TheStarsAreRight:MaxineNote2
redland_jack: [Around 6:00 AM, EST, Maxx feels a slight tickle at the back of her mind...] Figured I'd try green for 'in character'. See if that's easier to follow....
maxx_scott: Excusing myself to some place where I can drool safely if I must. "Hello?"
redland_jack: Hey, Ms. Scott... er, Maxx. How are you doing? Is this a good time?
redland_jack: Er... It's me, Redland... though I guess you probably know that already...
maxx_scott: Hi there. How are you? I hope I didn't upset you when we last spoke?
redland_jack: No, no. I hope I didn't sound too odd... um, odder than usual. I've had some things on my mind that have been weighing me down. Are you still here in New York?
maxx_scott: I am. I should be here a bit longer as far as I know. Are you here a while too?
redland_jack: Hmmm. It's a bit hard to say. I'd like to stay here, but I feel somewhat obligated to go to Nevada for that St. Mar thing. I mean, I told him I'd come, so...
maxx_scott: "You are in contact with him? I know a couple people would be interested to speak with him if you think he'd oblige?"
redland_jack: Well, I was in contact with him. I met him briefly on Skull Island. He was impressed with my incredible charisma and intellect (or maybe he is a crazy, lonely, old man). He asked me if I'd come to Nevada in mid-August to help him with his experiment.
redland_jack: I'd indicated that I might be able to help him communicate with the Outside...
maxx_scott: Do you enoy the commicating with the others? Is that your talent?
redland_jack: Hmmm. Talent might be a strong term. I've been willing... and that seems sufficient. As to enjoying it. Eh, not so much. I think it may be killing me. Or at least, damaging me fairly severely.
maxx_scott: I am going to pry - and please tell me to figuratively step back if I am but...how damaging is it to speak with Them?
redland_jack: I think it effects people differently. I've tended to have a fairly mild reaction to them, as it goes. My problem has largely (probably) been due to repeated exposure. In my case, the damage has been, to date, strictly mental. My memory is pretty dicey. For others... redland_jack: the effect has been both physical and mental in nature. The last time I spoke to one, Prometheus is what I call him, Rebecca almost died. redland_jack: I don't think it is anything they are doing intentionally, but they are so very ... alien.
maxx_scott: And bent on our submission, no?
redland_jack: Not particularly, I don't think. Perhaps some are. I've only spoken to a couple of them. The sense I get, is that they are more ... indifferent(?) ... I'm not sure that's the right word. Um. It was so much malice that seemed to be a motivating force. redland_jack: [I meant to say, NOT so much malice]
maxx_scott: (got it) maxx_scott: "Edward...spoke of a careless capricious nature that sees itself as itself without too much hinderance about good or evil. But I countered they all, Others. seem to know when we are in distress and I think they thrive on it a little
redland_jack: That is ... possible. Prometheus certainly seemed eager enough to 'eat souls'. Again, I think not 'evilly', exactly. He just didn't appear to understand the notion of not doing so. It left me a touch dispirited. I do get the feeling, to some extent, that they are more curious, than anything else. It may be that they enjoy the feeling of distress, since it is not something they (as far as I can tell) feel. redland_jack: Certainly Prometheus did not seem terribly distressed to have been chained up for many years. redland_jack: A bit put out, perhaps.
maxx_scott: (LOL) maxx_scott: You see them as friends? Or as interesting creatures?
redland_jack: I had hoped that we might be able to come to some sort of accord. That they might be (sort of) like a foreign nation. They might have many valuable things to share with us. There would seem to be a lot we could learn. redland_jack: I would certainly like to avoid any sort of hostilities, if at all possible.
maxx_scott: You think they could be friendly? Even being neaar them seems to cause ill effects - I tend to think in my most begnin thoughts...that we are allergic to them.
