Video - Eliminate Nightmares With This One Weird Trick!

[fractaljesus]

Greetings, Lunatia. I am Yaha-kui zaShunina.

I understand that the Lunatian government has advised you to refrain from sleep for as long as possible. I also understand that for biological entities, doing so is difficult and results in both physical and mental strain that is detrimental to the health of the organism as a whole.

Thus, I present a solution.

[Rising into view of the feed is an oblong object, floating innocuously in front of zaShunina's chest.]

This is called "Sansa." It is a device from my world that, when activated, has various effects upon the brain of those who view it, but the most relevant among these is the ability to no longer require sleep, though they may choose to do so if they desire. This effect also works when viewed over video transmission.

I will make this voluntary. If you wish to view the activated Sansa and receive its effects, continue watching this feed. If you do not, please close the video now.


[zaShunina gives about ten seconds of silence to allow any who want to leave do so. After that, the object suddenly begins to move without another word from him. It splits into cross-sections and rotates in the air, and any still watching the video will experience some very unsettling sensations.

Nausea, mostly, but also an overwhelming sense of awareness such that they've likely never experienced before. Awareness of higher dimensions, and sudden awareness of more of themselves stretching off into these higher dimensions. The effect only lasts for a few seconds, and everything suddenly comes crashing back to the present time and place as the Sansa returns to its inert state.]

For those who have remained to view the Sansa, I will gladly answer your questions.

(OOC Note: How much the Sansa affects your character (if at all) is entirely up to you.)

Comments

un: robotman; video

[evilgrows]

[Oh, Robotnik remembers this guy. Freaked his brain out something fierce, and it took forever to sort everything out as he learned things the hard way.

But not having to sleep? Screw what's going on now, screw the side effects, that'd be useful.

So he goes ahead with it. He stares at the screen and lets whatever the hell it's doing wash over him. It's... it's a lot to take in, but it's also familiar, in a way, not hard to handle, and it's over almost as soon as it started.

Wild.

And when he's done reeling from that, he opens his own camera, although he still looks mildly queasy.]

...I feel like I've experienced worse.

[fractaljesus]

[Hello again.]

The effects of the Sansa should not be as intense as those you experienced when we connected through the Dinnumion. [He can recognize this much, at least.]

[evilgrows]

Great. Good to know there's a scale. And this fully negates the need for sleep?

[If he has to do sone kind of top up later, that'll be annoying.]

[fractaljesus]

Effectively. However, that is an incomplete understanding.

What you perceive as the entirety of yourself is merely a cross-section of a greater individual that extends into higher dimensions. The Sansa expands the awareness of the viewer to this extended self. Once this awareness is achieved, it becomes possible to utilize one's other cross-sections--other selves. When one sleeps, the others gain the benefits.

In essence, the Sansa allows you to work-share yourself.

[evilgrows]

Psh, should've mentioned that ahead of time. That's even better.

[That was definitely too complicated of an experience to just be some sleep prevention thing.]

So I can just reach out from Flatland here and harness some interdimensional processing power?

[fractaljesus]

To a degree. However, while your awareness has been expanded, this awareness is largely unconscious. Your perception will remain limited to this cross-section. You will not be aware of the activities of the other "yous", though you will still gain the benefits of them. Hence, no longer requiring sleep in this cross-section.

However, this awareness does grant a greater comprehension of higher-dimensional mechanics, so how much benefit can be gained from the Sansa beyond the elimination of sleep as a necessity is dependent upon individual aptitude.

[evilgrows]

That's probably for the best. Get too many of me in one place and who knows what I'll do?

[But now, the amount of work he'll be able to get done without passing out in a chair at 4 AM... oh, this is gonna be good.]

I think I'll be able to figure it out. I've managed to pick through what you shoved into my brain last time. Just another fun little diversion.

[fractaljesus]

[Finally, someone gets it!]

At what conclusion did you arrive after "picking through what I shoved into your brain"?

[He'd genuinely curious what a human mind could have gleaned from touching the anisotropic.]

[evilgrows]

Oh, numerous conclusions, honestly. It sped up figuring out how things worked for sure. I'd read something, find it familar, and what do you know, it was in there. Just had to untangle it.

[It certainly made things better, at least.]

[fractaljesus]

[The smile zaShunina beams back at him is one of honest joy, affectionate and proud.]

I'm glad. Humans truly are remarkable.

[evilgrows]

Humans are frustrating and inefficient. I just happen to be very good at what I do.

[He is... not smiling, himself. Even if he technically does appreciate a few things here.]

[fractaljesus]

Are you not human?

[Look, his smile isn't fading in the least, even if it has turned somewhat sly.]

[evilgrows]

One could say not anymore, what with the Moonblessing thing and all. But either way... I'm just better.

[He lets out a short laugh.]

[fractaljesus]

You are a testament to the potential humanity is capable of achieving. That potential is what makes humanity remarkable--it is limitless.

[evilgrows]

Too bad most people don't care about limitless. I, however, prefer machines as potential.