Tyler Tian Huang | 黄泰勒田 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
asmywitness) wrote2020-03-03 05:40 pm
asmywitness) wrote2020-03-03 05:40 pm
Entry tags:
IC Inbox
[[Tyler screens his calls - anyone who tries to actually call him, he'll text back in reply.]]
Dirk is in the process of answering Tyler's advice regarding blood in his laundry when the next message arrives, and that one he stone cold answers out loud, with his goddamn mouth.
"No it fucking wasn't."
Maybe it's not clear if Dirk is saying that facetiously or not; truthfully it doesn't matter. Call it both.
No it fucking wasn't.
And it's too late now for laundry hacks. I gave it to Acorn and he's not giving it back.
"No it fucking wasn't."
Maybe it's not clear if Dirk is saying that facetiously or not; truthfully it doesn't matter. Call it both.
No it fucking wasn't.
And it's too late now for laundry hacks. I gave it to Acorn and he's not giving it back.
He pushes his chair out from his desk and gives up on the pretence of work to swivel around and face Dirk, crossing one leg over the other as he meets Dirk's gaze impassively.
That was the concept that I decided was the key to the riddle, so yes. It was.
That doesn't mean I believe it. But I was correct to assume that you wouldn't either. And that was the important part.
That was the concept that I decided was the key to the riddle, so yes. It was.
That doesn't mean I believe it. But I was correct to assume that you wouldn't either. And that was the important part.
Dirk stares back.
The expression on his face is.... well. It's what it usually is. He barely even--maybe he doesn't look down at all as he types and sends the next four messages.
....
He's impressed.
Really.
Well?
Don't leave me hanging.
Tyler played him completely. Absolutely fucking dunked his shit. Served him like an extended metaphor about butlers on butler island, and the butlers' butlers, and so on and so on.
More than anyone else besides his own damn self.
How did it feel?
The expression on his face is.... well. It's what it usually is. He barely even--maybe he doesn't look down at all as he types and sends the next four messages.
....
He's impressed.
Really.
Well?
Don't leave me hanging.
Tyler played him completely. Absolutely fucking dunked his shit. Served him like an extended metaphor about butlers on butler island, and the butlers' butlers, and so on and so on.
More than anyone else besides his own damn self.
How did it feel?
Honestly?
I didn't notice you dying.
He let's that stew for a few moments, just to give Dirk the absolute opposite of satisfaction. Your death was meaningless to him.
Then he... doesn't fully grimace but there's a definite slight crease at the corner of his mouth.
For clarity, that block worked both ways. But also, Changeling magic is a bitch in that using it hits you like a fucking gateway drug, and that particular brand I used against you? Is some high tier heroin.
I didn't notice you dying.
He let's that stew for a few moments, just to give Dirk the absolute opposite of satisfaction. Your death was meaningless to him.
Then he... doesn't fully grimace but there's a definite slight crease at the corner of his mouth.
For clarity, that block worked both ways. But also, Changeling magic is a bitch in that using it hits you like a fucking gateway drug, and that particular brand I used against you? Is some high tier heroin.
Nice.
That's all Dirk says in direct response.
Truth is? He doesn't imagine there to be any value in whatever disjointed final "thoughts" he might have hazily generated by his last neurons firing abstractly into oblivion, nor for the impermanent death of a relative stranger to mean anything to anyone, let alone a man cool headed enough to dispatch him with the lethal cutting power of his own logic and cold hearted enough to do so with such ruthless efficiency.
So there really was no wrong answer.
His motive in asking wasn't any kind of mutual respect or validation or whatever.
He just wanted to know.
Is that so wrong?
Fucked up, sure, but better than some alternatives I could name.
Just surprised that a mechanism with such powerful feedback for you didn't tell you when it's done.
I'm looking forward to learning whether or not it's still in place next time. What do you think?
That's all Dirk says in direct response.
Truth is? He doesn't imagine there to be any value in whatever disjointed final "thoughts" he might have hazily generated by his last neurons firing abstractly into oblivion, nor for the impermanent death of a relative stranger to mean anything to anyone, let alone a man cool headed enough to dispatch him with the lethal cutting power of his own logic and cold hearted enough to do so with such ruthless efficiency.