redland_jack: Their alien nature would appear to make it difficult to associate with them in a face-to-face manner. There does appear to be ways around this, though how palatable these ways would be, is less clear, as I recently learned. However, even without being able to meet physically, we could conceivably have a fruitful relationship with them, through long-distance communication. redland_jack: All that being said, I am less sure than I used to be that this will be possible.
maxx_scott: You've seen some contrary evidence firs hand? I don't mean to pry but you have a very different view and I appreciate learning it.
redland_jack: From my talks with Prometheus, it seems that it will be difficult to ... keep them in check. I think some of them could be dealt with. For instance, the Dark Pharaoh seems, to some extent, to be human-like.
redland_jack: However, Prometheus seems a bit more like ... well, I'm not sure if I'd want to say an animal or child-like mentality, but maybe more like a force of nature.
maxx_scott: He is quiet human like in his appearance usally maxx_scott: ( dark pharoah comment)
redland_jack: Yes. He also seems to behave in a way that one could ascribe 'human-like' motives to. Most usefully, he can exercise restraint. I am not certain that Outsiders of Prometheus's type can.
redland_jack: Or, as I say, it's not so much that he won't exercise restraint, but that he doesn't even understand the concept. redland_jack: On the other hand, I think they can learn rapidly. It may be that, the more I talk to him, and possibly the more I give him, the more he'll be able to behave in a human-like fashion. redland_jack: Of course, if we're having a difficult time normalizing relations with the Fae, it may be next to impossible to get people to seek an accord with the far more alien Outsiders.
maxx_scott: Yes and I don't think the few speak for all. Keep in mind Edward has very clear thoughts and different rationale. Beyond the part that may have been terrorized by his experience he was also before he ..."met them" he was....whats ther term? Conditioned for dealing with them. I do onder if that is how he surived. maxx_scott: I think it is great if you can find common ground to speak and make understand selves maxx_scott: but I've been told they can be canny. It would be awful if they only became more familiar with or through you to reach some dark conclusion. Please don't get me wrong, I think peace is always possible - just not if both parties do not understand it agree on the definition and desire it
redland_jack: Ah. Yes. I heard something about this conditioning recently. In regards to Lawrence Eveling. Although I'm not certain they were identical situations. I've also heard that the Chinese have a way of 'hardening' themselves to deal with the Outsiders. But yes, even though I am less optimistic in my hopes for peaceful relations between us and the Outsiders, I still strive for understanding and perhaps some type of coexistence.
maxx_scott: At the cost of your own existence? maxx_scott: ( if you can catch emotion this is not asked harshly its gentle toned)
redland_jack: Well, yes, there is always that to consider. I don't always make the best decisions, and, in particular, since I've been involved in 'The Struggle', I think I've made more than my share of foolish choices. Perhaps, in part, due to mental fatigue from dealing with the Outsiders.. Or maybe that's just an excuse.
maxx_scott: None of us do. We all do the best we can in the moment with the information and goals we have at that time. I just meant was that something yu were prepared to do?
redland_jack: I ... don't know. I'd like to think so, but it's difficult for me to ascertain what I'd do when faced with the prospect of my own extinction. Hmmm. Probably yes. The benefit seems high enough to be worth the cost.
maxx_scott: You are incredibly honest to youself. Which is a good thing
redland_jack: Hmmm. Maybe. Sometimes, I think that maybe knowing your own flaws too well can be paralyzing. It may be the case that a certain amount of self-delusion is actually better. Regardless, I think it may be moot. I'm, sadly, started to come around to the notion that we may have to do battle with the Outsiders, in some capacity, at least.
maxx_scott: I think if only to prove we are not merely gnats to it's eperience but peers, you may be right.
redland_jack: Oh. To that end, I need to tell you that we (by which I mainly mean me and Henrik) ....
redland_jack: have, to some extent, moved more thoroughly to supporting Pentheus. I know that your group is not terribly thrilled with that prospect. I still hope to convice you otherwise, but I want you to know where we're heading, so that it doesn't come as a surprise to you.
