You're From The Isle If Anybody Asks

[missrecalled_mods]

First Awareness

Those used to this by now probably knew what it meant when they felt their magic return for a moment. For the rest, suddenly their powers were back. Just for a few minutes, but a lot could be done in a few minutes. If the person even noticed their powers were back, that is.

Of course those on the shore might have seen the hazy indistinct shape through the barrier coming closer, might have seen the moment the hole in the barrier opened. Might have seen King Ben leading people down a gangplank through the barrier with crates of supplies....

Unions, Re And Otherwise

Once the supplies were unloaded, the barrier was sealed up again. King Ben seemed to be in charge during the unloading, Once the barrier was closed again, by the green magic streaming from the Queen's finger, it was Mal who seemed to be in charge.

"Alright, listen up. We have 2 hours and the clock is ticking. I'm not FG but we're keeping to a deadline anyway. If you want to come to Auradon or know someone you want us to bring back, you have 2 hours to convince us. You and everyone else, sharing the same 2 hours. Along with anyone who has a supply request for our next visit, or updates. Those of you bringing supplies to the school, time to get cracking. Two hours passes faster than midnight at the ball."

Those Who Left

(Please TL Here for boat and Auradon Shenanigans. TY)

Those What Remain

Once those going back to Auradon had left and the barrier was back in place, it was for those who remained on the Isle to sort the supplies and figure out how to get done everything that needed to be done with the people that remained.

Comments

[ubuntu_programmer]

Ian nodded. "You'd be surprised how much help someone can be just by being there, even if they do not understand what is being done. Being someone to talk to or just another pair of hands. Don't sell yourself short. That said, if you can introduce me to River Song I can see if she is willing to help."

[mist_the_point]

How to explain in a way a child would understand? He considered a moment before replying. "No amount of hard work will provide us with skills and resources that we simply do not have and can't get on this Isle," he said. "For example, if someone were badly hurt, we have no healers, and little means to care for them. We have wood in plenty thanks to the brambles, but little means to harvest or work it as we lack suitable tools and have no means to make them. Even once the weather becomes warm enough for any sort of bath, without supplies from the mainland we lack even something as basic as soap and have no means to make it."

"This Isle does not and cannot stand on its own. And we would be fools if we let stubborn pride tell us otherwise."

[fallen_child]

"But the Underground is all cut off too and Mr. Dad Guy makes it work. He has scientists and stuff to make things and we all try an help each other. And we have heroes like Undyne. And here we have heroes like you! So we don't need anyone else. We can figure it out and just help each other."

[mist_the_point]

Foulqus smirked slightly. "You have Sun to thank for that," he said. "He's not especially suited for things like fishing and harvesting, but he's set to cleaning with a will, an has much improved the general situation."

[missrecalled_npcs]

"I look forward to meeting him once the professor is settled and safe."

[mist_the_point]

That was... more insightful than Ian had likely intended. It brought to mind Chell, and Chara, and Sun, and how they had all inserted themselves into his life in various ways. Ways that he still feared to put a name to, lest that make it something real. Something that could be taken away.

"Perhaps," he said. "Though much of my time and effort will likely be spent elsewhere, as it generally is now. We aren't in nearly so dire a position as we once were, but it still takes a great deal of work to keep people fed here."

There was a moment of debate before he continued. "There is someone who might be more free to keep you company, however, besides Ms. Song. Someone who might benefit from your expertise, if you're willing."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I will admit the situation here made me worried about volunteering to come when I can't just go back to the dorm at night. Kind of the difference between helping at a soup kitchen and sleeping there. I'm not really the self sacrificing type. That would be Ben and Addison. But if I can help, I have to try." A deep breath. A sigh and head shake.

"Anyway, someone free to help me?"

[mist_the_point]

"Now it's you who is selling themselves short," he said. "What you are doing is already more than most would willingly do to aid a group of ragged strangers, and that is not to be discounted. And even if you feel that your motives are perhaps less altruistic than those of your friends might be, it doesn't mean that one whit less good will be accomplished. What deeds are actually done, I've found, matters far more than the motivations behind them."

"But yes, he may be able to help you, and you, in turn, may be able to help him. He is... well I would call him a 'mammet', but I believe he would call himself an... 'animatronic'?" The last word was said a bit uncertainly; it was clearly not a word Foulques was especially familiar with. "Or perhaps a 'robot'? He's a creature of metal and gadgetry, though he thinks and feels no less than you or I. Parts of his 'programming', his mind, were damaged before his arrival here, and we haven't the means to restore them. You, however, with your knowledge and equipment, might. Should you be willing to make the attempt, of course."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"There was actually a whole philosophical debate back where I came from," Ian started but when Foulques stated talking about Sun again, they found themself listening more and more intently. By the end, Ian had stopped walking.

"Just to be one hundred percent certain that I am not jumping to a conclusion because of my own implicit biases, we are discussing a fully sentient and self aware AI in a mechanical body that has a gender identity wishes help with his programing?"

[mist_the_point]

Foulques frowned thoughtfully. "While I don't know what an 'A-I' is, his body is certainly mechanical," he said. "And while I've never asked him directly how he considers himself, he certainly looks and sounds male, and hasn't expressed any objections when referred to as such. And he's both sentient and intelligent; he thoroughly trounced me in a game of chess, can speak and reason, and I've personally seen him laugh, cry, and spontaneously hug me. He is as capable of thought and emotion as you or I."