So there really was no wrong answer.
His motive in asking wasn't any kind of mutual respect or validation or whatever.
He just wanted to know.
Is that so wrong?
Fucked up, sure, but better than some alternatives I could name.
Just surprised that a mechanism with such powerful feedback for you didn't tell you when it's done.
I'm looking forward to learning whether or not it's still in place next time. What do you think?
With mine specifically it's more that the act of directly toying with fate is the hit, and not the end result. Though if you had solved it, I would have felt that before your continued manipulations.
Tyler can respect wanting to know something for the sake of knowing. He's a fucking nerd, at the end of the day.
Given the whole nature of my existence, I had been assuming that when we got brought here our powers were removed, not muted. Though if that block remains in place next time, it'll be an interesting counterpoint to my entire line of reasoning.
Tyler can respect wanting to know something for the sake of knowing. He's a fucking nerd, at the end of the day.
Given the whole nature of my existence, I had been assuming that when we got brought here our powers were removed, not muted. Though if that block remains in place next time, it'll be an interesting counterpoint to my entire line of reasoning.
Good evening, Tyler.
I do so hope I am not interrupting aught for you, but in the event I am not, I had a question for you. Pray, by all means answer at your leisure, it is not of a dire nature or aught so dramatic, but I could not help but notice a bit of a hole in the explanation of your—and by extension Steven's—means of becoming a changeling. Or rather, a lack of explanation on part of the circumstance thereof.
See, I would assume that if someone were to be abducted, close friends or family would certainly grow concerned with their absence. Most, I would presume, would seek to find them, but you nary mentioned a single word about aught of that sort! It is a very curious—if not intriguing—detail to be overlooked.
Now, perhaps it is uncouth of me to spring questions upon you concerning possible sensitive matters, and I should apologize for doing so, but I suppose upon reflection, such sensitive matters are not quite outside of bounds.
Wouldn't you agree?
I do so hope I am not interrupting aught for you, but in the event I am not, I had a question for you. Pray, by all means answer at your leisure, it is not of a dire nature or aught so dramatic, but I could not help but notice a bit of a hole in the explanation of your—and by extension Steven's—means of becoming a changeling. Or rather, a lack of explanation on part of the circumstance thereof.
See, I would assume that if someone were to be abducted, close friends or family would certainly grow concerned with their absence. Most, I would presume, would seek to find them, but you nary mentioned a single word about aught of that sort! It is a very curious—if not intriguing—detail to be overlooked.
Now, perhaps it is uncouth of me to spring questions upon you concerning possible sensitive matters, and I should apologize for doing so, but I suppose upon reflection, such sensitive matters are not quite outside of bounds.
Wouldn't you agree?
Edited (when you type steve and not steven) 2020-07-24 09:00 (UTC)
[Hmm. Dislike. It's not like he didn't assume Solus was smart enough to make the connection, but he'd been rather hoping he hadn't. Or at least wouldn't use his own opportunity from learning stuff about Solus's history while he was blitzed against him later. Probably that last one was a bit much to hope for.
(As delightfully as using Fatemaking on Dirk had turned out, he's rather wondering now if he shouldn't have applied that energy elsewhere.)
It takes him a few hours to get back to it - not that he's forgotten it, but he decides to ignore it until he goes to bed and answers it there, at 2am - and while he severely doubts Solus is waiting and staring at his phone for a reply that doesn't mean he can't tell the man is eager. If he wasn't, he would have found a way to work it into an actual conversation and not put him on blast.]
I didn't mention it at the time because it wasn't relevant to the narrative in which I was trying to explain my circumstances to you.
[uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggghghghghghhh the man is such a fucking pain.]
But moreover, they don't look. They have no need to - when a Changeling is taken, their Keeper often leaves a replacement behind, visually flawless in a world that does not openly comprehend magic. A family of a Taken one would have little to no reason, at best, to suspect foul play.
(As delightfully as using Fatemaking on Dirk had turned out, he's rather wondering now if he shouldn't have applied that energy elsewhere.)
