Arc: Hey, Frett! Earlier, when you were talking about "only one may ask" nonsense, were you telling us to only have on person talk and make the others shut up? Sarah: Also, I do not think that many people are guarding their answers, so I am not sure why you mentioned it. Perhaps you just needed to make a rhyme? Arc: How does that even work? Like, how do you rhyme naturally? Some of the things you say just come out awkward, is it all just part of the curse or something? You're confusing. Sarah: I must admit that I too am bewildered by the nature of this curse. Perhaps you could elaborate if you are willing?
Frett: It confuses me, when too many talk, I could not see, through the lock. It can be difficult, to get a point across, most of the time I'm at a loss, many people confused as a result.
Pancracio:*to Fret* Thank you for the explanation. M.A.R.A. seemed ready to apply pacifying procedures, since believed that you were attempting to confuse us. It would be regrettable to have your head bursting by a little misunderstanding. Maybe you should try a musical instrument and compose lyrics, which pleases to most humans in general. M.A.R.A.: High Frequency Neuralizer on standby. Pancracio: Maybe the number of attendants is the key to maintain a flow of coherent dialogue. *to Sarah* Also I am puzzled about the very concept of 'curse', since I have been not prepared to address such... *strange beeping comes from Pancracio* Pancracio: I detect more humans approaching. Inconspicuous mode enabled. *a brown haired, twelve-year old Caucasian boy wearing a white shirt and blue pants, plus a strange red necktie and a red star patch onto his shoulder walks in marching. He's followed by a black haired ten-year old wearing a white shirt, blue trousers and a little red-star shaped badge, carrying a bugle. The bigger boy raises his left hand and orders to the little without turning back to him* Matvei: Little Octobrists, stop! Leonid: Matvei, I'm the only Little Octobrist here... Matvei: We're practicing, Lyonia! You're already late to be ascended to Pioneer, and we're going to practice until you can play the part of a Pioneer! Leonid: So, can I play the bugle? Matvei: Bugle? *turns to Leonid, and gets upset* Lyonia, I told you to bring the flag, not the bugle! We were going to practice the oath and the call! Leonid: The bugle is funnier- Matvei: Ugh! No bugle yet, anyway. And this training is not supposed to be funny! What are you going to tell at home if they delay you again this year? You'll get into trouble, and not even I will save you from the beating! Trust your big brother on this! Leonid:*sighs with concern* I do, Matvei, I do. Matvei: Well, lets begin with... *gives a look around, and notices the people around* wait, where are we? *notices princess Henrietta, Frett and Sarah* And why there are so many people dressing as fascists? Did we arrive into a theatrical play, or is this an illegal fascist gathering? Leonid: *gasp* Fascists! Battle call! *attempts to play the bugle, but Matvei takes it from his hands* Matvei: Not now I said! *addresses to the people around, pulling a pencil and a small notepad* Good afternoon! Would you so be kind to give me your names and addresses? I'm rather sure that the Committee for State Security would like to make some questions about this meeting. Was it authorized by the party?
Frett: If I were to die, how happy would be I. Near 500 long years have I suffered from this curse, nothing could make this spell worse.
Arc: Oh great, now he wants to die. Y'know, I can help with that if ya want. Sarah: No, Arc. We must set an example for the others. Anyway, children, I have no idea what these "fascists" are, but I assure you I am not one. I am Princess Sarah Sun, of the Sun Kingdom, and you will address me with respect as all commoners should. Arc: I just call her "Lady", it makes her mad so it's more fun. Sarah: Do not listen to a brute like him! He is lucky I have not executed him years ago. Arc: So, what's a fascist? I guess they aren't nice people? Oh, and I'm Arc, don't forget it. Sarah: Which party would you be referring to? Would they be your rulers? Arc: Should we talk to Pan, or- Sarah: *putting her hand over Arc's mouth* Shut it! Don't you get it? We should refrain from mentioning our... acquaintance at times like these.
