Rebel Earth No?

[Zephyr Shenkiken]

Well it does to me, but you and Matt have way more insight than I do on how you want the feel of this and the themes to show here.

Short answer: Yes.

[Quaddy]

So...I'm watching the History Channel. For any future iterations of this story, we'll need to work on the description of the Pythia and how it works. The idea that someone could pilfer through memories and actually get any real fact out of them is negligible at best. Memory just doesn't work that way. If, however, we argue that the mind stores scenes...like, what the eyes see, the Pythia could be used to pilfer through information we don't necessarily remember, but is still stored up in the head. We could argue that the information is there, we just cannot remember/recall it, and the Pythia sort of breaks in and steals things we don't even remember and without the taint of our own recollection. Like...the brain takes in all the data, and it becomes an issue of recollection and not retention. Which I guess is how Erik describes it, so...

Memory is just a problematic word, apparently. 'Cause our memories are actually really crap.

[Matt]

Yeah half of our memory is actually imagination.

If you want me to work on that I have all the information on how you'd make it 'scientifically allowable' from doing psychology for two years.

[Quaddy]

I knew all this stuff; the show just reminded me of an issue I've been having with the Pythia. It works in the context of the campfire just fine, but I've been tooling with the serum and just what exactly it does to the mind. I think I've come to the conclusion that the Pythia causes the mind to go haywire and regurgitate all the data it takes in over the years. Memory might suck, but your brain still takes everything in; you just don't take it in on a conscious level. That's how dreams work. A lot of the faces and circumstances of your dreams are based on information your brain took in, but of which you have no memory. So, basically, the Pythia gets in there and causes your brain to fly through all of this detail (which makes it even more like the Oracle, who just saw random shit and someone else had to figure out what it meant), and then the extra-ocular device is a recording apparatus that causes it to play like home movies on the screen. They drill the extra-ocular device into the skull and then administer the serum.

I imagine that over a thousand years of innovation would make something like this plausible. We know the computer is a hard drive; we just don't know how to reliably access all of that information.

[Quaddy]

Of course, the information it gathers isn't 100% accurate as the mind can also rewrite the information it takes in, but all that subconscious stuff would basically be untouched. And it could be like the pensieve in Harry Potter; there's definitely a way to tell if someone has forced themselves to remember something different than what actually happened.

[Quaddy]

Also, I have FINALLY come to the decision that Mia is Jennifer Lawrence. With an English accent.

Aaaaand, I gave a real thought to the idea that Mia sleeps with Colt after Laras rips her a new one and I'm not sure she would. Not immediately, like we need for the story. Maybe after a while, she might, but I think she'd be in too much damn shock to seriously consider sleeping with someone. I DO think she would run to Colt for comfort, especially as Edward is gone, and I do think he would probably try to kiss her and she would let him, but I don't think she would really have sex in that state of mind.

Would Laras walking in on Colt comforting/borderline making out with Mia be enough to set him off, or do we need to go so far as the sexy tiems? I could probably find a way. Perhaps Mia drinks with Colt for a while, or something...

[Matt]

I have 'homework' for you if you're interested. There's a great book by a guy called Charles Ferbyhough (book is 'A Box Full of Birds'. I'm pretty much reaping in its awesome treatment of neuroscientific progress etc.

[Matt]

Also your situation with Mia is a little like the one I have with Laras - I'm not sure what's going to trigger his blowing up at her in the first place. At least, not what would make it any worse than any of his other rants.

[Quaddy]

Something to do with Phelps?

Also, she is going to pull a stupid by choosing him over family, so that might help.

[Quaddy]

And homework shall be done!

[Matt]

I think that the Colt/Mia has to happen... even if it's drink induced. Because right now, I'm putting the nail in the coffin.

[Quaddy]

Drunk it is. I think Colt will be to blame, though. He's essentially going to take advantage of her for his own needs, thus proving that Laras was right and he wasn't to be trusted.

[Quaddy]

Wait...wasn't this supposed to happen a little while down the line? Is Laras going to leave BEFORE Mia proves herself? I suppose that could work.

