May Event: Lost in Translation

[lifeaftr_mods]

MAY EVENT: LOST IN TRANSLATION

Who: Everyone!
What: Crash.
When: May 21st to May 30th
Where: Everywhere!
Warnings: Mark as needed!

I Have No Words
Feel free to use this post as an event catch-all for any misfires, island-wide broadcasts, or glitching Stone shenanigans you'd like your characters to get up to! Remember that the Stones of Farspeech do not currently have a texting feature...but that doesn't mean the screen they use to display Caller I.D. can't display text, on occasion. Bear in mind that this screen is small and therefore has limited display options.

If you have any questions, feel free to look over our OOC event post here, and ask any questions as needed!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[hyperlit]

Why should I?

[That's a bit more characteristic of the oozing, snarling Shadow that once haunted these shores, now, isn't it?]

[forwearemany]

Error: Mannerisms uncharacteristic of the Drifter.

(Shadow? They have recognized the similarities, though there is little evidence to suggest shadows have returned.

No similar entities encountered.

Uncertain.

Uncertain.

Location of Drifter necessary for certainty.)

We are trying to help you.

(Possibility: If shadows return, harm may have come to Ally: Drifter.

The shadow destroyed us.

Preparations recommended.)

[hyperlit]

One cannot help the dead.

[Bitterness, concentrated and slithered out like a drop of oil in water, thick and clouding.]

One can only pick over the bones, and bury what remains.

[forwearemany]

(Again, the whispers dissolve into a jumble; this time, the preveiling emotion is frustration.)

Perhaps. However, you are currently alive.

(Ally: Drifter has been shown to enjoy the exploration of new places.

Io.

Error! Search of Enso not complete!

But in that frustration lies ingenuity.)

You have stated this previously, and our response has not changed. You will not dissuade us.

(Search of Io likely faster than search of Enso.

Search of Enso incomplete.

It is more efficient to search Io first.

Io

Io

Consensus: we will seek Ally: Drifter on Io.

And so, finally, Legion abandons their fruitless search to actually look for the Drifter on the correct island.)

[hyperlit]

Am I? Or am I only in denial of the fact that I am, in all other respects, dead?

[Dead and in denial. Dying, but in slow motion. Refusing to accept it. Enduring it, despite all else, because what else are they good for?]

[The Drifter is, at least, on Io. This much is correctly inferred.]

[forwearemany]

(They search efficiently: briefly checking the temple and largely ignoring the nearby bathhouses, which they doubt would hold much interest for an individual who is both constantly covered in as much clothing as possible and also rejects the idea of self care.

Instead, unless they encounter the Drifter before then, they head for the tea gardens. The honeycomb is also promising, but likely to be difficult to search.)

Irrelevant: you are dead or you are not. Currently, you are not.

Your current attitude indicates not a denial of death but a denial of life.

(They have shunned attachment, ignored enjoyment, refused self care on the grounds that they are dying. They speak as though their existence holds no value.

They are wrong.)

[hyperlit]

An elementary understanding of death. I have died more times than should be possible, and yet, have woken to walk again. Does that truly make me living, or delaying what will one day come to collect?

[The Drifter is at the temple, currently, though doing what is unclear. Likely documenting the place as thoroughly as possible.]

[forwearemany]

(Ally: Drifter is here.

Ally: Drifter appears functional.

Ally: Drifter is likely unaware of stone malfunction.

Well, that was quick. After a moment, they approach, and try to get their attention.)

Drifter.

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter looks up at the interruption. They seem rather...]

[Well, it doesn't look they have the slightest idea of the conversation that's been occurring. Their greeting is calm and controlled and noncommittal as ever.]

hello

[forwearemany]

Your stone of farspeech is malfunctioning. Additionally, we have been given reason to believe you are experiencing emotional distress.

(Blunt as always.

They are concerned.)

[hyperlit]

[A tilt of their head to one side, slightly. Evidently, they were unaware of this. The Drifter retrieves their Stone and regards it flatly.]

no
appears normal

[The Stone chooses that particular moment to emit a loud, piercing scream, causing the Drifter's shoulders to jump slightly.]

[forwearemany]

(Their headflaps lift, but they otherwise aren't fazed by the screaming stone.)

Ours has been broadcasting communications between our programs: thoughts.

We have recieved multiple broadcasts from yours indicating grief, bitterness, loss.

It is possible others have recieved or will recieve these broadcasts.

[hyperlit]

[They stare at their Stone and then, very deliberately, drop it to the ground and step away from it.]

experiencing none of this currently

[Whether Legion chooses to believe this or not is up to them. But the Drifter does appear to be as unconcerned as one might expect them to be, roaming about a peaceful place such as this one.]

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

(They consider the uncharacteristicness of it, the voice of their shadow.

The Drifter is not open about their emotions. However, they appear to be "alright". It is possible that they are currently distracted and bringing up what they have learned will bring these feelings to the forefront. It is also possible that it was not true.

Regardless, they're learning not to press.)

Recommend avoiding all use of stones of farspeech until malfunctions have ceased.

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter stares at the Stone lying on the ground. To distance themself from it would be advisable, but there's no guarantee that they'll be able to recover it if they just...leave it.]

[They pick it up again, turn it over between gloved fingers, before glancing back up at Legion.]

find somewhere to leave it
your own functioning?

[forwearemany]

(They hold out their own stone, as it emits a jumble of whispers.

Ally: Drifter does not appear distressed.

Malfunction.

Malfunction.

Our perspective is audible.

We can communicate.

Malfunction.

They weren't kidding when they said it was broadcasting their thoughts, though they actually seem to enjoy this.)

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter contemplates Legion's stone for a moment longer. Their thoughts are, indeed, being broadcasted aloud - and while it sheds clarity on how Legion's thought processes transpire, it also feels like an innate violation of privacy. The Drifter lets their pack slide off their back and begins rummaging through it, only to retrieve a dusty strip of cloth.]

[It's the work of a few moments to rip it into strips and begin wrapping up their own stone. It's unknown if this will insulate it from their thoughts - but if it helps even the tiniest amount, they will consider it worth it.]

[forwearemany]

(The whispers briefly dissolve into chaos as they tilt their head in confusion.

Ally: Drifter does not wish to know our perspective?)

...Why?

[hyperlit]

keep it somewhere away

[Keep it buried somewhere. They will secrete it somewhere it can do no further damage, until this malfunction clears. Or if it does not...keep it there, indefinitely.]

[forwearemany]

...Acknowledged.

Privacy?

(It's a strange concept to them: no privacy in collective. Though there is information they do not readily share with non Geth, this is largely out of a desire to avoid hostilities, or to prevent organics using such knowledge against them.)

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter nods, once. They never execute more actions than are necessary, but there is an emphatic nature to the nod that underscores the importance behind the gesture.]

yes
do not wish to hear what should not

[forwearemany]

Though we understand if you wish to prevent broadcast of your own data and perspective, you are already aware of all information we did not wish to share outside of the collective.

[hyperlit]

are others

[The Drifter has overheard - but have others? Would Legion continue to be indifferent if, say, Shepard-Commander were to overhear?]

[forwearemany]

Much of our sensitive data has become known through events.

(The most humiliating experience of their life was put on display for all to see during a previous storytelling. Shepard-Commander encountered the agricultural unit.)

[hyperlit]

wish to limit

[The Drifter does, at least. If Legion had not heard what they had heard over the Stones, would they have come here at all, believing that the Drifter was experiencing distress?]