[Within an hour of this conversation concluding comes this 8-part text message:]
Interesting thing happened. Additional 11 months memory now mine. Thought it was a bit much, Friday was useless so I spoke to the captain. Going to try and write down everything before I forget. The me that's here gained memories from the me that was then. I know. It makes sense if you say it aloud. Versions of me not stuck on ship = different moments on the timeline = other versions of self Asked what I am, I am me but also not me. So hello from a Different Skulduggery. (1/8)
Reference made: Highlander. Never watched it, the commercial was stupid. (2/8)
Physical differences unaccounted for, as in, he does not know how I was physically altered. He has no idea what happened to me really, even though this is HIS SHIP. (3/8)
You want to know how to talk to him? He avoids answering questions he doesn't know the answer to. When he starts to talk in circles you know you've found a corner. Back him in. Always ask exactly what you want the answer to. Otherwise, the runaround. Direct. No commentary. One question at a time. (4/8)
Research. We're all kindling for the flames of knowledge, but it isn't just apotheosis. Remembering correctly: tested thousands of ascension rituals but none fit purpose. Purpose??? Repeated again desire to know what he is. Other purpose??? Possible. Again with the circles. My gut says this is about freedom of will but my gut is also 451 years rotted away so! Take it with a grain of salt. (5/8)
"All that exists will always exist." The things that happened to me have happened, will happen, are happening. He knows our timelines and our various selves on that timeline are capable of being brought here and ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? What happens THEN? Always missing the forest for the trees. (6/8)
Can't remember it all. Time has passed and I am not myself. Thinking in the future I'll record him. 🔉🔉🔉🔉💥💥💥💥 No! Can't. Audio blows out the phone speakers. Can't write down in front of him either. He'll mock me. Do you know how frustrating it is to be mocked by that man? Worse yet to be mocked and still have to admit that he's right? "I'm always right" 🙄😒🤮 (7/8)
I don't know. I'm going on vacation. I have sent this exact message to the following people: Jade Palamedes Natsuno You three can work it out without me. Have fun. I've got books to read and karaoke to sing. (8/8)
[You know, Jade's morning had been going perfectly boringly before now--to follow the equally bizarrely boring week they'd all collectively spent in a camp, a couple of days ago. Staying on overt edge for an entire week at that time had ultimately been unsustainable, but Jade's still been low-key waiting for the other shoe to drop ever since their return to the ship as well. Everything's just been too peaceful, of late, after the stark disruption the battle royale had been...
But, well. Still. He hadn't exactly expected that second shoe to appear in quite this sort of way?
Jade keeps his phone on his person most days, believe it or not--cognizant of its highly useful function, where instantaneous long-distance communication might be concerned, an utterly invaluable thing to have in emergency situations that he still expects to manifest when least wanted or expected. It sits in an inner pocket of his uniform coat, and every now and then it buzzes a bit when it receives a message--as it does this morning, while he's out and about on a bit of a routine walk about the ship. ...And it buzzes again. And again. And--
Well, watching the messages flood in all at once by the time he actually pulls out his phone sure is a strange thing to say the least. Clearly labeled as being from Skulduggery, and yet...the contents. Oh, the contents. Jade finds himself eventually having to take a seat at one of the tables along the Promenade just to read through it all properly...and it takes several re-reads after that, before he can begin to actually parse what he's actually looking at here. "Interesting thing happened"...
Eleven months of...new memories? 'Selfs' from 'other timelines'? ...There are physical differences, too? And the captain doesn't know how, either? Actually, there are several bits about the captain here, but--as context continues to be absorbed in fragments, and the hints at Skulduggery's current state become more plain, Jade does find himself prioritizing that particular batch of information first. (Funny, it's not the kind of prioritization he would have done even a year ago...prioritization of friends. But nowadays...) For a long while Jade simply sits at his table and frowns at his phone...more specifically, at the last string of words topping off the entirety of this message. Which are rather...hmmm.
