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we are the warriors who built this town
Unbitwise's characters in Datemate Dungeon
Permalink Mark Unread

He's getting too old for the business, and so he's selling off the equipment that won't be in use any more.

In the list are two spare weapons, built for magic but not quite there yet:

  • A wooden staff, decorated along its length with geometric inlay and carving. Both ends are clad in metal and contain a variety of fold-out gadgets (spear blade, grappling hook, etc.) — completely impractical to operate by hand in the middle of a fight, but that's not what they're meant for.
  • A gleaming silver gun with an unusually large barrel and extra plumbing of unclear purpose. It's aiming for the “esoteric ray-gun” look, but still designed practically to accept magazines of ordinary (though custom) bullets.
Permalink Mark Unread

Either their last dunj did something bizarre, or the have the unluckiest power set, because when they were trying to destroy the portal stone, Marian Yashagoro and his weapon Lianne Arrington merged.

It's a mess and a half especially since their magic stopped working - the Lianne body can still turn into a weapon but they do nothing in the Marian body's hand - and so now they're together, both in human form, looking for new weapons (half to check if either can still wield at all).

Two weapons, part of a historic set, sits well wth them, and luckily they both can wield now.

The Marian body takes the gun, leaving the staff to the Lianne body. They pay the seller a fair price, and then set out to practice.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's been a while since this body picked up a weapon - not since the old Marian had gotten his hands on the old Lianne, and even before that the old Lianne had been practicing weapons less and less since discovering she could turn into one. It hadn't made sense, really, to not specialize.

They're regretting that now, shoulders aching as they go through the motions with the staff. Magical weapons are always easier to wield, but Lianne's muscles don't seem to have gotten the memo.

Permalink Mark Unread

It's hardly an effort at all to grip the staff or let it slide through the fingers, and it really ought to feel heavier than it does, what with all the extra metal bits.

Permalink Mark Unread

Makes it convenient to wield, at least.

They gradually get into the motions, spinning and striking at imaginary opponents, muscle ache fading into something almost pleasant.

Permalink Mark Unread

The routine goes smoothly until they transition to a different drill and the staff — doesn't move on its own, exactly, but feels like it should be following the previous one. Rhythm is lost.


—oops?

Permalink Mark Unread

"...Hello?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Let's try that again!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Alright."

They do so. "Were you awake earlier?" they ask.

Permalink Mark Unread

It goes better this time.


Cheerfully: No!

Permalink Mark Unread

Repeating again, this time trying a bit more flair to the motions. Different weapons have different motion preferences - they remember learning that, and feeling it as a sword.

"Interesting. So you like this kata?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Flair, in general, is good. The staff lends an emphasis to the motion that wasn't there before. A feeling that if there was something there to be hit it would be hit well.

It's good! I don't know about others!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Let's try a few others, then. You appear to prefer dramatic gestures?"

Permalink Mark Unread

There's more to them. Maybe I'd like something else too!

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll try a variety of different motions and styles, then.

Permalink Mark Unread

Besides flair in general, the staff seems to like styles that involve crisp transitions, stopping and then moving again.

Permalink Mark Unread

They know a tremendous variety of styles, and after some thought they're able to modify the others to include more of what the staff likes.

Permalink Mark Unread

Then they will learn to move together well enough.

When are we going to do something for real?

Permalink Mark Unread

"Like an actual dunj? I would like to get an idea of fighting with you, first, but we can start keeping our ears open for reports of one nearby. I would also like to introduce you to my partner, see how the three of us work together."

"Also, do you have something you want me to call you? I'm Lianne."

Permalink Mark Unread

Not a serious fight, just not —

Pretending. Fighting thin air. Maybe practicing with your partner will be the thing.

I don't think I have a name already.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Most don't come with them, but I can list some, or we can find a names book. They make ones meant for weapons."

"A practice fight sounds good."

Permalink Mark Unread

Wordless general agreement.

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll track down their other self, then - they can still feel the other, more crystal clearly than they could as weapon and wielder.

Permalink Mark Unread

Marian is practicing with the gun when Lianne and the staff arrive.

