[EVENT] The Simulation Ends

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: 6I Fountain Park & Elsewhere
WHEN: April 1
OPEN TO: ALL - Mingle
WARNINGS: N/A

---

In the snug circle of an old park, a fountain sits burbling beneath a broad, midday sky.

Once-neat paving stones have buckled and cracked from the slow nudge of wayward roots. Benches stand covered in lichen and rust. Three paths push into the underbrush like the spokes on a wheel, the encroaching forest creating lush tunnels through the dark.

But the fountain stands singular and pristine, brightly splashing in open rebellion of the deep, muffled sounds of a place long ago gone to seed. A vibration hums through the ground, there and quickly gone, and the water in the fountain trembles, lapping against the high walls of its cool, pale reservoir.

Far, far away, in a place that isn't really there, people begin to blink out of existance.

It is the first of April.

It is precisely ten o'clock in the morning.



[Please see event details and guidelines here.]

Comments

[enterprisingheart]

There's a nod at both her suggestion at the explanation that follows. Not that it's terribly comforting to know that one of their primary theories about the nature of the village had been right, admittedly, but it does lend that particular theory a certain amount of credence besides.

"It doesn't, no. Although it would suggest that they have the capability to add things into a holo-projection relatively seamlessly. Especially given that they would have had to convert anything of ours to a projected version thereof before sending them on their way."

And the fact that the first village had been something akin to a holodeck doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility of their new surroundings also being virtual. But for the time being that isn't something that he particularly cares to think about. Especially when they've only just escaped the one simulated reality.

[ethnobotany]

"So does the Federation," she points out, though they both know the merits of that. Starfleet holodeck technology can do a lot of things, but even it would have begun to show the strain after so much time running straight. Which brings up another thought.

"It does make you wonder, though... How much of our time was spent in that simulation and how much wasn't? Would we have been able to tell if the simulation paused or was turned off, if the simulation itself was located right on top of the area it was an exact copy of?"

It's something to think about and though they might wonder if this is another simulation, it feels different having come back through the fountain. Of course, her most recently-spoken theory would war a bit with this feeling, but at this point, she's willing to entertain just about anything. And she wouldn't put anything past the Observers, either.

[enterprisingheart]

"After a while, we would have begun to notice... discrepancies, if it had been turned off, briefly. Even if only in something as simple as the relative lengths of our hair."

And between his beard and the way that her hair has grown out, it's clear enough in his mind that they have been stuck in the simulation for some time. And possibly not even physically there, besides, although the question of where they might have been otherwise is another matter entirely. Another question to put to the Observers, no doubt, assuming they ever do manage to meet them. But for the time being there are more important matters at hand.

"If it were paused, though... we might not have noticed at all. Not if we were inside it at the time."

Not if they'd ended up paused too.

[ethnobotany]

The relative lengths of their hair would have been noticeable, especially given the two-toned look to hers. She nods in response, relenting that point to him. The idea of being paused, though, is also a good point, even as it makes her sigh wearily again.

"And they could have easily changed our models to match whatever's been happening to our actual bodies so that when we pulled ourselves out of the fountain just now we think we're out of the simulation, but in reality we're still in," she huffs out with a tone of frustration as she finally pulls open the door to the house and lets them both in. "It's enough to give you a headache."

[enterprisingheart]

"I would like to hope that they wouldn't have gone to the trouble of simply arranging another simulation, just for the sake of making us believe we'd left. Not when they could just have easily reset the initial simulation."

Whether or not that means they've actually left is still another question entirely, yes. But he'd certainly like to believe that the Observers wouldn't have gone so far, and that the reality that they're standing in is genuine. It might be hard to prove, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean that there's something about the idea that feels right.

"But I agree. It is enough to give someone a headache."

[ethnobotany]

"I would hope not, too, but it's something to consider," she points out. "We shouldn't blindly assume anything, not where these 'Observers' are concerned."

Not when too much of what they've been through reminds her of Q or a bunch of Cardassians trying to break them. There are too many possibilities and she doesn't want to risk anything.

"I guess we'll have plenty of time to decide if we believe it or not. Come on. Let's get you dry and warm. I'll feel better when there's not as much of a risk of you catching cold out there."

And she might be willing to pick up on that relieved kiss from earlier once they're both a little more dry and warm.

[enterprisingheart]

"We absolutely shouldn't," he agrees with a nod. "Much less let ourselves believe that we have a complete understanding of what they might be up to."

He won't deny that assuming them to be at least loosely similar to Q has helped explain a great deal. But at the same time, he's not going to deny the possibility that something might break even that pattern, sooner or later. It's just that he's not going to spend forever waiting for that shift either. If it happens, it happens, and besides, he has a sneaking suspicion that dwelling too long on the nature of the Observers and their decisions is to invite madness.

Plus, there are far more interesting - if more mundane - things to turn his mind to just at the moment. Even if it is nothing more than the prospect of spending some time cuddled up with her.

"Of course," he answers with a nod, as he turns towards their house. If she wants to take point, he'll gladly let her, but if not, he's just as glad to walk at her side as well.