Sixty-Fifth Theory [Video]

[i_speak_softly]

[The video feed clicks on, and Don looks thoughtfully at the camera for a moment before speaking.]

Another Christmas in Luceti.

[His tone is direct, just stating a fact, but somewhere behind it is a note of melancholy.]

This is my third. All of them have been in this house. All of them have been with different people.

[He slides back from the journal, revealing a corner of his winter room. He's been gradually moving into it over the past week, and has more or less taken up residence now.]

I've seen a lot of people come and go. There probably aren't many left who remember when Luceti didn't have electricity.

[He picks up some small bit of tech and squints at it.]

When I arrived here, the drafts were just starting. There were no missions. The Battle Dome didn't exist. We didn't have a farm and there was a desert where the ocean is now.

[He carefully threads a length of wire through a hole in the tech part.]

The buildings were shorter. Some of the stores and restaurants weren't open. [A pause.] I think I'm forgetting things...

[The wire slides through, and he knots the loose ends to form a loop.]

Does anyone remember other things that have changed? Or, does anyone want a history lesson? I'll be here all day.

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

She showed me how to check out library books and how to make filters on the journal. She gave me some of her blueprints for automail. We ... talked.

[faithfulflame]

< Of course, that's her choice, not mine. >

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

My partner's world is like that. He doesn't have a soul, technically. But he was able to contact one of the spirits. They're very equal-opportunity that way.

[semper_cogitans]

[... Robert smiles almost nostalgically at this.]

... Fascinating that... one of our first meetings was... also at the library.

[And Don showed Robert how to take library books out. Seems like the library is a good place to pick up nerds.]

... Talked...?

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

[Yes, but on the chance she's right and this is all a grand delusion (not entirely unthinkable), does she want to invite it in by seeking out more?]

For now, I think I'll pass.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Fair enough.

If it's rational explanations you're interested in, I have a sort of science club you're welcome to join.

video;

[i_speak_softly]

Not people, and pets tend to show up on their own. What did you have in mind?

Donatello. Nice to meet you.

[i_speak_softly]

[Maybe Don won't tell Robert the whole history of how he met Winry.]

[He shrugs.]

Talked. She offered to make me a prosthetic limb, if I ever needed one.

[geniustheveil]

[She hadn't been eavesdropping, precisely, but she'd checked back later to see if they were making plans.]

< I don't mind it at all, if you'd like. >

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

[She'd deny this thought ever crossing her mind, but maybe Quinn was right. Maybe she needed to reach out just a bit more.]

A science club sounds a bit more like my thing. What do you guys do?

[i_speak_softly]

< I would be very grateful. Would you like to come every third day, and on the other days I'll study on my own? >

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Honestly, not much. The general idea is that we meet once in a while to share what we've learned about this place, but I'm not very good at organizing it.

[faithfulflame]

< Good luck, Donatello-san. Study hard. >

video;

[bestevolving]

I was thinking something on terms of a pet. A Pokemon to be exact.

It's a pleasure.

[semper_cogitans]

[Aw, Don, you don't need to hide your secret library trysts.]

Let us... hope that is never necessary.

[Getting off that topic for the time being...]

What else happened at that time, if... you can recall?

[i_speak_softly]

There was a town meeting, to talk about the war that had just been announced. That was the beginning of the drafts. Professor Sage organized the meeting; she's been here longer than I have.

video;

[i_speak_softly]

Oh, those. You should ask the other people who have them. I thought they just showed up sometimes, but there may be other ways of getting them.

video;

[bestevolving]

From what I've heard three of them come with their trainers and that's that, but.. it'd be nice to have all of them.

So how often can you go on missions anyways?

video;

[i_speak_softly]

I think as often as you want to sign up.

What's the big deal about Pokemon? Why do people have so many of them?

[semper_cogitans]

[The beginning of the drafts... Robert makes a small, wondering sound.]

... Were there... a-any attacks before this that... Luceti was made aware of?

[i_speak_softly]

Um... I heard there was an invasion of the village, but I don't know much about it. I'm no expert on the history of the war either.

video;

[bestevolving]

Oh, that's useful!

Well, the people who have pokemon come from a world that revolves around them. Everything happens around them, from jobs, hobbies, just life. Usually people have a lot more than three in a team.

Also here, Gold and everyone breed some for others I'm sure.

video;

[i_speak_softly]

[He doesn't quite get it.]

Is it a form of agriculture?

[semper_cogitans]

I feel that... much of it, we Lucetians are... not privy to. [For whatever reasons. He still doesn't really understand war politics very much, honestly.]

... how did you... c-cope, without electricity for so long...?

[i_speak_softly]

Delusional belief that I could fix it. Which maybe was enough, because electricity arrived only a few weeks after I did.