A Dream of Silver Streams

{(set: $lhandn to (random: 1, 12)) (set: $lhand to (cond: $lhandn is 1, "puppet", $lhandn is 2, "dragon", $lhandn is 3, "mermaid", $lhandn is 4, "pumpkin", $lhandn is 5, "quail", $lhandn is 6, "planet", $lhandn is 7, "tombstone", $lhandn is 8, "biscuit", $lhandn is 9, "shoe", $lhandn is 10, "robot", $lhandn is 11, "submarine", $lhandn is 12, "castle")) (set: $lylandn to (random: 1,4)) (set: $lylanden to (cond: $lylandn is 1, "China", $lylandn is 2, "Sweden", $lylandn is 3, "England", $lylandn is 4, "Canada")) (set: $lylandtp to (cond: $lylandn is 1, "ma Sonko", $lylandn is 2, "ma Wensa", $lylandn is 3, "ma Inli", $lylandn is 4, "ma Kanata")) (set: $lylandeo to (cond: $lylandn is 1, "Ĉinio", $lylandn is 2, "Svedio", $lylandn is 3, "Anglio", $lylandn is 4, "Kanado"))(set: $qwin to 0) (display: "Passage 1")}

This has got to be a dream, you think. While it's always possible this is some mysteriously unformed portion of the battle dimension, it just doesn't feel that way. At least it's less bizarre than some dreams you've had - at least your hand isn't turning into a gigantic $lhand this time around. The room seems unformed, almost ethereal, except for the man sitting in the chair. He seems middle-aged; you're no expert on outfits, but it looks like something a gentleman from the late nineteenth or maybe early twentieth would wear - a three-piece suit, but a less modern cut, timeless and yet not. He's staring at something in front of him, his brow furrowed. You stare too, and the words start to form. (cycling-link: "tenpo pini la jan meli. nimi ona li jan Litija. ona li olin e mama mije, e pali pi mama mije. ona en mama mije ona li wili pali e ma ali. jan Litija li tawa e ma sike. tenpo mute la ona li pilin ike tan weka. ona li wile tawa e ma mama ona. ma Posuka li ma mama ona.", "There once was a woman named Lidia. She loved her father and her father's work. She wanted to make the world a better place, just like her father did. She traveled a lot, but she missed her own home country, Poland", "Estis iam virino, kaj ŝia nomo estis Lidja. Lidja amis sian patron kaj la laboro de sia patro. Lidja deziris fari pli bonan mondon, kiel sia patro faris, kaj vojaĝis multe, sed sopiris sian hejmlando, Pollando.") "What the-" you mange, and he turns around. "Pardon me," he says, squinting as if he can't see you clearly. "I did not hear you approach." He speaks with a definite accent, the 'did' turning almost into a 'dit' and the 'r' being trilled. European, most likely, in your limited experience. {|p1a>[(link: "Who are you?")[(hide: ?p1b)(hide: ?p1c)(set: $p1resp to 1)"Who are you?" you blurt out, and then realize after a moment maybe that wasn't the question you meant to ask.(display: "Passage 2")] ] |p1b>[(link: "Where is this place?")[(hide: ?p1a)(hide: ?p1c)(set: $p1resp to 2)"Where is this place?" you blurt out. You realize after a second that he might not know where the two of you are, either. Why are you asking a dream fragment anything anyway? (display: "Passage 2")] ] |p1c>[(link: "What is that writing?")[(hide: ?p1a)(hide: ?p1b)(set: $p1resp to 3)"What is that writing there?" you ask, bringing up the most important question. The words that formed were not in any language you're familiar with.(display: "Passage 2")]]}

<center>(text-size:0.7)[(text-style: "tall")[A Dream of Silver Streams] by anonymous]</center>