"Did you need something?" they ask.

Permalink Mark Unread

"The staff seems to have awoken. Doesn't have a name, yet, but wanted to try a practice fight."

Permalink Mark Unread

Or something!

Permalink Mark Unread

They blink. 

They heard that, despite no hand on a weapon involved in the conversation - 

Testing: 'Can you hear me like this?'

Permalink Mark Unread

Yes! Hi!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Interesting. In the usual course of things, a wielder can only participate in such a conversation if they have their hand on a weapon, unless they have synced heavily..."

Permalink Mark Unread

Talking to both of you seems the same to me...

Permalink Mark Unread

They exchange a look with Lianne. "Fascinating. I wonder if we feel the same upon touching?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Let's find out?

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll walk up and touch the staff, then.

Permalink Mark Unread

You seem like the same person over again. Is that weird? It seems weird.

Permalink Mark Unread

"We had an interesting interaction when syncing - Lianne had been a weapon, and we'd been getting closer as we learned to work together. And then our memories spilled past the barrier, and I stopped being able to wield them. I suppose the adage 'a weapon cannot wield themselves' applies even here."

Permalink Mark Unread

I have no idea what any of that means, but let me know if I can help!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Typically as weapon and wielder grow to know one another, they develop synergistic powers. Usually this requires some level of personal compatibility. Our powers involved mental coordination and telepathy, which appears to have then gone too far. Weapons require wielders to use the majority of their abilities, such as shapeshifting and attacks. I was being sarcastic, in referring to us as the same person, and therefore incapable of wielding ourselves."

Permalink Mark Unread

I meant about, like, implications, but okay.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ah. I apologize. The implication mostly seems to have been an unusual interaction that seems unlikely to repeat. Perhaps also that Lianne and I will be able to wield you equally well, assuming you sync with us."

Permalink Mark Unread

I suppose. (Skepticism.) We were gonna do something?

Permalink Mark Unread

"I apologize. You'd wanted to practice sparring? Would you rather be wielded by Lianne or I?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Lianne, the staff says hastily.

One might get the impression that Marian did not make a good impression, even if they are in some weird magic sense the same person.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Alright. I'm fine with that. Staff versus staff sound good to you?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Sure.

What kind of attacks will we be meeting in a real fight?

Permalink Mark Unread

"It varies, a lot. Most monsters have short ranged attacks analogous to claws, teeth, or spiny tails. Some have weapons. A few even have ranged attacks."

Permalink Mark Unread

Don't think I can do much about ranged attacks.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Most weapons get a variety of magical powers - as a sword I managed projection abilities, attacking along the swing of my blade. Some ranged weapons get better at melee. But it is harder without magic."

Permalink Mark Unread

I'll do my best!

Permalink Mark Unread

"Now a good time to start, then?"

They nod to Marian, who goes to get a (nonmagical) staff.

Permalink Mark Unread

The wordless concept that moving is always better than sitting still.

Permalink Mark Unread

Then they'll start, slowly at first then speeding up - Lianne's body's less thoroughly trained, but they know each other, still have the same thoughts on attacks, and without magic it's an incredibly close match.

Permalink Mark Unread

Once in the rhythm of things they can block a little stronger, reach a little farther, swing a little faster — and revel in motion.

Permalink Mark Unread

They clearly enjoy fighting, too - it's a rush, both physically and mentally. Challenging, to try and adapt new strategies, and to fight a reflection of themselves.

Permalink Mark Unread

The staff has an opinion on how this fight should go and does its best to break the symmetry in Lianne's favor.

Permalink Mark Unread

They spin past Marian, dancing almost, striking out like a viper at their opponent.

Permalink Mark Unread

The motion shall be inevitable, the strike shall be true, the result — Marian's shoulder hit as they turn to respond.

Permalink Mark Unread

They get knocked back, off balance enough Lianne can pivot and slam the staff hard and fast against theirs, which sets them to rocking back on their heels. Lianne follows with a jab that forces them back if they don't want their head hit - 

Which is enough for them to fall.

