It’s hard when nobody believes you. I know that firsthand. The frustration of listening to stupid people lecturing you that you remember it wrong, mistook something or even that you simply lie. I understand you, Scarlet. It couldn’t happen. It doesn’t make sense. You are making it up. They all say that. But we know well what we did or see.
“Everybody talks about Herculean tasks, but they overlook the other ones. Sisyphus’ task of pointless suffering. Odysseus and his crew who are running into endless delays and hostility on what was-to-be a simple trip to get back home. Cassandra, and her task of being the one who warns everyone and has to watch it All Go Wrong when they completely ignore her AGAIN. And then blame her for not stopping them!”
Scarlet can only know the visuals of what she saw, there is no plausible way she can know whether or not what she saw really is the machine of eternal summer. For example, if I see a blonde woman, I can only tell that her hair is blonde, I can not tell if her hair is naturally blonde or colored blonde.
True, but she can know that what she saw matches the illustrations of the machine of eternal summer. She can’t know that the illustrations are accurate, or whether what she saw was some kind of mock-up or illusion.
Not exactly. But anyway, nobody helped her, nor made peace. In fact, she was insulted and coerced by two energumens, but, they were adults (a pitiful pair). It is expected from someone saying bullshit nobody pay attention or, at most, laught at (she was). I can understand the woman’s reaction since she was insulted in front of her daughter, but the seller? Was he afraid of losing customers because of Scarlet’s speech? Maybe Scarlet is talking about something that no one wants to hear?
As a former vendor at a farmers’ market, I can absolutely say that people making speeches and otherwise disrupting the setting would absolutely be bad for business. This doesn’t mean it’s the vendor’s business to fix the problem, especially physically, but such a vendor has every justification to be annoyed about a perceived rabble-rouser driving away customers.
Julius’ father also got rather agitated towards Tibor when he tried to warn them of the incoming famine.
This story takes place in a world that has beyond necessary quality of life featured and even luxury available, yet the necessary is on a low margin and under threat. It’s a society that would not be able to handle problems like panic well. Imagine for example that there is no famine, but people get the idea that there will be famine. The panic buying of food would cause famine to happen.
As such, as a self preservation measure, the society may have developed an intolerance of claims that challenge status quo. This would also explain why the police sides against Scarlet, although that explanation may not be needed. This is not a society with today’s norms and I’m not sure the adults trying to remove Scarlet would have counted as assault say 100 years ago.
I would hardly say the police side against Scarlet. The first time she was let off with a caution. The second time she spent a night in the cells – for ignoring the caution.
If the police were against her they could have been much harsher.
We have Comments back, spiffy. Scarlet’s out of jail, no worse for the wear. (In a way, disappointing that “Scar, the town brawler” didn’t get in a fight with some local tough, but it’s a peaceful town. Give or take Scarlet herself. 🙂 ) We’ll just have to settle for headwinds from Tibor and Iona. Iona’s not wrong to have doubts, but thankfully Scarlet’s got a plan. We’ll have to wait to see what it is and what she’ll have to do to supply it.
She gave up too quickly to contact that book writer who had obviously seen the machine too (hence the picture in the book) and could help with both info and support. Without any evidence, and no direct realistic gains (e.g. “Back then, I fould a cave full of energy crystals, free for taking!”), it’s silly to think anybody would believe such a wild story told by a kid, and follow her on a maybe-suicide mission.
“You found something yes, but it is not likely to be the thing you think it is no matter how much we need that thing”
Not denying, just admitting she was to young and could easily have jumped to a wrong conclusion. Good friend for a stubborn girl.
The “plan” that I would have under these circumstances is to put the public rabble rousing on hold for the moment, and instead, concentrate on finding the author of that book, which is still an unresolved macguffin unless I’m missing something. He’s still among the missing, right?
Tibor the harden yet reformed criminal and his juvie adoptive daughter. Iona and Tibor are right in the sense of don’t go back to jail. This world has harsh winters and famine like Alaska.
19 thoughts on “Machine Girl 017”
Kitsune
It’s hard when nobody believes you. I know that firsthand. The frustration of listening to stupid people lecturing you that you remember it wrong, mistook something or even that you simply lie. I understand you, Scarlet. It couldn’t happen. It doesn’t make sense. You are making it up. They all say that. But we know well what we did or see.
Vicious Sand
“Everybody talks about Herculean tasks, but they overlook the other ones. Sisyphus’ task of pointless suffering. Odysseus and his crew who are running into endless delays and hostility on what was-to-be a simple trip to get back home. Cassandra, and her task of being the one who warns everyone and has to watch it All Go Wrong when they completely ignore her AGAIN. And then blame her for not stopping them!”
