revenance_comms | 001 [video]

[Jeeves inclines his head.] A most wise decision, sir. They have capabilities well-suited to facing the enemies endemic to this plane of reality.

I am from a country called England on the planet Earth. I must confess, your name is most foreign to me, as well, though it does bring to mind an historical gentleman of Japanese origin with which I am somewhat familiar. I am afraid the history of Europe and the new world has captured more of my academic focus than the Far East.

I suppose our years of origin may also be relevant. The nature of this dreamscape has allowed the integration of persons from many eras and worlds. I hail from 1925 on my world. Where and when are you from, sir?

Edited 2014-03-08 04:33 (UTC)

Oh, I'm afraid it's a common name! May I ask what the family name is of the man you're thinking of? I am Japanese, of course, and it is the first year of Genji. 1925 -- what a big number! -- that's the foreign calendar, isn't it?

And England, let me see, I've certainly heard of it, but I don't know very much about geography!

It's on the other side of the world, isn't that right? Far west of China?

Okita, I believe, sir. I would have to check the books in my library at home to be certain. [Which is a little irksome, but he doesn't imagine it's that important to have the full details. 'Genji' strikes him as something that does not sound modern.] And yes, we do employ the Gregorian calendar where I live. Hmm... perhaps a better way to determine relative times would be to ask who your emperor is, at present. I am familiar with the current ruler in my time, Emperor Taishō.

England is a significant distance beyond China, beyond Russia and the Ural Mountain Range, and north across the English Channel. I reside on another continent entirely from you if our worlds happen to align in geography, if not time.

[This person knows of him? From England, and knows of him? Souji isn't sure if that's flattering, or just bizarre. In either case, it seems it was a good idea to introduce himself by his childhood name -- and he'll have to hurry past the question of what his family name might be...

Interesting, too, that the foreigner is asking after the Emperor. And by the wrong name.]

But you're speaking as though you've come from a different time! That can't be possible. Even if we're drawn into a dream by some sort of magic, no one can move into the past.

[Jeeves takes note of the man pressing on with other topics, but says nothing. It may be simple curiosity on his part for something more interesting than historical figures. Still, he files this away for later consideration.]

You will find, sir, that there are a great many impossible things here. Persons from worlds unrelated to Earth, animals like Ms. Pie that speak and understand as you or I would, humans with extraordinary magical powers that allow them to bend the very elements of nature to their will, and transformative magics that will rearrange your body in ways you cannot fathom without experiencing it. My apologies if that sounds overly-dramatic. I wish merely to impress upon you the dearth of matters that will conform to our conceptions of logic and reality here. I have met persons physically younger than myself who claim to have live in times 70 years or more into my future.

Edited 2014-03-08 06:44 (UTC)

But it's very hard to prove such a thing, isn't it? That one is truly from the future. After all, we don't know what might happen, so how could we know if it's all just a story?

I might say I'm from Japan of the future, and we fly to and from the moon with silk balloons, and build houses out of glass.

Ah, it's Emperor Komei, by the way, Jeeves-san. He has been on the throne for just a little more than eighteen years!

[Someone concerned with deception. Interesting. Jeeves' brow rises ever so slightly. That's something to explore. He's seen enough fantastic things here to have stretched his suspension of disbelief to the limit.]

Can you fathom what purpose dissembling about one's place and time of origin might serve, Mr. Soujirou? [His tone is one of a calculated curiosity. He's very interested in the answer the other man might provide and what it might say about him.] Maintaining a deception for any extended period when the pool of persons here includes a mare who can walk in dreams and those with senses and abilities beyond the grasp of mortals would, perhaps, prove difficult for all but a skilled charlatan.

That to one side, sir, I may have believed you if you said such things as silk balloons for stellar travel, and glass houses were possible in your reality. There are many represented here. The relative similarity of some is not a measure upon which I shall plan my own future actions once returned to my proper world. It is most fascinating to learn of the potential futures, however.

I can tell you with certainty that Emperor Komei is not on the throne in my world at my time. Whether you choose to believe that, sir, is of course, you prerogative. [He bows his head deferentially.]

Edited 2014-03-08 17:05 (UTC)

What purpose? Well, it might be fun!

[And as for what other purposes it would serve -- well, that would have to depend on who he wanted to convince.]

But you're right, it would be much too hard, so I have to admit there aren't any balloons and we still build with wood and stone. It's too bad, isn't it? The other story sounded much more interesting.

