misrecalled_tdms | Missrecalled TDM 3

Auradon

Food Fright!

Fresh food stores have been running low! And with a focus on trying to get to the Isle rather than to farms or stores... the pickings are getting kind of slim. Well, there was enough shelf stable food to feed a whole school and castle worth of people, but is it really worth anything without fresh fruit and ice cream? Maybe you drew the short straw and have to make a meal with this. Or maybe this is a ton of food and you're sick of the griping and determined to make a meal they'll never forget out of the "scraps" they all turned their noses up at. Or maybe you just popped in to get a snack and someone else was already cooking. No matter what the story is, the kitchen is a little weird right now. So... how hungry are you?

Zen And The Art Of The Lawn

One of the first things most people noticed when they arrived at Auradon Prep was the perfectly manicured vibrantly green lawns. Well, now that some time has passed without a staff, the lawns are starting to look a little... not perfect. The king mentioned in passing that he was trying to figure out a solution, that while he knew there were other priorities he still wanted to fix this problem. And being the do-gooder you must be to land here... Well, perhaps you have some ideas how to mow and revitalize the landscaping?

The Isle

Un-Fun House Hall Of Mirrors

Somehow you wandered into Mother Gothel's office and it is just amazing. Oh, no sorry, it is just a maze. Of mirrors. It is hard enough to find a way out, but a glimpse of a face that isn't yours tells you that you might not be alone here after all....

Homeschool

Doc F, the headmaster gave everyone what might have been a homework assignment, if any of the students could actually make it home. But since everyone was trapped in the school, he decided to have everyone make it home in a different way. The current assignment was to make some part of the school feel more like it belonged to you. Make your mark. Claim your space. He made available spray paint and markers and all sorts of things most adults didn't want you using on school property. But then, the headmaster wasn't most adults, was he?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

ian_never_wrong

"Really?" Ian said. "Do you have data on how they managed it?"

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

"Some, and I am willing to share data, but most of them are very, ah, specific to where I am from originally. Even if I had the tech on hand, offering it would be crossing a line that would have consequences, if not for me, then for others. It... probably was not wise to bring it up." They flushed slightly and ducked their head.

A long pause and then an almost impish expression that was not quite a grin. "That said, I can still provide data. Perhaps some of it can work with what you already have. And something like that, well. Who is to say you would not have come up with it on your own?"

They swiped the code in front of them closed and dug out another datachip, As they opened it, a logo appeared, a circle with stars inside and branches around the outside. "I do not have all their classified data by any stretch, not even for that one subject, and I have just enough information to know their shadow organization buried a great deal I would have liked to get. But, I only had to be burned once to learn to steer clear of their files."

Edited (Clarity/Rren being.. Rren Etc - This is why you don't reply when half awake, kids (But I'll do it again)) Date: 22 Feb 2023 14:37 (UTC)

From:

ian_never_wrong

"Sounds dangerous," Ian said, concerned. "As much as I appreciate the help, and this could help a lot of people, do not put yourself in danger to get more. Please." Ian was very concerned now. "Trust me, data and confidentiality experts are often wonderful friends but they are not people that you want to cross." Jenn sometimes reminded them of someone from a superhero show or something.

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

"Trust me, even if I wanted to take a monumentally foolish risk and cross them. Um, again," they paused to clear their throat, looking decidedly sheepish. "What I have on me in this bag is all I can get. Even information I safely ah, acquired before my friends and I left our home is gone if I did not bring it along with me." Rren shrugged. "Translation, I can safely share any of this." They waved vaguely from the holoscreen to the bag.

They looked from the screen to Ian and gave a small smile. "But thank you. For making sure I am not taking risks I should not."

From:

ian_never_wrong

"Alright, I just refuse to sacrifice one friend to save another. But if it is safe to share it, please do," Ian said, a little urgently. "Though please, in the future, be careful. Alright? While it is helping at this time, in general things that are confidential are so for a reason. Incomplete information can be dangerous. To you and the people you share it with." Ian put a hand on Rren's shoulder. "I am beginning to worry about you, my friend."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren screwed up their face. "I already have the information, and I trust you to think before using it and to not share it with those who might abuse it, Doctor. If I did not, this interaction would have gone very differently."

Forget that Rren had only just met Ian and had no real, tangible reason to trust them. Maybe also forget the bits they shared just to be petty at the Federation. They definitely knew what they were doing.

From:

ian_never_wrong

Multiple impulses warred within Ian, who sighed after a moment. They set down their tablet and turned to face Rren directly. Not the data, not Data's father's code, but Rren.

"While I appreciate that, and I very much do... we just met, Rren. While I already consider you a friend, and want to help you and appreciate the help you are giving to m and to my other friends through me... just because we have much in common... it does not mean that we have enough in common that you should trust me with things that could get you in trouble or hurt."

Ian put their hands on Rren's shoulders. "I would not deliberately try to hurt you, Rren. But you have no way of actually knowing that. There is a level of trust that you give to people in general until they betray it, yes. But putting yourself is a deeper level of trust." Ah, to be young again. "One I have not earned yet. Not with you. I intend to, if given the chance. Because I like to think I am a trustworthy person. But a lot of people who aren't can come across as wildly charismatic. Please... protect yourself, Rren. Being giving and kind... that is wonderful. But there are people out there who will use those admirable qualities in you to hurt you and those you care about. And I would rather have to figure this out myself then see you hurt."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren ducked their head then, the code and data they'd pulled up all but forgotten for the moment. "Ah."

"It is possible I am being reckless," they admitted quietly. "But I am uncertain that... any of this actually puts me at risk. My friends and I can't go back home again, not even when we all find a way out of here. And likewise, the groups much of this belonged to can't get to me."

