001 ◈ video;

[requestrequire]

[ The man who appears on the screen is approximately in his mid-twenties. His expression is carefully neutral, and he seems to have taken the time to find somewhere to sit down before turning the camera on. When he speaks, it's in a voice that suggests he's used to recording messages for complete strangers.I get the sense that this is standard

Comments

THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER BUT I CAN'T MISS THIS

[prefers_chess]

Given that prisons rarely show up on cartographic models and starcharts, it is hardly surprising that you don't recognize it.

BB I WILL WAIT FOREVER FOR YOU

[requestrequire]

[ Gregor sounds alarmed, which, given that this is Gregor, comes off as just mildly more alert than usual. ]

Have I really ended up in a prison again?

I MAY BE BACK; PRAY FOR MY SUCCESS

[prefers_chess]

Do you frequent prisons often?

/KEEPS YOU HERE ALWAYS

[requestrequire]

Only once. And it was less my fault and more a matter of unexpected local vagrancy laws.

/SETTLES IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

[prefers_chess]

From aeronautical cartographer to professional hobo? Quite a fall from grace.

[requestrequire]

Aeronautical cartographer to janitor, thanks. Light bulbs were my specialty.

[prefers_chess]

Marvellous. Then you have arrived at the correct place; the vast majority of the inmates here are not the brightest ones in the box.

[requestrequire]

[ Gregor is going to let that pass for the time being. ]

You're the only person I've met so far who calls this place a prison.

[prefers_chess]

I am one of the few that refuses to engage in the delusion that this is a nice place, a vacation, a temporary jaunt out of reality, or any other such euphemism designed to allow me to remain blissfully ignorant of the fact that I have been brought here against my will, I am being held here against my will, and I am subjected to regularly-occurring torments and forced socialization with the threat of insanity should I attempt to refrain.

[requestrequire]

The question of whether it's possible to leave or not hadn't come up yet in any of my conversation, though I'd started to assume that if there was a way back someone would have mentioned it by now.

That does add a certain prison-like quality to the situation.

[prefers_chess]

Our jailers forewent the classic simplicity of iron bars in favour of what appears to be an invisible force-field. The better to facilitate their captives' delusions.

[requestrequire]

Small choices and small freedoms, when they're all you have in front of you, are fairly easy to confuse with actual choice and actual freedom, in my experience.

[prefers_chess]

As is the judicious application of a magician's force, when utilized properly.

[requestrequire]

Not something I can speak to from personal experience. There's plenty of science where I'm from. Low on the magic.

[prefers_chess]

Card tricks have nothing to do with magic and everything to do with sleight of hand. No powers necessary, just quick fingers and a basic understanding of misdirection.

There are people here who claim to utilize actual magic, however.

[requestrequire]

Quick fingers and misdirection? Based on that definition, I'd say I've known at least one magician in my life, after a fashion.

But you sound like you don't believe these others?