[He pauses, considering the device with eyes widening slightly, and then bows to it, quite a bit more deeply than Jeeves' head-bow.]

Oh, and I'm so sorry, Jeeves-san! I didn't even realize -- of course I wasn't calling you a liar. It's only that I don't know exactly what to believe about this place. It's all very strange.

[A prankster, then? Possibly. Someone who projects a childish attitude, if nothing else. Jeeves makes a mental note to keep an eye on the gentleman's public communications.] You enjoy practical pleasantries, then, sir? My employer is fond of such entertainment, as well, when it's not being directed against him. [Mr. Wooster, like most men, tends to take jokes more poorly when he's the butt end of them, after all.]

And I think a world of stone and wood might be very interesting, indeed, given architectural variety. The Oriental style is a most fascinating one, though, as I said, my experience with such cultures is limited.

Please do not trouble yourself, in any case, sir. I took no offense at the comment. You have my apologies, in turn, for making you think so. I can well understand an indisposition toward believing the words of a complete stranger. I would invite you simply to take in the world around you for a time. You may find any Pyrrhonistic ideals tend to waver when observing gentlemen leaping from clock towers and landing with no harm to their persons on the cobbled streets below.

Pyrrhon-who? "Practical"... I'm sorry, I don't understand.

But please, don't apologize, I was rude. I am going to have to learn a lot before I start to understand this place!

[He tilts his head thoughtfully to one side. It's clear this man isn't from Japan, no matter what knowledge he might have of the place, and since Souji is here now -- no matter how long it might be -- why not indulge his curiosity a little...?]

Instead of that, Jeeves-san, may I ask you about your home? Of course I've seen foreigners before in Edo after the black ships came, but I've never met anyone I could speak with so easily as you! I don't understand any English at all.

Pyrrhonistic, sir. A state of extreme skepticism deriving from the Greek philosopher Pyrrho, the father and founder of the school of skepticism during his time. [He rattles this off rote. It's become a habit to have to explain himself.]

In any case, you are very welcome to ask anything you would like, Mr. Soujirou. I would simply ask for the opportunity to inquire in turn. It is most fascinating to learn about cultures beyond one's own. You are from Edo, though? [His mouth tilts down in a thoughtful frown.] I believe I may have an explanation for the difference in the emperors we are familiar with, then. Edo is the name of the Japanese capitol in your time, is it not? That is an historical name in my time. It was renamed to Tokyo some 60 years previous.

In terms of languages, I must confess, I'm uncertain how we are communicating at all beyond magical interference. When you speak, I hear English. The only person with whom I have encountered a difficulty in communicating is the wolf, Amaterasu. She communicates in some form of written Japanese that I am only just beginning to learn to decipher.

Edited 2014-03-09 18:03 (UTC)

Oh.

I... Amaterasu? Are you very sure? She's a wolf?

[He'll get back to the rest of what you said in a moment, Jeeves, really he will; it's just that you've name-checked the supreme sun goddess and it may take him a few moments to recover.]

[Jeeves cocks his head.] There are several sapient animals here, sir. You have seen Ms. Pie. We made some great effort to ascertain Ms. Amaterasu's true name. [Great effort that involved spontaneous music and prancing that Jeeves still shudders to think about.] Are you familiar with her?

Well, yes, but -- [Flustered, he waves a hand.] I don't know her, but "Amaterasu," that is a goddess's name, and I wasn't expecting --

Of course it wouldn't be the goddess! But it's still a very strange choice of name.

You said that Edo had become the eastern capital ... sixty years ago, was it? Oh, and Jeeves-san, if you'll let me indulge myself in a little fortune-telling, how does Japan fare in your day?

She may be a goddess. We appear to have several present here, or those who might be named as such on their own worlds. Her Royal Highness Princess Luna rules the night, walks in dreams, and raises the moon in her homeland of Equestria. Her sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia, rules the day, and raises the sun. Several mythologies with which I am familiar would cast such roles as those of the gods.

Ms. Amaterasu does appear to have some extraordinary abilities beyond simple sapience. She can perform magic and has a most striking and fantastic appearance.

As for Japan... It fares as well as any country might be expected less than a decade on from the Great War. I do not wish to trouble you for a future that may not come to pass- [nor one that Soujirou might not live to see given his apparent age at the present] -but in my reality, in time, the world will become embroiled in a terrible and vast conflict touching many nations. Japan was an invaluable ally in the fight against the men who sought to bring Europe to heel. I'm given to understand Japan itself is flourishing and moving toward some form of democratic society given His Imperial Majesty Emperor Taisho's relative frailty.

