I mean, it isn't unheard of. A Roman emperor banned human sacrifice as a practice, though it was largely a formality at that point, since it had become taboo over the years. Reformist leaders aren't uncommon.
[ As for her next question, he hesitates, uncertain of how to explain this. Then, slowly, ]
... Technically, yes. I've been there. But—
[ He pauses, huffing out a frustrated sort of breath. ]
I guess I was awake a while ago. But then I went back into one of those pods. [ And he gestures skyward, as if to gesture toward the stasis units on Thesa Station. ] And I don't remember a single thing about being here.
[That gets her attention. She turns to him, her expression a mix of sympathy and curiosity.] ...I see.
That's very... interesting. Perhaps going back into the pods affects one's memory somehow? I can't imagine why they'd do it intentionally-- what purpose it would serve.
[She taps the bottom of her chin.] At any rate, I imagine that must be fairly frustrating for you.
“Frustrating.” [ And he huffs out a quiet, humorless laugh. ] Yeah. Sort of.
[ Mostly, it pisses him off. But then again, what doesn’t, these days? If it manages to get under his skin (and the chances of that are extremely high, given his mood lately), then he tends to overreact, get angry. He’s doing a little better, now that he has a task in front of him, but that fact that he has no recollection of this place, despite a handful of people insisting he had been around, is daunting.
He doesn’t want anyone messing with his head. Not again, anyway. ]
I hear you get yanked back into a pod if you get sick or something. “The Storm acts unpredictably,” or whatever, so you might get hauled back in if it messes with you.
[ He glances up, and— okay, that totally validates the way he's been feeling too, which is why he says with feeling, ]
Yes. Thank you. I've been calling bullshit on it this whole time, but I just— dunno why they'd pop me back in a pod and wipe my head when I've got friends here who probably knew just as much as I did.
The charitable answer is that there genuinely is some aspect of the Storm that lingers on us and needs to be fixed, and the process of fixing it affects our memory.
I'm not particularly inclined to believe that charitable answer, but I can't exactly pinpoint an alternative explanation.
There's always the option that I somehow managed to find out some shady bit of information. Saw something I shouldn't. And instead of killing me, they just wiped my brain.
[ ... Peter has watched too many movies, obviously. ]
Not really sure. [ With a helpless little shrug, and he kicks at a few bones on the ground. ]
I mean, I don’t think so? A friend mentioned that when folks go back into those things, they end up with new memories. Dunno that anyone’s come back out of those things and came back out remembering less, like I did.
[ He lets out a slow breath, letting one hand drop to his side. With the other, he rubs at the back of his neck. He glances up at the sky, as if he could spot the folks in question. ]
Yeah. I trust those assholes about as far as I can throw 'em.
[ Peter’s all too used to assholes saying, “I saved your life,” when in reality, they’re the ones that ruined it by scooping you out of your old life in the first place.
(He frowns a little, thinking of Yondu.
That whole relationship is... complicated. Even more complicated, now, considering Yondu had been fighting alongside him before Peter woke up on the station. But that’s a thought for another time.) ]
How ‘bout I make a deal with you? You find out anything weird about our so-called rescuers, you let me know. And I’ll do the same for you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
diana cavendish;
[ don't be silly he totally loves... Earth history......... can't get enough of it........ . . . ]
Yeah. Maybe they just had a change of heart and were like, "You know that ritual murder thing? Weird, right? We should probably stop doing that."
[ it's nice to dream. ]
I guess we can ask someone in the town. Big thing like this so close to a city, I've gotta imagine someone knows what's up with this thing.
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Is there a city near here, then?
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You know a lot about history.
[ An idle sort of comment. ]
Pretty sure there is? Buddies were sayin' there's a place called Wyver near here. Another day out, or something like that.
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Wyver... I remember hearing that name. One of the primary kingdoms on the island, yes? Have you been yourself?
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It definitely shows.
[ As for her next question, he hesitates, uncertain of how to explain this. Then, slowly, ]
... Technically, yes. I've been there. But—
[ He pauses, huffing out a frustrated sort of breath. ]
I guess I was awake a while ago. But then I went back into one of those pods. [ And he gestures skyward, as if to gesture toward the stasis units on Thesa Station. ] And I don't remember a single thing about being here.
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That's very... interesting. Perhaps going back into the pods affects one's memory somehow? I can't imagine why they'd do it intentionally-- what purpose it would serve.
[She taps the bottom of her chin.] At any rate, I imagine that must be fairly frustrating for you.
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[ Mostly, it pisses him off. But then again, what doesn’t, these days? If it manages to get under his skin (and the chances of that are extremely high, given his mood lately), then he tends to overreact, get angry. He’s doing a little better, now that he has a task in front of him, but that fact that he has no recollection of this place, despite a handful of people insisting he had been around, is daunting.
He doesn’t want anyone messing with his head. Not again, anyway. ]
I hear you get yanked back into a pod if you get sick or something. “The Storm acts unpredictably,” or whatever, so you might get hauled back in if it messes with you.
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...to be honest, not very convincing an explanation. I find it even more wanting in terms of making us forget.
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Yes. Thank you. I've been calling bullshit on it this whole time, but I just— dunno why they'd pop me back in a pod and wipe my head when I've got friends here who probably knew just as much as I did.
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I'm not particularly inclined to believe that charitable answer, but I can't exactly pinpoint an alternative explanation.
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[ ... Peter has watched too many movies, obviously. ]
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But you aren't the only person this has happened to, I imagine. Unless you are?
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I mean, I don’t think so? A friend mentioned that when folks go back into those things, they end up with new memories. Dunno that anyone’s come back out of those things and came back out remembering less, like I did.
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Either way, that's... troubling.
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I remember the destruction of my world. How could I form additional memories afterwards?
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It's as much a mystery to you as it is to me.
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I do think that it would be prudent to approach the Nytha with some measure of caution-- and be judicious in how much of our trust we offer.
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Yeah. I trust those assholes about as far as I can throw 'em.
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But there's more to this story that we aren't being told. I'm sure of that.
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[ Peter’s all too used to assholes saying, “I saved your life,” when in reality, they’re the ones that ruined it by scooping you out of your old life in the first place.
(He frowns a little, thinking of Yondu.
That whole relationship is... complicated. Even more complicated, now, considering Yondu had been fighting alongside him before Peter woke up on the station. But that’s a thought for another time.) ]
How ‘bout I make a deal with you? You find out anything weird about our so-called rescuers, you let me know. And I’ll do the same for you.
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I don't see any harm in that. [She says, glancing once more back at him.] In that case, I suppose we should introduce ourselves, shouldn't we?
Diana Cavendish.
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[ What folks? Why would they do that? Can Peter get them to stop?
These questions and more. ]
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Which "folks" do that?