deernet | video; un: viktor

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video; un: viktor

[the video starts near one of the blood blisters, though by 'near' it's clear the video taker has no particular interest in getting close enough to be in a potential splash zone. the video itself is more focused on the pair of blood hounds gathered around it.

when a voice speaks it's with a heavy czech accent and only after scratching that sounds like he's writing something.] I suppose it is customary to make greetings here, as a new arrival, so hello. I am Viktor.

[he clears his throat like he's glad that's over with, onto what he apparently really wants to talk about. the video pans down to a pale finger tapping his notebook, one page blurred and off the the side with what looks like confused formulas trying to figure out how the hell an omni works in his frame of knowledge, the others with notes on the bloodhounds.

one noticeable feature to people without paleblood is he keeps drawing/referencing mushrooms on the beasts, which clearly aren't there.] I've been curious about this fungal growth, especially as I've noticed it on more than just the eh... stag dogs.

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Indeed. Fighting for my life has to be my least favorite thing in this or any other world. Once is quite enough!

[she was already irked at the Moss King for the mushroom hallucinations, but going down into those catacombs and having mushrooms grow on her? that was enough to push dislike into hatred]

I think I can heartily agree with you there. More so when I am not sure if this even has a purpose other than... what, entertainment?

If I never have to see a mosquito again I can count that as a life well lived.

[and mud. when you haven't even really settled housing and employment yet the whole getting dunked in mud is especially irritating.]

I suppose it could be that? Or maybe they'd say that these experiences built character without caring that they also bred resentment. Then I hope you never see another. I'm not sure this place ever gets warm enough on the surface for mosquitoes to be around. [she had to deal with the river. and that damned door]

Ah, one of my least favorite placating sentiment. 'Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger.' Yes, I suppose whatever the reason it does not change the effect. I have yet to see death in this place but I hear the process is particularly unpleasant.

I think I am just grateful not to have dealt with the mushrooms. The seeming mental coercion of the exit of the catacombs I found the most irritating, in truth. Nowhere is sacred.

[learn to respect a person's privacy, void that looks into someone's deepest insecurities. god.]

If that's so, the bulk of those who live here would be able to lift entire automobiles over their heads and while that would be amusing to see, it's probably not what the person who invented that saying had in mind. I've heard that it is, too. I'm hoping to avoid it. Yes, absolutely be glad that you didn't have to deal with the mushrooms. I wish I hadn't had to. Mental coercion, though? What mental coercion? Though it's very likely that you're right, nowhere is sacred. I'd like to add "or safe" to that.

[rude! though, nowhere is sacred, safe, or has any privacy?]

As am I, along with this 'beast' business. I suppose on that front I am lucky I didn't get too close to these blisters, I've been told they explode and cause a transformation of a sort.

Oh yes, there was an area that 'mentally pushed,' let's say, one to speak of certain insecurities and troubles. It was both invasive and unsettling. Why leave the potential trauma in the catacombs to merely physical? Clearly there is plenty of psychological and emotional damage to be done.

[and the best way to handle that is to shit talk the moss king and this place. he's truly been converted to rose's point of view on that one.]

That's another thing I'd like to avoid. And what a choice! One, blood blisters which would turn me into a beast for an indeterminate amount of time. Or two, mushrooms growing in improper places and seeming to be everywhere. Though, I've been told that the latter is simply because I'm a Paleblood. ...oh no. That's awful. Awful and humiliating and what on earth is WRONG with the Moss King that he'd put you in that situation in the first place? Is he having such a hard time being entertained by us that he simply has to go above and beyond anything any sane person would expect?

[yay! granted, she's only been here two months but she already has the Moss King in the running for least favorite being here]

Apparently, I have spoken to a few people now and the general consensus seems to be what we are, this 'paleblood' business, is tied to the mushrooms. From what I understand hallucinations and empathetic episodes are also not uncommon? Regardless, the blisters I can avoid but the mushrooms have made trying to find and decide upon a dwelling somewhat irritating. It is difficult when entire walls are sometimes covered in what might be real fungal growth.

In truth I am lucky, the young man I was with at the time, Allen, he had a. level head on his shoulders. Aside from that it was quite the obnoxious little ordeal. I prefer my self reflection to be by choice and not surrounded by corpses, oddly enough.

