because it suits them, or advances their plans.

[mytearsaremine]

Do we know anything about their plans? Everybody I've talked to says they don't really talk to us about, oh, anything.

[brokers]

We have no concrete information, though it has been possible to extrapolate from several Jaunts. Enough to be certain that there is some form of plan, and that they are not all on the same side, even if they may have similar goals.

[mytearsaremine]

Oh great. More warring gods.

[There may in fact be a groan in those words.]

That's what was happening the last place I got kidnapped to. The things that called themselves gods were fighting over us. It kind of sucked.

[brokers]

These do not call themselves gods, though several Travelers have made that claim on their behalf.

Regardless, I do not think they're fighting over us, precisely. We seem to be pieces in their game, but not their goal.

[mytearsaremine]

I'm not sure if that's better or worse, actually. I guess that kind of explains the not letting us stay dead part, though, if they need us for something. Not that I'm complaining, I don't really want to be dead, but dying and then coming back sounds pretty crappy.

[brokers]

It is...deeply unpleasant. If you are cautious, however, you may be able to avoid it, and there are always those amongst our fellow Travelers who will work to protect you if you need it.

[mytearsaremine]

Well, I don't want to be dead weight that needs protecting all the time, either... I can fight some. If I have to. My roommate back in Ryslig was teaching me brawling.

[brokers]

Not wishing to fight or to kill does not make someone dead weight. And escape is always a valid method of self-preservation.