They go to turn it into a roll, to recover and get back to their feet - 

Lianne's faster.

Permalink Mark Unread

Lianne's faster, and with Lianne the staff goes exactly where it should, and Marian is down and pinned, with the staff pressed across their body in an unyielding hold.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hah!" Lianne says, and accepts Marian's yield before helping them to their feet. "Thanks, staff! That was a big help."

Permalink Mark Unread

Any time!

Permalink Mark Unread

"You getting a feel for things?"

Permalink Mark Unread

These things! I'm sure there's lots more things in the world.

Permalink Mark Unread

"There are! I can try showing some of them to you, either as a weapon, or if you want to try taking human form?"

Permalink Mark Unread

Ooh, how does that work?

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll just bounce the mental sensation - having been a human who could turn into a weapon is similar enough.

Permalink Mark Unread

Okay, so —

Permalink Mark Unread

A human appears.

He's — wriggly. And bouncy. Look at all the movement he can do ALL BY HIMSELF.

Permalink Mark Unread

They laugh - not meanly, but in an excited-for-you way.

Permalink Mark Unread

Hmmm, how about — hug!

Permalink Mark Unread

That gets a squeak and then a hug back.

Permalink Mark Unread

“Thank you!”

He steps away and dances like he heard of the concept once.

Permalink Mark Unread

They laugh. Unfortunately, they're not a particularly good dancer, otherwise they'd offer to help.

Once he settles some: "Do you want me to show you around? I can explain some things like names more, if you'd like."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Sure!”

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll nod to Marian, then lead him through a different door - the area around the training rooms is pretty boring, and they're not taking him near (Marian's? Their?) labs yet, but they can explain and list example names while they walk.

It's a fairly minimalist place, but it's massive, and there doesn't currently seem to be anyone present except Lianne and Marian.

Permalink Mark Unread

Names seem kind of arbitrary. None of the examples sound like names he should have.

The architecture is interesting, though. Look at all this space you can walk, run, dance, or fight through!

Permalink Mark Unread

She laughs a bit. "Any idea of what you should have as a name?"

Permalink Mark Unread

“I'm me! don't know how to squeeze it into a word-sound!”

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's a very valid perspective! A lot of people just use names as a convenient person-reference, though - like, so if I'm addressing a crowd I can specify you. They're also required for personal documentation, which you'll need eventually..."

Permalink Mark Unread

This is his unenthusiastic face.

“So if I asked you to just pick something for me…?”

Permalink Mark Unread

"I mean I could? That's how humans get their names, our parents pick. You might be better served just finding some syllables you like and mashing them together..."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Maybe I'll think of something.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"No huge rush. You'll need one for documentation, but this area doesn't have time restrictions on when you need to get an ID."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Mm.”

He perks up some. “Can we go see some outdoors?”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure! There's the garden, or the woods around here - I always liked the woods more, but the garden's pretty neat, too."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Woods!”

Permalink Mark Unread

Woods it is!

There's walking trails through the woods, which Lianne has apparently been slowly clearing and working on over time, but there's also thinner deer paths. The largest path leads down to a little stream, well isolated from the house and surrounding buildings.

Permalink Mark Unread

Things he likes about the woods: open space! Non-flat terrain! The crunchy noises of leaves and sticks! The very distant sounds of the rest of the world! Trees!

Permalink Mark Unread

They like the woods a lot too! (When they were just Lianne it was a good chance to get away from Marian.)

They're in low mountains, so there's little ridges, and sometimes glimpses of a valley through the trees. A light breeze floats through the area. 

Permalink Mark Unread

He eventually sits on a convenient chunk of stone and sighs happily.

“There's so much” — handwave — “space!”

Permalink Mark Unread

"That's one really nice thing about living out here, yeah. I used to spend - a lot - of time cutting trails through here. I'll probably go back to that, once things are more... Settled."

Permalink Mark Unread

“I'd be happy to come along, either way, if you want,” he says tentatively.

Permalink Mark Unread

"With cutting trails?"

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure."