[plenty of time for others to run for the title, but really, every time viktor's mentioned him the consensus seems to be 'oh him' so he gets the feeling that it'll be a difficult title to usurp.]

So we're the ones who are inflicted with an overabundance of vision, in more ways than one. And, they're a little too common. I need someone in full control of those abilities to teach me how to keep mine from running amok, I was going to post an advertisement asking for such. That may have to wait until I no longer feel as though I'm going mad because surely all of us are having similar hallucinations, give or take. I'm lucky that I settled on a cottage before all of this. I see! That's terribly fortunate, to be in the company of one who knew what he was doing. I was lucky enough to be discovered mid-transformation into a mushroom field by a young lady who has been here a while, even before here became here. And I wish I'd had that option.

[all she really had to do was think on top of that blasted door, floating in the North Atlantic. she wishes she had thought less and attended to Jack more, but the door wouldn't hold them both. maybe all she would have done was delay the inevitable by a minute or two and she had no way of knowing if he'd suffered before he died. he would have had to, though, in such cold water]

If you ever find a paleblood who is willing to teach I would be very interested as well. I have only really dabbled in summoning my omen, whatever else is possible I could not say. My congratulations on your cottage - have you found employment here yet? That is another matter to tackle I am afraid.

She was able to save you then? Those spores sound... aggressive, is certainly a term. And ah, you mean the dream they were in before? I have heard very little of the matter.

[only that the dream ended with the death of a little girl, apparently, and that is still an unsettling thought. he of course imagines she means self reflection in the carnage here and not in her home world, but no, some people really aren't so lucky, are they? corpses wherever they go.]

Of course. I hope that my request would serve as a resource for all of us who are palebloods and unsure of how to control our abilities yet. Or how to use them properly. Thank you, I'm just settling into it. I may wind up painting or papering some of the walls, they're so white. And I have. I'm an Arcane Scholar. I suppose that doesn't seem like a real job, but I spend a great deal of time listening to lectures and reading on various subjects. They were terribly aggressive. I was honestly terrified that I'd never stop growing mushrooms. As have I, only that they were trapped in the dream of a little girl.

[she's heard that part. it sounded terrible, to have to buy one's freedom through the death of another. frozen corpses in the North Atlantic, a truly awful sight]

Honestly I am surprised there isn't a resource like that already, though I suppose things are chaotic here. Survival trumping organization. Oh, it seems very real to me, I promise you. I am a scientist and once worked as the assistant to the Academy's dean.

In truth I've been curious about your job as an option myself. What are your thoughts so far?

And of course now we are surrounded by mushrooms to keep you properly on edge. Lovely. I wonder how such a thing came to be - blood magic, I suppose?

[because really, how long was this child asleep? was the child human? there's a lot of questions there, but this place fills him with endless questions honestly.]

It's foolish that there isn't. Many of the powers we can have are extremely dangerous in the wrong hands or without understanding of how they worked. I've been in one set of circumstances where survival trumped organization and it didn't end well for anyone, except for a precious few. The rest of us were left to fend for ourselves and not all of us had, shall we say, survival skills? Or someone with us who did and could help? And you're a scientist? What branch of science, biology, chemistry, or physics? I think there's so much to learn that it will be impossible to know it all. I'm doing my best to try and sort all of it out. My personal goal is to write the equivalent of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" for the former world, but I'm not sure if that's possible. All of the sources I've found have been biased. It's awful. It's making me question the line between reality and illusion. Because even the illusionary mushrooms feel like mushrooms and smell like them.

[she can't get straight answers for either question. maybe the longer she was here, the more others would be willing to share?]

If it helps I have been making notes on what I observe and what I am told. Perhaps if we cannot find anyone who has already developed a guide for understanding Paleblood we can simply make our own as the knowledge comes. Not ideal for us in the moment, but a possibility.

Engineering largely, biomedical engineering is a particular passion. I hope to find work finding a way to utilize lunar energy in new ways, I find it quite fascinating as an energy source.

We must be from different worlds, I cannot say I have heard of the Roman Empire before. I think I can grasp your intent though, if it helps I will keep notes of what accounts I get of the history of this place. I have the distinct feeling it would be better the Trench know as much as it can of what's transpired rather than repeat it.

