They keep saying it's their job to talk to us, but I'm sure they're busy, too. There's so much I want to ask them though, especially after what happened with Virid.
[...] Have you heard about the way the Realm manifests things? And the execution last week?
Are you asking if I inquired why they used a guillotine specifically? Because no, I can't say I broached that topic.
[it's like
a lot
and soo-won also just wants to get know them as people mostly, he's so useless for plot i'm sorry sora]
Though I do understand that the Realm making us vote through the PHS system was part of it manifesting its will - and also pulling from memories of what is commonly done in other worlds, hence why we participated in a trial to solve a murder.
[apparently that's common. do they have courts or lawyers in akayona? i don't fucking know]
That's. No. I would never ask if anyone asked why a guillotine specifically. [guillotines are horrifying?] But the second part's what I meant. The execution wasn't supposed to be public either until the Realm decided to manifest it that way.
...I guess I'm just kind of worried about how the Realm's going to respond, and our leaders' connection with it.
going to come outright and say it with a bit of a sigh]
If I can think of any that might be our enemy, it might be the Realm itself - though I'll reserve judgment on that until we get more information. At the very least, it certainly does not err on the side of mercy or retribution.
[a slow nod. it. it sure does. which is wild since they're supposed to be helping this thing.]
...that was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. A bigger enemy. [...he was going to wait on this, but.] I haven't told a lot of people because I don't want everyone freaking out if it's really true, but I've been thinking about something Virid said to me before he died.
I did - though we didn't quite get on that topic. I mostly was curious about his brother... though I'd heard a few things, including that apparently he might've been told to kill Hajime by his leader.
Is that in the realm of what you're talking about?
Yup. He said that he was asked to do it, and that he did it because if what he was told was true we have a bigger enemy on our hands we haven't even heard about yet.
So I have to wonder if the same thing happened last night. If this happened because someone was asked.
Supposedly Swan levied the accusation that one of the Leaders directed Virid specifically that someone needed to be killed - so I've been working with that theory as well. If the same Leader told someone else on their team that they needed to eliminate another participant out of concern for a greater looming threat.
However, we have two bodies - so we'll need to discern whether one or both happened out of direction, and if it was only one - which one. In truth... I'd like to find out what happened in both cases -
But if we find ourselves running out of time [like last week] I do think that we need to find more answers that lead us toward a greater enemy, rather than someone who might simply have a wish or a memory they wanted returned.
[he frowns on all murder but he does think motive matters in this case, when they need to prioritize]
No. After that he didn't have much to say on the subject.
[murder's not great at all, but he seems to be in agreement with that as he nods along.]
This was why I wanted to talk to you. I think...even if not everyone knows these things, having enough people know who can help prioritize what needs to be done is our best chance at fixing things right now. We don't know if we'll be able to vote for more than one person either, so we should try to find the one connected to the bigger picture.
[he's really just. repeating it. to make sure he understands.]
We have nine hours to get everybody to focus and try not to get distracted. Think we can do better?
[do people listen and trust him.... he looks thoughtful at that for a moment before offering up a bit of a laugh]
You and the others are so eager to be helpful.... It's wonderful to see, and does make me want to try harder. But if people look to me now and again, I only hope to offer what I can.
[but he'll give sora a smile and rest against the tree a bit more]
I just find it easier to think outside, and I might get to see Gulfan. You're welcome to stay if you'd like. We can make plans for tomorrow, or talk about something more soothing if you need it.
I think that's all we can ask of anybody right now. [there's a matching smile but it's a little softer even as he looks up as if expecting to see gulfan swoop in at any moment.]
I don't mind being out here. After everything that happened Wednesday, it's nice. [...]
I want to bring something to the leaders tomorrow for the trial. They're just as stuck as we are, so it could be nice. Any ideas what they might like? [it's a lighter topic, but also he's curious about soo-won's feelings on the leaders themselves.]
I've heard Tiger and Wolf were the most difficult, so that doesn't surprise me. [tiger is so much.] All I know is that they don't have a favorite kind of sandwich and they took the cookie I gave them, so...it's a start.
I think I can work with that though. [he grins a little at that.] If they really are possibly people we know, or even just people like us, then we should treat them like they are.
Fufu, I don't think that Wolf is as difficult as we all may think - but I do hear that they like the taste of alcohol when stressed. Very mature tastes.
[WE'VE DRIVEN WOLF TO DRINK
But he nods]
Mm! They're people regardless - and they're ones who gave up their memories for us. I've wanted to get to know them even more ever since I heard that.
[oh my god our wolf.] Huh. Really? I don't know where I'd even get alcohol, but that's good to know.
[alas.] That's why I've wanted to get to know them, too. Ochako and I think that even though we should remember they made a huge sacrifice for us, we should try to help them remember their feelings are just as important. I've only learned a few things about each of them, but it's hard not to really like them.
But I agree. [that said soo-won likes everyone] They feel rather responsible for us in different ways, and I think it's very kind - but in ways they're even more lost than we are. We have to be mindful of that.
Even as we search for answers and think about where we might be being deceived.... it nonetheless doesn't mean we can't extend kindness to everyone while we do it.
Exactly. I know they're trying, but I bet it frustrates them not to really know what to do. Tiger even called themselves reject versions. [which. hm.]
I kind of wish more people felt that way. If they did, maybe we wouldn't have as big of a mess on our hands. [if people were kind, perhaps they would not murder...]
[he repeats it quietly and... a little distastefully. can't say that he likes that.]
... but I think that perhaps there are times in which it is hard to choose kindness. I agree with you that it'd be nice if people weren't so quick to turn to violence -
But I also think that perhaps the greatest acts of it are born out of places of intense feeling, whether that be devotion or pain.