But, they were friends with Rihannsu and pirates, and Ian was right, they had no way of knowing Ian wasn't just trying to get information they would abuse. They flushed again. "But um I should be more careful with this. Even if sharing does not hurt me, abusing time travel could be... catastrophic."

They flushed deeper and closed that file rather than pulling it up. Later. They could share it later. "Thank you, for reminding me."

A pause, this one a bit more awkward. "May I hug you, Doctor?" They asked, uncertain it was even the right thing to ask, but wanting to anyway.

From:

ian_never_wrong

"Of course you may hug me if you wish," Ian said softly. "Friend hugs are always available." Ian said gently.

It was disturbing, to hear Janis' concerns echoed here. Ian knew their team would never abuse this technology. And when Janis had said it, it sounded like just another excuse, another flimsy reason not to talk to them. But hearing it again from an unconnected source... maybe that was something for them to consider.

But then, Rren didn't know how their technology worked. This wasn't bringing an atomic bomb into the 1800s. This was leaping into a person to save their lives, to make things better. As Addison kept pointing out, they didn't control the leap. Sure... in theory in a general sense Janis and Rren were right about the potential for harm. But Leaping... Leaping was about putting right what once went wrong. It couldn't be used for ill even if someone wanted to. They'd be stuck in that one single leap. They'd never be able to leave. They'd be stuck in that one life. The harm they could do would be limited. Sure, depending on the one leap it could be really bad. But then other Leapers like Ben and Sam could fix the situation.

Still there was a lot to think about.

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren did not need to be told twice and hugged Ian quickly. Holding on for maybe a moment or three longer than they had planned.

"So ah, hmm. I can just... focus on code for now? It is not as though there is any lack to go through."

From:

ian_never_wrong

Ian returned the hug warmly, but let go when Rren tried to. "Alright," Ian said. "Just so long as you aren't sharing anything that would get you hurt. But... I would like to know more about why you and your friends cannot go home, later. Perhaps there is something I can do to help."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren smiled weakly and shook their head, pushing their hair out of one eye again. It had grown some since they had arrived here and that in and of itself felt strange.

"That is not for me to share. But suffice it to say, we cannot and even if we could, neither Khell nor I left behind anything we did not mind leaving."

Rren opened the code back up and tossed more lines of the base code up onto the holoscreen. Ah what a shiny distraction.

From:

ian_never_wrong

Ian nodded. "I may not be able to help you get home, but I can try to help you and your friends find new homes near where I live, if you wanted. Working for the government might be inconvenient when it comes to NDAs and classified information, however it does have perks. Like knowing how to find affordable housing and good jobs for friends. And if you are interested and can pass background checks, I could even see if you could be vetted to join our project. Of course I would only be able to recommend you, after that it is out of my hands. You would have to prove yourself on your own. But I suspect you'd have little difficulty."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren ducked their head at that, flushing slightly at the compliment mixed in. "I appreciated that. And while it is unlikely we would end up in your time and reality, I suppose I will just see what the universe throws our way."

A pause, head tilted, some amusement entering their expression. "Would not existing help or hurt that background check? I mean, I suppose I could just create us some identities, but I suspect that might actively hurt it."

From:

ian_never_wrong

"Oh you very much exist," Ian said with a laugh, filing the rest away for later. "But yes, false IDs and lying would work against you."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren shrugged, hiding a grin. "I fear we would fail a background check miserably. But it would not stop me from trying if we ended up there. Khell would avoid it. She doesn't much care for governments of any kind and would never willingly work for one."

From:

ian_never_wrong

"You wouldn't be allowed without clearance," Ian said apologetically. Jenn was having kittens as it is over the current situation. No way would she accept people she couldn't track back.

"But let's first worry about getting to that point."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

"It is all a hypothetical regardless," they replied, shrugging and taking a moment to look around. "I... do not know how long we will be here, but from what I understand we will likely end up where we were before we came here."

Rren looked back to the holoscreen then. More on integrating their consciousness into the computer. Nothing new. This was not as good of a distraction as they had hoped when pulling it back up.

From:

ian_never_wrong

"Whatever this actual experience turns out to be... It will be interesting to try to explain," Ian said, rubbing the back of their neck a bit. "But I'll have stories and thanks to you, new code and new concepts."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren smiled faintly at that. "I just hope it helps."

They gave pause then, head tilting and face screwing up somewhat. "You might talk to the others who ended up here also. With people from different realities in one place, who knows what there is to learn."

From:

ian_never_wrong

"I am looking forward to talking to many people, especially if they are as interesting kind and helpful as you are. I still don't quite accept this other realities thing though. Honestly this whole thing is like a really weird mushroom trip..." they shook their head. Then hastily added. "Not that I'd ever do mushrooms, I am a grown adult and know better."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren tilted their head almost more sharply, but only for a moment. "Ah, I suppose without proof that makes sense." They shrugged then because whether Ian accepted them or not probably was not important.

"I think you will find some of the others are even more helpful. I am unsure about as interesting though. Maybe if Khell had ended up here she would be some competition but as it is, I am hard to beat."

They had difficulty keeping a straight face through all of that, but managed somehow.

From:

ian_never_wrong

Ian chuckled an gave Rren's hand a small squeeze. "I can see that."

From:

cheep_soongbird_knockoff

Rren squeezed their hand right back. "So what got you into coding?"

What? They'd spent most of this time focused on their own code. And even if much of what Ian was currently doing was off limits, they wanted to get to know them better.

From:

ian_never_wrong

Wow... there was a loaded topic to jump to if there ever was one. Not that there was any way for Rren to have known that.

Ian gave Rren's hand another squeeze then too their hand back to pick up their tablet. "Community, I guess. There was a coding club at school, and they were welcoming. So why not check it out... Besides, I was looking for some new focus at the time. It just all fell into place." At a time when they really needed acceptance. Community.