{(if: $p1resp is 1)[The man blinks. "My apologies for not introducing myself, madam. I am Tadeusz Sitko." He gives you a bow. "I would request refreshments, but my manservant, bonded though he is, does not have seem to come to this... place... with me."] (if: $p1resp is 2)[The man blinks, and frowns, though he doesn't seem to be frowning at your question. "I do not know, madam. I thought at first that it is the same place my bonded manservant brings me, but it has never been like this."] (if: $p1resp is 3)[The man frowns at the floating text. "I do not know, madam. If I gesture like this," he says, waving his hand, "the words make sense momentarily. It seems to be a simple story, perhaps meant for a child. If my manservant were here... but bonded to me or not, he is not. Perhaps he could have recognized this language, even if he could not read it."]} After what seems like a minute but is probably shorter than that, you parse what he's said. He has a Being. You're willing to bet that (if: $p1resp is 1)[Tadeusz is](else:)[he's] one of Freyde's former Masters. One from before Freyde was Freyde, from before she was Ilsa. A Master that preferred their Being to appear male. An echo of a person who had once been connected in the same way you are connected, translated through your own conscious and subsconscious thoughts. "You have a Being." Damnit, you didn't mean to say that. "Yes." He seems surprised. Does he somehow think that you don't know what a Being is? "Forgive me," he says after a moment. "Of course, you are likely well-educated and this would no doubt be covered in your studies." What? Does he think that you're from his time or something? Is this some mutual dream between two people from different centuries? You're probably projecting how you'd expect a man from an older time would talk and even act, why wouldn't his experience be the same? "Doesn't everybody know they exist?" you ask. Haven't people known about Beings for years? Certainly he can't be from so far back that it wasn't common knowlege. He fiddles at a button. "Yes. Forgive me, I misspoke in my surprise. Most people would not have made the observation that you did, thus my comment about your level of education." "I'm from your future - well, the world's future." You know you're not from his time, but he's still operating under the assumption that you are from his, and if this is some kind of shared dream it doesn't seem fair to let him assume. "The future!" His eyes light up, and you can tell he's gone from 'polite conversation' to 'I must know everything, now'. "The world... you are here, so it must still exist in your time. My frend Ludwik's work... his Lingvo Internacia... did it...." He pauses, taking deep breaths. "No, I cannot ask you to reveal what has happened between my time and yours. I think it is not healthy for anyone to know their own future." As if to rescue him from this situation, the text in the strange language changes. (cycling-link: "jan mute li wile ni: jan Litija li wile awen lon ma ona. jan mute li wile sona e ni: jan Litija li kama wan anu seme? taso, jan Litija li jo ala tempo tawa olin. ona li wile utala ala. ona li wile pini ala, li ken pini ala. pali ona li pali ala.", "Many people wanted her to stay in their country. Some wanted to marry her. But she had no time for romance. She wanted peace, and she would not stop. Could not stop. Not until her work was done.", "Multaj homoj volis, ke ŝi restu en siaj landoj. Iuj volis edziĝi kun ŝi. Sed ŝi ne havis tempon por enamiĝo. Ŝi volis pacon, kaj ŝi ne haltis. Ne povis halti. Ne ĝis ŝia laboro estis finita.") The two of you just stare at the text for a moment before he turns to look at you. "Perhaps the two of us are only able to solve the mystery of why we are here by progressing this story and therefore solving the mystery." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "I dare not ask you anything about yourself or your time. Perhaps you can ask me something." {|p2a>[(link: "What year is it for you?")[(hide: ?p2b)(hide: ?p2c)(set: $p2resp to 1)"What year is it for you?" you ask. "That would help." It would give you a time frame for him. Chances are Freyde won't remember him more than vaguely, but it might help.(display: "Passage 3")] ] |p2b>[(link: "What does it look like I'm wearing?")[(hide: ?p2a)(hide: ?p2c)(set: $p2resp to 2)"What does it look like I'm wearing?" you ask, because you're curious. It's clear that he's not seeing your modern clothes or he wouldn't have had to be told you were from another time.(display: "Passage 3")] ] |p2c>[(link: "Tell me more about your friend Ludwik.")[(hide: ?p2a)(hide: ?p2b)(set: $p2resp to 3)"You mentioned a Ludwik. Tell me more about him."(display: "Passage 3")]]}