Jessica: Well, what do you think? Wesley: Maybe a bit too many people. I mean, are you sure we need to go here? Ella: What, you don’t like giant wastes of time? Jessica: Sometimes you confuse me, Wes. Trying to bring down a multi billion dollar corporation is a great idea because “Lily trusted us and we can’t let her down,” and this place, one of the few places without Versiasz assassins trying to kill us, is terrifying to you because there are “too many people.” Lily: Do we really know they can’t get here? We just kind, Well I don’t even know what we did to get here. Ella: Lily, it’s like some interdimensional conversation room or something. We aren’t about about to be assassinated. I swear you are like the most paranoid little girl I’ve ever met. Besides, that lady above us is like some sun princess or something, and I don’t even want to know what half these other people are. Wesley: I still think we should save the social gatherings for another time. You know, I mean, like after the whole Versiasz thing. Jessica: Take a breath. Time on our world is paused. Didn’t you see the notice out front. We aren’t wasting time, we aren’t going to get attacked. Just relax, don’t worry about conspiracies for once, and maybe even say hi to someone, but I’ll be nice and not push you too much. Lily: *Squeezes Wes’s hand* You survived a guy with claws for hands. You can handle a few conversations. Wesley: We had help for that. Jessica: Wes, find a robot and talk in computer code or something. I’m sure there’s a robot here. Ella: Maybe buy it a drink or two, take it up to a room somewhere if this place has rooms. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Jessica: Ella! Ella: What? I’m just saying. Lily: Am the only one really confused? Jessica: You’ll get it when you’re older.
Matvei: *raises both eyebrows to Sarah while scribbles into the notepad* Very well, I got that. I must warn you that the proletariat doesn't like to be stepped over, but I'll not report you, since it's obvious that you have not political education, and don't look like someone from the rotten capitalist west. *to Leonid* This is a great time to show your class consciousness, Lyonia. Do it, and tell them what a fascist is. Leonid: Oh, yeah, right, ahem... *struggles a little for gathering inspiration* A fascist is... is... you know Lenin? Well, he wasn't, and well... that's because Lenin was a really awesome man! He invented Communism, and reeducation camps, and fried potatoes... Matvei:*face reddens in anger* Lyonia! Fried potatoes! From where did you-! Leonid: He didn't? Aw well... thing is, fascist are mean people, and corrupt, and they are enemies of the Revolution! *makes theatrical left fist* And all should be sent to Reeducation camps, to learn to be good Communists! And... ahem... well... fascist it was?*looks at Matvei* *Matvei gives to him a stern glance* Leonid: They aren't nice people. What's a fascist, Matvei? Matvei:*facepalms* We talked about it all the week! They are enemies of the proletariat, which is the people! And we are the builders of Socialism, to get Communism! Do you remember at least what means to be a Little Octobrist? Leonid: Yeah, I mean, I am a Little Octobrist! Before being a Pioneer, like you are! Matvei: And what's the point of being a Pioneer? Leonid: To fight for the cause of the Communist party of the Soviet Union! Matvei:*sighed in relief* Good, at least you remember that! *to Sarah* Excuse his lack of preparation, but my brother has trouble to set his mind on proper political education. I try to help him, because I love him, and don't want to see him punished for blundering his promotion again. But father has already warned him to get it done, or face a beating. Isn't there on the country you come a Communist party? Or a people's revolution? You have people on your country, right? Leonid: *sad* Yes, I don't like when he whacks me with the horse's whip. And I promised to get promoted. Even if the other Little Octobrists are complete imbeciles. Matvei: They are your comrades on building Socialism, Lyonia. Show them more respect. Leonid: Why can't just build that thing we two, Matvei? *Matvei sighs hopeless*
Sarah: Ah, revolution, fantastic. And, no, we do not know of any "Lenin". Arc: So, they're rebels too? Cool, we're the same, kid. We actually overthrew the old King of the Sun Kingdom. Sarah: I wonder if May knows what Communism is? She is quite in-touch with the commoners. *May isn't there, neither is Jack* May? Jack? Where'd they go? Arc: Probably ran off to do their "romance" thing. Makes me sick every time. Sarah: You are far too inconsiderate. You must be doing it on purpose. Whatever, back to the topic at hand. Welcome Jessica, Wesley, Ella, and Lily. It is an honor to make your acquaintance. Arc: Kiss-ass. Sarah: I am Princess Sarah Sun of the Sun Kingdom. I am not actually a "Sun Princess", as you put it, "Sun" is just my last name, as well as the name of the kingdom. You may refer to me as: Your Highness; Madame; Mistress; or Lady Sarah. This is the formal greeting, but seeing as you are not of my kingdom, nor my world, you may simply address me as: Sarah. Arc: I'm Arc. Sarah: Arc is my self-appointed bodyguard, the only reason all potential suitors are too scared to visit me, as well as an assassin of sorts. I see you have had problems with assassins, so I assure you that this one is tame. Honestly, I have tried several times to get rid of him, but he keeps coming back, like a dog. Arc: I can kick your ass right now, if you want. Them's fightin' words. Sarah: They have just arrived, at least show some grace for now. Arc: Fine. You wanna tell us a bit about yourselves? That seems to be the custom around here, like it or not. Sarah: Oh! Please include your story as well, I am simply dying to know all about this corporation you overthrew!