Permalink Mark Unread

"Hm. Not entirely sure I'll stick around - have I really explained what happened? Anyways, I used to be a weapon. Marian's. We had a weird interaction, and kind of merged. Before that... I didn't like him, and wasn't. Really cooperating. So it's weird. Remembering hating him, and being him. And now we're... Both kind of each other."

Permalink Mark Unread

 


“If you decide to leave I still want to come along. — Or maybe go do my own thing, I don't know.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"I can help you with either. Get you set up, get you your documents..."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Yeah.”


“Names…”

Permalink Mark Unread

"We don't need to rush on that, but - you should decide maybe in the next week?"

Permalink Mark Unread

“Find me something that means ‘lost in the woods’. Or ‘lost in the wood’,” making a vague staff-wielding gesture.

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'll have to think, hm. We could probably put together something - I know some last names mean 'wood'. I'd have to look at a naming site for 'lost' though."

Permalink Mark Unread

“It's a vague notion!” he says amicably.

He stands up from the rock.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Ready to head back, or do you want to explore more?"

Permalink Mark Unread

 

He has to stop and think. Or rather, pace and think.

“I want to — do something,” he finally says. “Doesn't have to be getting in a fight like I thought earlier. But not wandering.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Any ideas on what?"

Permalink Mark Unread

“Something that — matters? No, that's not quite —

Something that's a goal, not just walking around. A destination, a project.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"I get you on that. Sitting around here... It's bad, a lot. For projects - we can try closing dunjes, though that often feels like pushing against a tide. Maybe we'll be able to get an angle on what's causing them. I know Marian was researching that."

Permalink Mark Unread

“— I meant about where I'm heading within the next minute, but all that's good too.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"We can go look through name websites? I'm not sure there's much else to do short term - I don't like rushing bonding, though that's technically possible..."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Bonding?”

These all sound like going back indoors activities so he starts that way.

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll walk along.

"Weapons and wielders get more effective if they know each other well. More powers, better at the existing powers. Liking each other helps, but... isn't required. Learning each others' personalities outside combat is in a way more important? It seems connected to improved outcomes at least..."

Permalink Mark Unread

“So — basically we practice all sorts of things together, not just fighting?”

Walking the same path is boring so he's taking detours onto every rock, fallen branch, or other non-flat ground that is plausibly on their route.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Somewhat. Also involves getting to know each others' likes, dislikes, tastes, style... Enough you'd recognize me versus a pretender, is the general gist."

Permalink Mark Unread

“That sounds uncomfortable to rush.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Some people try anyways."

Permalink Mark Unread

“I don't even know what my style is yet!”

It does include trying to walk balancing on fallen tree branches even when they are small enough to roll around and squish into the ground.

Permalink Mark Unread

"That does complicate things! It's important to get to know yourself, first."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Got any advice there?”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Try things out? I've been trying to figure out my new self since - a thing. Reading different types of books, watching different shows, doing different exercises..."

Permalink Mark Unread

“I am definitely up for trying things.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"The house doesn't have as many things to try as some places, but it has some. And we can do to an arcade or something later - it'd be nice to get out of the house some."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Sounds good!”

Permalink Mark Unread

Then they'll lead the way back to the house, to introduce him first to multiplayer video games.

Permalink Mark Unread

That sure is a collection of stuff that he has no idea what any of it does or how to interact with it!

His attention is, of course, caught by the large square mat.

Permalink Mark Unread

They'll explain the DDR mat, what the game is, and pick out one of the ones with a good tutorial mode, then.

Permalink Mark Unread

He takes to this activity with great enthusiasm! But does not yet have the skill of accurately reading fast-moving graphics on a screen, and this business where the directions are laid out in a row unlike how they are in reality is weird. So it's not very high-scoring enthusiasm.

Permalink Mark Unread

That's fine! The basic levels are really slow, so it's a gentle learning curve.

Permalink Mark Unread

Once they get tired of that, Lianne moves them both to Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, which is a fairly slow and easy beat-a-dungeon-together game, especially in the starting area.

Permalink Mark Unread

This is cool and reasonably absorbing but much less Definitely His Thing.

