Unsurprising. [ don't sound fond about it, idiot. ] ...if you'd be open to it, yes. I'd like to take a look for comparison. Maybe it'll give us an idea of what to expect next.
[ up! he is up and immediately bounding after them. me almost gendering this npc. anyway he kind of makes a face at that, but it's fine. ]
I know I could just ask him myself, but I have a feeling he'd just tell me to come back and talk to you myself anyway. [ a pause. ] Besides, I have been meaning to speak with all of you sooner or later. There's just been...a lot happening lately.
I don't mind the company. You've had a busier time than most.
[ It's not getting better this week either!
Up the elevator and going to the third floor.
The elevator opens up to the kitchen, sleek and modern, fully stocked. The appliances are plugged in and available for use. It looks cluttered and lived in already. Beside it is a luxurious and cozy living room with plenty of seating. Once again, there are several cardboard boxes shoved up under the table and against the wall. A spiral staircase leads up to the other floors. ]
[ there's a hum of agreement that he won't verbalize. also yeah. it's not getting better! it's fine! he follows them up in the elevator and when they enter the new floor he politely steps out and nods. he can wait!
...granted while they're upstairs he does kind of glance around to get a sense of what's going on in snake dorm. it doesn't look bad, actually. he is eyeing the cardboard boxes though, glancing to see if he can identify them.
he could stand to sit down and wait, but no, snake will find him standing in nearly the same spot when they return. ]
It doesn't actually take them very long to retrieve what they have.
They come back with a white page with handwritten lettering. Nico will be able to note that both paper and handwriting are a match to what he's seen. ]
12 was too few.
This time the world will gain 35 new heroes. They shall be sorted into teams and made to compete for the chance of returning back to where they came from. Once they arrive, they'll be granted eight weeks of competition.
How is this not making you crazier? It feels like there's so much we don't know, but we haven't been here that long. And you guys have been here even longer without answers.
[ They take a seat and look distant for a moment, before answering. ]
It's not the first time I've been stranded somewhere with no easy answers. Before arriving here, I waited for much longer before I had anything to follow.
It's also who I am as a person. I know going crazy won't help matters. So... better to stay level headed, at least for me.
[ he doesn't like the sound of that, but he can understand. ]
Still...[ it takes a lot of willpower to just. keep going. but it's better than letting insanity consume them so maybe they're onto something. ] I don't disagree or anything. Level headed is about all we can be to get anywhere. [ ... ] How long were you waiting back where you were from?
I was closing in on a decade before I found anything I could use. [ Maybe this is what Snake's real ability is. Being able to be patient in harrowing circumstances. ]. Compared to that, six months isn't nearly as alarming.
Staying like this serves me well, but I'm aware it's not as easy for others.
[ could not be him. or, well, maybe. stares at canon. anyway he kind of cringes a little with that. ]
No, I suppose not. Six months is practically nothing in this case. [ like. ten years is a lot actually. ] No wonder you're the one who's capable of freezing time for us. It takes...a lot to be able to just wait when answers aren't immediately available.
[ closes my eyes listen it's debatable because at one point he didn't realize time shenanigans were real and the rest is mumbles in garbled lore. ]
I don't totally understand how it works, but...I did want to thank you. For doing that. There are a lot of things waiting at home for us that would probably fall into complete chaos if people realized we were gone. But yes, it's frustrating. It's been frustrating for weeks, and I know patience is a thing we need to apply here but...sometimes it doesn't actually feel like we have the time for that when people re getting hurt. I think you guys understand that, but...there has to be something else we're missing.
You're welcome, Nico. I would've done this for anybody... It's bad enough that you're trapped here. I don't know what the situation is for everyone, but I'd imagine it would be worse if your worlds went on without you.
We're collecting and doing what we can but... it doesn't feel like much.
It would...definitely not be great. Will and I just got back so things are temporarily okay, but that doesn't mean they'll stay that way. They rarely do. And I can guess it's the same for a lot of people I've talked to. Including maybe some of you guys.
[ but he frowns. ] That's exactly it though, yes. We're doing whta we can, but it doesn't feel like much. I know that some progress is good progress, but...when people are at risk every week it never feels like it's enough. I know you guys are in a similar situation though where you can't do much more than we can.
I was going to start something at home, but that's on pause until I get back. [ Return? ] What did you finish?
Two people are dead from those who decided to act on Thursday, and the person who gets executed. It's... hard to deal with. You're right. We're each doing as much as we can and comparing our notes with yours.
[ ... ]
That should also include taking care of yourselves. Your hero name is "Burnout" but that doesn't mean you actually should. [ It's said lightly, but they do mean it. ]
At least it's on pause. And that you can go back right to where it was so you can pick up where you left off. [ ...but he smiles a little. ] We had a rescue mission to accomplish. A friend of ours needed help.
I just kind of wish I understood why. I mean I got it, I know why with Argalia. But...it's the other half I wish I could ask to try and understand what people were thinking. It makes it harder to know where to go from here if we can't get a gauge on that.
