Video: Open: (CW: possible discussion of a mass death event and/or domestic violence)

[nothinglikea]

[much of Rose can be seen from the nose down where she's wrapped in a deep burgundy robe, a canary perched on her shoulder and singing sweetly to the audience]

This may sound terribly stupid, but let me preface that with the fact that I'm new. Still terribly new, despite all I have seen in the past several days.

What is the difference between an Arcane Scholar and simply a scholar? If I'm interested in the one, does it dictate that I be interested in the other? [a frustrated sigh] I realize this may all be rudimentary to those who have been here a while, but I'm still at less than a month, so please show me some measure of mercy?

Thank you.

Comments

[nothinglikea]

I'm not. It's 1912 when I left. May I ask which year it was for you?

[so is she, most people seem to be so much further in the future and thus seem to know more than she does. she hates that]

Creepy tree temple? I'm almost afraid to ask. But I'll find it.

[droptheious]

Oh yeah, you are far back. 1820...or so, been a while since I was back there.

[He laughs.]

Yeah! It's uh...big and white and kinda...bleeds? The tree, not-not my house. I don't know why it's like that, there's a temple underneath it, but no one really bothers you there.

[nothinglikea]

Then, congratulations. You're from even further in the past than I am. I'm not sure if I should give you a trophy or buy you a drink.

[she can't help giggling]

...just when I think I've heard the pinnacle of weird, I find a brand new one. A tree which bleeds, that's certainly outside of my experience. But when is a good time to meet you there?

[droptheious]

I'd take either! But yeah, I'm used to it, there's not a lot of people further back than me.

[He does sound amused by it, at least. He's had nearly two years to get used to it and see the funny side of it.]

I know, it's...definitely pretty high up there on the weird scale. I'm free after five pretty much any day.

[nothinglikea]

Let's go with the drink. Earworm has good ones. And those of us who are from Earth's past should start a club. At least the omnis are relatively straightforward, although I'm terrible at texting.

[she's always been good at adapting to circumstances worth adapting to. Cal, needless to say, wasn't one of them]

I should really take my definition of "normal" and throw it away entirely, shouldn't I? And would 5:30 work?

[droptheious]

I'm not much for clubs, but sure, I can give it a shot. [He's such a quiet, awkward nerd, don't mind him.] We really should! There's a few of us. And don't worry, you'll figure it out. Memes and emojis are where I get stuck.

[Mostly because they rely on pop culture that doesn't exist yet- rude. ]

That would be the best way for you to handle like...90% of the stuff that happens here, yeah. And sure, sounds perfect!

[nothinglikea]

It's really not so bad. The music has never been too loud, not loud enough to interrupt conversation. [though, they're often playing music like she heard during the steerage party] Memes and emojis? What in heaven's name are those?

[entirely rude. won't someone think of those from out of time?]

Really? And what of the 10%? All right, I'll see you then!

[droptheious]

Huh, I might just give it a try then. Better than I thought. [Oh Rose, he has so much to teach you.] Well, from what I understand, memes are like...jokes? But told with pictures? I don't really get them but they're really popular. Emojis are like...faces, that people make with the omni to show emotions, hang on.

[He switches to text, just for a moment:]

:) see? it's smiling, cant your head to the side and you should be able to see it.

[And then the video is back!]

The other 10% is mostly screaming and crying. [His tone is light, he's joking...probably.] I look forward to it!

[nothinglikea]

Yes, I'd been afraid it would be too far too noisy, but I rather like it. [crash course in 21st century netiquette?] ...jokes told with pictures? Is it a funny picture at least, like one of a clown? [absolutely none of the rest followed until he showed her the happy face]

That's very cute! Are there more?

Screaming and crying? So...by coming in for Valentine's Day, I mostly escaped that?

[droptheious]

Not always? Like- hang on, let me find one. [He attaches an image.] It's always got words on it too. They're really odd.

Yeah, there's a ton of them- people really like them.

[He's LESS enthused with them, but they do seem really popular. ]

Maybe! Unless something tries to kill us on the day which is always possible, I guess?

