ellipsanet | text

Something that's on my mind right now is how one goes about choosing a username. Of course I've chosen one and so has everyone else, but simple observation can't always tell you why someone chose something or what it means. A significant chunk of the population appears to be using their own names and that at least is self-evident - it's their name so of course they'd want to use it! This doesn't account for people who may be using aliases in order to mislead others, which is always a possibility. But the ones that are of more interest and that take more thought are the names that aren't just names. Little phrases or words mashed together...why were those things significant to that person? I can't help but wonder about it.

While observation can absolutely give you a window into someone else's point of view it can never be as good a view as the one you can get simply by knocking on the front door and asking. So I really do want to ask. But is that sort of knowledge something to be given freely? Maybe some of it is private, but also there could be a more fun way to learn than just asking, right?

If you'd like to volunteer the information, please do so. Otherwise...would anyone like to play a game with me? I know there's several going on right now from looking but I don't mind if it's just a few people. I'm just in the mood for something a little more involved than telling a lie and hiding it in the underbrush of truth.

Recently some students were passing by playing a game they called 20 questions. The concept is fascinatingly simple but can get complex depending on how devious your opponent is. You have to think of an object and your partner can only ask yes or no questions to discover what it is. Given our different points of origin, however, we should refine what could count as an object, no?

So, for the purposes of this game please consider the "object" to be "the reason you chose your username and the true meaning of it" or "an animal found in this world". If you're unsure if an animal exists here, there seem to be lists of them at the Guilds alongside our potential powers as creatures we may eventually be able to transform into, as well as an available bestiary. Just specify if you're thinking of your username or an animal. Then players (possibly just me) will ask you questions that can only be answered with "yes" or "no"...if they go over 20, they lose. Apparently the consequences for losing can be quite dramatic among the student body but that seems a bit much to me. Instead I'll tell you something interesting if you win or I lose, okay?

And of course you're free to guess the meaning of my own username using the question framework. That said, those of you who know the true meaning behind it already are obligated to assume I'm thinking of an animal instead. In those circumstances I'm going to include animals from back home, too.

As I said you're free to play with one another, too, but I mostly just wanted to try it out myself. For some reason the students were too nervous to play with me...but you wouldn't mind doing just one round, right? Even just one person would be okay.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

also no

(also if you need hints thats ok)

It's okay, if I lose I'll just have learned something!

Does the spinning have to do with dancing?

oooooh thats a tough one
im gonna go with yes

[ ...Jeopardy music sounds. Nahida considers this carefully. ]

Does it involve you dancing yourself?

Edited 2023-03-29 01:11 (UTC)

[There's a pause on his end, where he has to do some consideration.
And on a technicality, his answer is:]

nope!

i'm gonna be real impressed if you get this
i can't say why i am until it's over cuz that would be a hint
but i am

[ Nahida, for her fifth question, is thinking hard. IF ONLY TEYVAT WERE EVEN MORE MODERN... ]

Does it involve facilitating other people to dance?

yeah!
youre getting REAL close now

[HE'S ROOTING FOR YOU, NAHIDA]

Does the spinning refer to spincrystals?

... uh
can i ask you a question
just so i know how to answer that one?

Yes, of course. I'll answer to the best of my ability.

what do spincrystals... do

Spincrystals are special round ring-discs that contain a song each. They can be utilized with specific hardware to be played back.

oh shit
then i'll go ahead and say the answer's yes!

[ Okay, question 7... ]

Can a "jockey" refer to someone who utilizes spincrystals to create music for other people to dance to?

you got it!!

well, technically.
it's a reference to folks like that
and i *am* one of those folks
but spin jockey is the name of something tied to my soul.
figured that might be way harder for a stranger to guess.

[A short pause, in thought...]

actually
on second thought
maybe that would have been way easier for you?
disc jockeys are pretty modern
but you talk like you're from somewhere ancient.

It's hard to say what is or isn't modern when I don't know what I'm comparing it to. But it's true that someone who preforms as a "spin jockey" in terms of music is uncommon - bards are more likely to be seen.

What does it refer to in regards to your soul, though?

okay yup youre ancient
we don't use the word "bard" anymore where i'm from
most people think of bards as something from hundreds of years ago
not a bad thing though
i've been having fun meeting folks like you. :)

as for my soul
the "spin jockey" in question here is a part of me
it's unique to my soul
and related to who i am.
specifically
it's gigantic weapon made of casted iron
half banjo, half gravestone
and can turn into a giant buzzsaw.

i figured that would be a lot harder to guess
than "it's a play on disc jockey" :(

I see! I don't know if I could have guessed that. But learning about disc jockeys is interesting! I didn't know there was something like that.

So this weapon in your soul, is that something common where you are from?

well if you ever wanna know more
or if you wanna learn about modern music stuff
now you know where to find me :)

as for my weapon, yes and no
to get this out of the way
i am dead.
having something like this is common in the land of the dead
but no one that's alive has one

I see. Is this situation normal in your home?

yup
everyone has one in the land of the dead!
though obviously it's different person to person
since everyone has unique souls.
they can be just about anything too
the word "weapon" is just a moniker for them.

I see! And your being dead here does not trigger your flower automatically?

oh dang
think i misread you
when you said "situation"
did you mean me being in the land of the dead
just in general?

but also: no it don't seem to
i can still die *again*
so it's possible the flower yard here is waiting for that
im surprised i havent yet
i did that a lot back home.

I meant the land of the dead being a thing like that. I admit it sounds different from anything in my own home.

As to dying...I suggest you try not to!

oh yeah
i've met folks who talk about an underworld
like hell or whatever
but not a single person talks about something like what my world has.
it's been pretty interesting
i've been thinking about asking folks on the network about it
but we got so many "hey, what's your world like" questions from everyone else already yknow?

and i'll *try* not to
but i'm used to it!
can't say my self-preservation is gonna kick in
just because i might wake up in a flower
instead of in the middle of the desert.

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