>> 148970:
"Time traveler" fringe conspiracy theory gains unexpected traction after reveal of archived high-resolution scans of pre-Impact prose, critters, and cultural icons! "We didn't have scanners this detailed before Valkyrie Cores came along."
For all that the in-story forum feed is supposed to be something of a played-up joke, this has some legitimate seriousness to it. The notion of Cadet Hebert being some kind of time traveler was already beset by insidious suspicions that it might somehow actually be true even despite how utterly ridiculous it should be. How there is apparently also some circumstantial evidence that indeed actually supports it. Granted, Valkyries have a hefty threshold for bullshit normalcy when they can do things like make Jurassic Park realistic, so Symbie may have some
other extreme explanation for the high-detail pre-Impact data, but that same capacity for making realised the absurd and surreal also works both ways, too, with a tolerance for suspension of disbelief for any sort of ridiculousness. Perhaps Symbie is capable of modeling things well enough to accurately portray the kind of resolution capable of Valkyrie instruments; with the abilities shown thus far, that would be less surprising than it really should be. On the other hand, though, when taken into consideration with Cadet Hebert blatantly getting cagey about being a time traveler and having a psychological profile suggesting a relevance of some kind of literal technicalities, the idea of her giving evidence conflatable with some sort of temporal shenanigans because there
were in fact some sort of temporal shenanigans is likewise a lot less of a stretch than it by all rights should be.
Queen Administrator did not know why heated blankets were not standard components of human beds. They were wonderfully warm, fuzzy, and helped conceal her state of combat readiness from observers within the cafeteria. The blanket's supplementary metal plating would do little to stop a proper attack, but it would at least block a casual kinetic strike from a baseline human. She would need to make a Friend version at some point.
I see this going adorable and awkward places in the future. For one thing, QA now has an eminently important point to bring up with Anna in discussing something of mutual interest for some serious qualitative upgrades to Anna's bedding nest. Why should she make do with merely wrapping herself up in a cocoon of conventional blankets when extra warm and fuzzy
heated blankets are a thing? Of course, just as a heated blanket is markedly superior to an ordinary blanket, a heated blanket
Friend would be even better! Also of course, however, people may read a bit into QA giving Anna a blanket, Anna herself included, and yet Anna could stand to be quite conflicted over denying such a provision. Additionally, if QA had a heated blanket Friend, she would presumably be keen to make use of said heated blanket Friend and have it available, and noting the present but entirely mediocre armouring qualities of the regular heated blanket suggests that the Friend version might be a great deal more protective and thus have appreciable practical value in having at hand... which means that she's totally going to go around wearing a cape, and maybe Anna too.
Unfortunately, having Tamara's arms encircle QA Host's body did make subtle weapon extrusion considerably more difficult. QA didn't want to shake the Valkyrie off, either. The contact wasn't unpleasant; it was merely embarrassing. Observers would be well aware that QA was in a state where comfort was necessary.
Queen Administrator knew that Host had not been receiving adequate physical comfort, of course. It was part of why she'd originally planned to give Host control over small creatures. Host could have been covered with tiny sources of tiny hugs at all times without revealing the exploitable state of weakness to others. Instead, the entire cafeteria got to see QA's display of weakness and the ensuing attempts at comfort from Tamara. Symbie had even temporarily suspended sensor privileges to make watchers harder to notice.
Where Taylor unironically went through an atrocity checklist in making the too-successful dreamland version of a haunted house, QA is giving an impression of likewise having a comprehensive checklist for her therapy needs. Being comforted makes her uncomfortable. This is getting to the point that the joking about her therapists needing therapists is looking like it might very well actually be a serious development in-story, because the further the story goes, the more it seems as though perhaps Hell's Hand really did just go through a list in subjecting Cadet Hebert to everything, and the only real inaccuracy is that Hell's Hand was responsible. I'm not sure that Doctor Rayne will actually be QA's therapist when the time actually comes, because the very act of trying to prepare for her therapy might be too devastating. Even if Doctor Rayne does make it to a first therapy session, she might not be able to stick around any longer if she gets QA to open up to her.
Also progressing more and more is Symbie's participation in helping QA, too. The people here are good at noticing things, so I kind of wonder if helping QA might become something of a formal joint venture.
An involuntary, high-pitched noise escaped her in the moment before she regained adequate control of Host's airways.
Friend-unit Epona was uncertainly walking across their cafeteria table with low-traction silver socks and a matching sweater. Human aesthetic values seemed to agree that it fit the definition of "cute." An examination of the surrounding table indicated that other Friend units were being dressed in a wide range of different clothing styles by their respective owners. Multiple varieties of hat were in evidence, and QA had yet to try most of them. She did not know if the use of hats was deliberate. She hoped it wasn't; she'd forgotten about the abilities that they could grant Friends and had little to no acceptable explanation for some of their potential powers.
Pfft! Friend fashion show! Because why not! A bunch of Valkyries who
are Valkyries and in many cases may even have fabricators in their hammerspace pockets can get up to all kinds of shenanigans at a moment's notice. Cafeteria tables are perfectly suitable fashion runways, and there are Friends to show off!
I'm doubtful that the hat powers will go unnoticed for long, though. These are the same people who did things like seeing what might result from dunking a Friend in holy water, and they're insatiably curious, in addition to possessed of considerable sensor arrays. Some of the hat powers may even have perfectly blatant effects, such as activating some glowing breaker state made of singing purple fire or whatever, or promptly making everyone terrified of the Friend, with it switching on and off as the Friend's Valkyrie plays with the hat... before coming to the straightforward conclusion to see what happens with a
different hat. I doubt secrecy will last the day. Still, I think QA might be in a better position than she thinks, because while people might be confused as to
how hats grant Friends hat powers, I wouldn't be surprised if they chalk up the why of it to simply QA
wanting her Friends to get superpowers when she puts hats on them; Cadet Hebert is definitely quirky, but the human element deserves due consideration.
