It's probably best to operate under the assumption that we can't undo it, for now. But we can't dismiss it entirely.
[ crosses his arms. ]
We are, and I do trust them. [ hmm. ] It's possible that they recognize the concept, but don't know much more about it than they've shared, or that they aren't sure if it's the exact same as what they know and don't want to give false impressions.
Like an added bonus rather than an expected outcome if it can work.
[ but that's fine. if phoenix trusts tiger then he can live with that. ]
Maybe. I think I can understand that, not wanting to give a false hope for something that could possibly not work or even backfire. With as many worlds as people come from, there's bound to be some overlap. I'm still open to trying just about everything I can, but I'm starting to run out of options myself.
Right. And so much of what we work off of are prophecies for the future. [ ... ] Then again shaping reality feels a little subjective doesn't it? Doesn't rewriting kind of fit into the idea of reshaping?
Oh. Yeah, it's...I can explain it if you really want, but it's basically something that predicts future events. Usually something major. And also usually something bad, but at least there's some loose interpretation to them. We never really know the true meaning until after events have happened. Will's father is the god of prophecy.
[ but okay. rewriting...reshaping...god. ]
Wonder if we could just cross out what's written on the pages we have and alter it that way. Like editing? If these things have already happened, but we just change them slightly, it would reroute the course of Oceanside's history wouldn't it?
[ coming from a sword whose mission is to protect the past to protect the future. usually he knows how things should go. ]
It... sounds possible. [ admittedly he seems the tiniest bit uncomfortable with it, if curious. ] We can certainly try it, if we can get our hands on that book.
Does anyone? [ idly. because all of the archives have been scrubbed and he's found that weird, too. but his expression softens a little and he looks at his hands, debating if he should bring up his next thought. ]
...that's all I really want, too, at this point. Even if it isn't their original home. If they can go somewhere they're happy or want to go, then...that's the ideal option. I haven't figured out how to make that possible yet is all.
Potentially the one who rewrote it all. So we may never be able to restore it to what it should be.
[ bummer. ]
Maybe that's something that this book could do, if we rewrite things how we like. [ ... ] That's probably another question for Tiger, though. All I can do is guess, and I'm not usually the one deciding what the right thing to do is, anyway.
Then I guess we focus on the future we want to see for this place when we leave it behind.
[ this sucks actually. but he frowns a little at that. ]
Okay but the thing is even if you aren't deciding what the "right thing" is, I trust you. [ pointblank. ] Not that I distrust Tiger but it's more...I don't know them well enough to know how much can be said. About everything I actually want and how to get there and what route we might be able to take now.
I am glad to hear that. [ see? he is charming. ] And I understand what you mean. I've been in the same boat before. I could try to relay what you want to say to Tiger for you, if you want... or we could go talk to them together. It might make them more comfortable to have me or one of the others there, same as you.
[ this icon is so cute i love you kanesan. anyway. ]
After this long, it'd be just a little sad if I didn't, right? But you've been straightforward with me and I appreciate that when everything else doesn't make a ton of sense. And I figured you'd get it. [ ...there's a curious noise though as he thinks that over. ] You think that'd help? I want to figure out the best way to solve this and start helping people line up the right pieces, but it's hard when we don't have a solid answer to why we should be doing things a certain way. I guess it comes down to that I don't want to make mistakes.
Not everyone feels the same way as you do, so I still appreciate it.
I think it is best to cut out the middle man where we can. Like I said, I don't fully understand magic or what this book could be doing to "shape reality," but if White Tiger does, it would help you to hear it directly from them, wouldn't it? You don't have to tell them exactly what you want yet - maybe not ever. We don't know yet.
...It's natural to want to avoid making mistakes, especially with the stakes as high as they are. Nothing we do is going to be a perfect solution, but the best way to get as close as possible is gather as much information we can beforehand. You're doing a good job of that already.
[ there's a soft nod of acknowledgment because, well, he can understand that. ]
I guess. If we think Tiger actually knows what the book is doing. Then I guess it's worth pursuing. I'll have to think about the best way to approach the situation.
[ he would love to avoid mistakes. he's been so careful about everything else lately that tripping at the finish line seems like a terrible idea. ]
I'm definitely trying to get as much information together as I can and make sure at least you know. I think Will's been telling the others and I sometimes update one or two of you guys if it comes up, but you're kind of my priority. So we'll have to see where to go from here.