The don't find me or bother me implications are pretty plain, there. But that just won't do--after all, how else is Jade supposed to assess his actual wellbeing, or ask the multitude of questions already starting to promptly pile up in thought?]
Working things out without a primary source seems a little backwards, I daresay!
Not that I'm about to begrudge anyone a sudden need for a vacation. But I don't suppose we could perhaps receive an estimate, as to when you'll have your full fill of books read and songs sung?
[Skulduggery, currently in the midst of the first kind bout of dissociation all day, gets halfway through his faux-automated message before he decides that Jade's request is sensible enough. It's perfectly reasonable to want an ETA. All good vacations have an end date, after all, and while this one is in a state of flux at the moment, he can at least estimate...
See? This is why he picked Jade in the first place: somebody ought to be sensible about things in his absence.]
AUTOMATED MESSAGE: The user you have contacted is currently on vacation and will return in a week. No. 2 weeks. If it happens again, 4 weeks.
You can talk to the captain as a primary source. Just don't play games with him. Actually, you can play games with him, just make sure you know what you're risking. (Helpful advice: he almost certainly always picks rock.)
[Automated messages as a concept don't exist where Jade's from--not in this particular sort of format, anyway. But the term is at least self-explanatory, which...makes the message actually attached to it that much more...well.]
You know, I wasn't aware these phones could automate responses with this sort of precision! Why, it's almost as if there's a person on the other end actually responding, or something! This fontech truly is something else.
[But, you know, anyway. The answer in itself considered. ...Two to four weeks, is it? Jade's opinion on this timeframe is promptly ranging from "Oh, so it's THAT bad" to "Well that's simply far too long"--not that he doesn't appreciate getting an ETA at all, but still. The line about the captain actually brings out an audible sigh aloud, though at least there's nobody near to hear it.]
I really don't have any interest in playing games with the captain whatsoever, I must confess...but the advice is appreciated, all the same. [Even if he has......no idea what 'picking rock' is even supposed to be referring to?? Another question to add to the list, really. But for now.] At any rate, do enjoy your vacation! ♥ May it be a long and relaxing reprieve, on these highly relaxing ship premises. Rest assured, I won't be actively seeking you out, so no need for concern there 😊😊😊
[Most unfortunately for Skulduggery, of course, that's basically an outright lie--though technicalities can be exploited in all sorts of ways. Singing and reading, hm.......?
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come_sailaway
[text] 2 days after the end of camping
Interesting thing happened. Additional 11 months memory now mine.
Thought it was a bit much, Friday was useless so I spoke to the captain.
Going to try and write down everything before I forget.
The me that's here gained memories from the me that was then.
I know. It makes sense if you say it aloud.
Versions of me not stuck on ship = different moments on the timeline = other versions of self
Asked what I am, I am me but also not me. So hello from a Different Skulduggery. (1/8)
Reference made: Highlander. Never watched it, the commercial was stupid. (2/8)
Physical differences unaccounted for, as in, he does not know how I was physically altered.
He has no idea what happened to me really, even though this is HIS SHIP. (3/8)
You want to know how to talk to him?
He avoids answering questions he doesn't know the answer to. When he starts to talk in circles you know you've found a corner. Back him in.
Always ask exactly what you want the answer to. Otherwise, the runaround.
Direct. No commentary. One question at a time. (4/8)
Research. We're all kindling for the flames of knowledge, but it isn't just apotheosis.
Remembering correctly: tested thousands of ascension rituals but none fit purpose. Purpose??? Repeated again desire to know what he is.
Other purpose??? Possible. Again with the circles.
My gut says this is about freedom of will but my gut is also 451 years rotted away so!
Take it with a grain of salt. (5/8)
"All that exists will always exist." The things that happened to me have happened, will happen, are happening.
He knows our timelines and our various selves on that timeline are capable of being brought here and ???? ???? ???? ???? ????
What happens THEN? Always missing the forest for the trees. (6/8)
Can't remember it all. Time has passed and I am not myself.
Thinking in the future I'll record him.
