(too late) you're at the party

[scouserer]

[Well, it's safe to say that trial fucking sucked. Therefore, some sort of afterparty is in order. Constantine is admittedly not good at throwing parties without some sort of liquor or other drug involved, but that's where Data and Sylvando guide him.

First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]

meet at the lounge
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.

A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.

But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]

Comments

[ltcommandroid]

I believe so, at least. Though of course, I am not capable of prioritizing my own emotions in any case.

[boy dal you just dodged yet another tragic data story I could've dropped]

It is also likely best for the safety of your world's timeline. Meddling with the fabric of time can be dangerous.

[dokkalfheimr]

[tng writers i'm telling you i just want to talk]

Would we cease to exist, do you think? If she changed what she went through back in our world. Would we no longer exist as we are now?

[ltcommandroid]

That is within the realm of possibility. It may also cause a fatal paradox - in which the version of you who warned her could no longer exist, therefore retroactively erasing the warning itself.

[and then maybe the universe would eat itself. also, dal, dal, did you know he has a daughter for a single episode, that was a fun time]

Of course, it is also still possible that you are not from the same universe.

[dokkalfheimr]

...I see.

[...]

I feel like it would be better to find a way to change things. I've...failed someone very important to me. It wouldn't matter if I ceased to exist; as long as I could change what happened, that would be enough.

[ltcommandroid]

You would not cease to exist entirely. It would only be this version of you.

[Though the idea seems to strike Data sort of oddly; he tilts his head and blinks several times before continuing.]

But I would like to note again that it could be dangerous to your universe as a whole.

[dokkalfheimr]

Perhaps, but...

[Mnngh.]

I don't know. It's a difficult matter.

[ltcommandroid]

...it is.

[.....]

I have been in something of a similar situation, in Plumeria's place. But I would not presume to speak on her behalf.

[dokkalfheimr]

Have you...?

[That sounds...bad? Probably bad.]

What happened? If I may ask.

[ltcommandroid]

An archeological site on Earth discovered my severed head in a cave. It was several centuries old, by that point, which would clearly indicate that I had at some point entered a time rift and then died.

[y'know, as you do]

The rest of the crew did want to keep me from dying. They were quite upset by it. Nonetheless, I was the one most capable of successfully investigating the time rift, so I chose to do so regardless. There were numerous other beings trapped inside, so it could not be left alone.

[dokkalfheimr]

[She understood about half of those words, but not together like that.]

And yet it seems you lived...?

[ltcommandroid]

I did not. But my captain was able to retrieve my body from the time rift, and after some repairs, they were able to reassemble me.

[so no but they just fixed him? also data's head is several centuries older than the rest of him I GUESS]

[dokkalfheimr]

...Is it unpleasant, being reassembled like that?

[Is it rude to ask that...]

[ltcommandroid]

It can be disconcerting. I was inactive for that experience, but I can remain conscious while my head is detached. The lack of expected sensory input is disorienting.

[dokkalfheimr]

...Someone could, in theory, remove your head and you would be...well, not fine, but well enough?

[ltcommandroid]

Yes, though it is far from ideal. It has only happened one other time, when my body was otherwise disabled. [....] Commander Riker found the experience disturbing.

[I feel like Riker has dismembered Data a couple times tbh]

[dokkalfheimr]

...I'm certain most would be disturbed at seeing one of their friends dismembered in such a way, to be quite fair.

[...]

Is he your friend? This Commander Riker.

[ltcommandroid]

He is. I would not lightly trust someone with so many details about my functions.

[Like, he's told you this, but he hasn't really walked you through taking off his head, much less just. Turning him off.]

[dokkalfheimr]

I suppose that's true.

[One more member of Starfleet who does not have to die!]

Just the same, I can't fault him for finding the process unsettling, whether he knows how it works or not.

[ltcommandroid]

I have often found that my friends are unsettled by reminders that I am a machine. But then, people are also often uneasy with reminders of their own body's functionality.