It takes him a few hours to get back to it - not that he's forgotten it, but he decides to ignore it until he goes to bed and answers it there, at 2am - and while he severely doubts Solus is waiting and staring at his phone for a reply that doesn't mean he can't tell the man is eager. If he wasn't, he would have found a way to work it into an actual conversation and not put him on blast.]
I didn't mention it at the time because it wasn't relevant to the narrative in which I was trying to explain my circumstances to you.
[uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggghghghghghhh the man is such a fucking pain.]
But moreover, they don't look. They have no need to - when a Changeling is taken, their Keeper often leaves a replacement behind, visually flawless in a world that does not openly comprehend magic. A family of a Taken one would have little to no reason, at best, to suspect foul play.
[Sorry, Tyler. But you get nothing for free from Solus. Not unless you're his friend, and you are, decidedly, not that. But hey, at least they're not enemies, either!]
How very interesting.
So theses doppelgangers of sorts, I must wonder exactly how the Keeper is capable of making such a perfect double. Appearance is fine, that much is easy enough to sculpt from flesh, but so too would the memories and the mind must needs be replicated.
Would these fiends have the ability to split your cognitive aether, perhaps? Or, dare I wager, your very soul?
[Maybe to some it might seem like a lucky guess, but this sounds oddly familiar, and not too unlike things that can and have happened in his own world.]
How very interesting.
So theses doppelgangers of sorts, I must wonder exactly how the Keeper is capable of making such a perfect double. Appearance is fine, that much is easy enough to sculpt from flesh, but so too would the memories and the mind must needs be replicated.
Would these fiends have the ability to split your cognitive aether, perhaps? Or, dare I wager, your very soul?
[Maybe to some it might seem like a lucky guess, but this sounds oddly familiar, and not too unlike things that can and have happened in his own world.]
[He hates this mostly because it makes him feel like he's going behind Steven's back. Even if he's not saying anything directly about Steven or his own relation with his Fetch.]
It depends solely on how much the Keeper wishes to make pretence of the fact the person isn't missing. Some are impossible to detect as a fake, even to the people who know them best. Others, more commonly, are... lacking, some part of them wholly deficient to the role they were made for.
As to what they're made from, I'm not inclined to say our souls specifically. The Gentry feed on human emotional energy, to diminish that so comprehensively in one blow seems counter-intuitive. To my knowledge they're often made of enchanted scraps of forest detritus, or whatever else the Keeper found on hand. There's likely some manner of Contract the Gentry use that allows the Fetch to copy us.
It depends solely on how much the Keeper wishes to make pretence of the fact the person isn't missing. Some are impossible to detect as a fake, even to the people who know them best. Others, more commonly, are... lacking, some part of them wholly deficient to the role they were made for.
As to what they're made from, I'm not inclined to say our souls specifically. The Gentry feed on human emotional energy, to diminish that so comprehensively in one blow seems counter-intuitive. To my knowledge they're often made of enchanted scraps of forest detritus, or whatever else the Keeper found on hand. There's likely some manner of Contract the Gentry use that allows the Fetch to copy us.
You would not need much to do such. Even a shard of a soul can retain the memories and thoughts of its original self, scarcely diminishing the emotional capacity. The crucial aspect is merely not killing the subject during the process. A difficult task to achieve! Though, admittedly, shattering a soul is oft a sure way to kill an individual. Should one be practiced in such a way, well! It would be a fair easy task, I would think.
The components do sound like the typical fae nonsense, however. And, fae have proven to have some command over the souls of mortals, though in my experience it is often not in such a delicate means. Though, I do suppose that may be the difference between your fae and mine.
Now, then. You escaped, yes? I am not foolish enough to guess that your family felt blessed to have two of you, a decent man you may be, but I think for most one of you is quite enough. I cannot help but wonder what you did with this half-man of yours.
The components do sound like the typical fae nonsense, however. And, fae have proven to have some command over the souls of mortals, though in my experience it is often not in such a delicate means. Though, I do suppose that may be the difference between your fae and mine.
Now, then. You escaped, yes? I am not foolish enough to guess that your family felt blessed to have two of you, a decent man you may be, but I think for most one of you is quite enough. I cannot help but wonder what you did with this half-man of yours.