Wesley: Well, I mean, we didn't actually overthrow them. I mean, we're trying to, it's just not really working, you know. It's a big corporation. It will... Jessica: Wes, let me do the talking please? Wesley: Sorry. Jessica: Anyways, yes, introductions seem to be in order. I'm Jessica Wilkinson. These are my little sister, Ella, my coworker and friend Wesley Stanton, and Lily Evrard. Ella: I'm not little. I'm like almost as tall as you. Lily is little, no offense Lily. Jessica: Sorry, my sister who is younger than myself by a significant amount, but is still fifteen years old and would like to make everyone know that she is definitely not a child, and as such does not need to clean her room even if it turns into a maze. Ella: Hey, if I did I probably wouldn't have had like a whole stack of clothes that fit Lily. I prefer to consider it unique organization. Jessica: Anyways, back on track, it's a very long story so I'll try to shorten this a bit. Versiasz is a corporation which, well, we're not entire sure what they're doing other than that Lily's father was a specialist in genetic engineering. He was going to expose something about them, and they had him killed. And the rest of his family. Well, except Lily obviously. She manged to run into one of the few people who would actually bother to help her. So, here we are, dodging assassins, mostly genetically modified ones, which I'm guessing your friend is not, and trying to find proof that Versiasz is conducting illegal experiments. Ella: And my sister has like a huge crush on Wes so then we got involved. Jessica: He is someone I have worked with for several years and who I considering to be a friend and am therefore trying to stop him from getting himself killed. Besides, Lily never deserved any of this. I think it's the right thing to do if we at least try to help her. Lily: Not going to mention our other friend. Jessica: You mean the "red ninja" Wes saw for a few seconds before he passed out. Lily: We're calling her Scarlet Whisper. Jessica: Right, sorry. Back when we first met Lily, Wes was attacked by a Versiasz assassin. He took a pretty nasty blow to the head and saw a "masked red figure" jump out and save him. When I got to him the assassin was dead. Wesley: Clothes were red. I don't think the skin was. I mean, it could have been, but I didn't get a good look. My head was spinning. But the clothes were definitely red, like bright red. Jessica: Thanks for clarifying, Wes. Anyways, it... Lily: She. She's a girl. I thought we agreed on this. Jessica: Sorry, she seems to be on our side. Scarlet Whisper was actually the name of the project Lily's father was working on before, well, you know. She thinks our friend might have been part of the project. Lily: She's wearing bright red, and we haven't heard her say anything yet. Jessica: So, that's pretty much our lives recently. It's good to meet you, Sarah. Ella: So, Sarah and Arc, you two like a thing? Jessica: ELLA! Ella: What? It's just a question.
