Making the best of it

[traken_master]

[The Master is in his room, tinkering with machinery. Thank to this latest oddity with the books, he now has the means to build robots to keep his rooms clean. He feels like talking, so reaches out and opens up his journal.]

You know, my friends, this strangeness with the books isn't all bad. I personally have found a cookbook and a book on robotics to be quite useful! Even the book on mathematics proved stimulating; the results reminded me of a place called Castrovalva!

[He pauses to tighten a joint, before continuing.]

Anyway, the Doctor, the one wearing celery, recently suggested to me that the Castle was motivated by schadenfreude, which means, for those who don't know that word, enjoying or getting satisfaction from other's misfortune. I think this highly likely. Therefore, we should not accomodate it. We should make a concerted effort to find something useful or entertaining about its peculiarities.

Don't worry, I'm not suggesting we become complacent. However, if we deny it what its goals, we may weaken it. We can try, at least.

Comments

[cricketycricket]

[he's being terribly, suspiciously friendly. ... Five's just going to quietly keep his eye on this...]

[traken_master]

[The silence from the journal is suddenly louder and the Master grins, wondering how many people are listening.]

[needtoruleit]

[someone else is locked away and similarly taking advantage of the new qualities of the science books. Tinkering away...]

You know, it's going to take a much bigger effort to make a dent in depriving this place of what it wants.

[cheerupemoborg]

So what, subscribe everyone antidepressants?

[traken_master]

Yes, I know, but I'm willing to be patient. Denying it the satisfaction of our misery though is at least a small, first step.

[traken_master]

Only if necessary. The castle is probably telepathic enough to sense the true emotions underneath a drug stupor. No, we must educate and train ourselves, all of us, to deny the castle what it wants.

[needtoruleit]

[he sighs just a little to himself]

Patient. Right, of course.

[traken_master]

Do you have something against being patient or do you have a better idea?

[cheerupemoborg]

You could always put everyone into hibernation... of course, if you ever dream, it'll probably try to get you there.

[needtoruleit]

I'm just...

[another little sigh] Sorry. I've just been here for... a long time. I'm tired of being patient.

[jimfromit]

Isn't that idea just a little...simplistic?

[traken_master]

Ah. Well, there's nothing for it, I'm afraid. We must exercise caution, particularly, since we don't know how closely we are observed.

[traken_master]

My dear Mr. Henshaw, my purpose is to wake people up, not make them even more idle. There is work that needs to be done.

[traken_master]

Yes, but I'm tailoring it to a wide group of people. With most humans, it's best to start simple and work them up to the more complicated tasks.

[cheerupemoborg]

Y'know, you almost sound like a politician. Had any experience?

[traken_master]

After a fashion, yes, mostly in the area of conquering dictator.

[jimfromit]

Ah yes the principle of getting your pet to beg before teaching it to fetch.

[traken_master]

[The Master chuckled.]

That's one way of looking at the matter, if a bit rude. Also, we don't know enough right now for more complicated or direct resistance.

[private]

[cheerupemoborg]

Ever consider running for office?

Re: [private]

[traken_master]

Not seriously so, no. If it ever fit into my plans, I might, but I prefer conquest to election, when possible. Particularly since, once in office, I have no plans of relinquishing power.

[private]

[cheerupemoborg]

Mm. I've been considering trying to somehow get on the council in the town but fear they wouldn't accept me. Not without some extreme suggestion, anyway, but I've never been good at politics anyway, so...

[jimfromit]

I try to save manners for humans that earn them. There are far too many of them about with ideas above their station.

As much as it pains me to admit it we are playing the long game here. The only way we can make a considerable impact is by gathering information.

Re: [private]

[traken_master]

Council? I've been to the town, briefly, but I know little about it's government. Do they claim jurisdiction over the residents of the castle?

[traken_master]

The human race in general tends to get above its station, in my opinion. Some of them are acceptable, but Earth is a tiny, insignificant world.

Very good! You are right, of course. That is exactly what I intend to do, but there's no harm in annoying the castle, until then.

[private]

[cheerupemoborg]

No, none. They seem totally uninterested in us.