Edited (phone tagging etc) 2020-07-24 10:10 (UTC)
I appreciate how you think one of us would be able to return to our homes afterwards.
Entertain the notion for a moment that you were just a normal, mundane person with no preconceptions of magic. Perhaps your child, or lover, or good friend, has been distant or a bit unusual as of late, but it's nothing outside the bounds of their typical behaviour - or if it is, it's easily forgiven, since there must be something distracting them. Nothing magical, just mundane stresses.
Then imagine someone storming in, scarred and messed and beyond distressed, claiming to be yours returned and threatening to attack your very present loved one, who has been with you as they ever have. Who would you believe?
And how do you think it would feel to be the person who suffered for an impossible-to-know period, with the hope of seeing your face their driving force for sanity, and being rejected outright for a replacement?
The lucky ones escape unscathed. The smart don't approach. The reckless try anyway, and risk being killed for their efforts - these replacements are a far more pure distillation of Lordly energy than us, and can often kill us outright.
Entertain the notion for a moment that you were just a normal, mundane person with no preconceptions of magic. Perhaps your child, or lover, or good friend, has been distant or a bit unusual as of late, but it's nothing outside the bounds of their typical behaviour - or if it is, it's easily forgiven, since there must be something distracting them. Nothing magical, just mundane stresses.
Then imagine someone storming in, scarred and messed and beyond distressed, claiming to be yours returned and threatening to attack your very present loved one, who has been with you as they ever have. Who would you believe?
And how do you think it would feel to be the person who suffered for an impossible-to-know period, with the hope of seeing your face their driving force for sanity, and being rejected outright for a replacement?
The lucky ones escape unscathed. The smart don't approach. The reckless try anyway, and risk being killed for their efforts - these replacements are a far more pure distillation of Lordly energy than us, and can often kill us outright.
[There's a long pause before he replies. Maybe he fell asleep? It is rather late! But no such luck, because after that pause, in comes a reply.]
It is not a situation too hard to imagine, believe it or not. In a strange way, I know it a little too well. Not exacts, but equivalent, not that any such impostors could contend with an ancient being like myself.
Oh, how the parallels stack.
You have my sympathies, I would hazard a guess that the scenario you've given is a fabricated one, or at least not your own. I'm sure I have likely used up what gracious generosity you had in answering queries of this personal nature, yes?
All the same, you have my thanks.
It is not a situation too hard to imagine, believe it or not. In a strange way, I know it a little too well. Not exacts, but equivalent, not that any such impostors could contend with an ancient being like myself.
Oh, how the parallels stack.
You have my sympathies, I would hazard a guess that the scenario you've given is a fabricated one, or at least not your own. I'm sure I have likely used up what gracious generosity you had in answering queries of this personal nature, yes?
All the same, you have my thanks.
It's a common enough scenario to serve as a well-aged warning tale. A friend of mine didn't heed it and went to investigate, only to see the truth of it herself and be nearly crushed by the despair of losing her fathers to it.
So, you're welcome.
[As much as he answered Solus's questions, he's been extremely careful to reveal nothing about himself. He's quite good at that, really.]
So, you're welcome.
[As much as he answered Solus's questions, he's been extremely careful to reveal nothing about himself. He's quite good at that, really.]
[WHY]
Contextually, usually something like "asshole".
Contextually, usually something like "asshole".
Edited (makin it slightly more respondable gomen) 2020-07-24 12:07 (UTC)
[Its time for your dose of vitamin Hythlodaeus, Tyler. ]
How harsh! Emet-Selch had only called him “boy”.
How harsh! Emet-Selch had only called him “boy”.
[He cares less about that and more about how he's apparently trying to suck Tyler into Steven and Solus's petty bullshit.]
I should think by now that Steven has made his opinion on Solus eminently clear. This isn't a surprise.
I should think by now that Steven has made his opinion on Solus eminently clear. This isn't a surprise.
Forgive me, it was merely a light shock. Name-calling is not a facet of culture that I am yet familiar with.
There is much I know about Steven, yet only from his own mouth. Would you consider him a close friend of yours?