Vanna: Well, I don't think anyone can deny that a lot has happened since we last looked in! Ella, welcome to the Chatroom! It's about time we had another kid in here! I'm Vanna, and I'm fifteen too. The oldest of us is Henrietta, and she's sixteen. Hi, Lily! How old are you? Jasmine: *To Matvei and Leonid* You're odd. What year are you from? Cis: They're Soviets, Jasmine, of course they're odd. Stay away from them. Henrietta: How dare you?! I am no-one's enemy! Of course, Sarah is right. Commoners should bow to royalty - it is simply how society works. However, since you are clearly not Cavallians, you are excused bowing and may address me simply as "Henrietta". Out of curiosity, what is the Soviet Union? Another fantasy kingdom, I presume? Vanna: 'Fraid not. It's what was formed out of Russia after they had a revolution. The royal family was brutally executed - it's quite sad, really. But I shouldn't worry about it if I were you - it's not going to happen until 1917, so not in your lifetime. You really are learning something in this chatroom, aren't you? Henrietta: Goodness, yes - the American colonies are now independent, the Russians have abolished their monarchy, what next? Vanna: Next week, the two World Wars! Oh, Matvei, Leonid, you're barking up the wrong tree, the Soviet Union voted itself out of existence in 1991. Cecilia: World Wars?! Paula: Never mind them, do you really get beaten with a horsewhip? I'll bet not even Henrietta gets whacked! Henrietta: Of course not! Not a girl of my calibre! Elsie: My father used to hit my brothers across the hand with his rod when they were kids - John still gets the odd smack, and they're plentiful at his school - but I escaped that mostly because I'm a girl, and of course Miss Everdene would never dream of using the cane. I'll say, though, a horsewhip does seem rather excessive, doesn't it? Vanna: And I think it's different in America, but in 21st-century Britain, beating your kid would definitely get you some weird looks. Come on, guys. We've prattled on for long enough.
Sarah: ... Arc: Ella, thank you. She wishes we were a thing. Do you know how many times she's tried to get me to stay inside the Kingdom? Like, dozens of times. She's not even trying to hide it anymore, I think she's even begged once. Sarah: Now, Ella. I think you are mistaken. I would not take Arc's word at face value. He is a crass brute who does not know when he should shut his mouth. I am royalty and I do not beg to brutes! I have been trying to get him to leave me alone for years now! Arc: Funny way of showing it, Lady. Sarah: Arc, I swear if you don't- do not shut you mouth right now I'll- I will kick your ass so roundly that your children will feel it until they die! Arc: ... Sarah: ... Arc: You seem pretty sure I'll have kids. Are you planning on guaranteeing it? *The two break out in a fight, after a couple of minutes, Sarah wins* Sarah: *out of breath* Well, now that that is over. Vanna, thank you for explaining whatever those kids were talking about. No, Arc is not modified in any way. Ella, the answer is no. *Jack and May walk in, sees Arc* May: What happened? Jack: *looking at the conversation* Don't ask, just get him a bed. *They leave* Geez, Sarah, you're supposed to be the mature one out of you two. Hello, newcomers! Don't mind Sarah, her temper's almost nonexistent when it comes to Arc. Probably his fault, but that's no excuse.
*Matvei and Leonid glare open-mouthed the brawl until finishes* Leonid: That princess gave a beating to the guy... Matvei: Yes, she did... at least they are revolutionary comrades, despite the 'princess' name. And what was that comment about 'voting out' the Soviet Union I heard around? I would denounce such comment to the Kommissar by seditious, if it was not so incredibly anti-scientific! Leonid: *to Paula* Yes, father whacks me a lot. He wants for us to be heroes of the Fatherland like him, but I'm kinda dumb to do it. Did you know that he fought Germans at the Great Patriotic War inside a tank when he was a kid? He even fought into Berlin at 1945! He says he had to work hard and help to load the gun, and many of his friends were blown up there... I think that's the reason of why he's always angry at me for blundering the promotion to Pioneer. Matvei: *to Jessica*What an evil capitalist corporation is that 'Versiasz' trying to oppress the people! That's sincerely horrible, and despicable! Fortunately there's a red avenger around to help you. Hope you succeed on defeating it. Leonid: Matvei, are there time machines around? These people talks too weird about years and stuff. I would like to travel in time to the future to skip the Pioneers- Matvei: Say that again and I'll whack you. Such talk is capitalist propaganda. AND as sure as it was 1980 when we left home for practicing, if there was a time machine it would be a Soviet one! Leonid: It was just a joke! I want to be Pioneer*rolls his eyes*, don't be angry at me you too! You are so serious sometimes! Matvei: Good! Now we can start the training to... is that a sheep behind you? Leonid: What? *looks back to Pancracio* Aww a sheep! Come here you pretty one! *goes to hug Pancracio* Pancracio: Baaah. *keeps resting on the floor, rummaging* Matvei: Lyonia, that sheep seems to have glowing eyes. Stay away from him. Lyonia! And it's kinda... big? *Leonid doesn't mind, and keeps hugging Pancracio* Pancracio: Please, keep the wool neat while on petting process.
