#s140

By the way, I think I’ve solved the mystery of Scratch’s dark spots – and, potentially, his omniscience itself. It's a bit of a meta answer, but this is a meta comic. I think it fits.

Here's my take: Scratch knows exactly what Hussie knows, at the time of writing. No more, no less.

Hussie, while writing this conversation, has access to all the information about Homestuck that currently exists. He 'knows everything' about the world of the comic - or at least, everything that's set in stone.

But he doesn't necessarily know what the next line is going to be, simply because he hasn't decided yet. Hussie knows 'everything' - but at the time of writing, Homestuck still has 'dark spots' that he hasn't filled in.

In time, though, each dark pocket will be filled.

Unlike Hussie, Scratch doesn't get to decide what these dark pockets contain - but in every other sense, his knowledge of Homestuck is exactly equivalent to Hussie's. He is omniscient, in the sense that he has access to all the information about Homestuck that currently exists - everything that's been decided by the author.

I think an example will further illustrate what I’m getting at.

Out-of-story, Hussie decides that Terezi is going to message Scratch. In-story, Scratch doesn't know how she achieved it, simply because Hussie hasn't decided yet. His omniscience can supply him with any information that exists - but this information literally hasn't been created yet. Just like Hussie, Scratch has to 'figure it out' instead.

So that's it, I think. Doc Scratch's omniscience is author clairvoyance, with all the benefits (and drawbacks) that that entails. He can know things that we don't know - things that Hussie has decided, but not written - but he can never know what Hussie doesn't know.

Plus, this explanation also puts a new spin on some rather odd phrasing he just used.

An explanation of his death wouldn't 'fit elegantly' into their exchange?

That's not how a character thinks.

You said you should hurry, which is different from saying that you're in a hurry.

If the Alpha Timeline decrees that this conversation will be rushed, then it's still accurate to say it 'should' be hurried, even if Scratch isn't personally pushed for time.

TT: I thought you didn't lie. TT: Aren't jokes essentially humorous lies? Jokes are only temporary lies. If the falsehood is never exposed, there is no punchline. If the punchline is never delivered, the lie is sealed forever, regardless of initial humorous intent.

And this is just bullshit.

First of all, admitting that you lied doesn't retroactively negate the lie. That's not how any of this works. Scratch is just unilaterally deciding that falsehoods only 'count' when they're permanent, a rule he pulled completely out of his foamy ass.

Even if we accept his premise - which I don't - he could still wait arbitrarily long before revealing his falsehood, so that Rose doesn't realize she's been played until it's too late. This definition doesn't meaningfully restrict him from lying, and I think it's purely designed to confuse Rose.

[…] Lies are not funny. TT: I think if you're going to risk tarnishing your record of honesty, you should probably get better material. My joke was objectively funny. Who would know better than I?

And these? These are opinions, which don't have objective truth values. There are so many strings attached to Scratch’s ‘I don't lie’ shtick, I could knit him a better outfit.

Not that it matters, because Rose is in too deep. She's not going to back out now, no matter how suspicious this guy is.

TT: So you're saying an inaccurate statement doesn't count as a lie, as long as you say "just kidding" later? Basically. TT: What if it's much later? Is it still "just a joke?" No, that would be something closer to a prank.

I appreciate that Rose is trying, but her language is still too imprecise. Scratch is immortal, and it's impossible to know what ‘much later’ means to him. For god's sake, he's having this conversation in a single extended second! Give us some hard numbers, fucker!

TT: Are you allowed to lie about playing pranks? If I asked you if you were playing a prank on me, would you tell the truth? I am allowed to do whatever I want. I choose never to lie. I also choose to tell jokes now and then, and to play pranks quite sparingly.

See, the trap Rose is falling into is that she’s buying into the premise of the game. She's delving deep into the intricacies of Scratch's rules, and in the process, has completely forgotten to be skeptical of the guy who's explaining them.

Scratch tailors his manipulation style to whoever he's talking to - and if anyone's susceptible to a nerd-snipe, it's the Seer of Light.

But I can say that I have never played a prank on you, and no statement I have made to you thus far, or will make in this conversation, will contain any trace of falsehood for the sake of setting up a joke or a prank, with the exception of the joke I just made, and another one I will make very soon.

Like – let’s take this statement as an example. We could review the entire conversation with it in mind, and try to puzzle out where the setup for Scratch’s second ‘joke’ is, if it exists at all. Rose is probably doing exactly that – and in the process, has completely forgotten that he just said that he’s fully capable of lying.

He’s literally telling her to her face that he’s deceiving her, but she's too caught up in his games to pay attention. This is what it means to play with your cards face up, and it’s as impressive as it is terrifying.

