unfinishednetwork

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[ A neatly typed sheet of paper. ]
This is X. Mrs. Harker has already suggested that we share information concerning our stay here and the changes that we've noticed. I have suggested that once we have gathered enough information we can hold a meeting to discuss our findings and figure out a few solutions to some of the issues we're facing.

[ Like the randomness of food, or the rather strange lack of patterns for the Stacks. ]

But first, due to the nature of where I'm from, I have what you can call an understanding of extraordinary abilities granted through outside forces. I've noticed a change in my own capabilities, and I would like to know if others have noticed their own changes as well.

You don't have to tell us what those changes are. All I want to know if any one else has noticed that they have gained a new talent that allows more control inside the Library.

X

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well. Whatever it is, it's requiring an innate translation feature to actually be understood; the writing's ornate runic script.]

I've noticed no differences. What are the extraordinary abilities you normally have compared to now?

[ Still using the [ unmute ] skill, still speaking at the journal like the little troll he is. ]

Normally? I lost count, but even if I did have my full list, I don't tell. It's been that kind of a day until I woke up in the Stacks.

[These data-slates do all kinds of nonsense it seems. His doesn't, yet.]

Reasonably, who knows who might be listening in. Or reading in. But if you have an entire list, you could share one or two? I don't know what's common on other planets.

I can share the most common ones - the Commission often use them to claim who my next Nemesis is going to be. [ He sounds so so amused by that term, like an adult nodding along with a child's tea party gossip. ]

Object manipulation - that is able to change the shape and properties of an object near me, and Kinetic manipulation or able to change the direction and force of an object in motion.

Change the order. Choose your own enemy. Pick someone who won't expect it.

That sounds remarkably useful. Are there limitations on changing the shape and properties of an object near you? Is it permanent?

Nah, it's fine. It gives me the needed exercise every time I gain a new ability, with the added bonus of imagining just how much their blood pressure is rising.

[ As a member of the salaryman class, anything that makes a CEO grumpy and unable to do anything to retaliate is a win. ]

Limitations? Probably I have to keep an eye on it when in motion but otherwise? Not really. I mean I do have to keep my energy up, so I do drink a lot of energy drinks, coffee and soda. But in all honesty, that stuff isn't hard to get my hands on even here.

You serve for entertainment? Reading what others write doesn't paint a whole picture of what your planet expects of you. I am curious, little more.

Abilities such as this are apparently now illegal, but they are interesting nonetheless. Could you make a coffee become a soda? Or merely change its container? Or its direction and velocity if you threw it at an opponent?

Heroes are created through Trust. The more a person is Trusted by the average citizen, the stronger they are, so yeah. Most Heroes are talents that various agencies find and nurture through social media and targeted ad campaigns. Even the villains have similar growing arcs; people Trust them to cause problems for the Heroes so they too have a Trust number.

[ With three of them here, X feels no need to keep this aspect hidden. After all, that system is why Nice is so very broken in so many ways. ]

Changing coffee into soda is a little different than shaping the container it is in. I never really bother with doing that since it will still be coffee despite having a soda fizz. [ He's not telling the full truth because he never paused a battle to just taste a coffee to soda object, not because he can't do it. ] Changing the container is much easier as is the direction and velocity. That part is simple decoration and object in motion staying in motion.

[There's a lengthy pause this time, as this information is considered. None of it seemed impossible. Just very ill-advised.]

Do your citizens ever put their trust in the wrong person?

Happens all the time. [ And one very big wrong at one point, but that's old news, at least for the two kids. He knows, but his very nature makes it hard for him to not know such things. ]

That's why concerned people created the Hero Association Commission, or HAC. They have a Tournament every year or so where the top Heroes fight to become X. The agencies push for media posts about the heroes, poll Trust Values and the heroes fight it out. Keeps the numbers shifting so that not one Hero stands out for too long.

Trial by combat is an interesting strategy.

[And a completely idiotic one, as it would just supply the strongest with more power. The idea of Angron gaining more power simply because he could beat the rest was a bit numbing.]

How has that been working out for your planet so far?

Well, it is what they think works. [ You can hear the shrug in his voice. It really has nothing to do with him except that he is X and has been for a few years now. ]

Probably fine to them. They are all looking to cash in on the event.

['Not my circus, not my monkeys' has fallen out of favor in thirty thousand years, but the vibe is still there and recognizable.]

In that much at least there is symmetry across all planets I have seen.

If I notice any alterations and you still wish to know going forward, I will pass it on.

You can say that I find all alterations interesting, especially ones that may affect our working conditions.

Thank you in advance.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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mm. handwritten text. too bad he doesn't write in earth languages.

awww but still fun times with alien writings

I choose to believe konrad has excellent handwriting but it's all squiggles so who knows it

ooo like russian cursive?

I just googled that and wow cyrillic in cursive is bonkers

it is so bonkers

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