†005. handwritten always

[harbingersoul]

I have accumulated a number of books over my time at the university that the staff was kind enough to pack for my relocation; picture books, fiction, biographies—an eclectic variety, totaling more than I had anticipated. I wonder if they added from the library itself. Librarians will do anything to insure the safety of their collection; knowledge must be preserved.

I came across a collection of fairy tales from the north while packing. One struck me: a man falls asleep in the woods and wakes forty years in the future, avoiding war and likely death. His family is dead or gone, and his town has changed beyond recognition. It does not say if he dreamed of gunshots and battle or the farming he left behind.

Unkind fate or good fortune? I wonder: what if it had happened to you?

Comments

[dekillerqueen]

I believe there are several variations of that tale, actually. I am most familiar with that of Rip Van Winkle.

[harbingersoul]

How interesting, that the same story is told across universes.

[dekillerqueen]

I can understand why it is so, I suppose. It is an interesting thought exercise.

[harbingersoul]

What would your answer be?

[dekillerqueen]

It would depend on whether I had managed to achieve everything I wished before it happened, I suppose.

[harbingersoul]

On the assumption that you had.

[dekillerqueen]

Then I would try to live out the rest of my days in peace.

[harbingersoul]

How very congenial. And in the case that you hadn't?

[dekillerqueen]

In that case... I suppose I would have to make use of my time to accomplish what I hadn't before.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Actually, I know at least two people on the community who had... something like that happen to them. It's basically sort of one-way time travel, isn't it?

One of them's me. I thought I was in another world completely until I ran into what was left of somewhere familiar.

[harbingersoul]

A single way of travel is an apt description. If I may ask, what were the course of events that led to your journey? And what, would you say, you will do now?

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Found this ancient warp gate. Turned out to be a time machine. Long story.

Honestly, I've kind of gotten used to it; I've been here a few years now. Found things that needed doing, did them. I miss home, but I'm not sure if I could go back even if I had a way.

[harbingersoul]

You have changed with the situation, and made a life for yourself. Adapt or die, as it's been put. Malleability is an admireable quality.

Your world sounds very advanced in terms of technology.

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Thanks, I guess. Seemed like my only choice.

Depends on what you mean. The time I grew up in wasn't, at least mostly not. This one's pretty far on, though, compared to a lot of worlds. Haven City's still got nothing on the Precursors, though.

[harbingersoul]

Time travel is farfetched by the stadards here. Precursors? An ancient civilization more advanced than yours?

[precursorstone_gun_nest]

Yes, the time travel device was theirs. Most people look at them like something between that and gods. We've gotten about as far as a-grav and lasers here.

[harbingersoul]

And yet you are surrounded by reminants of lost technology. I assume there are those attempting to recreate their power.

[makewayforroze]

I think it's unkind but I also think it isn't over for him, even then.

[harbingersoul]

What would you say he has in the new world, Roze?

[makewayforroze]

Build a new life. It may be hard but he still has the chance to be okay.

[harbingersoul]

You present a very optimistic perspective.

[makewayforroze]

It isn't just optimistic. It's very possible.

[harbingersoul]

You would make the most of things no matter where you ended up, therefore you believe the same of others.

[makewayforroze]

That isn't always the truth but I do believe it's always possible.

[harbingersoul]

There is an exception?