TT: I'm starting to change my mind. Oh? TT: Yes. I think your joke was funny in retrospect. Actually, your whole shtick is pretty good. I'm warming up to it.

Now that’s the Slick I know.

Yes! Fuck that puppet up!

I love that Slick's clearly still living in the low-stakes world of the Intermission. He doesn't know or care about demons, cueballs or First Guardians. All he sees is the Felt's number two - and he knows exactly how to deal with a rival gang.

Jack. Slick? Which would you prefer I call you? It's one of the strange points of uncertainty which surrounds you. Maybe it is that you don't particularly care. [...] Not going to tell me? Fine, I won't tell you my name either. Well, I might. If you would just show some manners and stop hitting me with that ridiculous horse hitcher. I won't crack no matter how senseless the drubbing.

I do not want to see that cueball crack. You just know Lil Cal's head is hiding right underneath.

You're not going to stop, are you. It will be very difficult to discuss our points of mutual interest like this.

You've got some 'mutual interests', eh?

I'm pretty sure I know exactly what you're referring to.

Or, more specifically, who you're referring to.

Scratch must be planning to sic Spades on his former Queen, in order to trigger English's summoning ritual. I don’t know why he doesn’t just kill her himself, but maybe First Guardians aren’t allowed to attack their own universes. That's certainly a safeguard I'd install, If I were designing an omnipotent, free-willed game character.

To be honest, I think Doc might have some trouble convincing Slick to kill Snowman. I mean, sure, he hates her, and certainly wants her dead - but he had the opportunity to kill her in the Intermission, and ceased gunplay like everyone else. He probably knew that killing her in Alternia's universe would kill him, too.

Maybe that's Scratch's plan - he's going to give Slick a way to kill Snowman from outside her metaphysical blast radius. Perhaps he has a way for Slick to attack her from the Furthest Ring?

Do you have anything at all to say? Any form of communication you care to attempt beyond the sound iron makes against my head repeatedly? No, of course not.

Still a demigod, Slick.

What's that? I see. You think you already know my name. You do not know my real name, Jack, just as none of your adversaries on this planet know yours. You only know my nickname.

I still like Big Cal. It's funny, but it also fits him very well, since despite his incredible power, he's still just someone else's puppet.

It's a good nickname too. Befitting of the passive gunslinger charged with initiating the break. I am my master's weapon. His soldier in a war of one bullet fired. But when that bullet clears the barrel, it won't be my finger on the trigger. I'm a facilitator, not an assassin.

I know you understand what I am saying, Jack.

I am going to give you a gun.

And you are going to assassinate the universe.

Yes, good. Placate yourself with the scottie dogs, Slick. My supply is bottomless. I am an excellent host.

Priorities.

Man, Slick's only just re-entered the story, but he's climbing the tier list fast. He's settled back into his role so well, it's like he never left.

Since my father is no longer a well-kept secret, I believe I will make myself comfortable.

I’ll admit that hanging his coat on the Battlefield does earn him a few style points.

You are busy being Rose Lalonde. Completely preoccupied with it, in fact. So preoccupied, you have been neglecting messages from some of your friends who are trying to contact you. But you have a lot of important stuff to do. You will get back to them later.

Well, it looks like we're finally here.

Rose's reply to Jade occurs at the precise moment of the Blackout -and when we saw it kick in, she was sitting in this exact position, holding the cueball she's currently being proffered.

It's imminent.

That looks a lot like the disc Bro was messing around with earlier - the one which may have been the alchemical material for Dave's Timetables. We still don't know what it's for, but it assuredly relates to Time.

TT: When will I receive further instruction? Now. […] TT: I came away with the impression from our last conversation that our next would take place on your invitation. TT: I was being polite by waiting. Your inevitable impatience caused you to contact me again. Inevitability is my invitation.

He thinks he’s slick here, but this statement is meaningless in Homestuck. All Alpha conversations are inevitable, and his aren't special in that regard.

TT: That's pretty smug. I am right to be smug. I am omniscient, extremely powerful, and very charming. TT: Well, TT: Two out of three isn't bad. TT: Can you use your limitless intelligence to figure out which ones I mean?

Charming isn’t the word I’d use. Charismatic is closer, but it's an ice-cold, calculated charisma, without a shred of humanity. There’s more warmth in Aradiabot’s messages than in anything Scratch has said – much more, actually, because if you read between the lines, Aradiabot was full of emotion, and in denial about it.

Scratch, however, is devoid of anything resembling personality. Even his ‘trolling’ seems feigned and very deliberate, putting Rose just a little more at ease.

New Post has been published on https://shelu.net/20221108-%e6%95%85%e5%ae%ab/

20221108 故宫