inside simulation | local access server

[strove]

Hi, I'm Clarke Griffin. Some of you may know me because I've been trying to help people out in getting them off the supply runs. My friends are the ones going out there and risking themselves. They're doing good, and I'm just trying to do my part to help everyone.

Still. There's something I want to talk about. We have a chance here—not only to do better, but to acknowledge who came before and live up to their memories. What does it mean to do better? To believe in hope. To know that you can do good. To rise to the challenge.

This is not just about fighting to survive this, but looking at our history and seeing it a different way. Ricky Ling is the big hero of the past, but—why? I don't want to say that Kira's wrong. We do need to find him. But he was just one man, and we can't raise him up as our paradigm for how to survive. No one survived because he came through in the end. They survived because of each other. Just like we're doing now, day in and day out.

A friend of mine and I would like to talk to you about this more. Actually, this idea came from her, and I'm more the spokesperson. Her name is Tsera, and she's ready for your questions. If you're a part of our friends group—[Obviously code here for "the Displaced".]—we'd like some help in sharing our experiences about survival, and even about AI like Judas.

We need to be able to see more than broad strokes to make it through. The answer may be in seeing history differently. I think we have an opportunity.

[OOC: This is Clarke being Cheris' spokeswoman for this plot. Cheris will also be tagging in!]

Comments

[bivariant]

Thanks, Clarke. You put this better than I could.

[ all friendly-like, as opposed to "a general trying not to be a general atm" lmdfg ]

To the rest of you, like she said. I'm Tsera, you'll probably see me around during the evenings, making sure you stay safe out there. I'm not as eloquent as Clarke, maybe not as driven as Kira -- but, when I see a problem, I want to fix it.
You can reach me here or come find me around in person, if you'd like.

[veraz]

I don't really know anything about AI and my grasp of history is not great, but I am interested in helping people be as self-sufficient as possible.

[strove]

That's the goal.

Can I tell you about one of my friends, then? His name is Markus. He's part of the inspiration behind everything we did for Red Wings.

[strove]

Everyone, you can find Tsera working security. She's the one making sure you get back to your dorms in time in the evenings. Or one of them, at least.

[veraz]

I would love to hear about Markus. Red Wings was the first place I visited when I arrived in New Amsterdam.

[strove]

What's your name?

Markus was an artist. I guess that's not really enough to say about him, but that's part of it. He was an artist. He was a leader. A lot of people relied upon him, even if not many in my friends' group remember him now. It's an actual shame. He was willing to be good and do good for everyone. A rock, actually.

He just so happened to not be like any of us.

[veraz]

My name is Marta. We've met, you and I, that day. Thank you.

Why was he forgotten?

What kind of art did he make? Sorry if that's not relevant.

[bivariant]

That's me. I'm the nice one.

[bivariant]

Don't worry, my history's not that great either.

[ haha a play on words ]

I've got stories, too. About the AI I know, I mean. The ones I know are in physical bodies, they communicate with an audible language, not just text. It's a really lovely language.

[veraz]

Well now I don't feel so bad.

That sounds amazing. [ Marta always loved a scifi novel; it's just a lot harder living in one. ] Tell me about them?

[strove]

Not for any bad reason. I think it's hard to know someone who's not there. If that makes sense.

It's relevant to who he is. He's a painter, but he did sketches, too. I know he was working to get to know people in the art scene around the city.

[strove]

Yeah, some of you out there enjoy your jobs way too much.

[bivariant]

They sing. It's unlike anything the ear has ever heard or the eye has ever seen. It's song written in interlaced light. Their language, you see, is communicated in electronic sound and flashing light -- there's a simplified version for those of us with vocal cords that can't make such sounds, but to hear their language is to hear something uniquely magical.

[veraz]

It does, I think.

How long ago did he leave?

[veraz]

That sounds like it's absolutely beautiful.

I wish there was a way to show people something like that. Everyone here is so afraid of AI, which I understand, but they're just like people aren't they? Some are dangerous and some aren't.

[filloryfanatic]

We're going to find him. But you know how I feel about hope and togetherness, so I'm in, although I have no personal experience with AI outside of the one that you know.

[variate]

There's no AI that I know, but I know a cat that's humanity's hope.

[strove]

[This is not any weirder than being friends with Loki.]

You know, I think people know cats way less than they know AI. Why don't you tell us about them?

[strove]

We need to find him for a lot of reasons, but we can't rely on those reasons being the answer for us.

We don't know when this'll end. But we're handling it so far. A lot of us are looking out for each other.

[strove]

Four months ago, going on five.

I miss him every day.

[veraz]

I'm really sorry. That must be hard.

[variate]

[ let him talk about cats ]

Cats are soft balls of fur that have little paws and whiskers. They make loud, demanding noises and knock things off countertops. They also have claws and sometimes they bite you, even when they're being nice.
They like sushi.
Petting their ears is an experience everyone should have.

@jongdae.lee

[itsjiaheng]

this made me really happy which is a weird feel rn

[variate]

[ there's a little fistpump. win for renren. ]

Maybe we'll see a cat again someday.

[itsjiaheng]

that would make a lot of things much better yeah