05 | voice

[oceanthief]

When Homeworld started investigating this system, we checked all the stars near potential colonies for stability. Everyone was really excited about this planet because its sun had a pretty decent lifespan, so we wouldn't have to do any shielding for a while.

[or. something. Lapis never really paid any particular attention to the reports that came in about earth, because why would she? it was just a little mudball in some podunk galaxy.]

Is that not how it works on this earth? I can't really think of why else you'd be trying to ration sunlight, but...it's kind of stupid. Unless you're storing it somewhere to use later it's not going to make any difference, and I really don't think humans have that kind of technology yet.

[at least not on this version of the planet, anyway. she really has no idea what 'daylight savings time' could mean aside from this, and it's got her completely mystified. that at least is a familiar feeling when it comes to humanity, even if it's not all that pleasant.]

You guys don't even have that much time to start with. Do you really need to complicate it this much?

[and if the sun is dying...why bother squabbling between insubstantial nationstates when there was such a big problem looming over them all? it was all so dumb.]

Comments

video;

[oceanthief]

What does farming have to do with daylight? Changing the numbers on a timepiece doesn't make the planet orbit any faster or slower.

video;

[helladoomed]

Nah, but it let people feel like they had more time to work.

[oceanthief]

[. . .]

That's stupid.

[helladoomed]

I didn't say it was smart. Just telling you why they did it.

[oceanthief]

[they did it because they were total idiots? she feels that this isn't even close to a good enough answer to be acceptable.]

That's barely a reason at all, though. It doesn't even do anything to solve their problem.

[helladoomed]

[Chloe is trying to remember junk she learned about this in middle school, basically.]

Okay, so like...back when this was important, there wasn't electricity or anything. So people could only work when the sun was up.

So when they set the clocks forward, it made night 'later', at least from their perception. Because they went to bed when the sun set. I think.

[oceanthief]

What were they running the clocks with if they didn't even have electricity?

[which was already frighteningly primitive, although she's kindly kept this to herself. or, more accurately, assumed this was common knowledge and not necessary to comment on.]

[helladoomed]

...Clockwork? You know. Wind up.

[She mimics winding a clock.]

[oceanthief]

[w...what......]

If that's the best they had then I think there's a lot more to worry about then not being able to tell when the sun goes down.

[helladoomed]

You don't like wind up clocks?

[That's just weird.]

[oceanthief]

That's not practical at all.

[helladoomed]

They tell time. How much more practical do you need?

[oceanthief]

Not having to worry about them stopping or running out of energy, for one.

[helladoomed]

Yeah well that wasn't always an option.

[oceanthief]

It never will be if you don't focus on it.

[instead of...fighting the sun??? or something?? whatever ye olde humans were doing.]

[helladoomed]

Well I mean it is now. You can just plug in clocks.

[oceanthief]

I...guess that's better, for you guys.

[she is trying so hard to be understanding. it may actually be more difficult than holding small talk.]

[helladoomed]

So how the hell do clocks work where you come from, anyway?

[oceanthief]

It's crystal-based, just like most of the common stuff. [she shrugs] We haven't really had dedicated time-keeping things for a long time.

[helladoomed]

Crystal-based isn't really an answer. And how do you keep time then?

[oceanthief]

[listen it's an answer when your canon's explanation for how all that shit works goes as far as IDK ROCKS BRO]

With the time function on our other devices.

[obviously.]

[helladoomed]

...Right.

But you don't still have clocks around?

[oceanthief]

Why would we? They take up space.

[if your other tools can tell time, why limit yourself with a single-function unit that doesn't serve another purpose?]

[helladoomed]

I don't know. The sound? Cause they look cool?

[oceanthief]

That's kind of silly.