video/voice.

[rathercommon]

[ This is a video that features no people: instead, what's filling the screen is artfully-arranged sweets. Lots and lots of sweets. The dragon boat races were a grand success for the restaurant Kitty works for, and so they were contracted to cater a party in exchange for work from a construction firm for an expansion of their floor space. What you're seeing is the catering before it goes out. And Kitty, whose voice is cheerful and bright and rather thickly London-accented, narrates: ]

Some of you stopped by our booth at the race the other day, so you already know, but this is what we've got to offer at Restaurant Modak. And believe me - all of this looks pretty, but that doesn't even compare to how it tastes. Forget going into a simulation or a Matrix to get the absolute height of a dining experience. This food surpasses anything you'll find out there - and it's got the added advantage of being really, absolutely real.

[ Another pass over the food. She continues. ]

Some of you might be thinking that you haven't got what you need to trade for food of this quality. How could you possibly? Well - you'll be really glad of this next bit. Our going rates are beyond reasonable. We'll even give a good meal for nothing more than a vase of flowers, a bit of sugar - or even just you helping with the washing up. Right here, on the network, you can tell me what you've got for barter and I'll tell you just what sort of meal that'll get you.

[ And then the video switches off, like a cruel tease. ]

Remember: Restaurant Modak. Reasonable prices, food so good you won't even believe it's real. All on layer forty-four.

Comments

text;

[unwrit]

It's not p


Never mind.

text;

[rathercommon]

[ She narrows her eyes a little bit, then writes back: ]

No, please explain what you meant to me. It's not philosophical? Then what is it?

text;

[unwrit]

It doesn't matter.

text;

[rathercommon]

Yes, it does. I care.

text;

[unwrit]

Yeah, well, that doesn't make it matter any more.

Enjoy your sweets.

text;

[rathercommon]

Excuse me! That's awfully offensive. You've offended me.

text;

[unwrit]

[Giving up now would be wiser, but. After a brief pause.]

How?

text;

[rathercommon]

YOU just told me, essentially, that me caring doesn't matter. Which is VERY RUDE.

text;

[unwrit]

I didn't say it to be rude.

text;

[rathercommon]

Well, whether you intended it or not, it WAS rude. So I expect now you're obligated to make it up to me.

text;

[unwrit]

For ma

[He thinks better of protesting. Instead:]

Is there a list of suggested penalties?

text;

[rathercommon]

There is, yeah.

text;

[unwrit]

Yeah, how'd I guess.


Like what.

text;

[rathercommon]

This is going to surprise you even more. Possibility #1 is just explaining yourself to me. What you meant.

text;

[unwrit]

[SIGH]

I was going to say that it's not philosophical. It's just true.

If something was a lie, it was still a lie. You can believe in it, and that makes it seem true for a little bit. When it's over, it was still a lie. Some people like that. Some people prefer the lies, so much they tell themselves the lies. The memory of something that tastes sweet.

text;

[rathercommon]

[ It takes her one moment to be surprised that he actually answered her, and then a second moment to chew over that answer. Hm. ]

OK. I see what you're saying. But you're presupposing that what the Matrix told us really WAS a lie. I mean...In the Matrix, my brain got told on some days (not many - I'm from London) that the sky was big and blue, and the actual SKY was a lie, yeah. But my happiness at seeing it like that wasn't. A trick's a trick, but it doesn't make the emotional reaction to that trick any less true, right?

text;

[unwrit]

Emotions aren't any more real.

text;

[rathercommon]

Aren't they? My brain is producing the same emotions now, out of the Matrix, as it did when I was in it. If something is consistent in the Real with what it was there, isn't that indication enough that it always had something to do with me?

text;

[unwrit]

Sure.

text;

[rathercommon]

If you disagree, just say so.

text;

[unwrit]

I don't.

text;

[rathercommon]

'Sure' isn't exactly a brilliant endorsement. And you've already shown that you're not exactly keen on arguing. So...Do you really, really agree?

text;

[unwrit]

What do you care? Whatever I say, you're going to believe what you want to believe.

That's fine.

text;

[rathercommon]

I'm absolutely going to believe what I want to believe, yeah. No question of that. But you might give me something I want to believe in more. So...

text;

[unwrit]

So it doesn't matter, what I do or don't believe. I'm not going to change your mind. I don't know that I would want to change your mind even if I could.


[So.]