How are we going to change the Edward thing? Part of the big fight between Laras and Mia (and why she is perhaps not at her best when Colt moves in) is that she has chosen Laras over Edward. And since Edward has literally just gotten her the place teaching self-defense, I don't think he'd want to pull her out yet? 'Cause he asks her to come with him to France, where he and Akiko are setting up their outfit in a less dangerous location. And she says no.

I suppose he could go later, but the relationship could be severed by Mia finding out why Edward set this up...

[Matt]

Change the Edward thing? Laras leave early? To be honest, I had assumed she was still working on it by the time he left and that his leaving also somewhat inspired her to actually pull through on the whole self-improvement thing... BUT no, I'm basically playing with Colt.

Which is why I ask you this... how would Colt insult Mia TO Laras if being an arsehole and stuff? Mia is not in the room.

[Quaddy]

The timeline was supposed to be that, after a little while of her teaching self-defense, Edward is getting ready to go with Akiko and a couple others (not Tony or Hector, who are too important to Blarney) to France in order to continue their humanitarian aid. Charon decides staying in Ireland was too risky for them. Edward asks Mia if she wants to come with him or stay and teach defense. Things escalate until Edward lets slip that he set up the defense classes in order to keep her underground and out of the fighting and basically forces Mia to choose between him and what he represents (staying out of the fighting/being Princess/being Heir/etc) and Laras and what he represents (fighting, basically). She chooses Laras and basically severs her relationship with Edward.

At this point, she goes to Laras looking for comfort as she is both angry and upset. Comfort could mean more traditional emotional support or even a chance to hit something. But Laras, who's not at his best either what with the war and Phelps and thinking everyone is an idiot, basically eats her soul, causing her to go to Colt. Colt, who's been trying to keep her to himself for some time now, takes advantage of her mental instability to insinuate himself into her pants.

Basically, Colt isn't supposed to be a bad guy...he's supposed to be somewhat broken. More so than perhaps I have written thus far, since I haven't written from his POV enough and Mia isn't going to notice it. Edward definitely would, so I think I might have him mention it. But Colt is basically suffering from a form of PTSD and separation anxiety, and this has translated into a small obsession with Mia. He rather wants to possess her. And he's not above taking advantage of her to get it.

Now, if Colt were to insult Mia to Laras...I'm sure it would have something to do with how stupid she is not to see that Laras doesn't love her. Although that's more to do with how convincing Laras is than how imperceptive Mia is. Honestly, he's far more likely to become quite crude about her and speak of her in far more sexually explicit terms than is necessary.

[Quaddy]

And no, she is bettering herself for herself, not because of Laras. Laras leaving pushes her into overdrive. By this point, Charon has relented and let them go on missions (Mia going only if Laras goes) to help create the network, pick up drops from Bermuda (remember, the secret American enclave is stealing tech and whatnot from the Port of Miami and sending them to Bermuda, which would be sent to drop zones in France), and take some strategic locations in order to secure Ireland more completely. After Laras leaves, she becomes obsessed with them and throws herself into the war more fully in order to block out the emotions she really doesn't want to deal with.

[Matt]

Oh I didn't mean that she was only doing these things because of our Russian. No no no. It was more one of those things where his leaving might have just made her realise that the strain of their relations was two sided etc. I think both of them have to realise that. Laras is certainly trying not to see that it's his fault whilst also maintaining his self-imposed guilt fest. But he's all screwy because I've focused on the day Phelps is taken off and how that effects him. Plus one he departs, he's going to go through a whole load of 'Well what would Phelps/Mia/Charon do type situations' I thought this might be a little similar but obviously not like it would be the same.

I might send you what I have and the plans I've got. I'm about 5000 words into what should end up at about 8/9k.

Every so often I get a new idea though and it sends it all upwards haha.

[Quaddy]

Yeah, she's definitely going to become...better because he leaves. She becomes more like her old self, before she became a little co-dependent, with the added bonus of becoming a soldier even beyond what Laras would have imagined. She focuses on what she can learn from everyone and just does things her way without worry that Laras will disparage her. So when he comes back, she really *will* be his equal instead of just being able to fight him like one. But him coming back will also make her whole again, in a way, because he is the man she loves.