[ but he makes a face at the callout. ]
Why are you the second person to say this to me? I'm doing okay. [ he says, as his mental health rolls around on a sliding scale constantly. ]
[ something about that seems to make him pause and really assess snake for a moment. it's a first real meeting, but they seem to be saying things he agrees with, and things he aligns with. it's...a little funny that it makes everything easier to address instead of aborting like he thought he would when he got the answers he initially wanted. ]
It would be if I still had my powers. And I'm not giving up on asking, by the way. I'm going to keep trying until something works. [ so there. but ah. ] ...it's something Tama said to me, and I understand where she's coming from, but I am managing.
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Unsurprising. [ don't sound fond about it, idiot. ] ...if you'd be open to it, yes. I'd like to take a look for comparison. Maybe it'll give us an idea of what to expect next.
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[ They're going into the elevator and they'll wait for Nico to join them. ]
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I know I could just ask him myself, but I have a feeling he'd just tell me to come back and talk to you myself anyway. [ a pause. ] Besides, I have been meaning to speak with all of you sooner or later. There's just been...a lot happening lately.
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[ It's not getting better this week either!
Up the elevator and going to the third floor.
The elevator opens up to the kitchen, sleek and modern, fully stocked. The appliances are plugged in and available for use. It looks cluttered and lived in already. Beside it is a luxurious and cozy living room with plenty of seating. Once again, there are several cardboard boxes shoved up under the table and against the wall. A spiral staircase leads up to the other floors. ]
I'll be right back.
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...granted while they're upstairs he does kind of glance around to get a sense of what's going on in snake dorm. it doesn't look bad, actually. he is eyeing the cardboard boxes though, glancing to see if he can identify them.
he could stand to sit down and wait, but no, snake will find him standing in nearly the same spot when they return. ]
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It doesn't actually take them very long to retrieve what they have.
They come back with a white page with handwritten lettering. Nico will be able to note that both paper and handwriting are a match to what he's seen. ]
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and he hates it! ]
...don't tell me this was the only warning you all got that we'd be showing up.
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[ They were kind of hoping it wouldn't be real.
But here they all are. ]
I know it isn't much to work with.
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No, it's okay. It at least gives us an idea...how long ago did you guys find this?
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[ Hm. ] It was found in the aftermath of the moon drop. It feels connected but I don't have all the pieces.
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How is this not making you crazier? It feels like there's so much we don't know, but we haven't been here that long. And you guys have been here even longer without answers.
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It's not the first time I've been stranded somewhere with no easy answers. Before arriving here, I waited for much longer before I had anything to follow.
It's also who I am as a person. I know going crazy won't help matters. So... better to stay level headed, at least for me.
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Still...[ it takes a lot of willpower to just. keep going. but it's better than letting insanity consume them so maybe they're onto something. ] I don't disagree or anything. Level headed is about all we can be to get anywhere. [ ... ] How long were you waiting back where you were from?
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Staying like this serves me well, but I'm aware it's not as easy for others.
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No, I suppose not. Six months is practically nothing in this case. [ like. ten years is a lot actually. ] No wonder you're the one who's capable of freezing time for us. It takes...a lot to be able to just wait when answers aren't immediately available.
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I've always had a connection to time. It's a little different here than it normally works.
It's frustrating, isn't it? When you can't find answers, and it doesn't feel like there's much you can do to find them any faster.
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I don't totally understand how it works, but...I did want to thank you. For doing that. There are a lot of things waiting at home for us that would probably fall into complete chaos if people realized we were gone. But yes, it's frustrating. It's been frustrating for weeks, and I know patience is a thing we need to apply here but...sometimes it doesn't actually feel like we have the time for that when people re getting hurt. I think you guys understand that, but...there has to be something else we're missing.
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We're collecting and doing what we can but... it doesn't feel like much.
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[ but he frowns. ] That's exactly it though, yes. We're doing whta we can, but it doesn't feel like much. I know that some progress is good progress, but...when people are at risk every week it never feels like it's enough. I know you guys are in a similar situation though where you can't do much more than we can.
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Two people are dead from those who decided to act on Thursday, and the person who gets executed. It's... hard to deal with. You're right. We're each doing as much as we can and comparing our notes with yours.
[ ... ]
That should also include taking care of yourselves. Your hero name is "Burnout" but that doesn't mean you actually should. [ It's said lightly, but they do mean it. ]
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I just kind of wish I understood why. I mean I got it, I know why with Argalia. But...it's the other half I wish I could ask to try and understand what people were thinking. It makes it harder to know where to go from here if we can't get a gauge on that.
[ but he makes a face at the callout. ]
Why are you the second person to say this to me? I'm doing okay. [ he says, as his mental health rolls around on a sliding scale constantly. ]
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[ They've really tried to do everything they can. ]
The only way to know that is to speak with the dead. Not exactly possible while we're in this city.
Oh? Who was the first?
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It would be if I still had my powers. And I'm not giving up on asking, by the way. I'm going to keep trying until something works. [ so there. but ah. ] ...it's something Tama said to me, and I understand where she's coming from, but I am managing.
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