Exordium 3

Third wobbled to exist in this instantiated reality again, the sudden flash of light painful and disorienting. Disjointed memories from missed time filled their mind as the overwhelming sound and visuals calmed into something comprehensible.

"SGFwcHkgQmlydGhkYXk=!"

Third stared blankly as the sound washed over them, the pressure of eyes in the room staring adding a new kind of weight they'd never experienced before. A new weight on their right limb, blurred vision gradually clearing as the forms continued to emit noise, encouragement and warning. The form on the left held familiative resonance, the smaller form behind them…

The emotion was familiar, although memories of interaction were hazy, as if they did not belong entirely to Third but to the form they currently inhabited - not YmFsbA== yet still ZnJpZW5k?

Hesitantly, encouraged, Third advanced towards them, and received sounds in return, inquisitive, supportive, curious, proud. The sounds stirred feelings in Third that had never been felt before, and Third attempted similar sounds in return, interrogatory attenuative dyadic response amplification iteration.

The unfamiliar metal weight on their right limb dragged uncomfortably as the form gave Third something in return for their sounds, rectangular, colourful - Third felt a surge of confused delight at the object as deeper memories surged, a significative identifier for the form that held recognative familiarity similar to and yet different from familiative resonance - "Amata…" Third mumbled, and recognized the significance of the word, a name for the classification of significative identifier it was - a name.

Did Third have a 'name'? Continuing to explore this new physical space, they considered the question. What was their significative identifier, that uniquely described them as separate from even very similarly instantiated external dyadic forms?

Trusting the instincts of their current body, Third made sounds at others here, so like them in shape, so unalike in being not-self. Third marvelled at the different feelings the forms returned to them - the familiative resonance of one of the larger forms, the similar and yet not entirely familiative resonance from the form so alike and yet different to their own.

And different feelings from others - apprehension, curiosity, and many other emotions were awakened through iterative dyadic interrelation. One gave sounds at length, and Third merely listened. One form, sat upon a small structure to lean against a platform, gave Third a covering for their head in response to the appropriate sounds. Third liked the colour, and how it felt, but still wondered at their own identicative signifier. Some part of them knew that they were 'Third', and yet that such signification was not accurate to this space - that it was numerative sequence more than it was identicative signifier.

Third continued to experiment, making sounds at forms like theirs, guided by some instinct this body held, allowing the responsive vocalizations respond naturally to dyadic inquiry. One sound was frequently repeated as Third explored this form of interaction with others, a sound made in reference specifically to them, that sounded like 'Eou'.

Was this their identicative signifier?

They were frequently referred to by this sound, and it clearly differentiated them from the originative dyadic interrelation source.

"Eou…" Third - or were they 'Eou'? - muttered audibly, testing the differentiative signifier, there - name, if they allowed it.

The utterance attracted the attention of an older figure, who made noises with Third - with Eou. They shared noises together, until the figure gave Eou an object - small, with a smell similar and wonderful as the one before. Eou was entranced - but so was another.

Eou sensed a different emotion from this one's sound - aggression, yearning, hostility, hunger, and a well-hidden sadness. Eou didn't know how to react - the object had been given to them, belonged to them, and this other - wanted it. Wanted to take it. Wanted to take it FROM Third. Wanted it to take it FROM Eou.

Something crystallised in that moment in Eou's development, as the name, they realized it was, settled more deeply into them. The name, and - they would NOT let this other take the c3dlZXRyb2xs from them.

The metal weight that had made Eou's body ache as they walked made their fist heavier.

This other… wanted Eou's c3dlZXRyb2xs.

He wanted it.

I didn't let him take it.

It's TUlORS4=

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