But I do want to make sure that she's done enough to earn a spot on a few missions to help set up the Network. Charon wants Ireland completely secure, and the boys in Miami are finding some prototypes and whatnot that'll be really helpful later (think a cloaking devise that will allow dissemblers to get around Omega watchdogs, developed for spies within the Rebellion) that he'll want retrieved. I think Laras should argue that Mia gets to go with after she's shown some improvement, and Charon agrees only if Laras is going. Of course, by the time Laras leaves, Mia has proven herself well enough to continue fighting, and she has to go now 'cause Laras is gone.

I mean, if Laras asks her to go with (even if Mia doesn't find out, and especially if she doesn't), that makes Laras really sympathetic to the reader. So I like that. And after he leaves, I think the people in Ireland get to see her without him and thinking of Mia doesn't automatically mean thinking of Laras, if that makes sense. It allows her to create her own identity and place within the Rebellion that isn't always in comparison to her Professor.

[Matt]

Sent you an email + attachment on WDC Q.

[Quaddy]

Dashing on over right now, M.

OMG, WE'RE BOND CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!!!!

FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

*falls over*

[Quaddy]

On a more serious note, I agree with Erik being part of the team doing the research. There were definitely about 30 scientists on Bermuda at the time, and between his expertise and this new character's, I think they might be able to recover some of Phelps. It would be a bit like gaining a whole new body, I think. Like someone with autism learning to feel emotions that they've never felt before. Like a victim of a stroke whose memories are shot as well as their motor skills. I'm not sure he'll ever get the memories back, so the relationship between Laras and Phelps is pretty much done. That support system is gone, even if some of Phelps' skills return. He'll be a bit Prof X, I think.

As far as the Colt/Laras fight, I see what you mean about the voice issue. But I think it works because Laras isn't entirely there himself; between Charon and fighting as Mia, I think part of himself has shut down for a bit. But it's not that far off from what he would usually do. Honestly, he just comes across as a little tired, like he's not quite up to bringing his A game and Colt just barged in and now he has to deal with this thing. I like the fighting as Mia bit, actually; she is quite shrewd in her own way.

If we wanted an insult along those lines, Colt might insult her to insult Laras. Perhaps pick a signature Mia move (the Roundhouse or the Scissor she worked hard to learn) and insult it, thereby insulting Laras, who helped her perfect it. An insult that makes it clear it wasn't precisely Mia he was insulting, but Laras doesn't even acknowledge the attempt to rattle him and instead answers for Mia. As it's the insult to *her* that he feels more keenly.

Colt has a bit of cowboy in him. I don't think "she truly fights like you" is the right way. More...Texas, rougher about the edges. Occasionally incorrect grammar, as if he doesn't really care. He does use the term "darlin'" and, though he doesn't have a Southern drawl (not being from the Southeast), he almost seems like he would. Like something out of an old western, but not that cliched. When we go back and edit him, I actually want the language to become more and more exaggerated as he develops this part of his personality, to make it clear that he is becoming a new person as he regrowing his identity. So perhaps something like "Way she fights like you, I'd think she'd a talked Ruskie" or something like that.

I'm not sure Mia's in the mood to look at Laras with anything resembling doe-eyes, though. She's pretty preoccupied with lessons. And, pretty soon she'll be learning, as well. I definitely think she wants to talk to him, though.

[Matt]

A 'She sure fights like you'?

I find it hard to think Coltishly.

[Quaddy]

That would work.

I find it hard to write Coltishly, too. He's not technically my character, so he never really got a place in my head. It's like when I try to write for Shlomi; he's not mine, so I feel like I'm trying to write a character based on a painting. Honestly, we'll have to probably change him completely if/when we get around to editing this monstrosity.

[Matt]

Or somebody help me fucking write like yous??? My brain has been dealing with too much Scots.

[Matt]

Haha I like that this published after I saw your latest message. Bloody Coltish thinking.