voidtreckernet | Never have I ever made a fool of myself [video, nebula 17]

Never have I ever made a fool of myself [video, nebula 17]

What's up, party people?

[ And here's a cheerful wave from a man in orange, seated in his room with a mug of...something. ]

If we haven't met yet, my name's Jake. Jake Peralta, your clues guy. I'm down to poke things with sticks and solve mysteries! Sooner we figure out what the train's entire deal is, where we're going and all that, the better, right? But in the meantime, I thought it'd be fun to get to know my new squad!

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone would be down to play a little Earth game called Never Have I Ever. How it works is you say something totally cool, or weird, or boring that you haven't done. And anybody who has done it has to take a drink. Unfortunately, I'm as broke here as I was back home, so I can't supply the booze. And we should probably be setting a good example, right?

So just drink whatever you have! Be that water, juice, milk, coffee...or if you happen to have a proper adult beverage on you, go ahead and drink responsibly. You ready? Great, I'll start: never have I ever gone skydiving!

((ooc: it's a big mingle format! Go ahead and add new 'never have I ever' statements as new toplevels, and threadhop all you want.))

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Yup. It would at least cut back on excess noise from the ICPs, if folks could send messages to one person specifically. Though I guess that would have to be through our SCA instead, in order to find the right one. Like with our mission comms.

As best we can tell, the laws of physics still apply to the power given to us. Conservation of energy and all that. Entropy is running, and the less energy is wasted, the more time we have to fight it.

Thanks. It was... [miserable] ...an adjustment.

Man, agreed. Even the shop can be a pain when trying to hunt down books. You can get lucky with random grabs, but finding a specific one? That's a real hassle. And considering the life threatening missions we go on, there's so many other things to prioritize.

I wish. Well, maybe we could bombard the train's feedback post with requests for the ICPs and our SCAs to work all the time the way the SCAs do on the missions, allowing us to talk to a group or just a single person.

[ He nods. He's read a few physics books. ] I guess you do have to deal with conservation of energy and entropy and all that. It does kind of make sense that wizards' power would function by the same rules.

And yes, it must have been an adjustment to have less power to use. I sure wouldn't like it if Elves' powers diminished with age.

Yes, I've bought a few books from the train store, and I was lucky to find the exact ones I was looking for, from Senku's list of books he wanted for the Medical Carriage. I just couldn't find the ones I specifically needed. But I guess I'm just glad to have found the ones he wanted. I suppose if I want a history of the First Age of Arda, I'll have to write it myself and put it in the library.

Edited 2021-11-21 06:53 (UTC)

Maybe it could integrate the two. Dunno if that's what folk will wanna ask for next, but we could try.

[She nods as well.]

It's not magic. Wizardry still runs with the same building blocks as the rest of the universe. We just know the codes that make it function.

It took a while. [In part because the timing really sucked. Handling a sudden change becomes a lot harder when combined with a family emergency.] You gotta get clever with solutions rather than just powering through things. Best I can tell, Elves seem to grow more powerful with age.

[Just look at Galadriel.]

[Dairine frowns] The train has trouble with books from Middle Earth specifically?

Maybe so. If the functions of the ICPs and the SCAs were integrated, then we'd certainly have what we asked for. I don't know if the other passengers would go for making that a priority, but maybe?

That's interesting! Wizardry runs on the same rules as the rest of the universe? In the past, it must have been a difficult project, to figure out the codes. Physics is difficult enough, but phenomena that look like magic, even if they're not? [ He shakes his head and smiles. ]

Yes, I agree. Finding solutions is the most important thing. I wouldn't have agreed with that when I was younger, but that's how I feel now. And I think you're right, Elves grow more powerful with age. I certainly have.

[ He'd agree about Galadriel, though he hasn't seen her since that first world that had snatched him out of his own. She was there, and she certainly was more powerful than in her youth. ]

I don't know if the train has trouble with books about Middle-earth specifically. I just couldn't find any of the tracts I knew about when I lived there. Maybe the train has trouble with them because they're not books produced by a publishing company but books and scrolls written by people who had to do it themselves, with pen and ink and a bunch of parchment.

We could always ask.

The building blocks for wizardry were probably given to us by the Powers that Be. Don't get me wrong: wizards have made a great deal of discoveries in how to implement the Speech. But considering the Powers have a vested interest in our work succeeding, it's hard to imagine They wouldn't help get it started.

Must be nice. Though then again, I suppose the increased power takes time, huh. Elves seem to have a lot of it. [She probably wouldn't live long enough to get that power boost even if it applied to her.]