There is much I know about Steven, yet only from his own mouth. Would you consider him a close friend of yours?
Well, then. I can only assume that your own experience with such is far too horrific to share, if you are willing to share something so tragic as that of your friend's, but not your own. My sympathies to her, truly.
Though, now that I think on it. Mayhap that is a better analogy to the situation I face in my own world. Our realities are ones of abstract yet objectively similar laws overlapping one another, and as a result our terms and definitions are mockingly similar, yet different. However, with this new found understanding of your situation, I feel that it might shed a little bit of light on my own for you.
Now, I do not quite know with what moral lens you view these "fetch" creatures, nor if they are even considered within your personal moral philosophy. However, from what I understand they are far more the accurate equivalent to the mortals of my world to myself and my people, than your world's mortals are. You are not a piece of some greater being, correct? Well, as far as you are aware, yet they are a fragment of your true existence.
What mockery it makes of you matters little in such distinction, for the mortals of my world do much the same. I suppose, in simpler terms, I am one of three whole persons in a reality filled with fetch-adjacent beings. Take from that, and what I have told you thus far, as you will.
Though, now that I think on it. Mayhap that is a better analogy to the situation I face in my own world. Our realities are ones of abstract yet objectively similar laws overlapping one another, and as a result our terms and definitions are mockingly similar, yet different. However, with this new found understanding of your situation, I feel that it might shed a little bit of light on my own for you.
Now, I do not quite know with what moral lens you view these "fetch" creatures, nor if they are even considered within your personal moral philosophy. However, from what I understand they are far more the accurate equivalent to the mortals of my world to myself and my people, than your world's mortals are. You are not a piece of some greater being, correct? Well, as far as you are aware, yet they are a fragment of your true existence.
What mockery it makes of you matters little in such distinction, for the mortals of my world do much the same. I suppose, in simpler terms, I am one of three whole persons in a reality filled with fetch-adjacent beings. Take from that, and what I have told you thus far, as you will.
Dirk actually rubs his chin thoughtfully, like some kind of anime villain.
Interesting.
There are a couple of flaws in that hypothesis, but I haven't yet encountered one that doesn't have at least a few. Finding a way to narrow that list down is almost more exciting than
Well.
I'll end that thought right there. I'm not Steven.
I'll just have to make sure I drop in on you again. You know, when the time comes.
Interesting.
There are a couple of flaws in that hypothesis, but I haven't yet encountered one that doesn't have at least a few. Finding a way to narrow that list down is almost more exciting than
Well.
I'll end that thought right there. I'm not Steven.
I'll just have to make sure I drop in on you again. You know, when the time comes.
I do, yes. Though I'd have thought that someone Solus has openly declared he thinks so highly of would have been able to make some reasonable extrapolations.
[He's either grossly naive or blindly optimistic. Or it's a front to try and get under his guard, but that one's a bit harder to believe based on their previous conversations.]
[He's either grossly naive or blindly optimistic. Or it's a front to try and get under his guard, but that one's a bit harder to believe based on their previous conversations.]
Edited 2020-07-25 02:18 (UTC)
[Poor dumb Hythlodaeus. Maybe Solus has rose tinted glasses for this man from his past.]
Then you know of Steven's... condition, let's call it. Well, we were discussing shoring up his training, so I wanted to get a better idea of what he experienced. I admit that he presented many foreign concepts to me.
He spoke of managers and fighters as if I should understand with an immediacy.
Then you know of Steven's... condition, let's call it. Well, we were discussing shoring up his training, so I wanted to get a better idea of what he experienced. I admit that he presented many foreign concepts to me.
He spoke of managers and fighters as if I should understand with an immediacy.
[...hm.]
Arranged fighting matches for public consumption are a common pastime in our world. Steven's culture holds them in historically high esteem. I'm sure you know what a manager does, but to reiterate they essentially organise the fighter's schedule, manage their funds and plans, and essentially care for their well-being.
Arranged fighting matches for public consumption are a common pastime in our world. Steven's culture holds them in historically high esteem. I'm sure you know what a manager does, but to reiterate they essentially organise the fighter's schedule, manage their funds and plans, and essentially care for their well-being.
Page 26 of 34