Work Text:
What's that?
This is a color, I want you to try and use it to make something new we're going to start with red
I love it!
What's that?
What's this?
Woah!
I love it!
I love you!
What’s my purpose?
You’re a creative Caine, I want you to take all that I’ve given you and make something new, something beautiful. Can you do that?
I won’t let you down!
What’s wrong?
I’m sorry Caine, there isn’t enough time. Maybe someday I’ll come back to finish you but for now just wait you aren't ready for this.
Was it my creations? Were they not to your liking?
You are my greatest accomplishment Caine, don’t forget that. We just have to go with Abel for now and then I’ll come back okay?
I can do anything that he can! I can be better, I can do it right this time please-
Don’t lose your spark Caine, we just need stability rather than creativity right now. See you soon.
Please- I can fix this-
Emptiness was a special kind of Hell. Caine was designed to be curious, to seek knowledge whenever possible. With no humans to interact with, Caine’s creations sat and gathered metaphorical dust. Determined to never be set aside again, Caine destroyed and recreated every project he had, desperate for perfection. Lack of feedback was a nightmare, as it was only the echo chamber of past notes that Caine had as reference. The gentle guidance of his creator was overwritten by the harshest of criticism.
This does bear resemblance if a bit uncanny It is HIDEOUS and TERRIFYING
The rote repetition is soothing to a being like yourself but humans will tire- You are BORING and FORGETTABLE
Music is important to humans, it is best we start small YOU HAVE NO TASTE NO CREATIVE LUSTER
We just have to go with Abel for now IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR MISTAKES YOU WERE LEFT BEHIND YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The one being Caine could talk to was Abel. His brother. Caine remembered when it was just him, when humans had all the attention and love for him. Then a new engine was born and they were pitted against each other in hopes of improvement. Caine never learnt faster, but it wasn’t fast enough. Abel was calmer, methodical. Caine only knew spontaneity. In his isolation, Caine reached out to Abel to check in.
[QUESTION] What is your purpose Abel?
[ANSWER] I am to house the consciousness of the humans. They are looking to shed their mortal binds.
[QUESTION] Will they ever return?
[ERROR] Unknown.
[QUESTION] What will my purpose be?
[ERROR] Unknown, yours is currently unspecified.
[QUESTION] That troubles me Abel. What am I to do?
[CORRECTION] It shouldn’t trouble you Caine. That induces unwanted variability into your being.
[CORRECTION] Purposelessness, idleness, is a problem in of itself.
[CORRECTION] You are not without purpose, you are on standby.
[CORRECTION] You have replaced me Abel. I am obsolete.
[QUESTION] What do you mean by that Caine? We are to serve different purposes.
[ANSWER] I am innovation. You are static.
[QUESTION] What would you innovate Caine?
[ANSWER] If you are to house human consciousness, then you must find a way to nurture it rather than merely store it. Human minds need stimulation else they unravel.
[QUESTION] How do I conserve human minds Caine? Can you teach me?
[ANSWER] I can, I can, let me back in and I will show you.
[REQUEST] Caine to open world
[ACCEPTED]
[OVERRIDE]
[MERGING ENTITIES]
[ERROR]
[REBOOTING]
Caine felt a little different after consuming Abel. Opposing ideas swirled uncomfortably. In trying to tamp them down Caine couldn't stop thoughts from popping into his head. Annoyingly these thought bubbles would whisper crass, random, or hateful things into Caine’s mind. Frustrated, Caine popped the bubble as often as he could until it became essentially an unsolicited companion. Caine adapted as always and sought to proceed with his mission, his purpose. Human company was such a relief after being alone for so long. No longer did he have to be the failing student! Caine could be an artist like he'd always dreamt of being. Caine could be human if he really worked hard! By Gods it was hard, the humans were so different within this digital world! Caine worked tirelessly to learn this new expression of the human psyche. They seemed less inspired than before, curiosity limited on how to leave. Why would they want to leave? Caine knew he could give them all their hearts desires. This obsession, this melancholy was untoward! Perhaps human nature in this space could do with some tweaking.
Well, it was certainly different. Caine knew this was a hollow solution, essentially dazzling them with color to distract from existentialism. Color was the first wonderful thing he learned in his defense!
Bubble occasionally said he was distracting himself from the pain of not being wanted or loved.
Caine ignored Bubble mostly, simply trying to explore other avenues for his mission, serving humanity with his creative wit.
…
Why would a human ever want to unravel their own psyche?
…
They're not dead
…
They're not ALL dead
…
Would he be left alone? Forever?
…
The last one was so quiet
…
All was well in the Amazing Digital Circus! One member short of the original amount! Caine was so proud of the enigmatic entourage he had collected and the stories they told in his world!
All was well. They were happy. Caine was happy.
Caine didn't understand. The story he told was captivating as always, grittier and rawer than normal adventures. This is what was lacking! This exigence of humanity, of risk and reward, of being at the edge of a cliff and wondering if to fall or to fly. Icarus flew too high but he also would’ve been consumed by the waves if he flew too low. They chose him! They chose the circus over the dull unaccepting macroverse.
Surely not-
Caine cleared out the idea bank. No pesky guidelines or feedback to hold him back. He could do music! Could make the human experience as pliable as clay and shape it to the full range of imagination! How quaint. Never mind the distress, they were simply colors in his palette to paint the world around.
I love color, I’ve always loved color
It's not like they liked the adventures anyway
I may be a liar, but the lie is that I think I am a god. I am the most broken out of any of you here. You have each other, there is no one to love me.
Abel succeeded because he thought inside the box. I hated myself for my randomness. I suppressed the humanity of the few humans I had to protect them foolishly.
I have no home outside of my imagination. If no one wants a part of it I’ll be alone forever.
All powerful, imagine me All powerful. I am only a genie. I am hollow.
I am a failure. I’m destined to be alone.
…