Crystalgate
Scarlet can only know the visuals of what she saw, there is no plausible way she can know whether or not what she saw really is the machine of eternal summer. For example, if I see a blonde woman, I can only tell that her hair is blonde, I can not tell if her hair is naturally blonde or colored blonde.
Old Brit
True, but she can know that what she saw matches the illustrations of the machine of eternal summer. She can’t know that the illustrations are accurate, or whether what she saw was some kind of mock-up or illusion.
Owen Smith
People in this world seem very quick to physically assault a 13 year old girl. OK Scarlet escalated, but in none of the incidents did she start it.
Poyntre
Not exactly. But anyway, nobody helped her, nor made peace. In fact, she was insulted and coerced by two energumens, but, they were adults (a pitiful pair). It is expected from someone saying bullshit nobody pay attention or, at most, laught at (she was). I can understand the woman’s reaction since she was insulted in front of her daughter, but the seller? Was he afraid of losing customers because of Scarlet’s speech? Maybe Scarlet is talking about something that no one wants to hear?
ME
As a former vendor at a farmers’ market, I can absolutely say that people making speeches and otherwise disrupting the setting would absolutely be bad for business. This doesn’t mean it’s the vendor’s business to fix the problem, especially physically, but such a vendor has every justification to be annoyed about a perceived rabble-rouser driving away customers.
Crystalgate
Julius’ father also got rather agitated towards Tibor when he tried to warn them of the incoming famine.
This story takes place in a world that has beyond necessary quality of life featured and even luxury available, yet the necessary is on a low margin and under threat. It’s a society that would not be able to handle problems like panic well. Imagine for example that there is no famine, but people get the idea that there will be famine. The panic buying of food would cause famine to happen.
As such, as a self preservation measure, the society may have developed an intolerance of claims that challenge status quo. This would also explain why the police sides against Scarlet, although that explanation may not be needed. This is not a society with today’s norms and I’m not sure the adults trying to remove Scarlet would have counted as assault say 100 years ago.
Old Brit
I would hardly say the police side against Scarlet. The first time she was let off with a caution. The second time she spent a night in the cells – for ignoring the caution.
If the police were against her they could have been much harsher.
Vicious Sand
We have Comments back, spiffy. Scarlet’s out of jail, no worse for the wear. (In a way, disappointing that “Scar, the town brawler” didn’t get in a fight with some local tough, but it’s a peaceful town. Give or take Scarlet herself. 🙂 ) We’ll just have to settle for headwinds from Tibor and Iona. Iona’s not wrong to have doubts, but thankfully Scarlet’s got a plan. We’ll have to wait to see what it is and what she’ll have to do to supply it.
NaN
She gave up too quickly to contact that book writer who had obviously seen the machine too (hence the picture in the book) and could help with both info and support. Without any evidence, and no direct realistic gains (e.g. “Back then, I fould a cave full of energy crystals, free for taking!”), it’s silly to think anybody would believe such a wild story told by a kid, and follow her on a maybe-suicide mission.
Crystalgate
The writer is indeed another lead she has apart from her cellar.
scottjm
“You found something yes, but it is not likely to be the thing you think it is no matter how much we need that thing”
Not denying, just admitting she was to young and could easily have jumped to a wrong conclusion. Good friend for a stubborn girl.
Crystalgate
Right now it looks like Scarlet is just a dumbass, but maybe she does have a solid plan. I do wonder what it could be.
Graybeard
The “plan” that I would have under these circumstances is to put the public rabble rousing on hold for the moment, and instead, concentrate on finding the author of that book, which is still an unresolved macguffin unless I’m missing something. He’s still among the missing, right?
Alaska Native
Tibor the harden yet reformed criminal and his juvie adoptive daughter. Iona and Tibor are right in the sense of don’t go back to jail. This world has harsh winters and famine like Alaska.
Hegel-Marx
Some time passed. Despite the starvation, Scarlet grew and is now almost as tall as Tibor.
Vicious Sand
She grew inches higher from a night in jail. Talk about growth through adversity!
Llywenna
It’s always better to have a plan, you don’t really realize how badly you’re messing things up if you don’t have a plan to compare them to.
Characters
Ariana Carolus Athamas Baako Bolin Clara Graybold Cyril Darius Leyh Elwin Flammt Evelina Ferrus Gale Nenawa Gavin Carolus Iona Jehona Shardyk Julius Mirkning Kala Silverspring Kenan Orege King Protos Lauro Levon Goldwood Leyton Wayt Ludis Graybold Luitpold Marik Marton Princess Elodie Raymond Reto Mirkning Reva Rodar Rosetta Greenleaf Scarlet Carolus Severin Silvana Mirkning Tibor Frey Vidal Viola Vreni Xaver Yerim Zach Ilkin