The scenario here really does show some stark disparity, though. One moment, Cadet Hebert is all wrapped up in her blanket cocoon and hugs cooing over something cute, probably with her face lit up at the sight of the dressed-up Friend. Everyone sees it and agrees that it's adorable. She
also cuts herself off and switches back to being completely blank, though, which reframes the other details as well. That's... just all kinds of disturbing.
"I leave her alone for ten fucking minutes! Ten! And she has a full-fledged–"
"Sssh. Have another drink, Shapira."
"N-no, I should really stop and sober up. I don't want to leave her alone again."
"Eh, she's in good hands. Look, she's in the cutest blanket cocoon! So drink up and relax, alright?"
"As one of the only completely sober people here, I feel as though I shouldn't be allowing the ongoing peer pressure. But honestly, this shit is hilarious."
Ouch. Some of the instructors are really bad at playing the part of demanding hardasses. Shapira handled Koujirou and Setsuna well enough, but it really is something of a facade. I think a lot of older Valkyries might be sort of glass cannons when it comes to social matters. With experience comes a potential for getting used to things, sure, but also a lot of landmines to
need coping, and this latest incident could be pretty harsh for Shapira. Here she has a promising new cadet who is basically an adorable woobie, and
right after she takes her eyes off of the girl and thinks that all is looking up, her student has a complete breakdown and tries to kill herself. It may not be Shapira's fault, but telling herself that probably doesn't make her feel any better. QA is a memetic trauma hazard.
"Setsuna, do you even realize that you're losing an argument with a talking unicorn?" Koujirou questioned, grinning from ear to ear.
"I am not losing!" Setsuna began hotly.
Koujirou unhelpfully contributed, "You really are."
On a lighter note, I notice that Setsuna isn't denying the very fact that she's arguing with a talking unicorn in the first place.
Slightly more seriously, though, it also makes for a rather interesting point. Silver is indeed a talking unicorn, and Setsuna was more incredulous over just what exactly it was saying before getting angry over it than she was about Silver's actual capacity for speech. Apparently she's adapting to her new circumstances, because talking unicorns are normal enough to not be her priority.
What amuses me most is that this is actually their most effective method to-date. The kitten folder was also a nice touch.
They have a number of people who are good enough to do some serious snooping, and some of the especially sensitive information may be valued as simply great enough stakes even if at low risks for robust security measures to warrant such additional measures. Asking politely so that people choose to refrain from being a problem can make for some very convenient prevention. The redirect also works well for multiple purposes, too. Anyone who closed the file after indeed reading it may very well need something like the kitten folder, but even for those who might do as Anna did, it could alternatively make for a not unwelcome distraction just in case someone might be conflicted and perhaps considering changing their mind in that critical moment.
Does this mean she can unintentionally intercept and decode some antagonist transmissions?
That seems a very realistic consideration. While Anna might find it troublesome more for highlighting annoying spelling mistakes of spoken words most of the time, that she might pick up on things not meant for her seems an entirely plausible. Even her dumbed-down version of shard communication protocols is in her assessment secure against Antagonist interception, and the evidence suggests that she's probably quite right. If she's running such a superior communication method, it might intercept and make understandable Antagonist transmissions without her realising that any such transmissions are actually present beforehand, which could at a turn utterly change perception of the enemy. Anna is a credible source by UN reckoning, and she's likely to in fact report such an incident. The UN may not care as much about someone in her position effectively having unlimited security clearance, but understanding that the Antagonists are not just "the faceless antagonist" would make for quite the change.
Shardspeak is fun in bits, but I'm sorry, it would be a god awful reading experience for us if it gets more prevalent. Especially with the PCC's rapid fire clutter dialogue, where you couldn't have someone else's thoughts acting as interpreter for all of it, as we do when Silver is talking to Anna for example.
I suppose it'd depend on the portrayal. A scene might perhaps play out as something that is
supposed to be exclusionary to the viewpoint character, maybe.
Are any of these photos of mini Sir Kara?
Nah, that's after QA is given leave for Higgs shenanigans.
Only six? Well, if you mean six bottles/barrels/insert bigger storage container here each, then maybe.
I am reminded of the extra fancy teakettle that featured in Hell's Hand. Valkyries being Valkyries, I kind of wonder just what some of them might from time to time indulge that is just kind of silly and over the top. Morale offers an expansive excuse and does actually kind of have a point despite being an excuse. I could honestly see someone coming up with a beer bottle that is bigger on the inside, and possibly self-replenishing.
*insert even more horror over "Rose's" supposed mental trauma piled on her so much so she doesn't even acknowledge her real name, instead choosing to respond to her designation*
Also, lol. Weirdly mirrors Anne's issues over her name.
Mm. The name issues could be interpreted as something of a rejection. In Anna's case, while I suspect that part of it is just a matter of her kind of just being shy, a feeling that she shouldn't be referred to as someone that others should look up to and hold as special might be a factor as well on account of her hang-ups over the deaths of everyone back home. For QA, though, one could definitely be forgiven for wondering if Cadet Hebert has some kind of dissociation, be it a case of genuinely not recognising her supposed past self as in fact herself or not
wanting to do so. With the portrayal of Hell's Hand, it makes plenty of sense.
