3rd Spell - [Text]/[Attempted but botched filter against Tower Staff]

[moontothetide]

I'm sorry. I know this is a bad time, and everyone's minds are on their friends, and how to fix things, and so is mine, but I need to ask. If you want to answer, great. If not, I definitely understand. No hard feelings.

I keep trying to sort out how to ask this, but I can't, so I'm just going to write down a list here. But, mostly?

I need to ask about death.

I know this might be a touchy subject for a lot of people, so just answer whatever you want. However many or however few or none. Filter it, if that helps, or make it anonymous. I've seen people do that, and that's all okay with me. But anything you can tell me, I'd really appreciate it.

[She's got a theory, and it's a doozy.]

1. Have you ever died here? How many times? Do you think the time you couldn't move changed from time to time? If you died back home, too, I guess that counts.

2. Have you ever had to deal with an empty collar? Or be dragged in to have it refilled?

3. Have you ever had your collar removed?

4. Have you ever seen someone die? What happened if you did?

5. Have you ever been killed by one of the people who control this tower? Or faced them at all? I guess what I want to ask is, have you ever seen their powers or their methods firsthand?

6. Do you believe our worlds still exist? Why? Or why do you believe they're gone?

7. Do you have any friends here from your home world? Do you have any friends from a world that's almost like yours' but different?

8. Have you ever gotten something from home besides what's in your trunk? Also, what kind of things are in your trunk?

9. Have you ever asked for something in the suggestion box? What kind of thing, and how quickly did you get it, and did it work?

[And, finally, a question near and dear and terrifying to Tara's heart:]

10. As far as you know, have your memories ever been altered or changed while you're here?  Or have you noticed that a friend should remember things that they don't?


I'm sorry. I know that's a lot of questions. But I have a lot of questions. Like I said, though, you don't have to answer all of them. Or any. I know everyone has a lot on their minds right now, and this probably doesn't help.

But, if you can, thank you. [She hopes you prove her wrong, fellow prisoners.] Really, thank you.

Comments

text; anon

[denigrator]

Yes, scientifically speaking, their stated explanation is so extreme, to confirm it would require extreme proof, and it is best to look upon such claims with added skepticism.

But I would not entirely rule out a possibility unless--again, I had sufficient reason to do so, in the form of data or other evidence. It is a possibility, however slight.

The problem is that we exist within an environment that they control completely. They can alter our perceptions, our emotions, our very being, so all "evidence" we are presented with is potentially tainted, a fact I find most people seem to ignore in favor of emotional reactions.

[moontothetide]

So there's no proof they could show us or we could find that you'd believe, because anything could have been made up?

[...] Kind of a frustrating thought.

[denigrator]

I suppose it could be considered so. I would think some would find it heartening if they considered the matter logically, as all the so-called evidence we are shown is rendered instantly suspect in the light of this fact. As most people do not, I assume, want their worlds to have been destroyed.

[He does, but that's another matter altogether.]

We are clearly specimens here, in a huge experiment, and that does put us at a disadvantage. This environment consists of numerous stimuli, and our actions and reactions are recorded and studied. The news that our worlds have been destroyed is merely another stimulus, one among many.

It is yet possible to work in these conditions, to see beyond what we are meant to see and arrive at the truth. It simply requires a strong will and a great intellect.