neverjoinyou | lastvoyages IC Inbox

Heads up Luke!

[Following the text message are a few photos of a giant, thirty-foot-long, snake-looking monster. It's stripy black-and-white and bigger around than a person. Out from the open mouth, a second, smaller, snake-looking creature, this time with a white body, protrudes slightly.]

I wanted you to know Bill can take down big game now in case you werent aware. He did this rescuing my inmate when he was a kid though, so at very least he has done a good thing once! Anyway I dont want to always be getting in touch about your inmate and I think I promised you a demonstration of the 3DMG once. Want to see it?

I'm confused about what I'm supposed to be seeing here. What is that thing? When did this happen?

It is a sandworm! Ten meters. Betelgeuses pet who tried to eat him. Happened when kids were running around. Sorry, things got away from me a bit after the network had that problem

Oh no, that’s fine. Thanks for letting me know, though. Is Betelgeuse okay?

Did you have that talk with Bill?

Hes fine. Wanted his pet revived, which I did, and shrunk her. He's far from responsible enough to have an animal sized to eat a person. We're doing room checks now.

[The scythe and the sandworm did it. Betelgeuse can't be squirreling away destructive shit Hange doesn't know about.]

I did. Apologies don't come naturally at all to him, do they?

[The secondhand embarrassment was painful.]

Probably a good move, on your part. Regarding man-eating worms.

As to Bill, no. No, they do not. It's pulling teeth to get him to admit any sort of responsibility. Or even actual emotion. I know he has them. But he's spent millennia or whatever not having to be accountable to anyone. It's good to give him the practice.

I don't think I even came close to getting him to admit responsibility, but I have to admit, Betelgeuse is his own person even if he's suggestible, and ultimately in charge of his own decisions. I don't want Bill to outsource all trouble to him, but Betelgeuse's judgment is something that needs some work.

[And Betelgeuse is her inmate. Bill is... a person she spends a decent amount of time with lately? Someone she likes, certainly. Someone interesting and fun.]

I have a question for you. I heard that Bill can traverse the dreams of others, in a place called the "Mindscape." Have you ever done that with him?

[It’s a balance, isn’t it? For all of them. It’s one of the things about this place that Luke suspects can be an advantage and a drawback. Each inmate must be held accountable--but they don’t exist in a vacuum.]

I haven’t. I’m not entirely comfortable messing with other people’s minds--not that I necessarily think it’s damaging.

Why?

[Hange considers her options, and then switches to voice.]

Bill was able to see... something attached to me. A pocket dimension. I don't want to go into the details, but I need to learn more about it, and he said going into the Mindscape - dreamland, I guess - would be a good place to start having a look at it.

Stanford agreed that it was the best place to start. I wanted to know what the experience was like if you'd done it.

I've been to his room, which is... definitely not like being in anything like what I've come to consider the real world. Like, physics not working, that kind of thing. I'm pretty sure he was manipulating things to be less mind-bendy, too.

But he's not a bad guide, if he understands he needs to be.

I guess, then, the question will be if he feels or understands any need to.

[That much is between her and Bill.]

Does he have any of his telepathic powers currently? Stanford told me he used to, back when he and Bill shared dreams years ago. I only feel secure doing this at all because I'm assured Bill can't rewrite or manipulate any of my memories.

[He shakes his head.]

No. He shouldn't be able to do anything to you, beyond you know, his normal talking around things. And you know better. Besides--he likes you. I believe that if he's offered to do this, it's genuine.

I like him. I'm afraid of it clouding my judgment regarding him. [Frank about it.] Are you sure he likes me? How can you tell?

He spends time with you that he doesn't have to. Despite the fact you had to talk to him about Beetlejuice. Despite the fact I can't figure out anything he wants from you. He doesn't have a lot of patience for people beyond trolling them, otherwise. Unless he actually enjoys your company.

Makes sense.

[Can't be trusted or relied on, but makes sense. Well, good. It's a place to start.]

Luke, I don't remember if way back ago, I offered to show you the tactical gear. It's weaponry from my world that allows a human to move in three dimensions. I'd like to do that if you want.

Oh! [He lights up a bit.] You've told me about it. I would love to see it. It doesn't sound like anything we have.

I think that's enough shop talk. Want to see it now?

Oh, yes! Enclosure?

Yes! Give me, oh -- fifteen minutes?

Sure thing.

What d'you want programmed in?

We'll go to the scout grounds - so I'll take care of it! Just give me a bit...

[In the promised 15 minutes, she'll show up, wearing the tactical gear, which to an unpracticed eye is just... a mess of strapping and flight belt and spools of wire and sword hilts and gas canisters and blades in boxes. It is hard to tell what's going on. She offers Luke a wave.]

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