the_isle | You're From The Isle If Anybody Asks

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He listened to the explanation, giving a brief amused huff at the comment about Ian's age. "If you admitted anything, it was lost on me," he said. "I believe I understand roughly what you intend, and should you accomplish it it would certainly be a boon to those here. We've spent months with no news from the mainland and no means to get a message to anyone there about event here, and as none of us knows how long the current situation will last, I'd rather not have that happen again."

"That said, I'd be worse than useless if I were to try to assist you. I do recommend talking to River Song, however; she's familiar with such things and may be of some help."

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."

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."

"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?"

"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."

"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?"

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."

"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.

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."

"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.

Edited Date: 2025-04-19 10:30 am (UTC)

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.

"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."

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."

"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."

"The fact that it isn't the worst already says a great deal," he said with a bit of a sigh. "But tell me, what do you think I should know?"

"Keeping them away from knives is the most urgent. Let's get my stuff settled somewhere then we'll talk. I have a feeling one or both of us is going to want to be sitting down for this."

He nodded, picking up the load he'd been carrying before so they could continue. "They did try to take one while helping Chell and I with preparing dinner once," he said as they started off again, "but I made my displeasure with their actions and subsequent attempts to lie about it quite clear. Until I am satisfied that they are sufficiently responsible, they will not be permitted to wield any weapon."

"As for getting you settled, there's a room not far from ours that should be as suitable as any. Not that I'd call any room in this building suitable for much, but needs must."

"Yeah, the game gave some pretty strong hints that Chara is the reason there are no sharp knives in Toriel's kitchen..." Ian nodded, getting moving with their stuff again. "And... hopefully I won't be here long."

"Hopefully," Foulques agreed. "If you have any items small enough to be easily stolen, I'd advise you to take them with you when you leave the room. None of the three so-called teacher here wish to risk finding themselves held at spearpoint by taking anything from my room, which is why I've been keeping communal supplies there to ensure they remain so. I doubt that your presence will inspire any such caution, however."

"I'm working with computer equipment... all of it is small and easily portable. At least each part on its own. The locks are that bad here?"

"This Isle may be a prison, but the building is- ostensibly- a school," he said, "and a school where larceny may well have been part of the curriculum at that. The locks are secure enough, but like as not most if not all of them know how to pick them. I doubt they would bother with any of the more specialized tools of your trade, but I would advise to keep any personal possessions close. Particularly if you have one of those small devices that resemble Alagan tommstones; the vain wench seems fond of them."

Edited Date: 2025-04-20 09:29 am (UTC)

"Alagan.... tombstones? And... maybe I'll just... stay in my room the whole time I'm here and just ask you to watch my stuff when I use the.... there is a bathroom here, right?"

Someone was absolutely having second thoughts.

"Tomestones," he said, emphasizing the first part of the word a bit. "Palm-sized, rectangular devices that store information. In my world they are odd relics of an ancient empire, but as they're as good as coin to certain trading houses, some adventurers collect them to exchange for rare goods. And those things in the courtyard that appear to be gravestones are not; they're called 'doom-stones' and have ridiculous 'evil' sayings written on them. I'd advise you to simply ignore them beyond what is required not to trip over them; we'll likely be repurposing some of them as garden markers once we can be assured of not having an overnight frost."

"But yes, there are bathrooms, at least. Thank the gods for small mercies."

"Hard drives? One of the teachers is addicted to... external hard drives?" Ian was so lost at how weird this place was...

"I... don't know," Foulques said. "I know what the devices look like, but never asked what they were called here; it was never especially relevant. Do those 'hard drives' have a sort of... window on one side that lights up when the device is provided with power so that you can read the information it contains?"