un: blackhat | text

[equivo]

Before we all head into the labyrinth, I figure we should have a level playing field for making calls about risk.

If you die here, apparently you don't stay dead. You're down for two days or so, then you resurrect wherever your body happens to be. So it's probably a nice gesture, if you see a corpse in the maze, to drag them somewhere not totally inconvenient to wake up.

The temporarily dead also come back fully healed of injuries, but the penalty is some kind of personal loss. Think scars, tattoos, a digit, possibly more intangible qualities, etc. I have no idea what the rules are on that, so if anyone has any useful speculation, consider the floor open.

In fact, if anyone is familiar with this kind of thing back in your universes, you're invited to share with the class. The more we know about resurrection in general, maybe the more we can figure out about how it works here. Bonus marks if you have first hand experience.

Comments

[equivo]

Two sets of rules, at that. The ones the powers that be put in place, and the ones we're working out as we go.

[ Unwritten rules. The kind that evolve out of tacit negotiation between people operating in a system with only so much give, limiting the damage that they do to each other not out of the flimsy kindness of the human heart, but the practical cause of overall survival. They're all in this together, up until all of the ways that they're not. ]

And, well. Not like it's much of a sacrifice for me to suggest other people do something.

I'm thinking monsters and obstacles. If it was only monsters, it'd be theoretically possible to go it alone. Not smart, but possible. But if you add in, say, terrain challenges? Puzzles? Traps? You have more avenues to force teamwork.

[ He's not going to admit he's assuming all of that because he's thinking of video game dungeon design. People can put that together on their own, thanks. ]

[skaikru]

Yeah, societies tend to crumble without rules after all. We'll probably figure it all out, I'm sure.

( or they won't and this whole place will dissolve into chaos the second a mission implies that the salvation of their home worlds is rooted in interpersonal violence. t b d.

clarke griffin, who heavily favors first person shooters in her limited experience in the belly of an arcade, will not be among those who put two and two together; has no basis to make the connection between a dungeon crawl and a labyrinth. she's actually pausing in deep consideration, and decides — yanno what? if there are going to be terrain challenges, she'll need better shoes. and after this conversation will promptly be visiting roxx to source out a pair of heavy war boots with a steel reinforced toe. just in case. thanks for pointing out one new thing for her to be worried about, krouse, it'll help her prepare. )

I hadn't fully considered all of that. Guess I'll need new shoes, and to brush up on my wordplay. At least we've been given a few days to brace ourselves.

[equivo]

[ Krouse can imagine the dry skepticism of Clarke's voice on I'm sure. It's almost like a joke, at the right angle. He smiles at it, anyway. ]

Just long enough to come up with hundreds of brand new worst case scenarios to stew over, not long enough to cover more than the basics.

Still! This time, the ominous lack of detail on what to expect is built right into the challenge. Not exactly what I imagine most people meant when requesting greater transparency, but it's good to know that our mysterious benefactors are getting the spirit of our modest feedback.

[skaikru]

( seemingly krouse's turn to lob an almost-joke, and clarke is torn between snorting and rolling her eyes towards the heavens — or whatever's up in the sky, maybe that's Elsewhere. actually, no one can see her, she does both. )

Yeah, sure, truly stunning customer service here. I can honestly say that of my two experiences being interdimensionally kidnapped, this is the superior.

[equivo]

[ This is the better one for him, too. Just another thing they have in common that can't come up. ]

I'm leaning towards a tentative two and a half stars out of five star rating, with room for improvement.

Aurora, when you read this: throwing in turn down service and those little pillow chocolates could bump you a half star. Just something to keep in mind.

[skaikru]

( once upon a time the ghost ship had turndown service, conducted by — you guessed it, ghosts. it's actually really unnerving but something that was missed when the magic started to run out. but she can't say that, this is public and honestly clarke's already given away too much. )

Another one for your consideration, Aurora: Can we get a public transportation system? Or a library? Or at least a general estimation of how long these trials of yours tend to take — months? Years? Forever?

[equivo]

Yeah, that's basically just like what I asked for.

[ Maid services, public services. Essentially equivalent, really. ]

But just for fun: setting aside civic infrastructure, is there anything slightly less serious you'd want?

[skaikru]

( wow, what a question. certainly one that gives her pause and breaks up the conversation a solid minute. end of the day, it's not difficult to answer, even if feels incredibly stupid to expend any emotional energy wishing for an arts and craft supply store. so best to not even voice it aloud or commit it to text. )

I'd have to think on that one. What would you pick?

[equivo]

[ Should he have expected the reversal? In hindsight, absolutely. He'd thought he'd have skated by on the pillow chocolates, but he should have guessed he wouldn't get that lucky.

It shouldn't be a hard question to answer. He could make something else up to go with it. Room service. A swimming pool. Complimentary toiletries. ]

A movie theatre.

Mostly for the popcorn, obviously.

[ A place to sit in the dark for two hours and not think about anything. ]

[skaikru]

( oh, honestly that sounds nice. )

I hear Aurora's taking movie requests and screening them in the apartment lobby. But I'm guessing that's not really the same thing.

[equivo]

It's not.

It's not bad, but it's not the same. Some things are better on the big screen. And there's the whole run up to the movie: the lobby with the weirdly celestial theme to the carpet, the sneaking in snacks, shelling out too much for popcorn anyway because you have to have popcorn, the AC always being slightly too cold. It's a whole experience.

[ Speculating on the plot before you head in, risking getting shushed for leaning over to whisper to whoever you're sitting with, the conversations in the long hallways on the way out to the parking lot. The opportunity, if you were lucky enough - if it was a good day - to brush your fingertips over the back of someone else's hand on the armrest next to yours to ask, silently, for permission to slip your fingers between theirs. ]

[skaikru]

You certainly paint a pretty vivid picture. It sounds fun. And I've never been to a full-on movie theatre, so guess I'll just piggyback off your suggestion and say that'd be my choice too.

( having to explain she just wants to stand in an aisle and sniff new paints, experience choice paralysis over colored pencil packs instead of life or death stakes: successfully dodged. also it really doesn't sound like a terrible time, movies are just another form of art, clarke likes art. so here's to dual ✨manifesting✨ the ability to watch manifest destiny: the lewis and clark musical adventure or something... )

[equivo]

Copying off my notes? I'm shocked, Griffin.

[ It's a smooth dodge. He respects it. That doesn't mean he's going to just let her get away with it. ]

[skaikru]

I said I'd have to think about it, and now I've thought about it. You made a compelling argument, that's all.

[equivo]

Curse my silver tongue, perpetually winning people over to my causes. You have no idea how difficult it is to have so many outstanding opinions everyone wants in on.

[skaikru]

I know, it's such a burden.

You're weathering it well though, Krouse. Keep your chin up.

( and this is arguably a fun, silly little conversation. which is how she knows it's time for un: griffin to sign off — instead of asking what his favorite movie is. )