0̶1̶

[nulland]

Sender: Rob
To: All
Subject: The Past

So, is it normal for things to suddenly jump backwards in time here? I see that these books are still some kind of weird email/letter combination with a throwback pen, but other than that this is pretty different from what I saw a few weeks ago.

I'd mostly like to know if it's a good idea to stock up on things that may not be available later. You know, non-perishable food, soap, explosives, that sort of thing.

Comments

Sender: Herlock Sholmes

[thegamesafoot]

Blast! You've just reminded me: I had intended to stock up on pistol rounds whilst technology was still more advanced. However, whether they—or any other supplies—would have persisted in the backwards shift, I cannot confidently say.

If I may be so bold, Mr Rob, what need have you for explosives?

[nulland]

[It's a good thing this is text because the look he's giving that name...]

Darn, that's true. It's definitely possible for things to be completely erased like they never existed.

Nothing right now, but you never know when you might need them.

[Which, at the time of sending this, is actually true!]

[thegamesafoot]

[ Another victim of the litigious Doyle estate. ]

Agreed. They're a fine way for an enterprising young man to clear a rock slide, dig a mine, or otherwise pass his idle time.

As to the other supplies you've mentioned, I find food and most necessities in ready supply. You'll find most of us well-fed and properly bathed.

[ A moment's pause, then: ]

What is "email"?

[ If he were physically present to pose the question, he might pronounce this "eh-mail." In fact, he is doing that right now as he writes it in his journal. ]

[nulland]

Among others things, yeah. [Pause.] Do rock slides happen a lot here?

Good to know. I was hoping to avoid smelling an era before basic hygiene.

[He has to think about that question. Honestly, people not knowing about email isn't that crazy to him, but he's still never explained it before.]

It's kind of like this, but instead of a book it's a screen and you write with

[Another pause.]

yeah I don't know how to explain a keyboard if you've never heard of one.

[thegamesafoot]

Given the variety of things that do happen here, I would not rule out the odd rock slide. Always be prepared, my dear fellow!

[ The reference to a "screen" trips him up more. Is it some kind of mesh? A partition? What does that have to do with a keyboard? He doesn't allow himself to get too hung up on it, though. ]

A keyboard—like that on a typewriter, I assume? If I may ask, what is your year of origin?

[nulland]

Oh. Right. That is what I'm trying to do here, you know.

[Rob is pleasantly surprised, not that you can write that tone easily.]

Actually yes. Exactly like that. And it was 2019 before whenever this is.

[thegamesafoot]

The year 2019! I'm well over a century ahead of you, Mr Rob. Around the turn of the 20th, to be precise!

I expect you will be missing all manner of modern conveniences—flying automobiles, books that read themselves, mechanical butlers! This humble town must seem quite repulsively primitive to your futuristic sensibilities.

Sender: Hythlodaeus

[nomoresharks]

[That's not a concerning list at all.]

Are you expecting some sort of catastrophic event in the near future?

[nulland]

No. I just don't know what to expect from this place. Especially if it suddenly changes overnight like this.

[And that totally explains his list, right? ...Right?]

[nomoresharks]

A not wholly unreasonable worry, I confess. Though I still have my doubts as to the need to prepare to that extent.

Dare I ask what you intend for the explosives?

[nulland]

Hey it's not that crazy. It's definitely better than finding yourself with nothing.

No idea. They do turn out to be useful more often than you think though.

Sender: Hunter

[hashtagwoof]

Yeah, no. We didn't all go back in time, we went FORWARDS in time last month. We get something weird every other month or so... Like, really weird. Brace yourself.

Anyway, the merchants here operate on the barter system, so it's not like stockpiling stuff is really necessary. Could be useful though.

Why explosives tho??

[nulland]

So what, it's just random time traveling every few weeks here? Also nothing here could be weirder than anything I've already had to deal with.

Oh. Good to know. Thanks. I thought I should be prepared if I have to be.

Why not explosives?

[hashtagwoof]

Less time traveling, more getting thrown into different dream worlds and having to blend in. It gets really weird.

Also, dude, you can't just have explosives stockpiled with the other stuff. People will think you're sus.

[nulland]

[It takes him a bit to respond as thinks things over.]

Okay fine, that does sound weird. How much are we expected to blend in?

You can't do much about what people think or don't think. Plus I'm not hording them together. For one because apparently I don't need to and I don't think I need food to explode any time soon.

[Has he needed it to explode before? Yes.]

[hashtagwoof]

IDK we only have to blend in while we're in a dreamscape. Here you can just do whatever I guess.

But, like, why do you need exploding stuff in the first place?

[nulland]

Yeah that didn't actually answer my question.

Clearing away stones, destroying your nemesis, starting a fire if you're really desperate. There are reasons!

[hashtagwoof]

[ That question is going unanswered because the "destroying your nemesis" is getting underlined and circled. ]

OK WHAT THE HECK IS THAT???

[ "That" has an arrow drawn to the circled bit. For emphasis. You weirdo. ]

sender: sora

[oathkeeper]

ummmm things are kind of weird like that sometimes, yeah. but you sort of start to get used to weird things happening after a while?

i don't think you need to stock up on stuff like you're going to wake up in the apocalypse or anything, though! if you need something, you can just ask!

[nulland]

Actually, weird is not that weird to me. Just trust me. Never had to deal with time traveling before though.

I'm pretty sure it's not actually that simple, but good to know.

[oathkeeper]

if weird is not that weird to you then you'll be just fine here haha!

but seriously, if you need something im pretty sure someone can help you or you can use dreammotion to at least get you in the right direction.

[nulland]

OK, mind explaining what the heck you're talking about, then? How can someone dreammotion? You mean sleepwalking?

[oathkeeper]

nope not sleepwaking! i mean dream-emotion! it's a type of magic that we can all learn and use here!

uh how to explain it...

have you ever had a dream where you could dream up whatever you wanted? like dreaming up a giant piece of bubble gum? or had a dream that you had wings and could fly?

well you can actually do stuff like that here

[nulland]

Unless you mean you can do that while you're awake, that's pretty lame honestly.

[oathkeeper]

yeah, i mean when you're awake! you can dream things into real life! here!