[Textpost/Intro]

[former_endboss]

That certainly was a strange handshake protocol. And a strange network connected to it, out of sight of everyone. Just what is this? All kinds of data here, video, text, sound...is this some sort of social network? Or some sort of fantasy game? And why is it so oddly secured?

Comments

[papillio_tempestatis]

Social network is closest, I think. As for being strange, it's a strange network. In fact, the community is generally strange about everything.

Welcome to DramaDramaDuck, I suppose.

[former_endboss]

The name is strange, that much is certain. Are they in love with alliteration, whoever made this place? As for the network itself, well take my word for it. If it looks strange from the user end, imagine what it looks like when you sneak a peek under the covers.

What do you tell the newcomers typically?

[papillio_tempestatis]

That depends on how much of it they believe. To start with, I am probably not in the same world as you at the moment.

In fact, I'm certain I'm not, because my world doesn't have computers at all and I have no idea what something like a "handshake protocol" is. At least, not if it's something that could actually be applied to the community, because I'm sure it doesn't have hands.

As for the name, I have no idea who named or made it. As far as anyone can tell it operates entirely on its own. It almost acts like it's alive, sometimes.

[former_endboss]

I can certainly believe that. The many-worlds prediction is the logical outcome of the interactions of quantum-actors. But they aren't supposed to communicate once that happens. So I suppose the oddness of this connection itself is proof that you're not from my world.

Ahh, living machines. I know of a few-including one who dreams of her lady doing unspeakable things to her. Useful things, extremely useful if you want someone who can stand and guard for centuries.

[papillio_tempestatis]

What's a quantum-actor?

[Butterfly, who has obviously never met the History Monks. She's also quite glad this is in text, because that little tidbit just made her turn a bit red.]

I don't know about centuries. I do know the community certainly seems to have a mind of its own; it bores easily and has a rather embarrassing sense of humor. It will do things like start recording at inopportune moments in the interest of making things "interesting".

[former_endboss]

Any part of a quantum system that is itself a quantum system. Which is to say, all the parts. The theory is rather complex, the calculations nearly impossible to explain.

...well, that is interesting and annoying. What are we talking about here, secret diary entries? Nude photos from the shower? What else does it do? How does it know what is 'interesting' and avoid random sleep-talk or things of that nature? Lots of questions to ask here.

[papillio_tempestatis]

All right, let me try this again. What's a quantum?

Secret diary entries, yes. Not usually nude photos, I don't think, but it does have a distressing tendency to broadcast conversations you'd really prefer kept quiet, or tense moments that make everyone else worry about you. It also has... we call them 'viruses', but it will do odd things like make people unable to lie, or turn them into animals, or switch people between bodies. I spent a few days recently in the body of an angel.

As for how the community does... anything, I really don't know. I'm not sure anyone does.

[former_endboss]

A discrete item. An electron, a proton, something so small that you need trillions of them to make a mote of dust. They are frequently modeled as clouds of probability, places where they might be if you go and look. Looking disturbs them somewhat-imagine measuring the position of a stone by throwing stones at it and seeing where they land.

Lying isn't much of a problem...and the different bodies thing sounds interesting more than distressing. Though also potentially horrifying and terrible.

[papillio_tempestatis]

O... kay.

[She's not going to pry further, because she needs a little while to process this explanation and she might get one that's even harder to understand.]

Viruses will tend to range between 'interesting' and 'horrifying and terrible'. In my experience they usually seem to compromise on 'embarrassing'.

[thatoneboss]

because it's weird like that and nobody knows! ~it is a mystery~

or at least that's what people have told me so far

[former_endboss]

Well thank you, that is a supremely unhelpful answer that I will treasure forever for how bad and unhelpful it was.

[thatoneboss]

nice to meet you too :|

[former_endboss]

I can't say the same for you, whoever you are.

[thatoneboss]

i'm Demyx.

and for the record you were right about the social network thing. see? i know one thing.

[former_endboss]

Mir.

Yes, but it's clearly not simply that, there are other things here as well.

[thatoneboss]

the body switching and stuff? my munny's on it being magic.

[former_endboss]

Then I hope it does not take me seriously when I say 'Was yea ra chs hymmnos mea.' Actually becoming a song would be inconvenient.

handwritten;

[moonspell]

I think social network is what they normally call it, though I'm not entirely sure. Being from another time has its disadvantages after all.

[former_endboss]

[Mir pauses for a bit before responding-her own 'handwriting' is in a curious language of straight lines and circles before resolving into proper script, albeit in a extremely neat hand.]

Another time and another place I take it. Unless you are also a citizen of the world of Ar Ciel.

[moonspell]

[ Lydia's is just in English, albeit slightly older English than normal. Luckily the community auto-translates everything. ]

I'm from Scotland, though I currently reside in London. The year is 1865. How about yourself?

[former_endboss]

Neo-Elmenia, and 3770. Though I doubt we count years in the same way.

[moonspell]

It's entirely possible we do. Most people here are ahead of me in terms of time.

[former_endboss]

Yes, but I doubt we count our years in the same way, unless you count years from when the moon-chanters first spoke their holy words.

[moonspell]

We count them based on how long it takes for the earth to travel around the sun, with the months counting one cycle of the moon around the earth.

[former_endboss]

I meant how the years are numbered. But that's another clue right there. We have two moons.