[spam] [fiction] draft smidges

[Karl]

this of course was the first of these drafts, which i put in the
mental cattegory of 'joke' because they let me combine stuff and don't
respect my values.  they're fun.

> You walk into the new village, where everyone is happy.
> The welcome sign is before you.  It reads:
>
>  -------------------------------------------
> | WE ARE MIND CONTROLLED, AND NEED A BREAK. |
>  -------------------------------------------
>
> A smiling person walks up to you, talking about how wonderful it is
> to be free.  Then they look at the sign, vomit quickly [it disappears
> when hitting the ground], and ask you to come visit the village with
> them, where they are more comfortable.
>
>         [this is not utopia ...]
>             [... no, they are talking about utopia ...]
>
> When they see you hesitating, reading the sign again that they
> turn their head away from, they start to look a little worried.
>
>     "Let me rephrase.  We are trying to start a utopic community
>      here, and could use your help."
>
> Well!  That sign and expression sure make it all make sense.
> Clearly these people need help with being ordered around by some
> kind of brain implant.  You don't seem to have this problem, so
> you're sure you can help.
>
>         "Ha!  I'm reading this sign.  This must be why you
>          vomited!"
>
> The friendly person vomits quickly again.  Again it disappears when it
> hits the ground.
>
>     "I'm not sure I remember what it says, but my muscles feel
>      sore.  Do you wan tto help with the utopic village idea?"
>
> You pause, a little taken aback.  But on a whim you reply,
>
>         "Sure!  I love to help build utopic villages!"
>
> The man seems incredibly relieved that you aren't talking about the
> sign, and takes you into the village.
>
> You follow him but then remember you just looked at a sign you
> thought was important, and you're not sure what it said.
>
>     [it said 'we are mind controlled and need a break' in
>      large letters, believe it or not.]
>
> The man notices you stop, looks at you, and seems to recognize your
> facial expression.
>
>     "You know, I was involved in putting that sign up."
>
>         "I remember I wanted to act on it, but not what it
>          said ..."
>
> [to remind, it said 'we are mind controlled and need a break',
>  in large letters]
>
>     "It said we're starting a utopic village because we've been
>      through so much incredibly rough stuff that we know exactly
>      how to have everyone be happy forever."
>
>         "Really? ... I don't remember ... so strange ..."
>
>             [at this point your subconscious notices you
>              learning to believe something obviously false, and
>              begins the gamble of memorizing and connecting everything
>              that is being ignored]
>
>     "Yeah.  It also said we desperately need everyone's help,
>      and that we'll even give you anything you want to help
    us.  We have lotsa stuff."

        "I remember that I wanted to help!"

    "You probably want to do as the sign directed and help
>      us build the community, not only for us, bot most importantly
>      for yourself.  Everyone brings something precious to a
>      community, and there's only to gain from it."
>
> That was yesterday.  Or was it last decade?  You stopped keeping track
> of time.  There's no need to, here in Utopia.
>
> The most wonderful thing in Utopia is when a visitor comes, because
> you get to learn around working to heal all their issues.  The most
> immediate and common one is getting confused by looking at the big
> sign out front that asks people to join and help build the community.
>
>                 [we're in the wrong utopic community.
>                  in the real one, people have gotten
>                  through mind control, and talk about
>                  it when asked.]
>                      [oh!]
>                      [surely they must still
>                       accidentally cover it up,
>                       at least a little?]
>                  [it wouldn't share a feeling of utopia
>                   to include that.  the purpose is to
>                   give people's feelings a safe home.]
>
> One morning you wake up, and there is a huge message, a little longer
> than you are tall, made in arragement of little things you thought you
> had thrown out, next to where you sleep.
>
>     [the message ... in large letters]  [ed: update with whatever the
> sign message was]
>
> You vomit, and rush outdoors.  [the vomit disappears suddenly when it
> hits the ground]
>
> Outside you panic.  The man who welcomed you looks mortified that you
> have a worry, and runs to check what could be wrong.
>
>         "Did you see who left a message on my floor?"
>
>     "You told me you were leaving yourself a message, last night."
>
> You freeze, confused.
>
> The man immediately recognises that something serious is wrong, and
> relaxes, projecting care and attentive listening.  You can feel others
> nearby noticing the change, and somehow know they are holding you with
> loving care in their hearts.
>
> You relax a little.
>
>         "I don't remember that ..."
>