"And he does indeed wish help, assuming it's possible. We know somewhat the results of what was done, but precisely how it was done and if it can be undone remain to be seen. Frankly I'm sometimes amazed he's not in even worse condition, given how abominably his former masters treated him."

[mist_the_point]

He frowned, uncomfortable with being called anything close to a hero. But he knew by now that to argue the point would be useless. And in any case, it was immaterial at the moment.

"We do not have such scientists," he said, "nor the resources and manpower of an entire kingdom, even a small, isolated one. We have a handful of ragged people, not all of whom are able or inclined to work or help each other. And a great deal of things that others had discarded as worthless. Perhaps, one day, if those who live here have the will to do so, it could be made self-sufficient. But that day will be long in coming."

[mist_the_point]

"I'll be certain to fetch him then, if we don't encounter him by chance before you leave," he said. "If I recall, he's been working on the lower floors, and may well be unaware that anything out of the ordinary has happened."

Heading back trough the brambles, he opted to walk behind rather than in front of Ben, the better to steady him in case of an accidental slip. And in any case, they knew that no threats lay ahead of them.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Wow... just... wow. I would be happy to meet him and help him if I can, if that is what he truly wants," Ian said with a nod.

[fallen_child]

"Discarded... as worthless...." Chara whispered, starting to shudder. "Like... me...." another shudder then the kid broke and ran for their room.

[missrecalled_npcs]

"I appreciate that."

No threats, except perhaps the teachers still in the school. But so far none of them had shown themselves...

Good place to wrap? Or did you want to skip ahead slightly to them in the room?

[mist_the_point]

Somewhat taken aback by the response, it took him a few seconds to respond. "That's not what I-" Too late. Chara had already taken off running and was through the doors to the so-called school.

Foulques sighed, palm meeting face in a universal gesture. "Well done, Foulques," he said sarcastically. "You great verbal clod. One would think I would know by now when to hold my tongue, but apparently not." Another sigh and he continued at a more normal pace; there was no need to run after Chara; they were both going to the same place, after all.

[mist_the_point]

Foulques nods. "I'll be certain to introduce you then," he said. "He recharges in the same room that Chara and I sleep in, so arranging for the two of you to meet should be no issue, provided you don't meet by chance. And seeing you helping him may well be beneficial to Chara as well. They are... deeply mistrustful of anyone they perceive as a human, as I'm certain you saw."

We can skip ahead to in the room

[fallen_child]

Chara was in their room, under the bed, wrapped up in blankets, trying to be silent about crying. Trying, and failing.

[ubuntu_programmer]

"Wait... the kid in the striped shirt? Is... named Chara. And... distrusts humans..." Ian suddenly looked a little pale and leaned against a wall, trying to get their bearings.

[mist_the_point]

Foulques had paused to drop off the fish he had caught where Chell could prepare them but soon arrived in the room he, Sun, and Chara shared, quickly pinpointing the sounds of soft crying under the old desk that served as his bed. He went around behind it and crouched down to speak to the child. "Chara," he said gently, "my words in the courtyard had naught to do with you. I was merely referring to the various bits of metal and paper, broken furniture and other brick-a-brack that can be found here."

[mist_the_point]

Foulques frowned at Ian's reaction, setting down his own load as he turned to face them. "Yes," he said. "Do you have some issue with them, beyond them beyond them simply being an unruly child?" His tone suggested that if Ian had a problem with Chara based on such minimal information, they might well have a 'problem' with him too. The mere prospect of dealing with an unruly child couldn't be daunting enough to warrant such a reaction, so it had to be something else.

[fallen_child]

"Why can't we go home," they sniffled. "Back to Mr. Dad Guy and Mrs. Mom Lady? I wanna go home..." sniffled, hiccoughed. "I wish I never ate those stupid flowers..."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"I... got some of this... with Lea telling me all the people he knew and then there was Leia..." A deep breath. "A lot of you bear more than a strong resemblance to characters in what I had thought was fictional media back home. And there is a game back home, a computer game, called Undetale. About a child in a striped shirt who fell down into a world below ground full of monsters... and that child wasn't the first child to fall down that mountain. The first child... was a child called Chara, who... had every reason in the world to hate humans," said softly. "And if this Chara is that Chara... things could be on the verge of going very very badly here, depending on canon point.... ah... depending on when in their story they are from.
presuming their story matches what I have experienced."

[mist_the_point]

His frown deepened, though it was more thoughtful than angry. "I can assure you that all of us are quite real," he said. "But that does match what I know of Chara's world and their story. The last thing they recalled before their arrival here was eating some poisonous flowers and their adopted brother Asreal being attacked by a group of humans who happened upon them."

"But whatever may have happened in this game of yours, rest assured that I will not allow Chara to come to harm, nor will I allow them to harm anyone else out of fear or anger." He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, then added a bit more quietly, "They will not fall prey to the same sort of madness that I did. And the dark visions we saw will not come to pass. I swear on what little remains of my honor, I will not allow it."

[ubuntu_programmer]

"That.... is a really rough moment for them to have arrived from... but actually not the worst possible moment. Still there are some things you may need to know if you are their caretaker here..." Ian considered, trying to figure what to say. "I'd offer to talk to them but... human."