It really does, doesn't it? The magic here is essentially held together with duct tape and a prayer. Except the prayer is probably to himself. 🙄
As far as he's told me, all of this - the search for godhood, the ship, the mind-numbing 80s references - is in pursuit of that answer. Even our fighting back is part of it, I think. I imagine he thinks if he keeps pushing, something will eventually give way and the answer will just... Be there.
It isn't a very good plan, but I think we are seeing the tail end of a very long, desperate search. I'm hoping to be the end of it.
But why torture us? What does he learn from pitting us against each other, and playing these psychological games, and sending us to camp? If he wanted help discovering his origins, then he could just ask, for God’s sake.
I very much hope you’re right. And if figuring out the captain’s origins will bring an end to this horror show, then I am happy to help.
Your guess is as good as mine. I'm leaning towards him being insufferably stubborn. He did tell me that fighting back against him is a part of it. Likely testing the upper thresholds of his control over us. Seeing if we can break free or not.
Hm. I'll need to do some more thinking on that before I say anything more. But it IS odd.
I can give you all the details he gave me, but it isn't concrete information. I have no real idea if he was telling the truth, I'm simply taking him at his word. Also, it's also Earth-related. So it may not be directly helpful to you...
If he wants to test his control over us, then I’m happy to oblige him. Aside from the obvious reason, I confess to being curious about the extent of his powers.
Tell me everything, and I shall see what I can understand. I may have follow-up questions.
There's no denying that the things he's already capable of are astounding. If it weren't for his methodology and his arrogance, he'd probably already have achieved his goals. But, that's often what happens when you mix ego and magic... Hubris. 💀
The earliest memory he offered me: Watching ships from a shore. Tropical or at least warmer climate due to the presence of date palms. A billboard for a movie released on Earth in 1987. He only remembers things from after he decided to look human. Everything he knows how to do, he remembers learning, except for one thing: shapeshifting. He isn't sure if it's a born skill or something he learned, however.
I got the sensation that he was surprised any of us were putting effort into the mystery. Perhaps the previous groups of passengers were too busy trying to save themselves? Hm.
Ah, yes. Hubris. As a scholar and a necromancer, I am, unfortunately, terribly familiar with the concept.
[There’s a pause of a few minutes before he sends the next message while he writes this information sticky notes and adds them to his ever-expanding murder board above his bed.]
So. For all intents and purposes, he was ‘born,’ and least in his current form, on late 20th century Earth. Has he ever made reference to anything from before 1987? Any historical events or films? Anything that could only have happened to him earlier? That may help us trace his origins.
*Hm* indeed. I'd like to say that I'm skeptical we're the first ones to investigate, but some people are just...incurious. We may be able to use that.
He's referred to several historical or literary figures, although I am not in the mind to remember all of them. Prospero, I think, was a name he gave out once, which is a character from Shakespeare's "Tempest". Hiram is in reference to an ancient king referenced in the Bible, I believe?
He did give me some information on a sheikh from the late 1800s. The book was primarily about the man's life and his spiritual work as a practitioner of Islam.
There are very few of us even now who are turning an inquisitive eye to this mystery. I truly wouldn't be surprised to find that we are one of the very few groups to actually see this as a mystery to solve, as opposed to a system to overthrow. Given that the Captain has told me that our resistance is part of the experiment, I'm more certain than ever that direct opposition isn't the answer.
Interesting. At the very least, we can conclude that he is well-read. His interest in religious texts is unsurprising, but may also be a useful data point.
I can’t entirely blame the previous passengers for using brute force in the search for their freedom. People will do all sorts of things in such circumstances, as I’m sure the captain is delighted to have discovered. But it does seem that we are right to think that getting out of here will take a more delicate approach. We won’t punch our way out of this.
That makes your [weird thing] cordial relationship with the Captain even more valuable, you know.
Until very, very recently, I was also fairly on board with the idea of overthrowing the Captain, killing him, or at the very least imprisoning him in some awful little room. But the more I learn about our situation and our captor, the less angry I am and the more curious I become. Why is he so desperate to become a God? What would deification help him achieve that he can't already do now? He has so much power and he says he's focused on one goal, but his efforts seem scattered. He's been at this for so long, and yet all he knows is that he was on Earth in the late 1980s, he's a shapeshifter, and the only things he's kept with him from before all of this are books on magic and one book on religious teachings. He's said that fighting him is part of the process, but WHY? What does that help him achieve?
I find that the more questions I have about a person, the less inclined I am to shoot them. It was easier to dislike him when I thought he was yet another two-dimensional maniac with too much magical power and a penchant for sadism.
...Cordial is probably the only appropriate word for it.
[This time, a few minutes go by before Pal responds, as though he has had to choose his words carefully.]
Here, I am afraid, I will have to disagree with you. I have no trouble being angry with someone who tortures people so casually. An existential crisis isn’t an excuse to commit mass murder. If helping the Captain is what returns us to our homes, then so be it, but do not mistake me: I am not doing it for his sake. Or for the sake of anyone's curiosity, for that matter.
I do wonder what he means when he says he wishes to become God. Given the breadth of his abilities, the only thing he seems to be lacking is worshippers…and if this is his way of assembling a congregation, you might want to suggest that he take a different approach.