Permalink Mark Unread

Then they can move on to a game where it tracks the movement of your controller as you move through a fantasy setting - you can play a wizard and wave it as a wand, a warrior and use it as a sword, a marksman and point it...

Permalink Mark Unread

Hmm, this game might be trying too hard. Or he's just had enough video games for today. Not sure.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Want to take a break and do something else?" they'll ask when they notice his attention wandering.

Permalink Mark Unread

Oh, his attention wanders all the time, but.

“Mm?”

Permalink Mark Unread

They shrug. "I'm not good at entertaining other people, really," they'll admit. "But, hm, there's stuff to watch, books, I have some art things..."

Permalink Mark Unread

He considers these options.

“Books? I could learn about things? Or, what would you do if you weren't out to 'entertain me'?”

Permalink Mark Unread

"I'm not good at focusing to read, but I remember some books - on my own I usually spend time drawing, or exercising, or watching anime."

Permalink Mark Unread

He considers these things for a moment.

“Let's see the books!”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Sure!"

And they'll lead the way to the library. It's mostly nonfiction reference manuals, with a heavy focus on biology of humans and the physiology of weapons. Still, there's a small section of science fiction novels, and some nonfiction books that don't assume you have a medical degree.

Permalink Mark Unread

 

“Okay, so the reality of books may be more complicated than the concept.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Heh. I think Marian's just a nerd, most library and all books are easier than this - actually if you want to swing by a library, I don't mind getting out of here."

Permalink Mark Unread

“I was thinking it's probably worth trying anyway, but the library sounds like a better idea. Assuming a library is in fact a place with books of all sorts including introductions for people who don't know anything about anything, something, in particular.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"It is! And the one we're near's pretty big."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Let's go!”

Permalink Mark Unread

They can head to the car then. Lianne will explain libraries - and the distinction between public and university libraries. There's a university library Marian could get them into, but the public library is more likely to have what they're looking for.

The library's fairly close - despite how secluded Marian's place is, it's actually fairly close to a major road, which feeds into a college town nested in the valley.

Permalink Mark Unread

He is distracted through this explanation by the experience of being in a motor vehicle!

Permalink Mark Unread

They're fine repeating it, and know a lot more about motor vehicles than about libraries, so can answer questions there, too - they're no licensed mechanic, of course, but they have a good grounding.

Permalink Mark Unread

The possibility of driving may make him less unenthusiastic about the prerequisites for interacting with government and whatnot. Anyway, there was a library?

Permalink Mark Unread

Library!

It's two stories, and has a fantastical sort of woodland cottage architecture, and the walls are decorated with woodland mythical scenes. The first floor has fiction, plus a fairly big children's section, and a few kids quietly reading in nooks there, and a row of computers, and large desks that're popular for group writing events, and meeting rooms for group projects. The nonfiction, including the guides for weapons who're new to being fully awake, is on the second floor. (If he ends up disliking reading, everything geared towards weapons is available as an audiobook, too.)

Permalink Mark Unread

He approves of this library's theme.

He will read the regular text version of a guide without apparent trouble, at a fairly quick pace. What do guidebook authors think new weapons probably need to know?

Permalink Mark Unread

There's different guides, but the very basic guides lay out that weapons wake with different knowledge levels, and different amounts in different fields, so the most important things to know are really common and major laws ("wait that wasn't free?" is sometimes a problem with new weapons), how money works, where to go and how to interface with the government, how to navigate buses and road crosswalks and taxis, how to tell if a neighborhood is likely to be safe or unsafe... It also says some weapons have trouble telling what's safe to eat, but that's beyond the scope of this guide.

Plus how weapons work - you can revert to your natural shape without the help of a wielder, but changing from your natural shape requires aid. Make sure you trust your wielder! Weapons don't need to sleep, not like humans do, but you'll start having trouble forming new memories if you don't sleep at least a few hours every week. And sleep's often recreational - for some reason, weapons don't tend to have nightmares like humans do. Most weapons can half-sleep, going into a meditative trance that they can easily rise out of.