Don't force it, Nico. If you need time, or don't think it's the right move, then you don't have to do it. You'll figure something out whether you talk to Tiger or not.
[ just. a gentle reminder. if he doesn't trust tiger enough, that's fine. ]
Will has updated us when he's had the chance, but I'm sure he'll prioritize you and his own leader just as you do. You both talk to a number of people, so between the two of you, you'll hear what you need sooner or later.
Sooner than later though is preferred, right? [ he's iffy on many things, but he does at least trust phoenix's judgment enough. ] I'll buy a little more time just to be sure. See what other information we get from other places.
[ but there's a slight smile to that even if it's just out of instinct. ]
He did mention he would be trying to update you all, and I guess I'm following up behind him just to make sure. It's normal now...to have him working with me, I mean. But we have others who're helping us a lot, too. It's just another reason I want to figure out how to change the rules of the competition, or at least change who can win.
You have someone at your side who will always support you in any way that he can. He reminds me a little of my own partner, sometimes. [ but that's neither here nor there. ] As it stands, it still depends on the rankings. Gold Mouse seems well on their way to winning, after being in first place for so long.
I know, I know. [ he will work on it only because it's phoenix.
anyway he immediately looks embarrassed about that but brushes it off. ]
...I guess to be fair, when you told me about yours I was thinking of Will. [ he can see some brief parallels just in passing. ] I know he'd do anything he could for me which is half the reason I'm trying to do stuff myself, too. Anyway it's not like I think Golden Mouse is a bad choice to win, but it doesn't exactly help me reach my goals I've been trying to figure out. Unless they can figure out a way to make all of us mice, somehow.
So we're alike in that way, too. [ regarding their partners...
but anyway. ]
If they can shape reality, I suppose they should be able to do that, too. Or change the rules. I don't know. [ a beat. ] I like the phoenix aesthetic, though.
I think I've known we're alike in a lot of ways for a while. [ idly. like he's really considered this and this makes it easier for him to understand and trust where phoenix is coming from. ]
Yeah, I can't say I would really be happy being a mouse. No offense to Mouse. But I've been wondering that, too. If we got our hands on that book before the deadline of the competition and wrote into reality that we're all a part of one team, how would that change things? Maybe we should be picking a ninth animal like...I don't know. A lion? Something we don't have yet.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ crosses his arms. ]
We are, and I do trust them. [ hmm. ] It's possible that they recognize the concept, but don't know much more about it than they've shared, or that they aren't sure if it's the exact same as what they know and don't want to give false impressions.
no subject
[ but that's fine. if phoenix trusts tiger then he can live with that. ]
Maybe. I think I can understand that, not wanting to give a false hope for something that could possibly not work or even backfire. With as many worlds as people come from, there's bound to be some overlap. I'm still open to trying just about everything I can, but I'm starting to run out of options myself.
no subject
There's no way to "shape reality" in my world, but there are ways to rewrite history. I wouldn't count just anything out.
no subject
no subject
[ he nods. ]
It sounds like it should. It's just altering what's already there.
no subject
[ but okay. rewriting...reshaping...god. ]
Wonder if we could just cross out what's written on the pages we have and alter it that way. Like editing? If these things have already happened, but we just change them slightly, it would reroute the course of Oceanside's history wouldn't it?
no subject
[ coming from a sword whose mission is to protect the past to protect the future. usually he knows how things should go. ]
It... sounds possible. [ admittedly he seems the tiniest bit uncomfortable with it, if curious. ] We can certainly try it, if we can get our hands on that book.
no subject
[ but he seems to pick up on that shift in attitude, and he tilts his head slightly. ]
...if you had a choice, Phoenix, what would you do different than that?
no subject
I think I would just like to ensure that everyone has a home to return to, if they want one.
no subject
...that's all I really want, too, at this point. Even if it isn't their original home. If they can go somewhere they're happy or want to go, then...that's the ideal option. I haven't figured out how to make that possible yet is all.
no subject
[ bummer. ]
Maybe that's something that this book could do, if we rewrite things how we like. [ ... ] That's probably another question for Tiger, though. All I can do is guess, and I'm not usually the one deciding what the right thing to do is, anyway.
