10-08-2017, 11:34 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-09-2017, 07:52 AM by Kelly MacAryn.
Edit Reason: a few words needed changing for clarity's sake.
)
The traveler tilted his head to one side in an almost bird-like gesture of interest. Given the professed nature of Tearen's undertaking here in the Green, it wasn't exactly surprising that the Enigma asked for proof of honest intent - Kelly certainly wouldn't share his own knowledge and techniques with anyone whose motives he didn't trust. Somehow though, he'd anticipated something less... gnomic.
It's an interesting didactic method. He learns something about me, and in order to answer well I have to learn something about myself; At least, I'd assume that's the idea. I doubt he'll accept an obvious answer...
I wonder if he's asked everyone else who came here the same thing?
More importantly, what the hell am I going to say?
Kelly closed his eyes and exhaled softly, his predatory countenance settling for a moment into a mask of calm introspection while his mind raced. One corner of his mouth twitched. Behind him, at the edge of the clearing, something skittered through the brush.
Somebody - I can't remember who, but I have a strong feeling they were an asshole - said that a man is little more than the sum of his experience; I don't know that he was entirely wrong, but the idea needs some re-evaluation. Better than two-thirds of my past remains lost to me, but I retain a variety of very prominent and unusual personality traits. I have strong feelings about the way the world should be, and what my role in it is, and I act on them with calm deliberation in spite of the lack of a clear origin.
I suppose it could be said that I am the things I do, and how - not what I've been, and why. The two paradigms are connected, but if coming to the Omniverse with my mind so addled has proven anything, its that they certainly aren't the same.
The question isn't necessarily 'who are you?': It could also be 'what are you doing?'.
I'd like to say I'm bringing about a tidal shift in the way this place's political superpowers govern themselves - but that's a long term goal. I'm not going to topple the Emperor next week, or even next year.
I'd like to say I'm pursuing the basic elements of a long-term strategy, but I've been reacting lately more than I've been acting, and while ingratiating myself with the Darkshire garrison makes for an important fallback, its more of a lateral move - and this Nebula business is just a plain old crisis.
So what have I been doing?
I've been travelling; I've been to more than half the 'verses now.
I've been growing; my power increases as my body adapts and my mind expands.
I've been learning; Everywhere I go, everyone I meet, I discover something useful.
I've been preparing; Even if my overall progress has stalled, that doesn't mean I can't refine the plan.
I've been fighting; first in Darkshire, then here, applying my skills so that these little fishbowl-worlds will keep turning long enough to fix them.
And right now...?
I travel with intent, returning to where I began. I'm still learning and plotting as I go, preparing for what comes next; I seek knowledge, pursuing my goals, and acting as circumstances demand; I've sought out a more experienced Prime in order to learn from him, and add his knowledge and methods to my own.
I've thought of myself as a traveler, but at some point this 'detour' turned almost monastic. There's a word for all of that.
Kelly opened his eyes, straightened his neck. One of his vertebrae popped quietly. Only a moment had passed.
He said, "journeyman."
It's an interesting didactic method. He learns something about me, and in order to answer well I have to learn something about myself; At least, I'd assume that's the idea. I doubt he'll accept an obvious answer...
I wonder if he's asked everyone else who came here the same thing?
More importantly, what the hell am I going to say?
Kelly closed his eyes and exhaled softly, his predatory countenance settling for a moment into a mask of calm introspection while his mind raced. One corner of his mouth twitched. Behind him, at the edge of the clearing, something skittered through the brush.
Somebody - I can't remember who, but I have a strong feeling they were an asshole - said that a man is little more than the sum of his experience; I don't know that he was entirely wrong, but the idea needs some re-evaluation. Better than two-thirds of my past remains lost to me, but I retain a variety of very prominent and unusual personality traits. I have strong feelings about the way the world should be, and what my role in it is, and I act on them with calm deliberation in spite of the lack of a clear origin.
I suppose it could be said that I am the things I do, and how - not what I've been, and why. The two paradigms are connected, but if coming to the Omniverse with my mind so addled has proven anything, its that they certainly aren't the same.
The question isn't necessarily 'who are you?': It could also be 'what are you doing?'.
I'd like to say I'm bringing about a tidal shift in the way this place's political superpowers govern themselves - but that's a long term goal. I'm not going to topple the Emperor next week, or even next year.
I'd like to say I'm pursuing the basic elements of a long-term strategy, but I've been reacting lately more than I've been acting, and while ingratiating myself with the Darkshire garrison makes for an important fallback, its more of a lateral move - and this Nebula business is just a plain old crisis.
So what have I been doing?
I've been travelling; I've been to more than half the 'verses now.
I've been growing; my power increases as my body adapts and my mind expands.
I've been learning; Everywhere I go, everyone I meet, I discover something useful.
I've been preparing; Even if my overall progress has stalled, that doesn't mean I can't refine the plan.
I've been fighting; first in Darkshire, then here, applying my skills so that these little fishbowl-worlds will keep turning long enough to fix them.
And right now...?
I travel with intent, returning to where I began. I'm still learning and plotting as I go, preparing for what comes next; I seek knowledge, pursuing my goals, and acting as circumstances demand; I've sought out a more experienced Prime in order to learn from him, and add his knowledge and methods to my own.
I've thought of myself as a traveler, but at some point this 'detour' turned almost monastic. There's a word for all of that.
Kelly opened his eyes, straightened his neck. One of his vertebrae popped quietly. Only a moment had passed.
He said, "journeyman."