first puzzle | voice

[recinerate]

[beyond was dead, and now he's not.

it's a perplexing position for anyone to find themselves in, of course, but even more so when there's something fundamental about that person that's gone missing - something that should be there, but isn't. beyond has found he is missing such a thing, and has decided to take advantage of the technology of this new place in order to work out his thoughts regarding this dilemma.]

"In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity."

[his voice is quiet, raspy, almost unnaturally even in tone. he pauses, then picks up with one of many questions currently on his mind, addressing anyone within earshot.]

What shapes your sense of identity?

Comments

[recinerate]

[the blind leading the blind, he thinks.]

I look forward to working with everyone. I'm sure we can find productive ways to collaborate.

[tucky]

Great!

You could do that even if you ain't really a warden.

[recinerate]

Is there any other advice you'd care to impart?

[tucky]

Nah, that's probably it for now.

You got a name?

[recinerate]

I do. [she'll still have to ask him what it is, though.]

[tucky]

What is your name?

[recinerate]

You may call me Beyond, Tiffany.

[tucky]

Okay. That a code name?

[recinerate]

No. [he had enough of those in his lifetime - B, Backup. all lies.] Is yours?

[tucky]

No. But--

-- Maybe where you come from, Beyond's a real common name. Right?

[recinerate]

Yes, that's right. It's extremely common.

[lies. beyond birthday is a name he gave himself, because he sees all the death in the world, and he always has, since birth.

until he woke up here on the barge, that is.]

[tucky]

I think on my world it'd be, like, a hippy name.

[recinerate]

I suppose it's a good thing I'm not on your world, then.

[tucky]

You don't wanna be a hippie?

[recinerate]

What would the advantage be?

[tucky]

I don't know, I don't know a lot of hippies.

... Iris might be a hippie.

[recinerate]

You should ask her.

[tucky]

You meet her yet?

[recinerate]

Not yet. But we've spoken.

[tucky]

That ain't meeting her?

[recinerate]

Not in the sense of being in someone's physical presence, no.

[tucky]

You can meet someone over something like this. Ain't you ever heard of online dating?

[recinerate]

... That's a thing people actually do? How does that work?

[there's an actual note of surprise in his voice. good job, tiffany.]

[tucky]

I don't know, I never done it. You sign up for a site and find people you wanna date, I guess.

[recinerate]

I was under the impression that dating involved interacting with another person in the same location.

[come on, does he really seem like the type to have ever had a date in his life?]