Canon is Neal Stephenson's REAMDE.

[spetsnaz]

I am, regrettably, very busy. No time to be inmate on barge. Must, instead, find Chinese hacker and try not to kill him, and then hope events - and people - become no crazier than they already are.

Perhaps redemption later.

Comments

[patheticvillain]

But they will, though.

[spetsnaz]

They will not.

[patheticvillain]

They will. People always get crazier, it's the whole point of people.

[spetsnaz]

In short term, events tend towards chaos. In long term, towards - balance.

[patheticvillain]

Wow. Who fed you that line?

[spetsnaz]

Balance is not quite right word. Towards normal.

[patheticvillain]

A normal level of total crap.

[spetsnaz]

Usually.

[patheticvillain]

That's what you want?

Man, I feel bad for you if you do come here, then. You're gonna be turned into a goat on your first day.

[spetsnaz]

I would like... middle ground. Between constant peril and boring. Thus far, all has been one or the other.

[patheticvillain]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist, but good luck.

[spetsnaz]

This, I suspect.

[patheticvillain]

So what's the point in looking for it?

[spetsnaz]

Can think of nothing else better to do.

Once this job is finished.

[patheticvillain]

So you're looking for normal because you think you're gonna be bored.

[spetsnaz]

Normal is not goal. It is - tool. Give someone normal, they grow relaxed. Take it away, panic. Try to make it normal again.

[patheticvillain]

. . . Hard to fake, though. And if you can't fake it, no way you can parcel it off and give it to somebody.

[spetsnaz]

Not so hard. I have practice.

[patheticvillain]

How much?

[spetsnaz]

Much. Hardest part is to find what normal is. Normal to me, different from normal to you.

[patheticvillain]

Normal's a standard.

[spetsnaz]

A habit.

[patheticvillain]

Well, both. But when people look they see baseline normal. You can deviate so much, and when you go past that you're screwed.

[spetsnaz]

That would depend on your backup plans.

[patheticvillain]

What are yours?