That aspect of the hallucination is the most irritating without a doubt. I admit it concerns me just what other illusions can be forced upon us and seem undeniably physical.

[he doesn't envy her, wrangling people for their accounts or second hand accounts of this rather mad place and the place before. if they're here hallucinating mushrooms on the whims of jerks how are they supposed to know what accounts aren't similarly tampered with?]

That's certainly a scenario, though I'd like to think that someone would be kind enough to step forward and offer to teach us what they knew. I would like to believe in kindness and charity? Not the same that my old life offered, the ones which required effusive gestures of gratitude from the recipients, but the kind of kindness and charity which were their own rewards. Perhaps you could be both an Arcane Scholar and a Blood Minister? I've heard that some people have multiple career paths and with your background I'd be hard pressed to say which one would suit you better. It's all right. The Roman Empire no longer exists where I'm from. When I ask others about what happened between Point A and Point B, they always say that it was the dream clouding their judgement. Which is all well and good for those who were trapped in the dream, but there have to be old family stories. Letters, recordings, photographs as time progressed? And that was carved into an important building where I was from: Those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. We can't let history be repeated. It's unlike anything I've experienced or heard of. I know that mushrooms are important to this society, both as a food source and as a drug, but all I can think when I see them is that someone left a food item in the pantry too long and that mushrooms are growing from it.

[Rose has always been one who'd bite off more than she could chew. ask Cal about it. or Jack, really. that for a girl of her station, she'd always aspired to learning more, doing more than the life of an old money family allowed]

It may simply be a matter of timing, if it has only been so much time since this old city ended and life here began. I find in places of desperation such as this it is easier to find generosity than in places of excess. I have already met a man willing to give self defense lessons for free.

That is a good point, I think a mixture of both would be my ultimate goal. That said I think I will apply to become a scholar first. Perhaps we will meet in class someday.

It sounds your work might turn more archeological than interviews soon enough. Surely the other scholars have been helpful?

Ah, where I grew up they were a staple, including in making things like alcohol and decorative arrangements. It is a taste that grows on you, pun not intended given our hallucinations. Maybe less so when fungi nearly killed you.

[he gets the impression she is from a place more like piltover than the undercity, even just from the familiar way she speaks. he never thought he'd find speaking to someone who reminds him of piltover a familiar comfort but he never thought he'd hallucinate mushrooms and be a squid either]

I can't say I know from true experience, but I found people who my society considered "lower" far kinder and more genuine than the people in my society. My society traded on insincerity and grand gestures with no feelings behind them. At least not something anyone else would call feelings. It was a constant game of social climbing, always at the expense of another. And which man? Maybe I know him? I hope so. I spend much of my time in classes, doing my best to soak up as much knowledge as possible. I'd very much enjoy seeing you in classes. Yes, but it seems as though virtually everything I knew from home is irrelevant, though I shouldn't be surprised. Even amongst the people living here, I'm from around one hundred years in their pasts. I never thought about taking the more archeological route, would barely know where to begin, but it's worth considering. I never imagined that one could make wine from mushrooms, but I must say that I never liked mushrooms. Whenever we had something that had mushrooms in it, I always picked them out and ate around them. I know that they're a food staple here, but I simply can't make myself do it. Even more so after having them grow on me.

[you can take the girl out of First Class, but not all of the First Class out of the girl. and she's thoroughly enjoying talking to him, she appreciates anyone with a hunger for learning. and even though she's still painfully new, she wants to do what she can to ease the minds of others]

I saw much of the same in the elite of the city I once lived in. A stark difference from where I grew up, and I can safely say I do not miss the galas in the slightest. They used to be a necessary evil to acquire sponsors for our research, and the social games were grim and exhausting. Also his name is Jason.

I'm afraid I never got your name. I have been slacking on this, in truth this 'network' is rather baffling to me. We had no such technology, 'usernames' and the like. Truly fascinating progress.

That must be complicated. I've only met two from my world and I believe we're mostly from the same time and city, which makes understanding a little easier. As for archeology... hm, I suppose seeing if fellow scholars would be interested in an expedition and narrowing down places that may be worth exploring? I imagine it is dangerous work though, given the state of this world.

I've heard the texture bothers some. I've never been much of a picky eater, though I may change my tune if mushrooms end up making a garden of me.