[nothinglikea]

[at the picture, Rose laughs long and hard] That would put that baby yards ahead of my ex-fiance, he couldn't eat Italian food without making a mess to save his life! Even the pesto and alfredo sauces!

Why do they like them? Simply because they're funny?

[popularity did not always equal good?]

Possible, but let's hope that the forces of doom and disaster have to take at least one day off. Maybe there's a Union?

[droptheious]

HAH, maybe he should have invested in some sort of bib?

[He makes note of ex fiance, not something to pry into right now, but oh boy will he remember this. ]

I think like is a strong word, but I guess so? I know future people really love them because...I don't know, it's an easier way to communicate? Because god forbid people use words, right?

[It sure did not! Future people are so weird. That gets a laugh out of him.]

God, you'd hope so, right? I mean, sure, no one likes them, but they should still have worker's rights!

[nothinglikea]

[she laughs] No, such a thing was beneath a man of his station. That, and he complained if the laundress couldn't get all of the stains out. However, it did mean he could go out and spend money.

[ex-fiance is very much an ex and if she never sees Cal again, it would be far too soon]/small>

I suppose? But, how did they do it, did they have books of memes and refer to the correct one to show their emotions at the time? I suppose things like a bright, sunny day would be enough without the words, but a picture of a flower could mean multiple things.

[they seem to be? but they let women wear pants, so that was a count in their favor]

Right, right. If only for our good spirits, I'd like a vacation.

[droptheious]

Oh wow, he's a real charmer. Sounds like you dodged a bullet with that one.

[He sounds like a snob in Varian's humble opinion- and Rose seems far too personable to be shackled with someone like that.]

I...honestly have no idea. I think they just like...decide them? I know there are some really complicated ones out there. Usagi does ones that have like...sparkles and stuff? I have no idea how she does it.

[That is a big count in their favour, honestly. ]

I would, too. I've been dealing with this place for a while.

I can html, I promise! (CW: gun violence)

[nothinglikea]

I did. Quite literally. I met a man I preferred and my ex simply couldn't stand the idea. So he stole his bodyguard's gun and shot at us.

[honestly, being shot at was less frightening than a lot of things]

Nor I. Though, of course I don't, I'm still trying to grow and learn as much as I can. There's so much to get caught up on!

[sciences which were in their infancy had grown up and formed branches the way a tree would grow and branch off]

...may I ask how long is a while?

aww it's all good, I got it!

[droptheious]

Oh. Wonderful. [Such sarcasm.] Gotta love guys who can't take no for an answer, huh? What a jerk. I hope he didn't get either of you.

[Because guys like that winning feels...wrong. ]

Hah, there you go! That's pretty much the right mindset to have.

[He waves a hand vaguely. ]

I don't know if anyone told you about the dream that was attached to this place beforehand? Counting that place and this one, I've been here for two years.

Thank you!! ❤

[nothinglikea]

He didn't, not for a lack of trying. [said dryly. she honestly didn't know what she'd do if she met Caledon Hockley again. other than maybe kick him in the balls, she's been taught that was a good way to keep a man at bay]

Thank you. I try to adapt, unless the circumstances are so unbearable that adapting isn't possible.

They did...There was a young woman who kept others trapped in her nightmare. That she--that she is no longer among the living.

<3

[droptheious]

That's something at least.

[Cal is just quietly sliding himself into Varian's mental space for "jackass men who treat women like objects" along with Diamond and Edward Cullen. ]

And that's when you know you can rely on the rest of us. We need to stick together in this place- having connections makes a big, big difference.

[His smile fades a little, he played his part in that, after all, much as he thought it was the right choice at the time.]

Yeah, it got...complicated. The Dream, and most of this world is a direct correlation to how the Dream ended. For better or worse.

[nothinglikea]

Yes. God willing, I'm free of him.

[he absolutely belonged in that category. Rose was a pretty toy to him and he hated to share his toys. hated even more when someone took a toy--her--from him]

I'm so glad to hear that I can. It really helps to soothe my mind and my nerves. I had no such protection back home. No one would have offered it even if they knew how unhappy I was. [except for Jack. Jack had been there for her, had saved her in every possible way. the least she could do was honor his memory by living life to the fullest]

My god. This place...could be worse. But I suppose worse is in the eye of the beholder. I'm mostly grateful this place doesn't need money, only trade objects.

