70) 67% - stanley/narrator (the stanley parable)
- And Stanley was happy.
What a daring, provocative lie.
Sitting there, in his little office - that's what made him really happy. Nobody touched him, nobody said a word - you just sit there and push buttons. Whilst he comes in sight.
Nobody had ever spoiled his mood that easy. Comments about everything, endless - and mindless - reasoning about the probability theories and sometimes about individual qualities - all this had very soon got under the skin. Stanley was a tranquil person - and he remained tranquil even after getting into the circle - but there came the time when he seriously started to think about finding the voice's owner. And then at least punch him in the face. The reasons for that were swarming around.
After five or six deaths and restarts Stanley had noticed that the office was changing. Sometimes the office was just disappearing and a long hallway appeared instead; sometimes the white walls changed into blue and there was a whiteboard in the 426 room. In fact, if Stanley didn't die in half an hour, he would probably find something new. And the caustic voice commented every single thing, just like Stanley's getting there was planned from the very beginning.
He seemed to be prepared for everything.
That was what Stanley thought about, opening another unfamiliar door. To his surprise, no comments or explanations followed. "Wow, my conscience had taken a break", - he thought for a moment. But then the voice returned; it sounded a lot fainter, just like struggling the interference.
"St- Stanley. Listen, you really shouldn't have entered that do-or," - it hardly said. The tone was impossible to define, whether it was decrying or warning. Stanley didn't listen to that much - every time he touched something close to the Narrator, he was getting these warning shots.
"Just a room," he thought. Why is he complaining so much about it?
Five monitors were placed on a wall inside. Just as Stanley approached them, the last monitor on the left turned on and showed an inscription:
67 %
"Stanley!" - The voice sounded much louder and demanding this time, like a strict mentor. - "Leave this room right now."
He gave no sign of leaving. The number was much more interesting than the Narrator's reaction to it.
67%. What could it mean? The concentration of sulfuric acid the Narrator shall put him into? Stanley had suddenly remembered that sometimes after restarting the game the voice became quite irritated. Maybe when it gets to 100%, the Narrator will be ready to turn him into dust?
Strictly speaking, why does the voice want to get him out of this room so much?
Meanwhile the second monitor came back to life. It had partly confirmed Stanley's theory.
definition of the emotional reaction had been archived
The emotional reaction? Does that mean feeling? "What a wording," Stanley mumbled to himself. On the other side, it could mean anything. There are a lot of feelings, and he spent some time sorting them out in his head until he had finally got two of them. Completely antipodal.
No, this can't be.
"Stanley, leave this room right now. Don't make me go to extremes!"
Stanley was waiting. He was interesting in what will the other monitors show him.
"I know perfectly what is there with you. And I ask you for good!"
For good? Does it look like that time he jumped down the stairs to spite the Narrator? Well, back then it could seem that the voice was desperate. Even though it was hard to believe.
The third monitor glowed.
you are unbearable
"Here you go," Stanley thought, gloomy. This is the only time he was left almost alone, given a freedom to choose - and in a single moment everything's cut off. He shook his head and started walking circles around the room, hands in pockets. Once he finished a circle, he glanced at the screens again. It made him stop and read all the monitors once again.
67 %
definition of the emotional reaction had been archived
you are unbearable
do you even understand?
I can't stand your death
"I've asked you to leave… Maybe, you'll listen to me at least now?"
The voice became really quiet and sounded apologizing.
"Yes, I understand your curiosity. There is a chance I'll explain you everything. But only of you leave this damn room."
Then silence came. Stanley caught himself thinking about how his invisible companion is going to justify himself. Then he steps out of the room; the door behind him closes by its own.
What a devil you are, Narrator! You've got a tail somewhere, I'm sure you have.
That's what Stanley is thinking about, sitting in his office again. The game will now restart, and the voice will explain purely nothing. Maybe he'll pretend he forgot it; maybe he'd really forgotten it but erased the 67% room just before. Ah, it's a lot easier just to find a room similar to that one and not to leave it this time. And think about antipodal emotional reactions that the Narrator had archived, foreseen.
Perhaps Stanley will be lucky enough this time.