[She was exceeding powerful. Terrifyingly so sometimes... but that made her the best kind of friend to have.]

It might not just be publishing. I've had trouble ordering specific books from my Earth as well. You can get them, but they are slightly different. Like different names or subtle details. And I know I'm not the only one. I have a friend who was trying to study it with various Sherlock Holmes novels.

Yes, we could ask!

Those Powers That Be, they do start a lot of projects that have to do with science and magic.

It is nice to have increased powers. But you're right, it does take time. I'm okay with that. It's probably just as well that I didn't have my current level of power when I was younger. I'd have misused it, I'm sure, and so would most of my brothers. But my cousin Galadriel would only have used it for good.

Hey, a friend of yours was trying to order Sherlock Holmes novels in order to study the difficulty the train has with our orders? Smart! And did that friend come to any conclusions?

Edited 2021-11-27 07:07 (UTC)

And language and diplomacy. Basically They take interest in any skill that can be used to make lives better, or in the case of one Power, worse.

While I agree, I'm not sure Galadriel would feel the same. Some days she seemed pretty weighed down by past mistakes. I expect she'd think the same as you do about having more power during her younger years.

In part. He was also looking into how different worlds have similar yet different copies of the same book. I dunno if he actually reached a final deduction, but it certainly kept him entertained.

I do wonder though... I feel like Paradisa had some changes to their library books as well.

I'm sure the Powers have that end in mind, the goal of making lives better. Except for that one renegade Power, who in my world hated the Elves and the mortals as well, and strove to use his skills to destroy lives.

Galadriel made hardly any mistakes. Maybe she thought that following my father over the Great Sea was a mistake, but I don't think it was. That way, she was in Middle-earth at a time when Elves who use their powers for good were in demand.

Different worlds had copies of the Sherlock Holmes books? Interesting! I can see how your friend would be entertained.

Paradisa's books were changed from the originals? I wonder why.

Oh, trust me. That one is just as busy trying to wreck things outside of Arda.

[She knows far too well.]

I think you are right. But the aftermath of that journey over seemed to weigh on her deeply. [Dairine had seen a little in Paradisa's various forays into other's minds.] Maybe it's selfish of me, but I'm still glad that she did. Without crossing the sea, would she be the same wise Galadriel that I met?

[Jokingly:] He would be entertained reading the same Sherlock book everyday, so I'm glad he got at least a little variety.

[Her brow furrows.] I'm not sure. My memory's a bit fuzzy on the details, but... I know that the Sherlock Holmes problem was noticed there too.

If the Lone Power is the same in your universe as in mine, I wouldn't be surprised. When he fought the last war of the First Age, the War of Wrath, the Valar, our gods, threw him out of the world into the darkness of the Void and locked the doors against any possible return. Maybe he went traveling and found other universes to try to destroy. Or maybe he exists in multiple universes and is the same dark god everywhere.

Galadriel always did worry about what happened after that journey to the continent of Middle-earth. She wasn't responsible for anything that happened, as I have said, but I think she worried that she might have found some way of preventing the disasters that happened. Only, I doubt there was any way for her to do any such thing.

[ He laughs. ] Sherlock Holmes, immortal literature!

Well, I know the Lone One exists in multiple universes for sure. Wizards have gotten that confirmation directly from the source. But that doesn't rule out your world's version moving on to new places to terrorize. That sounds like the kind of thing It would do.

Maybe. She mentioned that she saw some similarities between us, and that sounds like a thing I'd do. [Dairine often would overthink things, trying to find solutions.]

[She rolls her eyes] Look, I've been stuck knowing a Holmes nerd in both places. I never hear the end of it.

[Makes it hard to miss]

[ He nods. ] That makes sense. The Lone One must be a phenomenon that occurs in more than one universe, and I can see why. The chances of him happening in any universe must be pretty high. And I can so easily imagine Morgoth going in search of other places to terrorize! That would be so like him.

Galadriel always did want to prevent disasters, and if you and she are alike in that, then good for you!

[ Chuckle. ] A Holmes nerd. There are so many people, I hear, who love detective mysteries. Maybe that's a universal attraction.

Yeah, unfortunately the Lone Power is very well traveled. Anywhere that Its creation is gives It an opening, and as you probably've noticed, death is pretty wide-spread. Makes our work a lot harder.

[Dairine says nothing for once, blushing furiously at the compliment. Considering how graceful and mature Galadriel is, the comparison is a high honor.]

[She does, however, shrug.] Eh, is the same person, but I don't disagree. There's something appealing about a well put together mystery. It's like a puzzle made out of words.

