voice;

[welcome]

[This is a new voice. A smooth voice, canyon-deep and deliberate in its enunciation. Occasionally, the speaker breaks from his practiced tone, but, for the most part -- this sounds like a professional.]

Hello, everyone -- however many people and non-humanoid entities that word may entail. I won't take up too much of your time tonight, but I'm sure you've all noticed it by now. The stray feelings, arriving out of nowhere, and with no apparent courier. The images, too.

Oh, the things I've already seen so far. The things I may never stop seeing. The things now imprinted, permanently, behind my eyelids.

[He sighs, but he doesn't sound aggrieved. It's a soft, dreamy exhale, a gentle 'aah' that's slightly incongruous with the low, dark octaves of his voice.]

I just wanted to say, to whomever may be behind this: you're doing a great job. Simply fantastic. We had an emotional entrepreneur in my little hometown, and I thought I was impressed by their work, but this is a cut above! Full-featured memories, delivered right to us, and without any long and frustrating sign-up process.

It's a great service, and you're performing it so efficiently. Why, if this keeps up, I may never have a feeling or thought of my own again. My sense of self might become completely sublimated to a foreign set of memories and experiences. I would have no identity-based responsibilities whatsoever.

Dream vacation, right?

So keep up the good work, whoever you are. Five stars.

Comments

t e x t »

[rixatus]

and it's only started.

[welcome]

Oh! Are you the esteemed courier of these feelings?

[rixatus]

no. :)

[welcome]

[That's unfortunate. Such a friendly face, though.]

I see ... but you seem to know something about it. Perhaps you're a business associate?

[rixatus]

it's not business or pleasure.

we've met.

so have we.

[welcome]

Ah -- do you mean, the two of us, specifically? I suppose that's possible. I have met a lot of people over the last few days ...

[rixatus]

don't you remember, cecil? you saw me.

and i see you.

[welcome]

I did? What was your name?

And ... are you seeing me right now? If so, is my hair okay? I'm trying something new with the part.

[rixatus]

i can always see you. :)

[welcome]

Well, that's a comfort! And here I thought this place suffered from total anarchy.

[rixatus]

that's because you haven't seen the truth yet.

[welcome]

Thank God for that. The truth is usually awful.

[rixatus]

you're almost ready, cecil.

[welcome]

No. What? No. Not likely.

[rixatus]

you can't fight it. :)

[welcome]

I can't fight much of anything. No muscle mass.

[rixatus]

you don't understand yet.

you will.

[welcome]

What will I understand? You? This ship? Meteorology?

[Just kidding. Cecil will never understand meteorology.]

[rixatus]

why it wants to keep you. :)

[welcome]

The ship wants to -- keep us? I hope this isn't a ritual sacrifice situation. I don't have the right paperwork.

DISCONNECT.

[rixatus]

don't worry, cecil. you won't need paperwork for this.