Permalink Mark Unread

He has several thoughts on this education! One of them is: that sure is a bunch of rules to substitute for being nice to each other. Another: It hadn't quite sunk in just how much — he thinks he can trust Lianne, but it itches to know that his newly-discovered freedom to act is dependent on another person.

There are things that can help with that. “You mentioned books of names?”

Permalink Mark Unread

They look up from their book. "Yeah. Not super sure where they'll be, but librarian should be able to help, or we can get on the computers and look for a name site."

Permalink Mark Unread

Hmm, this seems like a good opportunity to try interacting with another person. He gets up with his mostly finished book and looks for plausible librarians.

Permalink Mark Unread

There's someone reshelving books, and two someones behind an official looking desk, one working on a computer a bit in the back and one standing at the customer service part, also on a computer.

Permalink Mark Unread

He approaches the one that looks the most outward-facing and unbusy.

Permalink Mark Unread

She glances over at him and smiles. "Can I help you young man?" she asks.

Permalink Mark Unread

“Well, I'm looking for — a name,” holding up the book he's been reading indicatively.

Permalink Mark Unread

"For yourself?"

Permalink Mark Unread

“Yes, and it seems like names are just made up and not at the same time and I don't know how to get one that's right for me, and Lianne says there are books or sites of names that we could look at.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"A lot of people do string together sounds they like, or name themselves or their children after someone. Meanings are another very good way. I can get you set up with a reputable site, and show you how to use the search functions?"

Permalink Mark Unread

“That sounds great!”

Permalink Mark Unread

She leads him over to the computer bank, walks him through turning on the computer, logging into the guest account, checking the internet's connected, opening a browser... And then searching for sound, or syllable pattern, or meaning of the names.

Permalink Mark Unread

He spends some time unskillfully searching. And browsing. And typing combinations of letters into the search box and finding they are already used in ways that just don't fit.

Eventually he gets up and goes back up to where Lianne is reading. “— if I decide I want a different name can I change later?”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Oh, yeah, definitely - it can be a bit of a pain if you've used the old name a bunch of places, because you have to update it everywhere, but name changes are possible."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Okay.” Deep breath. “So call me Jonathan. For now.”

Then he can nervously ramble about how he didn't really find anything good, but there was this one and but it was Korean and it seems like you don't do that so he took some of the sound and …

Permalink Mark Unread

They listen. "Jonathan's not a bad name. And names don't really have to have meaning, if you want to just string syllables together eventually."

Permalink Mark Unread

“Yeah. Just. It will do.”

He sits down, pauses like he is thinking about saying something, then just looks in the guidebook for the parts about legal identities and things you can do with one, like operating motor vehicles.

Permalink Mark Unread

This one has a very abridged list. Credit cards, buying some controlled substances, airplanes, and driving are the main ones listed. It mentions there's a lot more, though, but not really where to find this information.

Permalink Mark Unread

Perhaps one of the books on the shelves where he got this one will be more in this direction.

Permalink Mark Unread

There doesn't seem to be any books themed after that, and the other surface-level guides don't have a comprehensive list, or often a list at all.

Permalink Mark Unread

Well, he could ask Lianne. But while he's looking he might as well grab another book anyway. What sorts of subjects are For Weapons? (Not that the rest of accumulated human knowledge isn't potentially interesting.)

Permalink Mark Unread

The guides for weapons are in the same section as nonfiction about weapons, though they are on different shelves within that section.

Laws around dunjes, laws around false imprisonment with the sections relevant to weapons focused on most strongly, a guide to tests to establish what your random background knowledge is and to getting your education up to at least GED levels, a self help book for developing better relationships, biographies of famous weapons...

Permalink Mark Unread

He is definitely not going to read all of these today but he will take the ones about better relationships, about knowledge tests, and about laws about dunjes, back to their table.

Permalink Mark Unread

"Find anything good?" Lianne asks.

Permalink Mark Unread

“Got to read them to find out, right? But I was actually looking for, like, what do I do with an ‘identity’, or need to do, once I have one. None of these is really about that but they looked maybe useful.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"I can explain at least some of that, too - I think that's usually something people just learn from each other, though there's online lists."

