Voxophone 7/?? - Voice

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Citizens of Luceti.

[It is, perhaps, the first time Robert Lutece has ever used the journal as an actual means of reaching the community at large rather than simply a voxophone others happened to hear and respond to.

For all intents and purposes, he sounds as if he's discussing the weather or another phase in the Lutece Field he and Rosalind have been attempting to re-discover here and the machine they intend to re-build.

It's a very calm, very scientific tone.]

I would like to know if anyone here has information regarding conception, gestation, and delivery of children as it pertains to Luceti.

Physics is my specialty, but I am well-versed in anatomy and biology. [He does not need the "birds and bees" talk. That isn't the purpose of this.] However, there are anomalies in this world in regards to anatomy and biology -- the wings, for instance.

It is of interest to me whether these changes or the progression of the alterations of reality commonly referred to as "shifts" affect the aforementioned topics.

[...And yes, that is all he's going to say on the topic. Not why it matters or why he's decided to start researching this. It's simply stated as a matter of fact.]

Any information or Luceti-specific literature on the subject would be most helpful.

Thank you.

Comments

[Action]

[tearmeanewone]

Wait, why?

[Elizabeth drags herself out of her room, coffee and journal in hand, dressing gown haphazardly on. She's still recovering from a lack of sleep over the past two days.]

[But nothing gets her out of bed like the possibility of Robert knowing what she and Gai have been up to for months.]

[Action]

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Hm?

[It's the journal that has his attention, as well as a normal notebook to the side, where he has a couple notes already jotted down.]

I'm sorry. [A smile and both books are ignored.]

What can I do for you?

[Action]

[tearmeanewone]

[Elizabeth almost ducks back into her room when she realizes Robert is already at work. But when he puts his books aside and reassures her Elizabeth smiles back and joins him at the table.]

Why do you want to know about having children here? Do you think it's relevant to your research?

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It's an area of study I feel would be beneficial to know.

[Which is true. There are some things about it that he needs to know in general. Partially because, well, Elizabeth may face that choice. But he'd rather think that is a long, long way off.]

In any society, there is procreation. I'm curious about how this world affects elements of that.

[written]

[wise_maiden]

[He might recognize the writing as being the same that's found in the guide.]

The length of pregnancy tends to be around three months. There have only been three observed pregnancies in this enclosure to date. Children are born with the wings.

As for related writings, there isn't any literature here that is native to Luceti itself.

[written]

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[Three months? Curious.]

Have any adverse side effects been noted to the increased pace of gestation? Or any developmental abnormalities, aside from the wings, observed in the offspring?

[written]

[wise_maiden]

No, not at all. They were all very healthy.

The problem is that children born to this world... will have nowhere to go.

[written]

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The same could be said of some brought here.

[He knows far too many people -- like the entire population of his household -- who will cease to exist when they leave this place. If they do.]

What happens in the case of a child born here whose parents disappear?

[ Voice ]

[generalflirt]

Apart from Sensei's technicals up there, there's also the matter that people born on this planet are cursed. You've heard of that one, right?

[ Voice ]

[ablankpage]

And could you tell me about this "curse"?

[Because, well, that work speaks to superstition.]

[ Voice ]

[generalflirt]

I could - I can't tell you the "why" of any of this, but I can tell you a few facts.

[ And he drums his fingers, and- ]

The first is that people born on this planet grow large wings - they end up big enough to look like they could reasonably support flight to the eyes of a non-scientist like me. Nothing like our little ones. I guess they sprout up into existence later in life, like puberty or something. [ Going by what he knows through listening to other people talk about it... and that Sophie's are still the same size ]

The second's that every soldier or general or anything between involved with the cultists I've ever seen has large wings, to say they've been born on this planet. Every last one of them. Which actually lends us to the third point, and where the curse lies-

The Malnosso, with whatever knowledge they have, seem to expect these people who have large wings to eventually go mad. It's not a universal belief, but I have heard them talk about it with some degree of inevitability. Is that just because they have no home to go home to, is it because it's biological, spiritual? I couldn't tell you. But the penchant for madness is their curse.