🔉🔉🔉🔉💥💥💥💥
No! Can't. Audio blows out the phone speakers.
Can't write down in front of him either. He'll mock me.
Do you know how frustrating it is to be mocked by that man?
Worse yet to be mocked and still have to admit that he's right?
"I'm always right"
🙄😒🤮 (7/8)
I don't know. I'm going on vacation.
I have sent this exact message to the following people:
Jade Palamedes Natsuno
You three can work it out without me. Have fun.
I've got books to read and karaoke to sing. (8/8)
1/2
2/2
But, well. Still. He hadn't exactly expected that second shoe to appear in quite this sort of way?
Jade keeps his phone on his person most days, believe it or not--cognizant of its highly useful function, where instantaneous long-distance communication might be concerned, an utterly invaluable thing to have in emergency situations that he still expects to manifest when least wanted or expected. It sits in an inner pocket of his uniform coat, and every now and then it buzzes a bit when it receives a message--as it does this morning, while he's out and about on a bit of a routine walk about the ship. ...And it buzzes again. And again. And--
Well, watching the messages flood in all at once by the time he actually pulls out his phone sure is a strange thing to say the least. Clearly labeled as being from Skulduggery, and yet...the contents. Oh, the contents. Jade finds himself eventually having to take a seat at one of the tables along the Promenade just to read through it all properly...and it takes several re-reads after that, before he can begin to actually parse what he's actually looking at here. "Interesting thing happened"...
Eleven months of...new memories? 'Selfs' from 'other timelines'? ...There are physical differences, too? And the captain doesn't know how, either? Actually, there are several bits about the captain here, but--as context continues to be absorbed in fragments, and the hints at Skulduggery's current state become more plain, Jade does find himself prioritizing that particular batch of information first. (Funny, it's not the kind of prioritization he would have done even a year ago...prioritization of friends. But nowadays...) For a long while Jade simply sits at his table and frowns at his phone...more specifically, at the last string of words topping off the entirety of this message. Which are rather...hmmm.
The don't find me or bother me implications are pretty plain, there. But that just won't do--after all, how else is Jade supposed to assess his actual wellbeing, or ask the multitude of questions already starting to promptly pile up in thought?]
Working things out without a primary source seems a little backwards, I daresay!
Not that I'm about to begrudge anyone a sudden need for a vacation. But I don't suppose we could perhaps receive an estimate, as to when you'll have your full fill of books read and songs sung?
no subject
See? This is why he picked Jade in the first place: somebody ought to be sensible about things in his absence.]
AUTOMATED MESSAGE: The user you have contacted is currently on vacation and will return in a week. No. 2 weeks. If it happens again, 4 weeks.
You can talk to the captain as a primary source. Just don't play games with him.
Actually, you can play games with him, just make sure you know what you're risking.
(Helpful advice: he almost certainly always picks rock.)
no subject
You know, I wasn't aware these phones could automate responses with this sort of precision! Why, it's almost as if there's a person on the other end actually responding, or something! This fontech truly is something else.
[But, you know, anyway. The answer in itself considered. ...Two to four weeks, is it? Jade's opinion on this timeframe is promptly ranging from "Oh, so it's THAT bad" to "Well that's simply far too long"--not that he doesn't appreciate getting an ETA at all, but still. The line about the captain actually brings out an audible sigh aloud, though at least there's nobody near to hear it.]
I really don't have any interest in playing games with the captain whatsoever, I must confess...but the advice is appreciated, all the same. [Even if he has......no idea what 'picking rock' is even supposed to be referring to?? Another question to add to the list, really. But for now.] At any rate, do enjoy your vacation! ♥ May it be a long and relaxing reprieve, on these highly relaxing ship premises. Rest assured, I won't be actively seeking you out, so no need for concern there 😊😊😊
[Most unfortunately for Skulduggery, of course, that's basically an outright lie--though technicalities can be exploited in all sorts of ways. Singing and reading, hm.......?
It has been a little while since he last properly perused the library, now he thinks about it. Perhaps today is as good a day as any.]