JON I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RPF POOL FIC I AM SO SERIOUS
the pool fic has given me such struggles.
basically, it's pre rwrb, Nick's in california after high strung press, and is playing pool by himself in a bar that happens to be frequented by taylor. they play a game a pool, taylor loses, badly, on purpose.
they make a bet and play another game where taylor loses, again because nick is really good with a stick.
it's stalled out a bit but i'm still planning on getting back to it
have a snip!
Taylor leans against the pool table, “Need someone to play with?” he asks cooly. Nick says nothing instead he taps the cue ball and it sharply knocks against another, it sinks into the pocket. The cue ball stops just shy of Taylor’s ass. “I was watching you from the bar, you’re really good, like really good.”
“I know,” Nick takes another drink as he studies the table. “Can you move your ass, it’s in the way of my last shot.”
“You know what, that I was watching you, or that you’re good?”
“Both.”
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I have a theory about Krester: In episode 5, during the call, Krester is seen tapping his finger on his cross in sync with the ticking. I think he kind of "triggers" himself to jump off the ship intentionally. He might remember it from previous simulations. What do you think about this? I'd love to read your thoughts on this!
Hey anon, thanks for your message! :)
Oh wow, wonderful train of thought! I've never actually considered this, but really like your idea of Krester "triggering" himself intentionally, because it certainly would make sense bearing in mind he's the only one of the jumpers we see intentionally interacting with an item in consonance with the ticking noise.
Since we're at it, let's do a weak and holey analysis on how each of the main individuals, who we witnessed are clearly affected by the ticking noise, react towards it, including their established motivations, emotional state and actions:
Yuk Je:
Motivation (during The Calling) >>>
has desperately sticked to the imposter plan / being passive (by extension could correlate with: sticking to the dictated plot / action potentially controlled by the SIM creator)
has tried to protect her daughter at all cost, but forfeits grip over Ling Yi's and maybe her own destiny (speculative if there are personal feelings of failure involved)
has regretted to have stepped on the Kerberos in the first place
has blamed Ling Yi and her desire for freedom as a cause for their current misery
Emotional state (during The Calling) >>>
lonely, lost, doubtful (more or less pushed away by Ling Yi)
In conclusion: the love and emotional bond towards Ling Yi and thus an inability to change clouds her pragmatic judgement in regards to what might endanger her daughter.
Reaction to ticking noise >>>
hears a faint ticking noise in the cabin (externally)
reacts a little surprised / alert but then immediately marches in sync with the sound
looks around, hesitant, as Ling Yi calls out for her before continuing to throw herself off-board
Krester:
Motivation (during The Calling) >>>
has sided with his mentally unstable, zealot mother and the radical mutiny
has acted actively on finding the boy as alleged cause for all the occurring deaths, but continues rather passively or intermediary during certain actions (f. e. he cuts himself off the group fight and flees to persevere in the lower section of the ship, he stops his mother from striking out any further at Maura etc.)
has betrayed Tove and their original plan to break free from their religious household and traumatic past to build up a life on their own, instead follows their parents' calling,
has pushed away Àngel and another chance to change his loyalty and path of life
In conclusion: the emotional bond towards Iben, the guilt in regards to Ada's death and the hold of religious faith cause an inevitable inability to make pragmatic decisions.
Emotional state (during The Calling)>>>
lonely, lost, doubtful (rejected by Iben, more or less abandoned by Tove, lost Ada, lost Àngel)
Reaction to ticking noise >>>
sits alone and taps the cross pendant in time to ticking noise
doesn't react to Anker calling out for him before throwing himself off the ship
drops his cross pendant before falling off, leaving it on board
Iben:
Motivation (during The Calling) >>>
following god's will ("justice is always on the side of the survivors")
still expediently leading the mutiny, therefore she's unaffected at first
supporting the aim to steer the ship on initial course to America
building up a church in America
Emotional state (during The Calling):
slightly shifting, very unsteady (after she hears about Krester's suicide)
Reaction to ticking noise >>>
no reaction at first, only in trance after Anker informs them about Krester's suicide
is tied up and therefore physically unable to jump off the ship
Àngel:
Motivation (during The Calling) >>>
shifts in motivation are unclear
probably sticks to Ramiro's and his plan to reach America
refuses profoundly to go back
In conclusion: he's emotionally torn, on one hand clearly affected by Krester's rejection and on the other hand realising he's abandoned as Ramiro has left him alone as well, but he still holds onto the hope of someone returning for him and the plans to start a new life in America.
Emotional state (during The Calling):
very distraught, lonely, fearful (left alone by Ramiro, rejected by Krester)
eventually calmed by Ramiro, who returns to him
Reaction to ticking noise >>>
barricades himself into the cabin by blocking the door
is not tied up, but in a trance state and self-soothing stance
Virginia:
Motivation (during The Calling) >>>
???
not sure if working as a pimp in America qualifies as motivation (maybe someone could add to this)
Emotional state (during The Calling):
potentially lonely (she closes herself off from other passengers, but it's unclear if she does so deliberately)
Reaction to ticking noise >>>
standing at the rail, alluding to her almost jumping off the ship (but it's debatable what can be witnessed here)
she describes her trance as "one of the strangest dreams", almost seems like she was positively fascinated by it.
All these characters have some traits in common, namely:
following the aims of a higher authority / instance
are helplessly trapped in their established roles, but emotionally wavering
unwillingness or lack of strength to move forward, past the fear, sadness and trauma they've encountered and change their destiny (resulting in strong passivity)
anteriorly confronted by (a) strong emotional trigger(s).
Individually they are entering the trance state in slightly different ways:
Yuk Je: immediately, hears an external ticking sound,
Krester: immediately, hears an external ticking sound but also potentially self-triggers by tapping in unisono on his cross pendant,
Iben: not immediately, but is affected due to an emotional reaction overwhelming her,
Àngel: unclear if immediately, but manages to stay seated in self-soothing embrace during his trance, holding what looks like the letter each of them has received,
Virginia: unclear if immediately, unclear if purposefully "acted out" a trance state, therefore unclear if she was in a trance to begin with.
Accordingly I'd conclude it might depend on self-motivation of each individual to fulfill a certain task, potentially dictated by a higher authority or guideline or lack thereof that determines whether or not certain characters are "activated" by the ticking noise or can "self activate" to enter this mode.
Buuuut that being said I also really like your idea of Krester (unconsciously?) remembering something like this happening in previous sim and maybe even realising he's made the wrong choices in this sim therefore being like: "Woops goodbye. I go off, I guess. See you in the next sim!".
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