(no subject)

[unknownrival]

If no one minds, I'm just venting a little and proposing a theory. Feel free to skip this.

The implications of having a 'canon' extend far beyond the strangeness of being fictional in another world. The community often adheres to the canon in various ways.

For example, when something is 'meant to happen' and the community blocks worldhop access, it never does so when someone is past the events in their canon, or the event doesn't occur within it. If I was threatened by a community member, as I have been in the past, I would be perfectly able to get outside aid, because this is a foreign threat. If I were still going through the story, and my death was told there, the likelihood is that no one could fix it.

Another comment is that when people lose access, they often lose their memories - more than that, they lose their memories to a certain point, and that point is somewhere within the canon. If they've been here for years and grown, the next time they come here they'll be young again. Things like 'Akako Koizumi and Hakuba Saguru are not dating' and 'Issei Ryudo is a human being' can change back even if memories aren't lost. It's as if all changes are necessarily reset.

Finally, when Stein lost his memories of William, he was still in the same place. If William had lost his memories - he would have disappeared entirely, because he was in the wrong place. If Diarmuid loses his access and his memories he will disappear as well, and the next time we find a Diarmuid to grace our community with his presence, he will be in a time point during the war.

For all that it is chaotic in nature, the community can also stick tightly to what is called our fates. People always begin here from a predetermined point, and without interference, in any universe they will end at a determined point as well.

I despise fate. I would rather my life and death not be something I uselessly rail against.

Comments

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

[Lancer will just be quietly sitting over here leaning his head on his hands, looking thoughtful.]

[action]

[unknownrival]

...That's about all I have to say, I think.

[action]

[croibhristeoir]

[He gave a slight nod to acknowledge he heard what Issei said, not speaking himself just yet. Diarmuid wanted to be sure he had all his thoughts on the matter properly in order first.]

[stillneedawish]

So that's how it is...

I don't... that is, I don't think I can believe that fate exists.

[unknownrival]

Some people can defy it. Some people don't end up being able to.

[stillneedawish]

Is it really fate, though...? I mean, well... I suppose that to some people, the way things have gone on my world over and over again must mean that fate is involved. But really, it all started just because of decisions that we made. Me, Homura-chan, everyone... everything that's happened was a result of something we did. Is something like that really fate...?

[timey_wimey]

It's a bit of an unsettling thought, isn't it? Or well, I suppose it must be if you're not used to the idea of fixed points in time, although to be honest, they're both more and less common than you'd think, and certainly the changes the community's allowed to happen are proof of that.

Though, all that being said, I'd like to propose an alternative theory, if I may.

[unknownrival]

Please go ahead.

[timey_wimey]

Splinter timelines. Or well, splinter universes, either or. Chances are that when someone appears to "come back" without their memories from our perspective, the community's just pulling in another parallel version of that person. They're not being reset so much as... well, replaced, I suppose. I mean, it's just a theory, but it might have a bit of merit. As far as I'm aware there's still a version of me in my universe that regenerated and should have all my memories of this place, but the one time the community pulled in the next me along, it pulled a version who had no idea the place existed. Had to be a separate timeline, another parallel world, because as far as I'm aware the one that regenerated from me still has all his memories.

Of course, that said, that theory's not entirely watertight... doesn't take into account the disappearances, for a start. It's possible we're both barking up the wrong tree.

[anothersoul]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Kaname-san. Every person is defined by their choices...I'm unsure if that can be called fate.

It is interesting, though.

[unknownrival]

My life is defined by a mushroom. And my choices.

[anothersoul]

...A mushroom.

[video]

[thetrickis]

An interesting set of observations. [He seems...appreciative, if mildly so.]

How would you define "interference"?

[video]

[unknownrival]

Interference can be mild, such as a conversation causing someone to rethink their position and act differently - or it can go up to the point of someone new entering or leaving the world and physically altering the events themselves.

[video]

[thetrickis]

Have members interfered deliberately?

[aquaticrush]

Issei-san...

[unknownrival]

Sorry.

[aquaticrush]

Please don't apologize. It's sad, but... are you going to be okay?

[docfoul]

Is "fate" the right word for it?
The term carries certain connotations with it, wouldn't you agree?
As if things happened in spite of an individual's actions, rather than because of them.

[unknownrival]

It may result from their actions... but attempts to change those actions sometimes lead to the same thing.

[docfoul]

The community's interference in such matters is a foreign element, though. Something that should not be there.
It's only just and fair that it should fail.

[material_guy]

Got a counter point to yer theory there, kid. When Envy was here, there were at least two other mes. All three of us ended up in different places. There's at least two of him.

Fate's not something above this place. Even yer not useless against it.

[unknownrival]

Thank you, Greed.

[touchofgenius]

To add onto the bit of your theory about me, I feel I should point out that Sherry disappeared when she left the community, because all three of us were in Death City. And when Adachi left, he was in my world, so he disappeared.

Basically I'm saying your hypothesis is right so far as I've seen.

[unknownrival]

I'm sorry about Sherry, too.