Third Thesis | [Written]

[intangible_girl]

[Ingrid is at that stage of recovery where she is feeling well enough to be bored, but not well enough to do much of anything about it. So she has a question for you, Luceti:]

Have you ever met someone here who was a fictional character in your world?

[Almost as an afterthought, she signs her name. This is hardly as official as last time, but she

Comments

[Written]

[semper_cogitans]

I have not met a fictional character from my world, but I have met an individual named Oswald whom is very literally a living cartoon, at least in terms of how he described himself to me.

Oswald told me that in his world, all cartoons are alive in some sense, though he has no real knowledge of how this occurs other than the fact that this certain studio drew him. (It is quite amazing how he is aware of this fact himself.)

[Robert actually really wants to do analysis on Oswald if Oswald won't mind. Of course it would be up to the rabbit whether he was comfortable with it or not, but Robert is beyond fascinated by the possibilities of looking at Oswald under PET or fMRI.]

I find this extremely fascinating. Perhaps it has something to do with this phenomenon?

[Written]

[semper_cogitans]

I am not certain. All I know is that he injured Giles at one point during that state.

It might be best to ask him, if you two ever speak. [Little does Robert know that they have already by this point... though he does know that he pointed Giles in the direction of this post.]

As I noted to you before, Giles' perception of vampires seems to be that they are quite dangerous, though this may be a phenomenon limited to his world only. He did not mention werewolves, however.

[Written]

[intangible_girl]

[Ingrid doesn't know she knows Giles either, since she never asked him for his name.]

Hmmm. [These definitely sound like Stokerian vampires... real ones.] This definitely merits more consideration. Thank you, Robert.

...how are you doing?

[Written]

[semper_cogitans]

I am all right at the moment, I suppose. [Formal writing, here; Robert wouldn't write "alright" (even if his mun uses it for when he speaks or describes things...).] Things have become somewhat easier to deal with since Vivi's [- hesitation -] departure.

Thank you for being such a support to me during this time.

[Though part of Robert still wants to think being alone is easier - when he's isolated, he can just... almost cease to exist, in a way - he can't deny that being able to talk to people and be around them has helped. But of course it makes him even clingier than usual.]

[Written]

[intangible_girl]

Would you like some company?

[Written]

[semper_cogitans]

I would not mind it at all. [Robert smiles a little, despite himself.]

Incidentally, I still have not found your device in the shops, but I will keep vigilant. It is possible that the Malnosso are having difficulty with it for whatever reason.

[Written]

[intangible_girl]

Or they're being cruel.

[She sighs.]

I had one year of freedom. One year. And... [Those few, short hours with you.]

Yes, please do, come over. I always appreciate your company.

[Written/Action]

[semper_cogitans]

I can see them being cruel, yes. They are good at that.

I will come over immediately, then.

[And Robert closes the journal, picks it and his nanocomputer up, and heads over to the Battle Dome as he usually does. It's funny; he never thought he'd ever set foot into anything with the word "battle" in it, but this is what Luceti does to him.

He flashes a smile at Ingrid as he walks into the clinic and faces the bubble.]

Hello, Ingrid.

[Written/Action]

[intangible_girl]

[She returns that smile warmly.] Hello, Robert.

I've gotten quite the response to the question I asked earlier. I even got to talk to Superman! [Surely you know who that is.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Superman...? [Nope, sorry, Ingrid. Robert blanks on popular culture from anywhere past about 2200. Which his mun has yet to make up, sob.]

Are there many fictional, or at least allegedly-so, characters here?

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

You've never heard of Superman?

It seems so. In fact, I'm beginning to believe that we are all fictional characters in each other's worlds. Though I have yet to form a single hypothesis on how that is accomplished.

[Ingrid picks up her notes, thumbing through them absently.]

It's so hard to get complete data here.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

I am afraid that I have not.

[Robert pauses thoughtfully at that, wondering aloud:] Fictional characters... I had never considered what it might be like to be fictional.

... I suppose it would be difficult for me to know if I was, though. It is rather like the age-old philosophy question of whether life is just an extremely accurate simulation.

... And it certainly is, especially when one is trying to get data on the place itself. But in general, there is an obscene lack of technological equipment.

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

I've heard as may theories about that today as people who responded.

[Ingrid sighs heavily and leans against the plastic wall.]

I hate feeling so tired.

[She's never been sick, so she's never learned how not to whine about it.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert frowns, studying Ingrid even as she exhaustedly slumps back.] Are your symptoms still mostly abated, or might there be remnants of them still?

Being fatigued all the time is a very poor sign.

[And Robert is a coddler at heart, so he won't mind her whining.]

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

[Poutingly:] Bones says it's healing tiredness and that I'm healing up nicely.

[She looks up at Robert.]

I think we should talk about- We should talk.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

I am glad to hear that.

[And the second part takes him off-guard.]

... About what, exactly?

[Why does Robert get such a feeling of trepidation from this? He studies Ingrid's face carefully; nervously, even, before he has to break the gaze due to the eye contact anxiety.]