[hearing the words repeated back to him makes him frown again.]
...you're not wrong. Pain is being human, just like hope is being human. A heart has room for both of those things. But it's when people let their hurt and their darkness overrule everything else that we have to worry.
[mostly because it could mean the difference between helping and hurting.]
Darkness and light can't always exist without each other. [it's what he equates this to. darkness is pain, light is hope.] If there is a balance, we should find it soon enough. We just have to make sure people are looking.
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[...] Have you heard about the way the Realm manifests things? And the execution last week?
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[it's like
a lot
and soo-won also just wants to get know them as people mostly, he's so useless for plot i'm sorry sora]
Though I do understand that the Realm making us vote through the PHS system was part of it manifesting its will - and also pulling from memories of what is commonly done in other worlds, hence why we participated in a trial to solve a murder.
[apparently that's common. do they have courts or lawyers in akayona? i don't fucking know]
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...I guess I'm just kind of worried about how the Realm's going to respond, and our leaders' connection with it.
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[he's just
going to come outright and say it with a bit of a sigh]
If I can think of any that might be our enemy, it might be the Realm itself - though I'll reserve judgment on that until we get more information. At the very least, it certainly does not err on the side of mercy or retribution.
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...that was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. A bigger enemy. [...he was going to wait on this, but.] I haven't told a lot of people because I don't want everyone freaking out if it's really true, but I've been thinking about something Virid said to me before he died.
Did you go see him after the trial at all?
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Is that in the realm of what you're talking about?
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So I have to wonder if the same thing happened last night. If this happened because someone was asked.
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[he sighs faintly]
Supposedly Swan levied the accusation that one of the Leaders directed Virid specifically that someone needed to be killed - so I've been working with that theory as well. If the same Leader told someone else on their team that they needed to eliminate another participant out of concern for a greater looming threat.
However, we have two bodies - so we'll need to discern whether one or both happened out of direction, and if it was only one - which one. In truth... I'd like to find out what happened in both cases -
But if we find ourselves running out of time [like last week] I do think that we need to find more answers that lead us toward a greater enemy, rather than someone who might simply have a wish or a memory they wanted returned.
[he frowns on all murder but he does think motive matters in this case, when they need to prioritize]
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[murder's not great at all, but he seems to be in agreement with that as he nods along.]
This was why I wanted to talk to you. I think...even if not everyone knows these things, having enough people know who can help prioritize what needs to be done is our best chance at fixing things right now. We don't know if we'll be able to vote for more than one person either, so we should try to find the one connected to the bigger picture.
[he's really just. repeating it. to make sure he understands.]
We have nine hours to get everybody to focus and try not to get distracted. Think we can do better?
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I do.
[and he says that rather simply, offering a smile]
But I also intend on helping us get there. Thank you for trusting me with this much, Sora. I'll try not to let you down.
[little protag!!!]
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[helping!!! except...]
...I heard about what you guys found and...today was a lot. Do you want to stay out here? ["and be alone" goes unsaid.]
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You and the others are so eager to be helpful.... It's wonderful to see, and does make me want to try harder. But if people look to me now and again, I only hope to offer what I can.
[but he'll give sora a smile and rest against the tree a bit more]
I just find it easier to think outside, and I might get to see Gulfan. You're welcome to stay if you'd like. We can make plans for tomorrow, or talk about something more soothing if you need it.
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I don't mind being out here. After everything that happened Wednesday, it's nice. [...]
I want to bring something to the leaders tomorrow for the trial. They're just as stuck as we are, so it could be nice. Any ideas what they might like? [it's a lighter topic, but also he's curious about soo-won's feelings on the leaders themselves.]
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[he'll say it because wow tiger is a personality he's not as familiar with, but still finds amusing]
But I received word that Goat would apparently like anything - and Swan likes... exciting things? So perhaps something fun?
It's nice of you to want to bring something for them, though.
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I think I can work with that though. [he grins a little at that.] If they really are possibly people we know, or even just people like us, then we should treat them like they are.
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[WE'VE DRIVEN WOLF TO DRINK
But he nods]
Mm! They're people regardless - and they're ones who gave up their memories for us. I've wanted to get to know them even more ever since I heard that.
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[alas.] That's why I've wanted to get to know them, too. Ochako and I think that even though we should remember they made a huge sacrifice for us, we should try to help them remember their feelings are just as important. I've only learned a few things about each of them, but it's hard not to really like them.
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[soo-won don't just invite children to drink]
But I agree. [that said soo-won likes everyone] They feel rather responsible for us in different ways, and I think it's very kind - but in ways they're even more lost than we are. We have to be mindful of that.
Even as we search for answers and think about where we might be being deceived.... it nonetheless doesn't mean we can't extend kindness to everyone while we do it.
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Exactly. I know they're trying, but I bet it frustrates them not to really know what to do. Tiger even called themselves reject versions. [which. hm.]
I kind of wish more people felt that way. If they did, maybe we wouldn't have as big of a mess on our hands. [if people were kind, perhaps they would not murder...]
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[he repeats it quietly and... a little distastefully. can't say that he likes that.]
... but I think that perhaps there are times in which it is hard to choose kindness. I agree with you that it'd be nice if people weren't so quick to turn to violence -
But I also think that perhaps the greatest acts of it are born out of places of intense feeling, whether that be devotion or pain.
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...you're not wrong. Pain is being human, just like hope is being human. A heart has room for both of those things. But it's when people let their hurt and their darkness overrule everything else that we have to worry.
[mostly because it could mean the difference between helping and hurting.]
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[it's just - ]
... at the very least from my experience, I think that the two often come together in different balances.
We just need to see what the balance is here.
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