{(if: $p2resp is 1)["The year? It is 1918." His eyebrows raise a bit. "Does that help? I am from Warsaw."] (if: $p2resp is 2)["I am not very good at women's fashion," he says. "I always have had to ask my sister. She would know. I would say... a fine suit jacket over a blouse and a skirt, with one of the newer, looser corsets." ] (if: $p2resp is 3)["Ah, my friend Ludwik." That brought a smile to his face. "We were in medical school together, he and I. We correspond frequently. He believes very much in peace, so much so that he created a language that all can use to communicate with each other." He peers at you. "When I listen to you, really listen, I can hear the language he created. It gives me hope."]} {(if: $p2resp is 1)[Well, that gives you a timeframe other than 'man from a prior time', and the location doesn't hurt. "So I'm about a century ahead of you, give or take."] (if: $p2resp is 2)[A corset, huh? When did those go out of style again? But it's good to know that he's seeing what he expects to see, while you're seeing... what you expect to see? You're not sure. "Interesting," you manage.] (if: $p2resp is 3)[Constructed languages are not your strong point. That tells you nothing, and it's not like you can whip out your phone and do a search since it doesn't seem to have come with you. Damn womens' outfits and their lack of pockets. "Sounds like you two are good friends."]} {(if: $p2resp is 1)[He holds his hand up. "Please do not tell me anything more. What you have told me is enough."] (if: $p2resp is 2)["From your reaction," he says, "That is not how you are dressed."] (if: $p2resp is 3)["Were, I am afraid," he corrects you. "He died last year. But his language lives on, I see."]} (if: $p2resp is 3)["I'm... sorry for your loss," you tell him. "But I think I learned something."](else-if: $p2resp is 2)["No, but that's okay," you tell him. "I think I learned something."](else: )["I'll try not to," you tell him, but wonder if anything else might slip out. "I think I learned something, though."] He nods. "Alas, we apparently need something more to make the text change. Perhaps you can tell me your - a - name. It need not be your own. In fact, it best not be your own." "Sparrow," you tell him without hesitation. You can't think of a good fake name to use that you'd remember to answer to. "A bird's name," he says after a moment. "What a curious choice! But I could do with a little birdsong." (if: $p1resp is 1)[] (else:)[He bows a bit. "Call me Tadeusz." ] (if: $p1resp is 1)[You look over at the text. It hasn't changed.](else:)["Pleased to meet you." The automatic response works to smooth over any awkwardness. You look over at the foreign text, but it hasn't changed.] Tadeusz looks over as well. "Alas, that didn't work. I am at a loss on what else to suggest." What else do the two of you have in common? Oh yes, your mutual Being. "How about... your Being?" you ask. "What is his name? How did you meet?" His face lights up. "Ah, a line of questioning! I met him... well, it is a long story. He did not have a name, so I suggested one for him, which he accepted. It is Ruvim. We formed a great bond; I am grateful to him." The space between the two of you begins to glow, and then shape itself into a young man with a vague resemblance to Freyde. He looks between the two of you, clearly confused. "Ruvim," Tadeusz says with almost a gasp. "You are finally here." {|p3a>[(link: "Hi Ruvim, I'm Sparrow.")[(hide: ?p3b)(hide: ?p3c)(set: $p3resp to 1)"Hi Ruvim, I'm Sparrow." Ruvim looks even more confused. You have to wonder if it's an echo of your future Contract, or just because it's at least partially your dream.