Cans (before battle)
Ah... I know who you're looking for.
The owner of the bakery was a woman holding the same wicker basket as the one in the photograph. She took one glance at the picture I held up for her and gave a quick nod.
This man... he works in Cannery-17 right next. He's a regular.
He used to drop by every morning to buy sandwiches to share with his coworkers. Haven't seen him around lately, though.
And those coworkers, I assume they were wearing the same uniform?
Asking the question on my behalf, Outis showed the baker another photograph.
Probably? He was always wearing one, too. I'd guess it's the Cannery uniform.
This confirms our lead, Executive Manager. A few inquiries at that Cannery should bring us to the information we need.
<Yeah, you're right. But...>
<... It's just that she doesn't seem very concerned at all. She's one of the people in the photos that weren't affected by the Distortion, right? Thought she'd be a close acquaintance...>
Allow me to verify, Executive Manager.
Do you know the name of this regular you spoke of?
His name? Am I supposed to know that?
Though I wasn't expecting her to actually know his name, the apathy evident in her voice gave me pause.
He took a photo of you. Wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that you're well-acquainted with him?
Oh, that.
The baker's demeanor changed when Outis pressed the point. She gave a strange, unsettling smile before pulling something from her apron pocket.
A thin and round... can-like object.
He said he'd give me five of these Canned Experiences for free if I let him take my picture. Even said he'd throw in the Docugraph of the building of my choice!
He Docugraphs buildings, right? I hear he even takes work trips to the Nest every now and then. So I asked him to get me a Docugraph of this lovely mansion I saw by the Nest suburbs.
I know I'll never get to afford a beautiful place like that... But this way, I could at least experience what it's like. And gosh, it was... everything I'd ever hoped for... Hehe...
I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was a distinct eeriness to that dreamy, blissful smile on the baker's face that sent a chill down my spine.
Ahem...
Uhm... Young Meursault...
Are these Canned Experiences truly possessed of such marvels? To pluck all semblance of reason from one's countenance...?
They maintain high demand across the City. District 14 is only one of several markets.
Dost thou mean... that those who indulge in Canned Experiences may experience venturing on an expedition to the Great Lake and bungee jumping off the summit of that skyscraper yonder as they remain seated where they are?
They may. However...
Oho...! A magicked can, allowing one to pursue any dream the heart may conceive! Verily, I confess mine own soul... is much tempted...
... it differs from pursuing a dream.
Hmm?
Mass-produced Canned Experiences are made from base Experience Batter mixed with various modified information. The resulting end product enables intense stimulation through altered memory. Therefore, it is unlike the "dream" as expressed by Don Quixote.
A piece of memory refined along the numerous processing stages of the Canneries' production lines is not equivalent to genuine experience. Meaning, the usage of "experience" in her previous statement must also be amended.
Memories altered for intense simulation... That does sound quite shady.
Hmm... How doth this cast a shade upon the boons granted by the can? Adventures and tales are, forsooth, inclined toward a little grandeur!
It is because the memories provided by Canned Experiences are extremely vivid.
Statistics have shown that users of cans interpret them as authentic experiences and become dependent on them.
A possible cause of the formation of dependence patterns is that Canned Experiences allow one to feel as if one has achieved a dream that is, in reality, impossible.
Art thou implying... that the users are made content with devouring forged dreams stored in instant-use cans?
Worse still, the user may no longer strive to chase dreams in the waking world,
for the sweeter and more splendidly a dream is embellished, the more impossible it will appear to be grasped with one's own hands.
... To become a cause for surrender, instead of inciting one to march forth...! Verily, doth it not annul the significance of dreaming itself, if the resultant dream rouseth not the spirit to gallop toward it?!
Whether that annuls its significance, I cannot know.
But they sell well.
.......
So? How much will you be buying?
Buy what?
You came barging in with all these questions, and I was patient enough to answer them politely, wasn't I? Don't you think you owe me a sale or two?
You're not about to leave without buying a single loaf after crowding up my bakery and scaring off my customers, are you...?
... Her case was on point, actually. With our whole group gathered around, the passersby gave us a wide berth and hurried on, whispering among themselves. Nobody was about to come in and buy bread like that.
C'mon, lady! I practically cleared your shelf already, didn't I?
... You did? Where the hell are you keepin' all that, then?
Do ya even gotta ask? 'Course I had some already! And the rest is safely tucked in my coat pockets so we can all share later~
<So you already ate some...>
<Let's buy a little more. It's true we scared off the other customers.>
... Understood. Given that the expense is made to facilitate this operation, the lack of prior budgeting should not pose a problem.
Oh, nice! Sesame rice bun for me, please.
<?!>
... It was Kim. He really did have a knack for making an entrance at the least expected moments.
Hey, Mister! Where have ya been this whole time?!
Wait, wait.
...?
Be cross with me all you like, but just give me a moment.
Ezra paused, waiting in puzzled anticipation...
... only for Kim to take a sesame rice bun from the baker's hands and chomp into it.
... All right. I'm ready.
Frickin' waste of bread!
Gah...!
Ezra's angry fist drove straight into Kim's solar plexus, folding him to the ground like a crumpled sack of potatoes as he rolled away.
... At this rate, the owner might start charging us for the whole bakery next, roof and all. Best get away from here.
Manager.
Meursault approached me as we walked down the street, with Ezra and Kim still squabbling behind us.
He was holding a roll of something brown and tightly coiled.
<Hmm...?>
I have completed development of the film, per your instruction.
<Oh, so this is the film in that canister you were shaking. Uh... Do I just unroll it?>
Hold it up against the sun or other sources of light. As it is a reversal film, the images should be visible as they were photographed.
... I had no idea what a "reversal film" meant, but I did as he said and unrolled the film.
<Okay... I can see it. Huh, That's pretty cool!>
Oh, is it showing? Can I see, too...?
Move it over a bit. Let me have a look, too.
It was hard to make out the details because the images were too small, but I could still tell the strip was packed with almost identical pictures.
Hmm...? Is this the same person in every shot? In the same pose in all of them?
Huh, you're right... No, wait a second...
See the arm here? The further along the strip you go, the lower it gets...
Yeah... and the head looks like it's turning to the right.
... Huh?
We were all squinting up at the tiny frames on the film when Sinclair suddenly flinched and went stiff like he'd seen something he shouldn't have.
A second later, all color drained out of his face.
<... Sinclair? What's the matter?>
This reminds me of... something I learned in school.
You draw a picture in the corner of a stack of notes or a thick book. In the exact same spot on every page.
You start with the arms down. Then you make one small change on each page... nudge the arms up higher and higher... until they're raised all the way up.
And when you flip the pages fast enough, the drawings stop looking like separate images. The still figure starts moving.
That class was called... "Introduction to Motion Pictures."
I remember the teacher saying... that video footage we watch are all made the same... way...
<Are you saying that this is...>
It's a continuous sequence of still images...
The arrangement of the frames suggests that this film strip is highly likely to constitute footage - a violation of N Corp.'s Taboo.