genessia | 01: Back again? Not quite. [OPEN VIDEO]

Uhm... Hello. Nehra I hope I have this device working properly...

[ When the feed clicks on it shows a frazzled girl, sighing and rubbing the back of her neck. Of all things to happen, she wasn't expecting this. Still, she doesn't waste any more time and looks at the device again. In the background it's clear that she hasn't left the bay yet, or even the cave, but it might be apparent that she's still near the holographic projection Weiss left for newcomers. ]

I... I suppose I should say it is nice to meet you all, whoever you may be. I will admit, when I went to bed, I was not expecting to wake up in a strange new world.

[ She pauses, seeming uncertain before trying to shake it off and continuing. ]

Should any of you know the name "Nautilus", please let me know? In the meantime, I suppose I will make my way to communal housing and try to figure things out from there. So, ah... Good to meet you, again, and I suppose I will see some of you soon.

[ And she's going to turn off that video in a hurry, Nehra that was awkward and hard to do.

True to her word she's going to be at the Bay, stepping out of the cave with her things in tow and looking around. At least it looks like it's summer here too, but just what in the world is Genessia? ]

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[Ted gets the feeling this existentialism will go nowhere very quickly.]

No, I can't quite see the sense in that. Or this. That is, this ah, navel gazing. Introspection has its uses, but perhaps you and yours aren't the healthiest thing to think of, just now. I think there's a very good chance you might secure the happiness of another. Extremely. Were I you, I'd see to Smoker immediately. See if he receives you as a stranger. My bet's the other way.

But who is Smoker? What you have told me... Nehra, it simply feels too unrealistic to me. Someone who I apparently saw as a father of sorts?

[ She still seem skeptical, and she's frowning at Ted. ]

And even if that were true, then what? You would have him suffer through a person with the same face and name not having any idea who he is, or having no memory of him at all? That is a pain I cannot even imagine, nor would I wish it on anyone.

Description can't do him justice. Indeed, justice is a favorite topic of his. And smoking, haha, if the name didn't give it away. Ah, forgive me for spoiling things.

[Ted's not skeptical at all, not-frowning at Adela]

What a morbid confidence in the results of what you can't imagine. The exact same thing has happened to me, as a matter of fact, and if that was a pain...good Lord, I could use more pains like that!

Well, I won't twist your arm any more. It's a matter for the senses, not the intellect. See him and see what happens, or close yourself off and don't for whatever unfathomable reasons you have. Can I help but recommend the former?

You are not the least bit sad that I hold no memory of you? Of this place?

[ She sighs at that, shaking her head at him. Nehra, she doesn't understand this man in the least... ]

Look, I... I would not hurt this person if I could help it, out of respect for his bond with the other me. However, with that, I... I...

[ She falls silent after that, unwilling to be so free with her own fears regarding the situation. Eventually she just looks to the camera, shoulders slumping and feeling more tired than when the conversation began. ]

... My reasons will remain unfathomable to you, as they are for no one but me. Is there anything else you feel you must tell me sir, or will that be the end of it?

A little...

[He confesses. He wants to say it's not really her fault, so there's no blame to assign, but he's not so sure. He'd always felt like people who quit Genessia are quitters of life in general. People that, on some level, don't want to live. He can't quite trust that.]

Seems you've signed on with this 'other you' business. And you sounded so skeptical not minutes before. Believe me, Adela, I knew you more than a little last time. You, heh, haven't changed very much.

Well, yes: I think you should use your imagination, however unpracticed you are in the exercise. Imagine someone you loved disappeared, and you never knew when, if ever, they'd return. It would be, by and large, indistinguishable from death, as far as the two of you were concerned. I imagine this would upset you.

Now imagine, after a time--hardly more than several months or so--they return, with no memory of what transpired. What would you think? How would you feel?

If you're the least bit like most people, you'd be overjoyed. You'd be awash with happiness that someone you thought you'd never see again was there. True, the amnesia would sting. But, remember, in this hypothetical you love them, so that wouldn't be worth much fret. You'd simply be glad they were back, and carry on much as you did before, to whatever extent you could.

Granted, it's not a perfect analogy. Perhaps you or Smoker have utterly inhuman or unintelligible feelings, and process neither parting nor reunion like anything I've ever known.

But I doubt it.

So, if you don't mind me being forward and frank, I think you're being a little timid; a little selfish. Oh, you couch it in concern for others, but think it out and you'll see how ridiculous it is. Perfectly absurd, really. Do you truly believe the pain of being unknown would outweigh the joy of a return? Is it likely that Smoker would think that? One-sided memories are tragic, true, but hardly unendurable, especially when the one who made them is there. It would be like valuing apples over apple trees. Or whatever fruit trees you've known.

I don't know; perhaps you think that being instrumental in another's happiness is incredible, and think there's some humility in acting otherwise. I don't. You mattered to others, Adela, and I'd bet every red bill I've got that you matter still, whatever existential twaddle you're entertaining. But you'll never know for sure if you don't act.

[Great speech, Ted, take a seat. He laughs, mostly out of self-mockery for being so serious.]

Sorry, guess I'm a liar. I gave my word I wouldn't compel anymore, but you're being...haha, just so usual. The temptation was too great.

And what if I am not the same? I may only seem similar now, but if it is too much of a difference... The fact remains that I am not the same person you or Smoker knew. I am not the same person any of you knew, in part because I did not experience what the other me did here. I did not share the same experiences or form the same bonds. I cannot feel these things for people I have never met, for people who may as well be complete strangers to me.

[ Taking a breath now, and she looks away from the feed again as she tries to put a lid on her emotions. ]

Perhaps it is selfish of me, but... There are times when we need to be.

[Whenever Ted gets the feeling someone's being narcissistic, he plays a game to amuse himself by counting personal pronouns.]

Eight! Eight times you've said "I". There's no "perhaps" about it.

[Still in a gently mocking way, natch.]

Take it from me, Adela. The last thing you want to do is take others' happiness lightly, especially by thinking of yourself too much. I learned that the hard way.

All right, you've relief from my truisms. If I can be of better use than bromides, by all means, make use of me. Otherwise, I'll bid you good evening and let you get back to readjusting.

[ She can't help the twitch of her eye at Ted's words, but she keeps whatever she wants to say to herself. Instead she simply disconnects the feed without so much as a word of farewell, only able to really breathe and feel some relief once she does.

The nerve of that man... Perhaps she is selfish, but... Truthfully, she doesn't know another way. With the few people she's managed to get close to ripped away from her, what else is she supposed to do? It's not like she can just simply pretend those new bonds are there when they're not, and... If she tries... That's likely to come back to bite her, too.

There's really just no point to it. ]

01: Back again? Not quite. [OPEN VIDEO]

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