Permalink Mark Unread

He stacks the not-yet-opened books on the table a little to the side, with the one about knowledge tests on top, and attempts to look attentive. (It's a pretty fidgety attentive.)

Permalink Mark Unread

"Travel is a big one - you need a legal identity to drive a car, or get on a plane, or cross international borders. You also need a legal identity for money - to open a bank account, or get a credit or debit card, or for most jobs. Your own housing requires both an identity and a lot of money, whether you're renting or buying. Health insurance in case you get injured also needs an identity. If you didn't want to travel under your own power, you could live with someone else as a guest, and only take jobs that pay cash, and mostly just hope you don't get injured badly. It's definitely possible to manage like that, just - often hard."

Permalink Mark Unread

 

“I think,” he says tentatively, “I want to get my identity soon.”

Permalink Mark Unread

"Well, I can help. I haven't heard citizenization is hard for weapons here..."

Permalink Mark Unread

“— feeling like ‘let's get that done now’ but also like we just got here.” He looks at the contents of the table (not to be confused with tables of contents). Does Lianne seem also occupied with books, or more just waiting around for him?

Permalink Mark Unread

Lianne seems to have gotten a lot of books and then gotten bored with them fairly quickly.

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“But we can take these back—.” (“Back home” is an idiom, says the knowledge of English he started with, but it doesn't feel right to put it that way.)

“What do you think?”

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"Yeah, I can check them out." Though that'll mean being near Marian sooner. "Let's do that, how about?"

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“Okay!” He picks up the books. And has a thought about the new things he has learned about society. “Is this a weekday, will the office be open?”

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"It's a weekday, so they should be."

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And then they set to selecting which books they want to check out, which they want to re-shelve. Does Jonathan want to check anything out?

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Yes, he will take all of this pile and jog back to the shelves for another. It seems plausible he will have time to read them at some point.

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The library does have only a two-week lending period, but you can renew each book up to twice. Still, if he hasn't read them in six weeks, he will have to return them.

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Six weeks! That's a really long time!

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They laugh. "It doesn't seem so long to me, but I'm a slow reader."

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(The narration would like to note that he's existed for not even one entire day.)

Anyway, they can now go check out these four books and however many Lianne has, yes?

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Yes. (Lianne puts all the books on their own card, since Jonathan doesn't have a legal identity with which to get a card and you can only get two books on a new card anyways.)

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He was sitting and reading and that was okay because he learned things now he is WALKING and then they can go back to the CAR and GO PLACES.

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To the social security office! It is very boring but fortunately there is a separate, decently quick queue for new weapons. (Lianne explains everything that's going on.)

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Queueing okay but look at all these people doing people things! Boring ones, apparently!

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There are people reading on their phones, or texting, or watching videos or listening to music or playing games with their headphones in. One person has a sketchbook. One person appears to be asleep with his eyes open. Two people have normal books, and one's complaining about not bringing anything to do.

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He will watch the people doing things!

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There seem to be different lines. How long each queue is is entirely unclear. There's no real correspondence between numbers and order. They're E987 - line E, number 987 - but 36 goes and then 1065 goes and then 467 goes...

(Lianne politely tells him not to stare at people.)

Eventually they'll get called, though!

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(“Uh okay,” in the tone of someone who doesn't quite get what that means exactly.)

Then they should go up to the counter where their number is, presumably? He doesn't, like, have a form to hand in like some of the other people have been doing so he will look to Lianne for leading the interaction.

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They appear to be one of the broader receptionist buckets, so will get their forms here! There's a few bored questions to determine what forms they'll even need.

And then they can go back to waiting.

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Waiting! He tries to (quietly) get clarification from Lianne about what constitutes staring and when, because obviously people don't just avert their eyes from all other people all the time.

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Lianne helps him with the paperwork, and they're pretty good at defining how long of an interval it is before you're Definitely Staring.

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He writes like someone who knows what the shapes of letters are and is good with his hands, but has never had reason to combine these skills before.

