002. text + action.

[astrobleme]

Who: Shinji Ikari and you?!
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: SS Heron.
When: 3/12.

[network.]

[Shinji rewrites this about a dozen times before he finally decides to post it. It reads:]

Hello. My name is Shinji Ikari. I'm a pilot that's stationed on the Heron. I'm sorry if I'm not using the network as it's intended, but I don't know how else to distribute this message. I've been a member of the Fleet for over a month now and I've met quite a lot of people who have treated me well. It's something I wasn't expecting at all. I haven't been in the best frame of mind, but people have gone out of their way to reassure me, offer to help me, or just talk to me. That's something else I wasn't expecting. I don't know why anyone bothers to talk to someone like me.

The point of this message is to say that I'm grateful. I'd like to thank all of those people, and repay them, if at all possible. I don't know some of their names or contact information, though. I do have an easier time of thanking my crew - I'm doing that now - thank you, everyone, for putting up with me. And hello to anyone who's newly assigned. Anyway, I'm on the Heron, like I said, and I have small tokens of my appreciation to give out if people want them. I'll be in the cargo bay all day by the gym equipment. Although it's kind of pathetic, a single conversation is enough to qualify for this. (Talking to people is helping my ratings...)

Kaworu-kun and Asuka, I have things to give you too. I know it's a little early for White Day.

Unrelated question: Is it possible to delete any content that's posted to the network? I'm guessing not, but maybe I missed an option for that.

Thank you for your time.


[action, aboard the Heron.]

[Shinji can be found sitting in the cargo bay, on a stretching mat, nearest to the gym equipment. He's young-looking and more than a little sleepless, wondering if he shouldn't have made that embarrassing post. He's in the middle of nervously, repeatedly digging his fingers into a netted bag of colorful marbles that he won from the arcade on the Starlight. They're beautiful glass marbles, each crafted to resemble a foreign galaxy.

This isn't much of a gift, but he hopes it isn't a stupid one.

He looks up whenever he has a new visitor. Before he says anything, he pauses his music player and takes out at least one of his earbuds.]

Hey.

Comments

[dirth]

I have yet to find any means of removing things written from the devices, though I am sure someone will certainly try. Should that change I would be glad to let you know.

[astrobleme]

Thank you. It might go against Atroma's rules, though. If they have any rules.

[dirth]

I have found that Atroma cares very little for what we do, so long as we do not try to leave and keep aboard our ships.

[astrobleme]

[...]

Am I crazy for thinking that's screwed up? If there aren't any rules, or laws, or whatever, then we're running the risk of total anarchy.

[dirth]

We are here for ratings, are we not? It is only our own personal morality that prevents pure, meaningless anarchy.

[astrobleme]

Morality is a societal concept. I don't know that I'd call this a society. It's more like a prison.

[dirth]

Even the worst of prisons have their own rules, their own unspoken law. It is the same here.

[astrobleme]

I'm not really a fan of vague expectations. Give me an example? Please?

[dirth]

Consider a prison for the worst of criminals. They will make their own rules, share their own moral code and everyone that joins will be expected to follow it, punishment coming for those that do not. They will regard crimes differently and they will decide how they shall enforce their rule. It may not be so extreme here, but it is certainly similar.

[astrobleme]

Sorry. I got that part. That's not what I'm trying to ask. You said the law is unspoken, but how can people follow it if they haven't heard it? I can't tell you a single special rule of the Fleet's. I don't know. I don't know how I'm supposed to abide by something when I don't know what it is in the first place. That's just setting me up for failure. That's unfair. I don't deserve to be punished for not knowing the rules.

[dirth]

Ah, forgive me. Think of it as something like shared morality. Most that come to this fleet would think that murder is unacceptable, that needless death is disgusting and cruel. Some might join that think otherwise, that killing to survive is simply an option, but they would soon learn from how others spoke and acted that killing would not be accepted. No one has told this person that murder will not be tolerated, but they know from listening to what others think, feel and believe. It is not as simple as failure, I do not believe. I fear it is more an understanding that is shared by those with similar strains of morality and belief. No one should be punished for what they do not know, of course.

[astrobleme]

Bear with me for a second. If the Fleet's unspoken law is determined by the majority, then what happens when enough people join that believe murder is awesome? I mean, I don't know that Atroma would dump hundreds of psychopaths into our terrarium, but if they did...

I just think some things need to be codified. Even if it's the level of each ship having posted rules and whatever. But I'm the last person who's actually going to do something about it, so I don't know why I'm complaining.

[dirth]

Only time will tell. It is the same with any society, I am certain of that. Those that have the power and the majority dictate to those that do not, and we must live with their choices and their rules or decide to overthrow hem entirely. I don't imagine it is something we ought to fear, but it is a possibility in all societies.

I see no reason why you cannot ask, or investigate the matter. If you believe there ought to be universal rules then make the request. It's a matter of personal concern.

[astrobleme]

Yeah, it's just an extreme hypothetical.

I'm not really comfortable with putting myself front and center, if you know what I mean. But I'll think about it. Maybe I'll ask around... I guess I could start with you? If you don't mind my asking. If you could make some universal rules, what would they be? I mean other than 'don't murder people' and 'don't use up all the hot water.'

[dirth]

If it were up to me? Rules are very difficult to decide upon, and not everyone will be willing to agree to them all. Simple things, that most would find acceptable, should be the basis of all things. No murder. No slavery. Freedom to choose, freedom to be who you are. They are the foundations that I would pick.

[astrobleme]

That's a solid foundation. If anyone objected, I wouldn't want to associate with them anyway. I've had enough of slavery to last a lifetime.

[dirth]

Then you have certainly earned the right to do as you please. No on should question that.

[astrobleme]

I don't know if I've earned anything, but I would like the peace of mind, yeah.

[dirth]

All that live have the right to speak and share their thoughts and feelings. You shall not be stifled, I am sure.

[astrobleme]

You think it's an inherent right? Not that I disagree, I'm just used to having to earn the right to be heard.

[dirth]

Certainly. No one should be silenced and should have their own thoughts and the freedom to choose what to do with them.