Lily: Nine. I guess I’m still the youngest. Jessica: Well I’m glad we have the confidence of the Soviet Union. Lily: Didn’t they kill people or something? Jessica: I’m sure these ones are nothing like that, Wes. Everyone here seems to be quite friendly. Ella: Yeah, I was learning about them in history class before Jess pulled me out of school to run away from genetically modified assassins. Like, what time period Soviet Union are you from? Like, Stalin Soviet Union? Because I hear he was like really bad. Lily: Might be the rushin’ Soviet Union. Ella: *Snickers* Jessica: Maybe we shouldn’t make puns about the home country of people in the room with us? Ella: You’re no fun. Alright, I just have one very important history question about Soviet Russia while I’m here. Wesley: What actually happened to Anastasíya? Ella: Not actually what I was going to ask. Wesley: Sorry. Ella: In Soviet Russia, is everything really reversed?
Frett: Mein Gott, so many a thought. If you were all to continue to talk, I'd have to get a board and some chalk. I barely remember half your names, and those only barely, keeping up this charade isn't going to end fairly.
Sarah: Ah, I almost forgot to ask. Jack, do you know what a "fascist" is? I had hoped May had learned it somewhere and told you. Jack: Nope, sounds like something you shouldn't be asking me. Also, I'm thinking about removing you from the room for a while. Sarah: What? Why? What have I done to deserve suspension? Jack: *Points to the above fight* That, that is why. Besides, I'm pretty sure you've been in here most of the time, you gotta give it a break every now and then. Sarah: But- Jack: *Shoves Sarah out of the room* There, done. Seriously, she's been in here way too long, doesn't she have a kingdom to run, or something like that? Anyway, Pancracio, a curse is magical. It's like... well... It's like an infection or disease. You could get rid of it, but you have to follow the right steps. If you can't get rid of it, the side effects will hit you like a hammer. The effects can vary from curse to curse, but they're all usually pretty bad. Oh, right, I should mention that I don't really know if this is accurate for Frett, as curses aren't real in my world, but very real in his. On that subject, Frett, is there any way to remove your curse? Could someone give me a more objective description of "fascism" than the Octobrists, whatever those are.
Matvei:*to Wesley* I'm sure that Anastasiya was executed with her family. The old Tzar had it coming, though, because he was mean with a lot of people, and I guess the ones who were jailing them got angry and, well, killed them all. But that was long ago, and it was in middle of the Revolution war, so things were cruel and confuse everywhere. I feel sorry also about young Alexei too, but don't tell anyone about it, because I don't want to look like I have sympathy for the royalty. Leonid: *runs to Matvei and hides behind him* Matvei, Matvei, the sheep talked to me! Matvei:*to Jack* On a strict sense, fascists are political and ideological opponents of the Communism who wants a society like a sort of dictatorship to keep oppressing the people and favor a group of privileged people or a dictator. It's not like Communism, because Communism is about freeing the working class to have the power, instead bourgeois, lazy ones. But we really call fascist to anyone who opposes Communism, without minding what they really think. There are too many kinds of wrong thinking around to be really focused on what a fascist may think. Leonid: *points to Jack from behind Matvei* Hey, listen to me! The sheep talked to me, and that lady is talking to the sheep too! Matvei: And also I wish to clarify what a 'Little Octobrist' is, for you. Every Soviet kid, like me and Lyonia, goes to school with the title of 'Little Octobrist', in honor to the first kids that were born after the October Revolution, and we are organized on groups of 'Little stars' of five, each looked up by a Pioneer. When you get the right age, around ten, you are promoted to 'Pioneer', where you begin a more active political participation into the Revolution. Everyone, unless too mean, or stupid, or too careless and wild *looks admonishing to Leonid* gets promoted, and if not, it's a true shame! And your parents begin to be 'questioned'... and everyone looks bad at you. Leonid: Please, listen to me! Matvei: Shut up, I'm talking something important here, and you should listen too! *to Jack* When you are Pioneer, you can go to many awesome summer camps and gatherings, which I love to go, and if you highlight by your merit and study, even can be elected for representing your Soviet, which is a great honor! You can lead the 'Little Octobrists' to become good soviet citizens, and if you do everything alright you can get recommended for joining the Komsomol when you reach fifteen. And after the Komsomol, you join the Communist party. I sincerely hope that you have liked my clarifying about it, but I promise that is way more awesome than what I tell... the last summer camp we learned the basics about journalism, and how to make a true newspaper, apart of visiting many historical monuments into our area of- Leonid: MATVEEEI! Matvei: What! You are behaving very rotten today! And definitively the sheep was not talking! I don't want to hear about drakes talking to you, sheep talking to you, nor Konstantin Kutejnikov's weird glances at you while on the classroom! What other ridiculousness will come next, ninja turtles? Stop behaving like a baby and start behaving like a grown up by once! Leonid: And you stop behaving like an old, boring Papa to me!