Imagination 22 | Video

[nocawsforconcern]

[The feed opens up with... a far-too-close zoom-in on Enna's eye. But then once she's satisfied it's on, she leans back, and nods to herself.]

Hello! So, Vee did that game where everyone got to ask it three questions. And I thought it seemed kinda fun. It would be a fun way to get to know everyone here. So I think it should be a game for everyone to play.

If you can do this.... Caw, ICP? Thingy. And talk to people. Let people ask you three questions and use it to get to know people! And even if you're the kind of person who doesn't care about getting to know people, it's still worth trying, because if we're all on teams and going on missions together, the more we know about each other, the better we can work together. Tactics, battle strategy, abilities, knowledge, strengths and weaknesses... And things like personality, history, all of that. The more we know about each other, the better we'll be.

Ready? I'll start!

Comments

[nocawsforconcern]

Oh.

That's dumb. Why don't you just actually read minds or see the future? That sounds way easier than faking it.

[fun_thementalist]

Ah, I so very much agree with you, of course.

But you must keep in mind, o Captain, since I'm sure you've paid attention to the other passengers on this ship - not every world has magic or mind-reading skills baked into it.

Some people must use their wits to make the best approximation, since it's just not possible to do in their realities.

[nocawsforconcern]

Cawww....

[She folds her arms. Something about the way Gen says 'o captain' sounds off to her. But she can't figure out why it bothers her, so she just ignores it.]

Then why fake it? If you can't do it, it's better to be honest.

[fun_thementalist]

It's entertainment.

Let's take a look at the movies the cinema carriage have. None of those people are actually spies, or super-heroes, or even just hapless young twenty-somethings falling in love.

They're all lying for the camera, but we know it's a lie. We know it's an act, to make us feel amusement, or sadness, or a little sappy at the love story, or excited for an action-packed film.

We're entertained by the lie.

[nocawsforconcern]

Cawwww....

[Enna folds her arms. She hasn't paid much attention to the cinema, since...]

... I dunno. I don't get it. I've never liked fake stories, or lies, even if it's just entertaining. The real world, the truth, is always so much bigger and grander and crazier and uglier and more beautiful than anything else.

[fun_thementalist]

I think you might be missing the point, though I appreciate where you're coming from.

Have you never felt something true in a story you're being told, in a movie you've seen here, perhaps in a play you've watched?

Something where you've felt understood, or seen, or represented?

Or perhaps you've laughed at a joke, or a story. Perhaps you've cried when a character struggled or felt sad. Perhaps you were amazed when you saw a creative explosion or fight on screen.

Those feelings are real. Ten billion percent. What art inspires in you - pictures, paintings, music, plays, movies, magicians - they all give you real feelings, of joy and happiness and all the rest.

And sometimes reality just is bleak enough you need a real moment of joy despite it.

[nocawsforconcern]

[Enna has to think. The words make sense. But... She hasn't. She hasn't really identified with anything in stories she's been told. Except for the true stories- Or the stories she believed to be true, anyway.]

I dunno. I mean... I know other people do that. But I'm a weirdo. I just don't get it.

[fun_thementalist]

[ Gen considered her answer for a moment, weighing several things together. ]

You wouldn't be alone if it's hard for you to relate to people play-acting at emotions, no matter how skilled they are.

But you should consider that there's a comfort in lies when everyone agrees ahead of time that they know the story isn't real.

I'll agree it's a different story if someone's tricked into thinking something actually happened, when it didn't. Then we're getting into the dicey realm of propaganda, which I can't say I know anything about.

[ Such an easy lie. ]

[nocawsforconcern]

Caw...

There's also the times when people believe something fake is true. Just 'cause it's been a long time. The truth got distorted, 'cause it happened so long ago, people telling it got parts wrong.

There's so much wrong, I don't wanna add to it. I know I'm weird for it. I just can't find the comfort in the lies, unless the lies become true.

[fun_thementalist]

I think there's a difference, that's all, between lies to trick people, and entertainment.

Even a joke itself is a lie, after all, and humor is so very needed when there's so much wrong and frightening in our realities.

It's too easy for people to become overwhelmed by what's happening in the present, when it's ugly. Entertainment isn't a lie that just comforts them. It reminds them of the truth, that there are pretty little wonderful things in our realities to keep going for.

[nocawsforconcern]

I'm pretty bad at humor, too, though.

[She's too literal-minded to do jokes well...]

[fun_thementalist]

How about this one?

Do you know why the two halves of a hamburger bun hated each other so much?

[nocawsforconcern]

Bread doesn't hate things.

[fun_thementalist]

But there was so much beef between them!

[nocawsforconcern]

...

Nope, I don't get it.

[fun_thementalist]

Unfortunately, explaining the joke often spoils the humor.