Log: A Brief History of the Silverbergs

[quicksmart]

[ Agnes is carrying a tray with a plate of biscuits and a pot of tea neatly placed within it. She walks down a corridor before pausing at a door, taking a deep breath before knocking gently. Slung on her shoulder is a small satchel neatly filled with books and parchment. ]

Are you awake? Sir Caesar?

Comments

[quicksmart]

At the end of my path...?

[ That question causes her a lot of honest grief. She doesn't know where to begin! ]

Well... I really don't know...

[ She pauses, and then hides her face behind her tea for a couple of seconds. Then she sets the tea down and takes a deep breath. ]

Sir Caesar, what do you think is the nature of our time travel? Did we get plucked from all our respective times and disappear, or do you think there's another me out there that continued to live on in the Scarlet Moon Empire until death?

[aloof_savant]

[ He takes note of her concern, wondering if he caused it himself. ]

Well, it's hard for me to say... I have zero experience in time travel, but the loose concept of it doesn't escape me. I don't think another "you" could have continued to exist... because what would that make you now? Some clone? Now that's creepy.

You seem burdened. Did you find yourself mentioned in any records of history after your supposed disappearance?

[quicksmart]

You said there were two Vikis, did you not?

[ She almost -- almost! -- looks on the verge of tears, because this is a huge deal to her, but then she blinks it away and keeps a straight face. ]

That is the problem I've been facing since I began reading through all these books. I can't find any mention of my existence anywhere following the Island Liberation war.

[aloof_savant]

It's true, but that could only be possible if one of them came from the future, assuming that they even are the same person. I imagine the same would happen if you were to go back in time to five minutes ago, don't you think?

[ He doesn't read her poker face this time, thinking Agnes is dealing with this better than how she actually is. ]

Then I would take that as confirmation that you simply ceased to exist for a long time. However, if that theory is true, it spells even worse news for you..

...

[ He seems hesitant to continue now, imagining Apple scolding him for not being tactful when dealing with hard issues. ]

[quicksmart]

Worse news? ... Go on...

[ She isn't quite sure where he is going with this, probably because she's expending much of her concentration on maintaining her composure rather than thinking through what he's saying. She clenches her fists imperceptibly. ]

[aloof_savant]

It's just... something I've been thinking about. The others don't seem to have figured it out, yet.

...

Given that your current goal is to find a way back to your time, and there seems to be no mention of you in history records, it's... very likely that you and your friends never found a way to return. At least not to that specific time. It would have taken a giant miracle to begin with.

[quicksmart]

[ She gasps, quickly moving her hand to cover her mouth, her other fist clenching harder around her skirt. Agnes goes quiet for a long moment, eyes unfocused as she runs through the scenario. Yes, with his logic, that would appear to make sense, but... ]

You... you don't know that that's how it works, though! Maybe I go back and things here change. Maybe we all go back and this never happens.

[ She looks at him almost imploringly, testing her theory out. ]

Would that be possible?

[aloof_savant]

Who knows?

If you go back and change this future, the one you're in now, the one that would somehow allow you to go back, then what future could you have come from when you are in your time? I believe that would be called a "time paradox".

It's funny... My grandfather believes that Silverbergs have the power to change the course of history, but if you could do that... if you could find a way to go back in time, that alone would make you more powerful than his legacy. ...Wouldn't that be interesting?

[ He takes another bite into his cookie, amused at the image of every Silverberg collectively groaning at Agnes for messing with history! ]

[quicksmart]

[ She definitely does not find this as amusing as he does, a look of distress still on her face. This situation was worse than she thought. She especially hates that this is something that can't be thought around or beaten through strategic thinking. ]

This... this is all too confusing.

We shouldn't jump to any conclusions so fast when we don't know how this works. We... we need to find Viki to make any sound theories.

[aloof_savant]

Hehe, you asked, I'm just being honest! [..And stubborn about his logic! ]

I'm sorry our first lesson took an unexpected turn into the occult.

[ He stands up, quickly dusting himself off any crumbs and offers her a hand. ]

Our next meeting will involve more tactics and an extensive history on the glorious Silverberg family. Really!

[quicksmart]

... Right. Yes, okay.

[ She takes his hand numbly and pulls herself up, straightening her skirt when she's upright. Oh Caesar, you have no idea how troubled she is now because of you! A bit of it shows through on her usually distant face. She forces a smile, though, leaning down to pick up the tea cups and plate. ]

... How were the cookies and tea? If you liked them, I will make more for next time.

[aloof_savant]

Agnes...

[ He wishes he had the right words of comfort to offer, but can only hope that being a pain in the ass will snap Agnes out of her funk. This isn't the strong-willed housekeeper that he knows. ]

Scalding hot tea aside, the cookies could have been a bit more plump.

[quicksmart]

[ She's busy putting down the stuff back onto the tray when she hears his remark, which forces a little smile out of her. ]

More plump? Are you looking to become more plump yourself? You already don't get very much exercise.

[ Nevertheless, she picks up a napkin from the tray, putting the rest of the cookies onto it and placing it on Caesar's super-messy desk. ]

[aloof_savant]

Didn't you know? Silverbergs burn calories purely with their big incandescent brains!

[ Visibly happy to see the cookies not be confiscated, even if half of them will end up being used as bookmarks BECUZ LAZY. ]

[quicksmart]

[ SHE'S GOING TO BE SO SAD WHEN SHE HAS TO CLEAN THAT UP. She speaks mildly, brushing her hands of any crumbs into the tray and picking the tray up. ]

I'm surprised you're not dead then, given how big your head is.

[ She turns to him and manages a curtsy with the tray in one hand. ]

Thank you for making time for me, Sir Caesar. I'm looking forward to our next session.

[aloof_savant]

[ BUT HE WILL STILL EAT THEM EVENTUALLY. ]

You seem to think of my demise quite often. How morbid...


Of course, Agnes! It was a deal, and I never go back on my word.

[quicksmart]

[ She smiles -- for real now! -- at the prospect of having another session and learning more cool new stuff! She has a mental note to go read everything she can about Mathiu Silverberg now, and this Shu fellow, and Apple! She makes her way to the door, and then turns around one last time. ]

Very well, then. Take care, and please be at least a little neat. I will come and clean your room again tomorrow morning.