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?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[He smiles gently at this and places his hand against her bubble's wall reassuringly, a familiar gesture - one full of emotion for him.

He can't hold Ingrid's hand easily but it doesn't stop him from expressing himself with stilted touches regardless.]

...

Was there anything else you might need, Ingrid...?

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

[She puts her hand against his. It's a gesture fast becoming imbued with much significance. To her it means support and friendship and closeness despite the things that separate them, not just the physical barriers between them.]

Nothing in particular. Though, if you found any other CDs in the item shop, those would be much appreciated. I'm extremely grateful for the CD player you brought me.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert does wish he could be closer sometimes - stronger too, maybe; more helpful. More... meaningful for her. He doesn't realize, entirely, hoe much he already means.]

I am happy to find them for you. Though they are such... [He searches for a word.] ... quaint pieces of technology. Optical discs, correct?

[Don used one of those, actually. Huh.]

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

Quaint? [-she exclaims in mock offense.] Those are state of the art where I'm from.

Tell me, what do they use to store data on in the future?

[She wishes often that she could get her hands on your nanocomputer.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Much data on Terra is stored in the planet-wide databases and distributed via the Internet... nanocomputer ports exist almost ubiquitously; all dwellings have at least one, and there are public-access terminals in cities as well for those who need them.

[He pauses thoughtfully.]

Of course, there are various methods of storage off of the databases if one prefers, like quantum flash drives that use electron spin to record data as qubits.

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

Whoa whoa whoa.

Quantum flash drives?

[Dude are you from the future

well, yeah you are.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Yes, quantum flash drives.

...

I presume your world has not thought of quantum computers yet?

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

Quantum computers-

Well, no. I mean, they're theoretical, but no one has ever built one. Are you telling me that's a quantum computer?

[Geek out time. Ingrid's not a computer nerd, but she knows her stuff.]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert is always happy when he gets to nerd over something.]

Yes, it is. The majority of nanocomputers are, actually.

[Being from the future can, in fact, be cool.]

[Action]

[intangible_girl]

That's amazing! You have to tell me how it works.

[And they geeked out together till the end of time.]