Work Text:
Who are you?
That is a question posed by any sentient organism.
You are a genius.
Nous has gazed upon you.
What more would you want to be?
QUESTION ONE: WHAT ARE YOUR VALUES?
Any good game, in your opinion, has an infinite amount of potential. A good UI, a diverse spread of options.
Stephen, —
—— had whispered.
Come play Starchess with me. This old one needs real competition.
That got a rise out of their compatriots, friends, whoever had gathered to keep them company. The opponent graciously took the defeat, though not without giving the elder a scathing impression.
Realistically, you were barely more than a wriggling maggot, barely able to grip the smallest piece in your hands. Yet, you still remember when ——— propped you up on their lap to be level with the matrix. You still remember that first unfiltered rise of fun. For the first time, the fact that anything could happen wasn't nerve-wracking. It was just fun.
Each move had brought this joy through every inch of your body. Adrenaline flowing through your veins as the opening had been conducted and even when ——— had you ensnared in the middle of the game.
Raucous laughter, scratchy and loud. A scene turning from the normal drab grays to colors organizing themselves in harmony. The parlor had been filled with warmth, not just from the bodies which filled it.
Were these what “games” were? The funny word ——— had thrown around suddenly became associated with bright splatters of color in the background of your humdrum life. That is to say, games became a part of your everyday. Better off for it, you would say.
——— ruffled your hair with a bark of laughter and a declaration that hey, this kid clearly inherited my brains! I knew it!
QUESTION 2: WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION?
Contrary to any opinion, THEIR gaze wasn't anything special. While it did feel like a being beyond any comprehension was scooping out your bone marrow, it was just another prying gaze from the universe.
——— had said that you had an infinite amount of futures waiting for you. All paths were open to you, and if not, they would pry them open themself.
You work at the fruit stand now. It's quiet (mostly. Not when people try to haggle. Although, that is good inspiration if you ever wanted to create a visual novel) and you have a lot of free time. They may scold you for seemingly slacking off, but it's all calculated. They aren't actually mad are you, are they? Surely, you would know. Your parents can't scold you for not attending to your studies like everyone else your age, because being in the Genius Society outstrips that, right?
QUESTION 3: DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES?
Bug fixes, development patches, the machinations of simulated Aeons.
All of those can be reduced to the same amount of steps.
Identify.
Find.
Correct.
Optionally, study.
The best strategies are found in the corners of every code, from monstrous builds to horrific glitches. The same could be said for life. How many hours have you spent in a game, prodding and poking at the boundaries of the world? From card games to MMORPGs, you stalk across the reviews of new games, fresh from the hands of the developers.
QUESTION 1X76D: WHY ARE YOU THE WAY YOU ARE?
Of course, this is just another voice trying to tell you who you are. Just, this time, it’s in your head.
Don’t reach for the stars , one whispers.
Another one drapes itself over your shoulders, a siren call of sloth.
No different from the cosmos consigning you to be just #84 of a patchwork society.
Being a genius is a unique paradox. You should be able to do quite literally anything. Yet, the cosmos insists on equilibrium. If you push too hard on the boundaries of knowledge, even your own will turn against you. The hunter of butterflies, mistress of mysteries, the perfect boss battle, is just another example of it.
What a rush of adrenaline, you think, when she broke into Herta’s project. Your fingers flew across the interface, wrestling partial control of the Scepters from Polka(?)’s grasp. Her facial interruption mesh was quite inspiring to you.
Nothing quite beats that fluttery feeling in your head during a boss rush, doesn’t it?
Or, was it the horror of seeing the Trailblazer at the mercy of impossible odds that had your mind in a mad scramble?
You are painfully aware that the possibilities are indeed endless, yet you are also aware that, on the other side of the coin, how powerless you can be to even reach the first rung of the great ladder. After all, ——— had vanished with their hand stretched to the next step, haven't they?
QUESTION 2OJXXE: DO YOU EVEN WANT TO BE A GENIUS?
You know what? This interview is over.