i_speak_softly | Forty-Second Theory [Voice/Action for Housemates]

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Forty-Second Theory [Voice/Action for Housemates]

[Don is feeling a little claustrophobic today. The number of vehicles he has stashed in his workroom has increased to five over the past week, and he's running out of room to build more. He'd been hoping that the wet, overcast weather would break so he could take his work outside, but that didn't exactly pan out. It is sunny today, but it's also unseasonably cold.]

[Determined to continue his work anyway, Don has shoved all the furniture out of the way and set up camp in the living room, surrounded by a mass of lightweight canvas and metal struts. Hang-glider Number Four is now Under Construction.]

[It's been quite some time since he asked a general question over the journals, so he decides to do so now. Companionable conversation is just what he needs to make the repetitive work go faster.]

If you had access to Shifting technology, and could change something about the world - what would you do? How long would you make it last?

[He also has some things he wants to talk about with Mike and Master Splinter - separately, that is. If they don't stop by while he's working, he'll be looking for them later.]

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[That smile is so ridiculously endearing.]

If I am not mistaken, there are apparently teleporters that... somehow work to take villagers there quite easily.

The technology behind those teleporters seems fascinating. I wonder if those who built them would be willing to elaborate on their possible usage?

There are.

I once talked to someone who wanted me to test his teleporter, but then I never heard from him again.

That would make the journey quite simple then. ... Well, at least that specific part of it, anyway.

And... it is likely that the person was sent home... That seems to happen here fairly often. [There's a slight frown that twists Robert's features just a moment at that. He does not want to think of the possibility...]

I don't know; the teleporter did get finished.

[He is carefully not thinking of it.]

[Robert can't prevent himself from thinking about things. That's how he got himself into the whole dream mess to begin with.]

... Well, that is true.

At any rate, that is one method we could use. And, ostensibly, it could also be a shortcut to the mountains themselves...

[He smiles, but at his work this time.]

I wouldn't ask you to walk that far.

It's not as if there exist other simpler methods to traverse the mountains at present though...

Or perhaps there are. [Maybe a check of the village is in order...] And the journey doesn't need to be done all in one sitting.

Ostensibly, anyway. I... am not knowledgeable in this fashion at all.

Not that I know of.

Did you say your world had teleporters?

Transporters, but they are... not the sort of thing one would use for short-distance transportation. Far too much energy is necessary to justify that sort of expenditure.

This is why I am curious to see how the teleporters here are supposed to work. Perhaps there is a method of reducing energy costs enough to make it feasible for short-distance...

Right, of course.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if something about the Shifting here made it possible to access reserves of energy above and beyond the usual laws of thermodynamics.

In all honesty, neither would I. Though it may also be a case of those parameters differing somehow in Luceti...

[Robert makes a small sound of half-annoyance, half-curiosity.] Luceti consistently manages to upend my expectations about almost anything.

But at the same time, I would like to study it better...

It's a learning experience. [Ever the optimist.] If only it were more learning and less experience. [Sort of.]

[Robert may not exactly be optimistic but he's at least willing to give things a cursory inspection.]

Indeed. Or more controllable, or more reproducible... things that actual science would comprise of. The Malnosso appear to be less like scientists and more like fanatics with access to scientific tools.

[He sighs, and adds in a more uncomfortable way:] ... What is the biggest pity is that their technology and rhetoric are clearly quite advanced... and yet they squander it.

Not entirely unexpected from barbarians, but a shame nonetheless.

Mm-hmm.

Hold on a second. [He reaches over and flips off the voice function on the journal, but leaves the video. In a minute Robert will be treated to the strange sight of Don silently welding the glider's steering frame to the wing supports.]

[And Robert watches with an air of extreme interest and admiration. It is not often he gets to watch his genius turtle boyfriend at work, and the sight is very much appreciated.

The glider looks quite incredible too, as well, all things considered.]

[Don flips the voice function back on, popping some home-made turtle earplugs out of his ears.]

Sorry, what were you saying?

... Ah, I had not said anything. I was merely admiring your handiwork.

It is amazing to truly see your genius in action. [Don't mind Robert, Don. He's just gushing.]

I daresay that you and Mr. Japan together could produce technological works of art even in a place like this.

[It's just a hang-glider. Purely mechanical.]

Mr. Japan? [It sounds like a ridiculous fake name.]

He is... a very unique being. Apparently, he is a physical representation of the country of Japan. I have absolutely no idea how that works, but...

... He is a very nice person. Quite professional, at any rate, and certainly knowledgeable about technology. He was building a television for Mr. Poland.

[This sounds familiar. It takes him a minute to place it, and then he snaps his fingers.]

Frederic told me about Poland. There's a Japan also?

Oh, Mr. Poland is the same sort of being? [This is news to Robert.] Quite fascinating... perhaps they are a whole subspecies.

But yes, that was the impression I got. He seems interested in seeing my nanocomputer one day...

Hm. [He sits back on his heels.] I'd like to meet him. I'd like Sensei to meet him.

[Robert smiles at this.] I think that Master Splinter would like him very much.

[~~Too bad Japan doesn't announce the cherry tree-seeing trip until tomorrow...~~]

And I had wanted you two to meet at some point regardless. So this works out well in everybody's favour.

Do you know how to get in touch with him?

He seems to be fond of using the voice function of the journals. I can easily contact him that way, if you would like me to...

[Even if he's a little bit nervous, Robert doesn't mind doing that, now. Mostly.]

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