As long as our goals are aligned, I don't particularly care if our opinions differ.
If he wanted worshippers, we would most certainly be facing a different challenge than the one we are now. I'll keep it in mind for the next time he abruptly appears beside me.
Actually, I have a few thoughts on the subject, but I need to get some clarity first. Give me a little while, and I should have more.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
with duct tape and a prayer. Except the prayer is probably to himself. 🙄
As far as he's told me, all of this - the search for godhood, the ship,
the mind-numbing 80s references - is in pursuit of that answer. Even
our fighting back is part of it, I think. I imagine he thinks if he keeps
pushing, something will eventually give way and the answer will just...
Be there.
It isn't a very good plan, but I think we are seeing the tail end of a
very long, desperate search. I'm hoping to be the end of it.
no subject
I very much hope you’re right. And if figuring out the captain’s origins will bring an end to this horror show, then I am happy to help.
no subject
He did tell me that fighting back against him is a part of it. Likely testing the
upper thresholds of his control over us. Seeing if we can break free or not.
Hm. I'll need to do some more thinking on that before I say anything more.
But it IS odd.
I can give you all the details he gave me, but it isn't concrete information.
I have no real idea if he was telling the truth, I'm simply taking him at his word.
Also, it's also Earth-related. So it may not be directly helpful to you...
no subject
Tell me everything, and I shall see what I can understand. I may have follow-up questions.
no subject
for his methodology and his arrogance, he'd probably already have achieved his goals.
But, that's often what happens when you mix ego and magic... Hubris. 💀
The earliest memory he offered me: Watching ships from a shore. Tropical or at least
warmer climate due to the presence of date palms. A billboard for a movie released on
Earth in 1987. He only remembers things from after he decided to look human. Everything
he knows how to do, he remembers learning, except for one thing: shapeshifting.
He isn't sure if it's a born skill or something he learned, however.
I got the sensation that he was surprised any of us were putting effort into the mystery.
Perhaps the previous groups of passengers were too busy trying to save themselves? Hm.
no subject
[There’s a pause of a few minutes before he sends the next message while he writes this information sticky notes and adds them to his ever-expanding murder board above his bed.]
So. For all intents and purposes, he was ‘born,’ and least in his current form, on late 20th century Earth. Has he ever made reference to anything from before 1987? Any historical events or films? Anything that could only have happened to him earlier? That may help us trace his origins.
*Hm* indeed. I'd like to say that I'm skeptical we're the first ones to investigate, but some people are just...incurious. We may be able to use that.
no subject
remember all of them. Prospero, I think, was a name he gave out once, which is a character
from Shakespeare's "Tempest". Hiram is in reference to an ancient king referenced in the
Bible, I believe?
He did give me some information on a sheikh from the late 1800s. The book was primarily
about the man's life and his spiritual work as a practitioner of Islam.
There are very few of us even now who are turning an inquisitive eye to this mystery.
I truly wouldn't be surprised to find that we are one of the very few groups to actually
see this as a mystery to solve, as opposed to a system to overthrow. Given that the Captain
has told me that our resistance is part of the experiment, I'm more certain than ever that
direct opposition isn't the answer.
no subject
I can’t entirely blame the previous passengers for using brute force in the search for their freedom. People will do all sorts of things in such circumstances, as I’m sure the captain is delighted to have discovered. But it does seem that we are right to think that getting out of here will take a more delicate approach. We won’t punch our way out of this.
That makes your [weird thing] cordial relationship with the Captain even more valuable, you know.
no subject
Captain, killing him, or at the very least imprisoning him in some awful little room.
But the more I learn about our situation and our captor, the less angry I am and the more
curious I become. Why is he so desperate to become a God? What would deification help him
achieve that he can't already do now? He has so much power and he says he's focused on
one goal, but his efforts seem scattered. He's been at this for so long, and yet all he
knows is that he was on Earth in the late 1980s, he's a shapeshifter, and the only things
he's kept with him from before all of this are books on magic and one book on religious
teachings. He's said that fighting him is part of the process, but WHY? What does that
help him achieve?
I find that the more questions I have about a person, the less inclined I am to shoot
them. It was easier to dislike him when I thought he was yet another two-dimensional
maniac with too much magical power and a penchant for sadism.
...Cordial is probably the only appropriate word for it.
no subject
Here, I am afraid, I will have to disagree with you. I have no trouble being angry with someone who tortures people so casually. An existential crisis isn’t an excuse to commit mass murder. If helping the Captain is what returns us to our homes, then so be it, but do not mistake me: I am not doing it for his sake. Or for the sake of anyone's curiosity, for that matter.
I do wonder what he means when he says he wishes to become God. Given the breadth of his abilities, the only thing he seems to be lacking is worshippers…and if this is his way of assembling a congregation, you might want to suggest that he take a different approach.
no subject
As long as our goals are aligned, I don't particularly care if our opinions differ.
If he wanted worshippers, we would most certainly be facing a different challenge than the
one we are now. I'll keep it in mind for the next time he abruptly appears beside me.
Actually, I have a few thoughts on the subject, but I need to get some clarity first.
Give me a little while, and I should have more.
[First he has to go talk to Darcy about something real quick!]
no subject