The Lone Power does seem to prefer inflicting death in a widespread manner to any other mode of operation. Yes, I've noticed what he did in our world, and that was certainly wide-spread.

[ Curufin has never regarded grace or maturity as the most important indicators of virtue or of worthiness. He does, however, realize he has made Dairine blush, and he's a little bit sorry for that. ]

I agree about the detective mysteries. Even though that's not my favorite type of literature, I do admire a well-constructed, well-written mystery. I think you're right, it's a puzzle that's made out of words instead of visual images.

Edited 2021-12-19 11:46 (UTC)

Can't say it They prefer it, but reaching a larger area does better suit Their goals. That said, the Lone One can be quite vindictive on a personal level.

[Speaking from direct experience.]

[She nods.]

A truly good novel is worth a read, regardless of genre. The tricky part is finding those mysteries that are actually engaging and not just hyped-up by boring literary critics.

The Lone One in my world was vindictive on a person level and on a racial level. He hated the Elves and he hated mortals as well, since our Creator God, Eru, had made both, and our lesser gods, the Valar, loved them and wanted the best for them. Morgoth could not bear that idea, and he strove to destroy as many of both races as possible.

[ He nods, too. ]

I'll go along with that. Any genre can be well-written, and is therefore worth reading. Luckily, in my world we didn't have literary critics as professionals. We only had sages who mentioned literary works in their writings, and of course they didn't do it for money, so they had no stake in the game. If one of them recommended a book, it was probably well worth reading. Of course, we didn't have detective mysteries. [ Chuckle. ]

The Lone Power usually has beef with the One, so that tracks. [Arguably justified, given the whole getting kicked out of paradise.] Whether Their original creation of death was intended for ill is debated by some, but the Lone One definitely has no trouble weaponizing it against the rest of creation.

Ah good. Pride hasn't corrupted your world's books. That seems a win, even if certain genres haven't been invented there yet.

[ He nods. ]. That would make sense, that the Lone Power and the One are at odds in every universe. Creation is kind of set up to result in strife between those two. And I have no idea whether death was meant to be a blessing or a curse, but it's certainly true that the Lone One makes it into a weapon.

[ He smiles. ] Our scholars are in it for the satisfaction of the work itself. And I'm rather glad that the modern literary scene hasn't yet manifested itself. I'd be glad if it never did.

It's only set up that way because of the Lone Power's choice. At least for the time being.

[One day, perhaps, the rest of It will tire of being alone and let death be something more than just way to harm others. But that's on the long term goals for wizards.]

I get what you mean. That said, not all modern stuff is bad. There's Star Wars books! ...And mystery novels too, I guess.

So even if things change, there'll be something to look forward to, literary-wise.

Except that the One has an obsession with being obeyed. And sooner or later, some created being is going to disobey and become anathema to the One.

I haven't read the Star Wars books. Are they interesting?

Hmm. Perhaps you're right about that, that if things change, there might be some interesting literature to look forward to.

[She frowns.]

That does not sound like the One to me. It's not like the creation of death was against the rules per say, more a breach in trust. The One provided the energy for the Lone Power to work on Their own part of creation, and the result caused irreversible damage.

Of course! Most aren't as good as the original films, but there are some real gems in the mix. Plus they tell you so much more about the universe that the story takes place in. Like other Jedi! And even more kinds of people who are Force sensitive!

[Dairine is now entering full geek mode.]

I've been told that change is one of the few things you can expect in life. So you might as well enjoy the good parts, yeah?

The One in your universe may not be obsessed with obedience, but Eru in my universe certainly was. The beginning of the breach between them was a vast choral event in which Melkor, the Lone Power, tried to sing his own song instead of simply backing up the others. Eru was furious. And as for death, Eru created that, and Melkor used it for evil.

Your Star Wars story sounds interesting! Maybe sometime I'll look in our library and see if the tale is there, or maybe I'll buy it from the train store.

[ Hurrah for geeks! ]

Nothing is certain but change. That's for sure! So I guess you're right, the thing to do is enjoy the best of it.

[That's rather petty, Eru. Dair scowls just a little, then shrugs.]

Well, I can't claim to know what the One's thinking, let alone other versions of Them. Perhaps the song was more than just a special event, and messing it up had more serious consequences than it sounds. Either way, Melkor didn't have to take it out on everyone else.

Let me know if you succeed! [So she can read them as well.]

Mabye so.

And yes, I'll let you know if I succeed in finding the Star Wars tale.

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Never have I ever made a fool of myself [video, nebula 17]

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Good place to wrap this thread?

Sounds good! Thanks for

You're welcome, and thank you!