*mocks voice* Lyonia do this, Lyonia do that, Lyonia don't be dumb, bla bla bla! *now serious* I already have a Papa to face every day, and don't need another one to make me feel like shit too! *both give to each other a defiant face* Pancracio: *to Jack* I appreciate your answer about what a curse is. It is not a concept easy to approach at, like many others that you humans handle, but for what you depict, it sounds rather inconvenient to suffer a curse. Are those too frequent in your realm? Hopefully not, and I will never catch one, at least while operational. *to Frett* Maybe if you talk to a specific person, the sense of confusion would recede, and you be able to interact better. Not like those two kids arguing at each other, which seems an unkind way of interacting to each other. *Leonid and Matvei are gripping each other , glaring at Pancracio with fear*
Henrietta: I shall try to be more pleasant, but Matvei, Leonid, you should come and visit Cavallia. Here, everyone is happy, and royals and peasants alike live in blissful harmony. Why, my lady's maid, Lillette, is one of the jolliest people I know! I am teaching her to read, she is too intelligent to be illiterate. No-one oppresses anyone. I am sure it is the same in the 1980s. I have a cousin called Anastasia. A branch of my family is half-Russian, and of course they are lovely. Hello, Lily. How are you enjoying life with your new friends? I hope they are treating you well. Vanna: You two Soviets are going to have a lot of adjusting to do in ten years' time. Trust me, the Iron Curtain fell to bits after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. My mum did an article about it. That's certainly a people's movement if ever there was one! Pancracio, curses only exist in some worlds. They exist in our book - Ophelia knows a few- Ophelia: Thank you, Vanna. Now no-one will trust me as far as they can throw me. Vanna: Don't worry, you're too small to be scary. As I was saying, I don't think Elsie or Henrietta have any in their worlds. I think you're pretty safe. Lily, do you like the Chatroom? How are you finding everyone?
Frett: Fascists? Sounds like a crook, someone from you shall rook. Here are three, who might know me. Vanna I've heard, is a witch with words. Henrietta is dressed like a princess. And Ophelia, seems to have little sensibilia. Am I correct, or shall sorely regret?
Leonid: Is that sheep a fascist? Matvei: Ahem... eee... no, not at all! *cough* Don't be afraid, it's surely just a fascist trick, but a farm animal can't be fascist, at all! I mean, surely there's a radio around him, or something... capitalists are really devious! Leonid: Maybe in Cavallia there are more magic animals like that one. I would like to visit there someday! Sounds friendly! Matvei: Magic animal? No way! You know you can't leave unless the Party approves! And you know what you must do to get their permission! Leonid: But how then Uncle Genya left the country-? Matvei: SHHHT!*covers Leonid's mouth* We don't talk about that! Leonid:*releases from Matvei's hand*Ugh! Alright! But, what we gonna do about the sheep then? Matvei: Let me see... *picks from a pocked the Pioneer rules from a notebook* Hmm... *stores the rules* What we must do about this animal is... to relinquish it and deliver to a state owned farm, since he's a 'mean of production', and for that reason, he belongs to the soviet people! Lyonia, pick his rope and let's bring him with us! *Leonid picks the rope and start to pull, but Pancracio doesn't even care about it, without moving* Leonid: Ugh! He resists! He's being a reactionary! C'mon sheep, don't resist the people's... power... gahh! *struggles in vain* Matvei: Really? It's just a sheep, Lyonia! Let me handle it! *Matvei pulls the rope with considerable more strength, but Pancracio is unaffected, giving to them an ovine glance, while rummaging.* In the name of Lenin, move, animal! GRRR! Lyonia, push him while I pull the rope!*both kids start to push and pull Pancracio, and get reddened on sweat for the vain effort. After a brief but heroic struggle, both fall to the ground on their backs in exhaustion, gasping.* Leonid:*gasps* How much does this sheep weight?! *gasp* Matvei:*gasps* Don't know! *gasp* But it's too much! *gasp* Could someone around please help us into carrying this sheep to the state farm? It's evident that for some reason he doesn't want to be carried there! Leonid: Maybe he wants to go into Cavallia, and he has friends there! Can we go there, pleese? Matvei: You don't even know where Cavallia is! And if you leave the Soviet union you're a traitor! You know! Leonid: But just for a little while? The princess has invited us- Matvei: Look, I wouldn't go anywhere near that other girl who's saying horrible and improbable things about the Soviet Union ending, much less to visit a monarchy! And we have a duty to the revolution! Leonid: Boring.
