>EXCERPT FROM THE NOTES OF CORRESPONDENT #314, AKA "RICHARD", ETC.>>6044303"Another stroke of ill fortune-- or another attempt at sabotage. Who could possibly expect me to compete against a machine at hitting a speeding ball I admit I envied its size, its power, its precision: I have known these things only briefly, and only under contract, but even then they were intoxicating. I must keep in mind the drawbacks. The machine may run its calculations, pursue its efficiencies, hit its balls as hard as it likes, but those things are not all that matters. They are hardly a fraction of all that matters.
I do hope Charlotte is safe."
>>6046557"Me against the man with the unusual eye. Not the WYRM's eye, fortunately, and it was not a test of vision. I admit I took more pleasure than was warranted at the challenge at hand: I care a great deal about the structure of things. Maybe I cared a tad too much, because the end result was closer than I would have liked. Still, it was another victory, and that is nothing to scoff at."
>>6047951"At last: I had come to the end. As I always anticipated, I had outmatched every opponent. Nearly every opponent. The debacle with the batting cage, as it turned out, had put me neck and neck with one final competitor: the machine. Was I to outmaneuver it? Gum up its works? No. The only criteria at this final stage: simple popularity. The audience would vote for who they liked most.
I am excellent, even superior, at many things. But at this...
We will see what comes of it."
>Richard (Drowned Quest Redux)>>6048082"I am accustomed to the small-minded doubting my abilities."
>>6048097"At least I have one stalwart ally. Why do I attract the loud ones?"
>>6048047"I give thanks to the WYRM that I do not exist within the mind of this troubled individual. However bad my circumstances are, they can always be worse."
Richard cum gutters... I'm not sure if it's so over or we're so back 