Then we've remained open to the world after all... but of course, with war, isolation is not always a winning strategy!

And your country? It sounds as though you were victors in that war.

[He shakes his head.] -- I'm only a swordsman, not a priest. I can't say much about gods, but I do think I will have to meet both of them!

If nothing else, perhaps I could read her writing for you?

Indeed, sir. [Jeeves nods briefly.] England and the Allies 'sent the Huns packing' is, I believe, the preferred description of the final outcome.

You are a swordsman, though? I saw you mentioned to Mr. Aeleus 'napping on duty.' Are you a soldier or a member of the local police force in Edo, then?

I can highly recommend both the princesses and Ms. Amaterasu's company. They are all most charming ladies. [Which is about all he's going to say about them on an open communication.] If you can read Ms. Amaterasu's writing, that would, no doubt, be a boon to all who wish to communicate with her, though she does have a singular talent for art and expression that conveys her thoughts with surprising clarity.

Edited 2014-03-10 02:26 (UTC)

Oh, yes, I've been studying the sword since I was very small. There's always employment somewhere for a warrior these days... those days, for you, isn't it, Jeeves-san?

My compliments on your country's victory!

[Against 'the Huns'? He blinks, uncertain -- but then, he really doesn't know much of foreign geography. He hadn't expected it would ever be very important, and it's not easy information to find -- or always safe...]

I'll certainly stay alert for Amaterasu and for the princesses... Luna and...? Celestia, isn't that right?

I'm certain a skilled swordman might still find gainful employment in my time, as well. [In Japan, anyway.]

And thank you, sir. It was a victory well worth the cost, which cannot be said of every war and fewer battles.

You have their names correctly, as well. They are most thematic... as I have found all of the ponies to be. [His brow furrows the tiniest bit.] It would seem prescient of the ones naming their foals to have picked such appropriate appellations unless they are names ponies choose for themselves. I have not inquired on that matter.

But the names of gods are always very appropriate, aren't they? It only makes sense.

--although it's a little strange... Do they shift shape? I've been told that traveling to, ah, Pony-ville will change any of us into a horse as well.

They are appropriate because they are so often chosen by men, are they not, sir? I meant more than Their Royal Highnesses, though. Ms. Pie is a baker by trade. Ms. Rarity, another pony here, is a fashion designer. There are several instances of surprisingly appropriate appellations within their history books, as well. A clever secretary who helped bring about peace among the pony tribes was called- [He has to say it now. It's a ridiculous name, but he has to say it.] -Smart Cookie. One can only presume Ms. Cookie's parents had high hopes for their daughter's future.

The ponies here do not shape-shift from what I have seen. They remain ponies in both their native Ponyville and in worlds apart from that. It may simply be a magical artifact of their own native magics being at work. However, you will most likely experience a transformation yourself if you do go to Ponyville. You may take on an equine or possibly draconic form there.

Oh, yes, but when the gods walk among you, perhaps you might come to call their domain after their names. But it sounds as though it's a little different!

Do they choose their names with the help of a diviner, then?

And... how do you go to Ponyville?

[He's not too curious -- for one thing, the idea of not having any hands is a frightening one -- but it's always better to know.

Besides, he wouldn't like to stumble accidentally over the threshold without knowing how to make it back.]

A valid idea for those in such a situation. When I find my own god walking among men, perhaps I should inquire if his preferred form of address is 'Heaven.' [He says this in a tone of dry amusement.]

I'm uncertain how ponies choose their names. You might ask Ms. Pie. I have yet to do so.

And you may note in any extended tour of Traverse Town several large, glowing portals. These will transport you to different worlds: Twilight Town, the Mother of Invention, and Ponyville.

Is that his name? [Oh, he knew he should have paid more attention to the foreigners' district in Edo... but he hadn't expected he'd ever need to know any of that.]

-- Aaah, I never wanted to travel, but I should have learned more about foreign lands! It's embarrassing.

[He laughs again, lightly, and shrugs.] But I can learn now, can't I? Are those portals marked at all, or will I have to guess?

It's said to be the place in which he resides, and our skies are so often called the heavens. Please do not trouble yourself with not knowing such things, sir. I cannot claim to be any manner of expert on Japan. It is most admirable that you should desire to learn, if nothing else. [Jeeves quirks his lips to offer some reassurance.]

The portals appear to work by intent. You need only think of the place to which you should like to travel, and they will take you there.