[ Voice ]

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[Robert considers that for a moment.

There are genetic predispositions to madness. There are also cultural and societal discrepancies between what is considered madness. Much of it can, also, be political.

He's seen all of them before.

That is a point to consider, though it brings up questions he highly doubts -- as there is apparently no literature on the development of those born into this world -- he can get answers to with any sort of scientific probability.

But it does introduce one question he feels he can ask:]

What steps have been taken to see that this doesn't happen with the child still in this enclosure? Are there arrangements made in the case that they start showing said madness?

[Kind of Voice]

[goldenglasses]

[There's a small sound on the other end. Clear enough that someone had started to answer (or the book turned itself on) and then didn't.

What was he to say? He was no doctor. No Physics. He had seen Milly's stomach grow large in what seemed like a blink of an eye. Had felt that little life kick him through her stomach. Had awoken in the night to fetch Law because the baby was coming. The look on her and Wolfwood's faces when they held their son in their arms for the first time.

Then they had him hold it. Such a tiny weight. A tiny weight so full of life. Then all three of them were whisked away in the middle of the night. The parents back home and Noah in the hands of the Malnosso.

What was he suppose to say? That before they took him Noah had been growing like a healthy human should? That he had some of the most beautiful eyes he had ever saw? What?

Memories end up consuming him. So all Vash gives is the soft sound as if starting to speak. Then nothing. He'll say something more if called out on it, but that would be up Robert.]

[Reaction]

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[Robert hears the sound and... waits for a few moments. But there is nothing more that comes, so he moves on. If it proves important or necessary, the person responsible will say their piece.

If not, then it was simply an emotional reaction that needs have no bearing on the present situation.]

[Action]

[amonglions]

[Booker doesn't want to know but...

well, father like daughter. Except Booker doesn't so much go to his door as shout from across the hallway:]

What are you doing?

[Action]

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[Robert, eager to get away from the journal for a moment, walks the distance between the rooms to lean in the doorway of Booker's room.]

Posing a question to the community.

[Action]

[amonglions]

Why?

[He's giving you a look. A suspicious look. Because you don't ask things unless you have a reason to.]

[Action]

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Because the progression of any society involves procreation. This is a society of its own kind, so these are things that must be considered.

[And that is totally the only reason ever.

No it's not.]

[Voice]

[blessingone]

Why do you ask?

[She's trying to sound casual, but there's a mildly hostile edge. The question sounds very scientifically-minded and, what with the Malnosso and certain people back in her world, she tends to be pretty suspicious of people applying science to people. As one of the main guardians of the only child born in Luceti left, this suspicion is only increased.]

[Voice]

[ablankpage]

[The note of hostility -- much of his funding, once upon a time, had depended on being very in tune with what people weren't saying -- is certainly interesting.

Robert replies with his own calm.]

Because I believe procreation is an important decision that needs to be fully-informed before it's made. Or, at least, as informed as it can be, as there are always unpredictable variables.

[Voice]

[blessingone]

[Hmm. It does sound like he's more about the procreation part than studying those who have already procreated. The hostility fades into mere wariness.]

Are you thinking about having a kid?

[Voice]

[ablankpage]

I'm in consultation with someone considering doing so.

[Action]

[voidseeing]

[Oh no. No no no. Gai is NOT having this discussion over the journals, not where other people could overhear and get even more of a wrong idea than some of them no doubt already had.

Good thing he doesn't have far to go to find Robert; the look that the scientist will be fixed with when he finally does is more than a little accusing and decidedly not happy.]

Why are you asking about this?

[Action]

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[And in reply to that look, Robert fixes Gai with one his own. Almost accusing in its own way, as if to say "Why shouldn't I be?"

But he just shrugs his shoulders lightly.]

Because I want to know.

[Action]

[voidseeing]

We aren't about to be another one of your experiments.

[He's careful not to reveal whether or not they've already had sex, though he's not stupid-- he's pretty damn sure Robert knows that they have. They've spent far too many nights together for things to have remained innocent between them.]