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

[welcome]

I'm just putting a name to this fine service, that's all. [There's a shrug in his tone as he continues.] And -- why not enjoy it? Takes the pressure off, I think.

[seered]

I wouldn't be too complacent. It tends to be a bit unpredictable around here, but it's nice to hear that you're enjoying yourself, at least.

[welcome]

[Complacency is Cecil's middle name! All right, actually, it's Gershwin. But metaphorically.]

If it's unpredictable here, then what can you or I do about it?

[seered]

Be wary. Keep our wits about us. This ship is an entity all its own, and it's not necessarily a benign one.

[welcome]

[Rose literally sounds like his mother. Which he appreciates, of course. Bless her heart.]

In my experience, wits and wariness only go so far against anything massive and mysterious enough to be called an 'entity'.

[seered]

But it's undeniably an advantage. Or would you rather go without?

[welcome]

I go with whatever I can. But I also know [--and he says this quite cheerfully--] that it won't save me, in the end.

[seered]

[Man, Rose gets it. She feels u, bro.]

You seem, at the very least, like a well-spoken individual. That counts for something.

[welcome]

[He is hugely susceptible to this compliment.]

Why, thank you. I am a radio professional, you know. My name is Cecil. Yours?

[seered]

Ah, that explains it. You do have the voice for it. I'm Rose.

[welcome]

[He's on cloud nine.]

Rose! You're a dear. A pleasure to meet you.

[seered]

Nonsense. The pleasure is mine.