[droptheious]

Good. Glad to hear it.

[He's definitely living in that category, ugh, the worst.]

...Yeah, I get how rough it can be when you don't have anyone in your corner. [HIs was complicated and had a much messier outcome, but still.] That's for sure not the case here.

Oh wow, hah, yeah, this place can get so much worse. [It's fine Rose, don't mind him, he lived through the literal apocalypse, it's fine. ] That makes it easier. The dream largely just...gave you stuff for free, but the trading thing isn't so bad.

[nothinglikea]

[Rose smiles playfully] Nowhere near as glad as me.

[she assumes Cal will find some pretty, pliable young woman, marry her, and produce a small army of children. far away from her]

I like to think that Father would have stepped in, but Father's business instincts were terrible. I can't imagine his instincts towards love would be any different. He and Mother practically had been engaged practically since they were children. [both old money in Philadelphia society, both descended from Union heroes of the War Between the States. it had been a near perfect match]

...may I ask how much worse? What is the most terrible thing to happen here, in your experience? [the sinking of the Titanic felt like an apocalypse?] For free? Oh, how I would love to see the looks on some people's faces when they were told their money was worthless.

[droptheious]

Ooof, sorry to hear it. I guess if they don't know any better they get stuck in the idea that that's the right way to do stuff, even if it isn't.

[Oh boy, that gets a chuckle out of him.]

Thaaaaat's definitely debatable amongst Sleepers. The dream and this place both have a habit of finding what bothers you the most and using it as a weapon, which is exactly as unfun as it sounds. For me, it was in the dream where... uh well, we were turned against each other and then put on trial for what we did here and...at home. Then executed for it. That's...definitely the worst one for me.

[For complicated, messy reasons he largely keeps to himself- one day she'll have all the pieces for this particular puzzle. ]

Thooough, yeah. You'll get a different answer for that for every Sleeper you ask, probably.

(CW: coerced underage sex)

[nothinglikea]

Yes, the society I came from was very much stuck in its ways. I keep wondering if things will ever change for good, that wealth won't always be the measure of a man, but I don't know if that's possible.

[and Rose can almost feel the color draining from her face] That is...pretty terrible. What on earth does that serve, aside from breeding resentment?

[she supposed that sleeping with Cal before they were married counted as something to be used against her but with the marriage all but formalized she hadn't felt like she had a choice. he might as well have been making love to a porcelain doll for all she felt.

Jack, on the other hand? she'd defend those actions to the death]

I suppose that is a terribly subjective question.

(CW: coerced underage sex)

[droptheious]

From what I hear about the people from the future? Not really. It's...uh, kind of depressing, really.

[That centuries onwards, they still haven't figured that part out yet. ]

Nothing, that was the entire point. The...person who made it all happen wanted us at each other's throats, to- to prove a point, I guess? She was like that.

[And she's here, too, he knows. In a different guise- but he's about 90% sure it's her at this point and he doesn't like what that can potentially mean here. Had he known, he would definitely agree that the whole...Cal mess would be used against her. ]

It is. Uh, just be prepared for that kinda thing though. Memories, too. This place puts those on show for everyone to see on the regular.

(CW: coerced underage sex)

[nothinglikea]

[Rose heaved a gusty sigh] Yes, that would be too much to hope for, wouldn't it? At the same time, I don't want to accept nothing because that's all one will receive.

[her grandfathers fought for the Union. one served a few terms as a Republican member of the House. the Bukaters were incredibly proud of that fact]

That's an awful thing to want. To do to others on purpose. But...was? Is she no longer here?

[she hopes the one responsible was no longer here, was no longer capable of tormenting those she saw as potential friends. strike that, friends already. Rose had gone so long without true friends that she was greedy for them.

and she swallows hard at the notion of others seeing her memories. she clung to memories of Jack greedily. memories of the Titanic itself and everyone aboard it except for Jack and Thomas Andrews were bitter ones at best] I'm a Paleblood. Is there any way to block my mind? I know that in theory I can read the minds of others.