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Eh, as long as it's legible...

They get called up eventually, and Jonathan has to answer questions about his name, spelling of his name, current residence, current plans (despite this having been in the paperwork), get his picture taken, and then get a packet of information. His identification cards will be mailed to the address listed here in one to four weeks. He can have a printed out piece of paper that will suffice until then as proof he came to the office.

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Oh good, they're done and they can leave. Four weeks‽ Sigh.

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"Yeah, government offices are like that," they say on the way back to the car. 

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“I guess four weeks isn't much in a lifetime.”

They can not only go to the car, but get in to the car and … go where?

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Lianne's of the opinion it's food time, and they should go out to eat! Is Jonathan craving anything, or does anything from this list of nearby food places sound interesting?

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Oh! Food! That is a thing! Yes! Definitely!

He doesn't know things about food so they should go try whatever.

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They laugh. A buffet with a wide range of options, maybe... A lot of buffets trend towards mediocre but there's a good Indian one nearby.

Onwards! To food!

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Onwards!

“What makes food Indian?”

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"Usually being food from the Indian subcontinent, or invented by people of that culture. India's a rather large nation, with its own food traditions."

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Well he meant to ask about what the food was like, but —

“What's a subcontinent?”

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They explain basic macro-geography!

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His questions on the topic meander to terrains and climates, and the challenges of exploring or living in them.

Buffet?

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Buffet!

It's pretty good. The spicy food is clearly labeled, and Lianne explains the concept of 'spicy' and suggests he not get too much of that to start. There is a lot of vegetarian food, and three styles of rice, and naan, and a lot of assorted variations on the theme of 'vegetables and/or cheese and/or meat in sauce.'

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Okay so buffet means he can try EVERYTHING. Whoo okay that's what spicy is. He will still try some of everything though. Most of everything goes well on top of rice.

“This is great!”

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"I'm glad you think so!" They're being not quite as adventurous with their meal, but they do already know what they like, so.

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The food does not occupy quite his entire attention. There is also looking the decor and watching the other patrons. And Lianne.

(But if she wants to have a conversation over lunch, like lots of other people are doing, she will have to start it because he doesn't have any ideas.)

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They mostly ask about whether he feels like he's settling in okay, but they don't seem inclined to really chat over meals.

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Then he will have occasional questions about the food and the things and people in general.

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Which they answer in pretty good detail.

After food: "Do you want to just head back to the house, now?"

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He considers this question.

“I don't — want to do something else, I guess? And we've been doing things for me and let's do what you want, now, anyway.”

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"Alright. There's a history museum I'd like to go to, lately. They got a new exhibit in, so now's as good a time as any."

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He pauses like something about this answer was surprising, but says, “Okay!” cheerfully enough.

Now how do they leave a restaurant?

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Lianne gets the server's attention, gets the ticket, explains to Jonathan what they're doing as they pay, and also explains how to tell the value of cash and how to leave a tip.

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Okay, that is a lot of things but he will try to learn them! He hopes he does not have to do them by himself soon!

Then they can go to the car and go more places! He seems a bit preoccupied though.

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They linger out and eventually end up taking him to an early dinner - but it is, eventually, time to return to the house.

Lianne seems a bit reluctant at the idea.

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“Would you mind, or prefer, if I turned back for this?” he says, after it's clear they're both dawdling. “I think it'd be good for…” he trails off.

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"I don't mind. Not at all."

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Then he can offer them his hand and shift into being held by theirs.

He doesn't use words but if he did they might be: ‘I am at your back and in your hand.’

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They smile fondly down at him.

"Well, guess it's time to go."

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Then, deep breath, and they head home.

Marian doesn't seem to be around at the moment.

"Do you want to stay as a weapon for a while?" they ask.

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I don't mind either way. But this is — easier to wait.

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"Yeah, I get what you mean. It's - time glides, a bit, in weapon form."

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It'd be terrible if it didn't!

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"Yeah. Especially if your wielder's an ass..."

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Vaguely uncomfortable agreement.

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" - Sorry."