☿ // 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

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[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.

[crouching_sin]

As an elaboration on that - it was mostly a program that directed her towards her goals. I'm aware of how her personality is. I knew she would want to save people. It was less blatant predictions of the future and more news on where certain things would be.

[sawthelockdown]

Well, yeah, but it sure seemed like it was predicting the future.

[crouching_sin]

To you, yes.

[sawthelockdown]

And to the rest of the group, too.

[fionnuisce]

I almost asked for details, but looking at that conversation I'm not sure I want them.

[sawthelockdown]

No, you don't. It's a long story, and you might end up making that guy get smug about his accomplishments. He's compleeeeeeetely insufferable like that.

[fionnuisce]

I know the sort. Let's avoid the subject, in that case.

[sawthelockdown]

[YES GOOD. Asako approves!]

Ahaha, also I'm warning you about that to be a brat. He is my cousin, like I said, so the great grand friendly relative rivalry must be kept up! :)

...but he is pretty insufferable too, so.

[fionnuisce]

I've met worse than him. I'm sure I've been that insufferable from time to time.

[sawthelockdown]

He might take that as a challenge.

What have you done? :(

[fionnuisce]

I'm not the most pleasant person to converse with, I'm afraid.

[Says the infinite snarkbucket.]

[crouching_sin]

It's not really that complicated...

[fionnuisce]

I have a headache and no patience for some Harlan Ellison-level computer discussions, how's that?

[crouching_sin]

... Basically, it's easy to predict things when you know the person getting the predictions very well.

Even if we're not from the same world. The me in her world would say the same thing probably.

... Now I'm giving myself a headache.

[fionnuisce]

Alternate realities are very literally the last thing I want to think about right now, so let's halt this train of thought here.