SHEEP INBOX

[reportinastorm]

Reach Flora here.

Comments

[debug_mode]

I don't know, myself. I've just been told 'yes, I know that, I was listening to your cube conversation'.

There's a movie theater in town. It's quiet enough two people can talk, and no one really goes there.

[reportinastorm]

Mm, I know of it. I can meet you there.

[debug_mode]

Great! See you there.

[and... Your Name will get there.]

[reportinastorm]

[And Flora arrives shortly after! She probably looks shorter in person.]

Hello... ah, I don't think I got your name.

[debug_mode]

...Ahaha. You just got it actually. My name is Your Name. As in "Nice to meet you, Your Name." It might sound like a joke, but I'm not kidding.

[reportinastorm]

That's... an interesting choice. Why did you go with that? It seems like the Weeds don't have any kind of theme...

[debug_mode]

We don't. We're not a flock. We're just individuals. There's no shepherd. Before Thistle made us that clubhouse, we didn't even have a communal place to sleep. --Well, I shouldn't frame it like that. I'm sick of playing the victim. I'm grateful to Thistle. It's made things easier. --But, right, we don't all name each other.

As for why... hm.

[she curves her hand around her face and taps her cheek, thinking.]

Imagine you're in a prison. This prison has no one around. It's just a tiny box with four identical walls, nothing else. There is not even a jailer. But, there is a little screen on one of the walls. This screen can display 'yes,' or 'no.' This is your only interaction with the outside, ever. You can try to ask questions, but the person you're talking to can't ever frame things in their own words. They can only reply 'yes,' or 'no'. You have no idea who they are, or what they're doing.

...Except, when you first meet them. You can ask 'What is your name?' That's the only time they ever respond with something that isn't a 'yes' or 'no' response. That's it. You might get their actual name. You might get a nickname. Or you might just get a vulgar word as some sort of 'joke'. But, that's it.

So, 'Your Name.'

[reportinastorm]

...That's a fairly extreme thought experiment. Is that something that actually happened to you?

[debug_mode]

...Yes. It was both a bitter reminder and the only sort of comfort I could remember, at the time. So, I literally made it my name. That, and I'll admit, it is kind of funny to play 'My name is Your Name, please call me Your Name,' with people. Or... was.

But, this obviously isn't the time or place.

[reportinastorm]

...Mm.

So, you wanted to talk about the snake...?

[debug_mode]

...The Snake is a child. A literal child.

He was fed a lot of misinformation and used as a pawn, then apparently left to his fate. But, he's more clever than they gave him credit for. So, he's still around. The wolf that apparently dealt with him is not. The pasture is better for it.

He's... maturing, though. Day by day. He wants to be the hero who saves us both, with the viewpoint that Blossom is an enemy and the Wolf King is something to be feared.

[reportinastorm]

[her eyes widen a bit in surprise]

...I see. And this is sensitive enough information you didn't want to share it on the call...? Who was the wolf who dealt with him?

[debug_mode]

It's known to some, but yes. It was sensitive enough I didn't want to tell you with a cube.

I don't remember the specifics. I was sort of busy. I think it was the wolf king's son? But, he's dead now.

[reportinastorm]

I see. I wonder how many children the Wolf King has... or had.

[debug_mode]

I don't know... by 'sort of busy,' I meant the wolf king's son was using magic to manipulate me around like a marionette.

I could still think for myself, and even speak, but my body wasn't listening. There was... violence. Committed by me, against my will.

But, in the end, there was a moment it got distracted and I was able to knock myself out in that brief second.