Jack: You, Matvei, sound like Arc, y'know, with all of the royalty hating. You really shouldn't just dismiss them because their royalty, they're still people like you and me. You're way too young to be so hateful, sweetie. Pancracio, we don't really have curses. I mean, some people can give others a single specific symptom, but curses are magical, and we don't have magic. Actually, Ophelia, if you can do curses, I have a request. Can you give Sarah something that forces her to whisper, or Arc something that forces him to move slowly? Think about it, she couldn't yell and he couldn't fight, they might actually be civil with each other for once. I'm only half-joking, of course. I've got a question for Henrietta. How'd you manage that with you kingdom? I mean, Sarah's a great leader, but even she can't make things that ideal. Ophelia has magic, right? Did you use that, or is there a sort of system I could pass along to Sarah so she could do it too?
Matvei: *to Jack* Hateful? Hateful! How dare you! The revolution is about PEACE AND LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE! I AM NOT-! Leonid: *speaks softly* Matvei, your getting your face red, and you know what happens when you get your face red, true? Matvei: *gets distraught by a moment* Leonid: Look, there's a coffee machine, and you like coffee. Have a cup, and take a breathing. And later we'll see what to do with the reactionary sheep, alright? *Matvei goes reddened to the coffee machine, grabs a cup, and walks away to drink it.* Leonid:*to Jack* Excuse us for the scene, lady. Matvei is the best brother in the world, but he takes the 'party' stuff too seriously, like everyone else in my house. Believe me, I have told him the same words that you have to him, but that only enrages him. Sometimes he becomes like a grown up, and gets scary like that. The other day, some friends told him that I was going to be a traitor to the motherland, and he punched all of them really hard when no one was seeing. I would have never punched anyone for thinking something like that, because I know it's not true. But Matvei is very protective with me and the Pioneer stuff. Pancracio: *to Jack* That's fortunate to hear. I couldn't bear for so gentle and peculiar people to carry that sort of unexplainable illness. Have you developed medical services on your kingdom, and on which extent? Leonid: *to Pancracio* Ha! I knew it, you talk! You are a magic sheep! How neat! Pancracio: *to Leonid* I am not magic on a human sense, but could talk hours about the philosophic implications of your statement. Unfortunately, I scanned a philosopher's brain for acquiring his verbal neural patterns, and my talking would be complex for a boy so young to understand. By the way, please refrain from pulling my rope again. I have already a 'owner', on a material sense. And I request an apology for messing the wool, despite I asked you to not do it. Leonid: What? Oh my, the wool! I'm really sorry. I guess I got carried away by the surprise of the moment. Would it help if I try to comb you? I have my own hair comb to do it, if you allow it. Pancracio: I accept your apology. And please, comb me. Maybe it helps. *Leonid begins to comb Pancracio on the messed us parts of the wool* Leonid:*to Jack* Lady, maybe you could give me some advice on what to do with Matvei's character? I'm only ten, but I'm not stupid. And the last thing I want is that my brother becomes angry and bitter... please don't tell him, but I would love him even if he becomes a fascist someday! Is it... wrong the way I think? I mean, maybe I'm being a traitor to the Soviet Union but... I don't give a shit about it if makes my brother sad... what should I do? I don't know...