(display: "Passage 4")] ] |p3b>[(link: "So, this is your Being?")[(hide: ?p3a)(hide: ?p3c)(set: $p3resp to 2)"So, this is your Being?" you ask. Technically Ruvim/Ilsa/Freyde is your Being too, but Tadeusz was the one who summoned him so for the moment that's how you want to view Ruvim, as not your partner yet.(display: "Passage 4")] ] |p3c>[(link: "That wasn't what I expected.")[(hide: ?p3a)(hide: ?p3b)(set: $p3resp to 3)"That wasn't what I expected," you manage to get out. It seems the safest thing to say in the circumstance and let the two of them interact.(display: "Passage 4")]]}

Ruvim stares at Tadeusz, then you. "Master... and Master?" His face contorts with an expression you can't quite make out, but it is some mixture of confusion and worry, you bet. And then he disappears as suddenly as he came. You don't blame him - who would want to deal with two paradoxical Masters at once? "So... you are Ruvim's Master, in the future?" Tadeusz asks, turning towards you. He seems to be in shock, processing what you already knew. "I now understand... this dream, I was worried about Ruvim even though he told me not to." He begins to smile. "I do not want to know the future... but this is not my future, it is Ruvim's." The foreign text changes again. This time it gives you a bit more than one paragraph, as if pleased with your progress. {(cycling-link: "jan Litija li awen lon insa ma Posuka. ona li pana sona. ona li sitelen multe. ona li pilin pona. taso, ma Tosi utala e ma mama. jan Litija li awen ala lon insa ma Posuka. jan pona lon ma ale li toki e ni: o tawa tan ma Posuka. ona li ken tawa insa ma Sonko, insa ma Wensa, insa ma Inli, insa ma Kanata. jan ale li pilin pona e ni: ona li awen. jan Litija wile tawa seme?ona li pilin ike, taso li ken awen ala. ona li tawa lon $lylandtp. jan sama ona meli en jan sama ona mije li awen. jan sama du li jan misikeke. ona li moli.", "She stayed in Poland. She taught. She wrote many things. She was happy. But then her country was invaded by Germany. Poland was not safe. Her friends all over the world urged her to leave. She could go to China, to Sweden, to England, to Canada. Anyone would welcome her. But where would she go?It hurt her heart, but she left. She went to $lylanden. Her sister and brother, both doctors, did not. They stayed. They died.", "Lidja restis en Pollando. Ŝi instruis. Ŝi skribis multajn aferoj. Ŝi estis feliĉa. Sed tiam ŝia lando estis invadita de Germanio. Pollando ne estis sekura. Ŝiaj amikoj en la tuta mondo instigis, ke ŝi foriris. Ŝi povus iri al Ĉinio, al Svedio, al Anglio, al Kanado. Iu ajn bonvenigus ŝin. Sed kien ŝi irus?Ĝi doloris ŝian koron, sed ŝi foriris. Ŝi iris al $lylandeo. Ŝiaj fratino kaj frato, ambaŭ kuracistoj, ne faris. Ili restis. Ili mortis.")}He stares at it, but does not reach out to touch it as he had before, instead sitting down in his chair, still with a content smile on his face. "I should have realized it when I read the start of the story," he says. "It was pointing me right at Ruvim, and I didn't even realize it." You don't want to interrupt his musing, so you keep silent. "I love Ruvim like a son, the one my wife and I never had. Storge. With her, I felt philia. Never eros. Not with her, not with anybody. I would give anything for him." He continues to gaze at the text. "The story, it reminds me of my friend's daughter. She is intelligent and thoughtful. Very much her father's daughter." Storge. Philia. Eros. You kind of understand the terms, but you can't remember totally what they mean, so you take a different tack. "What's her name?" you ask. It may give him the one last bit that's needed to bring you both out of this dream. "Lidia." He looks again at the text. "I do not want to read the story anymore. I feel that if it is about her, I also do not want to know her story. But I have to wonder what kind of future she has in store for her. I hope it's a good one." {|p4a>[(link: "I hope so too.")[(hide: ?p4b)(set: $p4resp to 1)You, too, have to wonder how her story played out. "I hope so too. She sounds like a good person."He nods. "From what I am told, she is."(display: "Passage 5")] ] |p4b>[(link: "Actually....")[(hide: ?p4a)(set: $p4resp to 2)"Actually, I think I know what happens." Or at least you think you know what happens.His eyebrows arch up in surprise. "You do? I have to admit, I'm curious, but please tell me as little as possible."(display: "Passage 4a")]]}