[honestly the scholarly aspect is a balm- he approaches all things to be unwound and pieced back together, logically and thoroughly, which... needless to say is not everyone's cup of tea. that and he's never had much of a mind for history but he agrees it's important to know. useful then to have someone he can now ask after the progress of in these matters and learn more.]

It wouldn't surprise me if it was a commonality between the elites of any world. That's part of why I'm grateful this place operates on a bartering system. That way, there's no such thing as real wealth or real poverty since people will take a rock they find interesting. It confused the living daylights out of me at first, too. I just recently learned how to capitalize. And my name is Rose Dawson. It's a pleasure to meet you. That must be a relief, to have people from your home here. Even if you weren't friends back home. I'll have to ask about archaeological digs, where to even start trying. It's not like we're searching for a specific dinosaur who lived in a certain place, the remnants of old societies could be everywhere or nowhere except at the bottom of the sea. That's it, it's the texture. No matter how they're cooked, they seem like chewing rubber. And yes, that only led to more distaste towards mushrooms.

[it is to her, too. she'd always been a curious child and young woman. her father had mostly indulged her, but after he died and it was revealed that he owed enormous sums of money to various people, that the family fortune was gone and she'd have to marry for money as quickly as possible. then in came Cal]

It certainly makes matters easier for us as well. In truth I am surprised you think so, if you were born into the elite. I have met many upperclass open minded but most... not very much.

I spent a good hour toying with it before daring to try and communicate at all, I admit. A pleasure as well, Miss Dawson.

Even if they were at the bottom of the sea it seems like there are many here who may even be able to help you with that. I would imagine your main trouble would be having suitable protection against the creatures and troubles you may run across if you did find a dig site to work with. Perhaps hunters may be the ticket in the end.

Maybe one day you'll get to try a proper mushroom wine or liquor and either turn around on them or solidify your distaste. My bet is the latter, as nostalgic as they are for me.

[freedom and then the fall of fortunes would explain a lot. viktor is used to upperclass of a specifically unpleasant variety, probably the kind who would happily find a way to profit on those family misfortunes for their own gains. lovely bunch, really.]

Yes, it could certainly be said that I was born into an elite class. But I went through an incident which showed me exactly how stupid class was and how everyone had a right to live their lives in peace. Once I saw, I couldn't close my eyes again. It's absolutely beyond anything my world has. But I'm glad you did decide to communicate. Possibly? While I have yet to meet any mermaids or the like, it's not unthinkable that there would be people with the ability to part the seas, at least temporarily. And while my abilities supposedly can cause hallucinations, I have yet to actually try it. But you think Hunters would help? I wonder how much they'd charge for their services? Perhaps? I'm not ready to consider trying now, unfortunately.

[Rose's fellow upperclass wouldn't hesitate to do the same, as long as it kept them in power and those of lesser means staying there. even if it was the difference between life and death for them]

I admit I'm curious, if you wouldn't mind sharing that story. I find closed eyes are exactly the problem. It was alarming how few even understood the struggles or even simply the lives of those they saw as lower class. Always eager to see it as moral failings.

As am I. And I am glad you came to share your distaste for the mushrooms and the Moss King. I was at least somewhat warned.

You may be fortunate in finding hunters who understand the importance of the work or are at least curious themselves. Given the bartering system it is hard to say. I'd be happy to offer repair work if they are interested, to further your project. I very much would like to know more of this world's history myself.

Given how mushrooms so far are growing from people or fake I do think I might pass for a while too. It is... difficult to trust to source.

[they could have some very interesting discussions of classism it seems, and how it really is just the same no matter what time or magical world you may come from]

I'm not sure I can? The experience still feels terribly raw and painful. I know it will heal in time, but not for a while yet. I simply can't wait until this awful month is over. And I suppose something of a warning is better than nothing. That's a possibility? I'd likely need something far more valuable than a fossil to pay for work of that nature. I've heard that there are some gemstones around, but it almost seems uncouth to ask about where they can be found. Though, your offer of repair work sounds like a good one. I'm glad I'm not the only one curious about how everything came to be. Exactly! It's the opposite of appetizing.

[they will in time, but she's still dealing with untreated PTSD from the Titanic]

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video; un: viktor

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