☿ // 008; [text]

[fionnuisce]

There is a concept in my world known as 'Second Magic'. The details of it are not common knowledge, nor is it widely used or explored at all by more than one individual. What is known is its definition in the broadest sense: 'the operation of parallel worlds'.

In short, parallel worlds where I come from are confirmed fact. And while I am not a scholar of Second Magic itself, now I find myself seriously considering the subject. Personally, I don't believe things are predetermined...and yet now I find myself wondering. Even if we restore everything to the way it was, what is the probability any of us live in a timeline that will end well? Mathematically, the odds are astronomical.

I don't know what I hoped to accomplish by communicating this. Maybe I'm so fucking tired I'm just going to ramble incoherently about magical theory until I officially go insane. Of course, maybe I already have gone insane. I might not be able to tell anymore.

On the slim chance anyone decides to come looking for me, I'll be in the laboratory. Exhaustion or not, I have work that needs to be done.

Comments

[midgarhorizon]

[Just have a facepalm or two.]

Idiot. Go back to bed.

[fionnuisce]

I would vastly prefer not to.

[midgarhorizon]

I can pull rank.

[Text]

[sarcasmancer]

I see. So you saw it, too.

[Text]

[fionnuisce]

It's cold comfort to know I wasn't the only one.

I was fortunate enough to recognize parallel worlds as a known occurrence, not that it lessened the shock very much. I doubt many others could say the same.

[Text]

[sarcasmancer]

Perhaps not. It had been a recent topic of conversation for me, so the impact was somewhat softened.

[Action] Laboratory

[oathshackledbird]

And you wonder why I don't listen to you when you tell me I should rest.

[The statement is obviously meant to be a joke, but none of the usual energy or twinkle that comes along with his jokes comes with this one. Diarmuid's expression is exhausted, but even more than that his eyes are distant as if they are reliving a different time and place even as he moves in this one.]

I don't suppose just asking you to come with me back to your room will work, will it?

[fionnuisce]

I'm afraid not.

[Waver didn't even seem to be actually working; he was simply sitting back in a chair with the usual silver maid standing quietly at his side.]

Of course, I feel as tired as you look. But I'm not in any mood to attempt to rest much longer.

[oathshackledbird]

Closing your eyes really don't help anyway. The...images are still there.

[Diarmuid doesn't seem to have the energy to argue right now. In fact, he pulls a chair up next to Waver and pretty much collapses into it.]

I...really thought how things went for me in the war was the worst result there could have been. I...

[He gazes off into the distance blankly.]

...was wrong. I suspect you saw as many horrible things as I did, didn't you?

[crouching_sin]

Go the fuck to sleep.

[fionnuisce]

Depressingly, this seemed like a better option at the time.

[crouching_sin]

Understandable.

Though yes, the probability that things will end well is incredibly slim. Still, that's no reason not to fight.

txt

[sawthelockdown]

If you know what has to be done to make the future you want a reality, and as long as you're willing to see those requirements through, the chances might be a little better.

[Speaking from experience? VERY.]

[fionnuisce]

While that is a sentiment I find hard to dispute, it's difficult to believe willpower can influence things so much.

[sawthelockdown]

Like I said, it's as much about knowing what needs to be done, as anything. If you don't know what to do at all, or can't even make a guess, then the best you can do is just flounder blindly until you figure something out.

Speaking from experience, of course. My cousin made a computer program that could basically make an educated guess at what might happen in the future - usually the bad outcomes, that is. In a way, that's knowing what needs to not be done if you want things turning out well. ... Of course, it got unreliable the more we went against what it said. These things have limits, after all.

[text 1/2]

[bloodyashes]

What in the hell brings this on?

...I'll be by the labs later. Discuss it then.

[action 2/2]

[bloodyashes]

[And it is indeed a couple hours later - by this point, Asch has accepted that most of his month is going to involve cooking for the people who can't stand the contents of the cafeteria, so he's bringing up a metal box full of food when he comes, mostly the sandwiches and a few of the cakes.

There's a knock on the wall of the lab before he actually comes into Waver's space - no need to cause the guy to blow himself up or anything.]

Brought some lunch.

[Hopefully you didn't need the bench space he's putting it on.]

Even if you decide not to sleep for the next year, eat something.

[fionnuisce]

I appreciate it.

[Waver didn't seem to be very productive for once; a girl made of mercury stood by silently, but between them a whole lot of nothing seemed to be getting done.]

You were probably the smarter one staying upstairs, all things considered.

[Action]

[miseris_socios]

[... He's pretty aware of Waver's type now. The type that doesn't go to sleep when they need to. He doesn't have food to offer, but Ken is dragging a pillow and a blanket to the lab. He heads in, and drops the pillow and blanket next to Waver.]

If you're going to work until you fall over, you should at least have these.

[Action]

[fionnuisce]

... [He looked over and blinked a few times at the sight; a maid constructed entirely out of mercury approached and neatly folded the blanket in apparently an automatic motion. For whatever reason, Waver actually laughed softly and managed a tired smile.]

Thank you.

[Action]

[miseris_socios]

No problem.

[Ken smiled back, just a little bit.]

... You okay? I saw your post.

[text]

[bowandblade]

It is a foolish thing as it is to think about a world timeline "ending well"

[text]

[fionnuisce]

And dare I ask, what makes you say that?

[action]

[irreverence]

Parallel worlds, huh?

[Asagi perches on a table not far off, soundless besides her voice, and tilts her head at him curiously.]

So what- those of us that're here might not even be from the 'right' versions of our worlds or something?

[action]

[fionnuisce]

That's something of the problem. Assuming there are infinite possibilities and a world to reflect all of them, then there isn't a 'right' world. Strictly speaking, that is. But I'm no scholar of the concept, so my knowledge is limited.