no subject
[ this sucks actually. but he frowns a little at that. ]
Okay but the thing is even if you aren't deciding what the "right thing" is, I trust you. [ pointblank. ] Not that I distrust Tiger but it's more...I don't know them well enough to know how much can be said. About everything I actually want and how to get there and what route we might be able to take now.
no subject
[ ...he smiles. ]
I am glad to hear that. [ see? he is charming. ] And I understand what you mean. I've been in the same boat before. I could try to relay what you want to say to Tiger for you, if you want... or we could go talk to them together. It might make them more comfortable to have me or one of the others there, same as you.
no subject
After this long, it'd be just a little sad if I didn't, right? But you've been straightforward with me and I appreciate that when everything else doesn't make a ton of sense. And I figured you'd get it. [ ...there's a curious noise though as he thinks that over. ] You think that'd help? I want to figure out the best way to solve this and start helping people line up the right pieces, but it's hard when we don't have a solid answer to why we should be doing things a certain way. I guess it comes down to that I don't want to make mistakes.
no subject
I think it is best to cut out the middle man where we can. Like I said, I don't fully understand magic or what this book could be doing to "shape reality," but if White Tiger does, it would help you to hear it directly from them, wouldn't it? You don't have to tell them exactly what you want yet - maybe not ever. We don't know yet.
...It's natural to want to avoid making mistakes, especially with the stakes as high as they are. Nothing we do is going to be a perfect solution, but the best way to get as close as possible is gather as much information we can beforehand. You're doing a good job of that already.
no subject
I guess. If we think Tiger actually knows what the book is doing. Then I guess it's worth pursuing. I'll have to think about the best way to approach the situation.
[ he would love to avoid mistakes. he's been so careful about everything else lately that tripping at the finish line seems like a terrible idea. ]
I'm definitely trying to get as much information together as I can and make sure at least you know. I think Will's been telling the others and I sometimes update one or two of you guys if it comes up, but you're kind of my priority. So we'll have to see where to go from here.
no subject
[ just. a gentle reminder. if he doesn't trust tiger enough, that's fine. ]
Will has updated us when he's had the chance, but I'm sure he'll prioritize you and his own leader just as you do. You both talk to a number of people, so between the two of you, you'll hear what you need sooner or later.
no subject
Sooner than later though is preferred, right? [ he's iffy on many things, but he does at least trust phoenix's judgment enough. ] I'll buy a little more time just to be sure. See what other information we get from other places.
[ but there's a slight smile to that even if it's just out of instinct. ]
He did mention he would be trying to update you all, and I guess I'm following up behind him just to make sure. It's normal now...to have him working with me, I mean. But we have others who're helping us a lot, too. It's just another reason I want to figure out how to change the rules of the competition, or at least change who can win.
no subject
[ he smiles, fond. ]
You have someone at your side who will always support you in any way that he can. He reminds me a little of my own partner, sometimes. [ but that's neither here nor there. ] As it stands, it still depends on the rankings. Gold Mouse seems well on their way to winning, after being in first place for so long.
no subject
anyway he immediately looks embarrassed about that but brushes it off. ]
...I guess to be fair, when you told me about yours I was thinking of Will. [ he can see some brief parallels just in passing. ] I know he'd do anything he could for me which is half the reason I'm trying to do stuff myself, too. Anyway it's not like I think Golden Mouse is a bad choice to win, but it doesn't exactly help me reach my goals I've been trying to figure out. Unless they can figure out a way to make all of us mice, somehow.
no subject
So we're alike in that way, too. [ regarding their partners...
but anyway. ]
If they can shape reality, I suppose they should be able to do that, too. Or change the rules. I don't know. [ a beat. ] I like the phoenix aesthetic, though.
no subject
Yeah, I can't say I would really be happy being a mouse. No offense to Mouse. But I've been wondering that, too. If we got our hands on that book before the deadline of the competition and wrote into reality that we're all a part of one team, how would that change things? Maybe we should be picking a ninth animal like...I don't know. A lion? Something we don't have yet.
no subject
[ smiling like it's their own little inside joke. anyway. ]
The only way to find out for sure would be to try, but we'd need the book for that.
no subject
[ except...he's kind of grinning, fuck. anyway. ]
Right. Okay. I'll...talk to Tiger about where we might be able to find more about it. See where we can go from there.
no subject
[ does the little paws and everything. nerd. ]
Sounds as good a plan as any. Let me know if you need a hand at any point?
(no subject)