Jack: First, Pancracio. Yeah, we can heal a lot of things. Most known diseases have treatments, despite those treatments failing a good amount of the time, we can reliably heal a lot of wounds, but, between you and me, I know a lot more people that lost their limbs than those that got to keep them, and some scholars are actually working on a sort of drug that's meant to knock people out so they don't squirm when the medics' are trying to fix them. I don't know how advanced your medicine is, but I think we're pretty advanced. Now, Leonid. I'm glad I was here for this and not, well, anyone of the others. Sarah would tell you that you're wrong and Arc and May would tell you to damn your country because your brother's more important, but I won't be telling you either of those things. You see, your problem is something only you can solve. I guess you wouldn't want to betray the Soviet Union, but I think you're leaving out a pretty important part of the problem here. You have to think about it like this: Which one would pick you up when you refuse to stand by yourself, your brother, or the Union? The way I see it, what really matters is what you can rely on, no matter what. Also realize that, if choosing your brother puts you at odds with the Union, then is that Union really something that you want to be a part of? Ah, sorry, that got a little preachy at the end, huh? Anyway, Matvei, you seem pretty attached to this Revolution. Maybe I just don't understand why? If you could tell me more about it, then I'm sure we can be more civil with each other.
Pancracio: *to Jack* I understand. I would have been delighted in providing medical information from my manufacturer, to improve general health procedures here, but those were never included into my processing matrix. Apart of that, I don't know how well would be received a sheep performing medical procedures. I think there is regulation against such. Leonid:*looks disheartened* It's kinda more complicated than that, since there is not really a thing of 'choice'. The Soviet Union will stay, I want it or not. It's just that I have never felt so... excited about it? And there's no one to talk about it, but my grandfather, and the Drake. But I wanted to talk with someone else, because my grandfather hates the Soviet Union, since he fought protecting the Tsar, and even lost a leg on that war. And the Drake, well, he's not really interested on what people does, but only eats them. I feel that Matvei tries hard for me to be someone who I'm not... but I can't tell him, because that will hurt him, and disappoint him even more. I don't want for him to hate me! He's the only one who helps me at home, and everybody else hates me already! I try to be a good Little Octobrist for him, and I wouldn't mind to be whacked by Papa if Matvei gets that is not his fault that I fail... but he blames himself anyway. *Matvei walks near with a cup of coffee* Matvei: Lyonia, go get a cup for yourself, while I talk with the lady. Leonid: Yes. Are you alright? Matvei: I am. Now go. *Leonid went to the coffee machine, grabs a cup and goes to sip at some distance* Matvei: *to Jack* I'm sorry for my bad behavior. I'm not justifying myself, but I'm under a lot of pressure lately. And yes, my priority is to make Leonid to succeed on being Pioneer, because if not, my father is capable to kill him. And I am not kidding about it, because more than once Leonid has been beaten to unconsciousness by him, but this time is serious. Even if he doesn't kill him, he's planning to abandon him with an uncle at Petropavlovsk, in Kamchatka. That's around seven thousand and five hundred kilometers from Rostov on Don, where we actually live! *shows a world map from his notebook with the locations* If Leonid fails, he's gone one way or another! And I'll not allow it. Not while I have a say about it. That's my only concern about the revolution by now, and even if I'm a good student and Pioneer already, that would mean nothing if I can't protect my own brother, even from his own clumsiness. For that, the last thing I need now is someone to put doubts about the Revolution and everything he MUST learn by his own safety. I don't care about what anyone else says about him or me for being his brother. *Leonid returns with the hot coffee* Leonid: This coffee is really tasty! Have you tried it, Lady? Maybe you should.
Jack: Oh, it seems that there's more to this than I realized. Abandonment for failure? This is something Arc should talk to you about, or May. I don't think I can help with this. Sorry, Leonid. And, I'm not much of a coffee drinker, too bitter for me. *laughing* Yeah, Pancracio, I don't think a talking sheep healing wounds would be all that unnoticeable, especially not one with glowing eyes.
Seeker: Seeker has followed your echoes through eternity. Seeker has found you. You are all so wondrous! So diverse... Truman: Seeker? I hear them all... I should be dead. Please let me die. Seeker: Yes, Truman. You are dead. You rest, eternally, in me. They are not our people, those you hear. Sleep now. They are a dream to you. Truman: Mmmm, a dream... a... dr... Seeker: This... place. It maifests itself from within souls... out of time, like so many of the legends of my people. It is not the expression of an Eternal... it is manifested from dreams! I will return here yesterday.
