video | un: plushiesidequest (in which she talks about an NPC visitor)

[reincarnesiac]

( Oh look! It's that same person who melted a radio tower about two weeks ago? Alex waves to the camera, flashes a smile, then sits down on a plush chair in her apartment and leans forward, planting her elbows on her knees. )

Hey, everyone. I know more of you look at stuff here than comment, but think about doing some commenting this time, you know?

( She breathes in, then out in a sigh. )

So I sent out that signal a few weeks ago. I heard back this morning from a guy outside the barrier that goes by Scylla. He confirmed the multiverse is unraveling. He wasn't happy about it.

( Her hands lay over each other, one holding the other at her wrist. )

He also confirmed this pocket dimension of Echo's we're in has a lot of bubble cities trying to solve the problem through point based reality television style game-show setups. But Echo isn't the only one working to try and save the concept of existence. There are other people out there with other ideas. Scylla didn't know if any of them show any more promise than Echo's way, because no one's had confirmed results or failures based on attempts.

( She opens her hands, staring at the camera. )

He said he'll help us figure out how to close the tear after it's open, because that's when he can get in here. Shout out to Aurora for her work keeping us safe until Echo demands otherwise.

( Sitting back, she frowns at the camera. )

I can sum up what else we talked about if people ask, but this seemed important to get out first. He said I probably won't see him for a bit when he arrives, but anyone who does run into him, he's a guy... fairly handsome? Taller than I am, shorter than Gorgug. Paler than me too. Reddish-brown hair with waves that he wears neatly cut but not close shaven. He was scruffy. Had one of those friendly faces you know likes to tease people until he was getting more serious. I don't know, ( she sighs ) it's been a surreal morning.

Comments

[reincarnesiac]

What mythology? What naming scheme?

[welcome_summer]

Greek mythology? From Earth. Although the Romans calling Odysseus Ulysses might just be them importing the story....

Scylla is a monster paired with a second monster Charibdis(spelling?) that menaced sailors in a narrow passage. One was a monster perched on rocks that would pull sailors off the boats to eat them, the other was a massive whirlpool that would crush the ships. And there was no other way through, in the story, so you had to pick which of the evils you sailed closer to.

Aurora is a goddess of the dawn, Echo is a nymph and the mythological explanation for why there are echoes in the world. I think the other AIs fit too, but I'd have to read back for their names.

[reincarnesiac]

Not familiar with it. Might not be part of what they teach in future China.

Here I just wondered why she and her brother were named for the atmospheric light shows on either of the Earth's poles.

[welcome_summer]

Ahhhh, the future. I see.... No guarantees what will make the leap, I suppose. Odds are it's around Etraya-note to self find a copy.

Yep, the scientists got that designation from mythology. Lots of Latin and Greek terms floating around regions of academia as references. But that's a good catch on the correlation between the two.

[reincarnesiac]

Yeah, if you find one, let me know? I'd be interested to read it, or some version of it at least. Wait, can't we read things in original text as long as we're using the earpieces...

So that's why everything in science sounds like that... hah! And thanks, sometimes I do actually make good connections and prove why I had great grades throughout school.

[welcome_summer]

If I find it, I'll hold it in reserve at the library for you. I don't know how able the companion bots are at courierwork, yet.

[reincarnesiac]

We can see about inspiring them to go through their paces!

... It might be better than the improved trolley times...

Text: Username: LaFleurDeParis

[repaintress]

Charybdis. Scylla is the monster who devours men. Given the naming for Echo, I believe it may be worth noting that some sources consider Scylla to have originally been a nymph as well.

[welcome_summer]

Just so. Raises the question: are we (potentially) encountering the pre-transformation or the post-?

[repaintress]

Also that Scylla was cursed by someone vying for the affections of their love. There may be someone displeased if this loved one is found.

Interfering in the affairs of gods rarely ends well for mortals.

[welcome_summer]

Noted on both counts.

[reincarnesiac]

A nymph that went through some kind of transformation?

[repaintress]

The accounts differ on details, but most of them say that Scylla was cursed by a jealous nemesis in love.

[reincarnesiac]

Ugh, it's always some kind of jealousy in myths isn't it? Or rage. Big emotions, big responses. I guess no one affable every really does much to anyone else.

[repaintress]

Those wouldn't be very interesting stories.

[reincarnesiac]

Still would put me to sleep and I'd arguably have a better night for it, right? Sometimes you just want to hear about nice people being nice to each other. Nice things happening in the world. Little kindnesses, or bigger ones.

[repaintress]

I'm sure the library has a children's section.

[reincarnesiac]

Plenty of horror in every children's section I've ever been in.

[repaintress]

A book on the Impressionists then.

[reincarnesiac]

That sounds like an art thing. Is that an art thing?

[repaintress]

An art thing filled with all the vapid, colorful pleasantries you could want.

[reincarnesiac]

Geez, which artistic movement are you more into, then?

[repaintress]

Les Nabis, Cubism, and Expressionism. Here I've grown fond of Surrealism and Dada as well.

[reincarnesiac]

Kind of think I'll look up some of those in the library. I wish Rafayel was here, he'd know and have opinions on everything — he's a big painter and sometimes sculptor from back in my world.

[repaintress]

Those movements are less approachable and not what I would call calming.

I disagree that we should hide the weapons. All that does is leave the least physically strong more vulnerable.

[She'd seen the conversation below.]