At that, the text changes, and floats up, a simple wooden doorway forming beneath it. (cycling-link: "taso, jan litija li lon e lon sewi pi pona. ona li pana suli e pali mama mije ona. tenpo seme la ona li moli, la sona e ni: ona li pona.","But Lidia lived a long and happy life. She championed her father's dream. And when she herself died, she knew that she had done good.", "Sed Lidja vivis longan kaj feliĉan vivon. Ŝi disvastigis la sonĝon de sia patro. Kaj kiam ŝi mem mortis, ŝi sciis, ke ŝi faris bonon.") "I think we have solved the puzzle." Tadeusz gets up and moves towards the doorway. "Thank you for helping me. I do not know if we will ever meet, but I know everything will be well. I leave Ruvim to you; treat him well." He walks through the door. You gaze at the text one more time, step through the door, and wake up in your own bedroom with Freyde curled up next to you. The dream stays with you, and you wonder if it stayed with Tadeusz. You'll probably never know, and you're fine with that. Stretching, careful not to dislodge Freyde, you turn your face towards your window and greet the new day. -end.

{|quiz1>[(link: "She went to China.")["She migrated to China," you tell him, feeling suddently confident in your answer.(hide: ?quiz2)(hide: ?quiz3)(hide: ?quiz4)(hide: ?quizoops)(set: $qres to 1)(if: $qres is $lylandn)[(set: $qwin to 1)](show: ?qres)] ] |quiz2>[(link: "She went to Sweden.")["She migrated to Sweden," you tell him, feeling suddenly confident in your answer.(hide: ?quiz1)(hide: ?quiz3)(hide: ?quiz4)(hide: ?quizoops)(set: $qres to 2)(if: $qres is $lylandn)[(set: $qwin to 1)](show: ?qres)] ] |quiz3>[(link: "She went to England.")["She migrated to England," you tell him, feeling suddenly confident in your answer.(hide: ?quiz1)(hide: ?quiz2)(hide: ?quiz4)(hide: ?quizoops)(set: $qres to 3)(if: $qres is $lylandn)[(set: $qwin to 1)](show: ?qres)] ] |quiz4>[(link: "She went to Canada.")["She migrated to Canada," you tell him, feeling suddenly confident in your answer.(hide: ?quiz1)(hide: ?quiz2)(hide: ?quiz3)(hide: ?quizoops)(set: $qres to 4)(if: $qres is $lylandn)[(set: $qwin to 1)](show: ?qres)]] |quizoops>[(link: "Hmm... maybe I don't know after all.")[You shouldn't have been so confident. You don't know him, his friend, or his friend's daughter. "On second thought, I don't know. But I hope so too. She sounds like a good person."He nods, though you think you detect some disappointment in his expression. "I think so too."(hide: ?quiz1)(hide: ?quiz2)(hide: ?quiz3)(hide: ?quiz4)(display: "Passage 5")]] |qres)["Ah, I thought she would never leave Poland, but I guess she followed her heart." He nods in satisfaction. (if: $qwin is 1)[He pauses. "You have given me much to think about. In the meantime, I will tell you how I met Ruvim."He settles back into his chair. "His old Master... he was a patient of mine. He was dying. I made him comfortable, and my visits to his home were always interesting. We discussed everything. It gave him comfort. He said I was kind, and that he wished to give Ruvim to me when he was gone. All he asked was that I take Ruvim out to the countryside on occasion, and that I keep the name he had given the Being. I of course was touched. To be given a Being! It was a great responsibility."He looks over at you. "I did as he asked. I have never regretted it. And now Ruvim is yours."](display: "Passage 5")]}