Press F [Jaunt, Late in Week 2]

[chalicejoker]

This is Hajime. Ike's dead.

[And if he sounds a little agitated, well.]

I...I don't remember how it happened. Probably set on fire or decapitated, given my track record. Last thing I remember, he was going into that tower on Gods' Isle.

[It's a weak attempt at a joke.]

I'm in Liminal, if anyone's found Ike's boat on the island and took it back, I'll just come back to camp. If not, I'll portal back there and just sail back like...like nothing happened.

[This is the worst.]

Comments

[thornsofmalkav]

Oh Jesus. I'm sorry, Hajime.

[chalicejoker]

He had a spear, and he was hellbent on getting answers. It...shit, why can't I remember how he died?

[There's a long pause.]

I guess he's with his daughter now. That's all he wanted, in the end.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. Still, I'm sorry. That sucks.

[chalicejoker]

The worst part is that I don't remember any specifics so I can't just go kick the responsible party's ass.

[Which is probably for the best, as far as anyone else is concerned. As though fighting the ocean weren't enough...but saying such things makes Hajime feel better.]

[thornsofmalkav]

I mean, if it was the gods, wouldn't you have to go to space to do that anyway?

[chalicejoker]

I mean, maybe they'd have like...one guy in that tower, pushing buttons, watching for crap...I was hoping I could throw down with him.

[thornsofmalkav]

Oh, Hajime. That's... just so you.

[chalicejoker]

I guess dying didn't rattle me too badly, then.

[Just going to keep telling himself that, yep.]

[thornsofmalkav]

I hope so. Dying always did when it happened to me on Jaunt.

[chalicejoker]

[She can't see it, but he is grimacing so hard right now since he knows one of his infiltrations was responsible for one of those deaths.]

It's easier when the infiltration deserves it.

[thornsofmalkav]

[Yeahhhh... sorry.]

I mean, I guess?

[Honestly, none of the times she died on a Jaunt were times when she particularly thought she deserved it. Chouko came closest and what she'd done she'd done out of desperation.]

[chalicejoker]

...my other dead infiltrations were assholes. Kind of...prone to unnecessary murder, that sort of thing.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah, true. But, uh, at least your undead infiltration was a cool guy. If a bit too groovy.

[Thorne this is not how you console people.]

[chalicejoker]

[There's a groan. At least that's one way to get his mind on other things.]

Entirely too groovy.

[thornsofmalkav]

I still have the pictures.

[chalicejoker]

...of course you do.

[Why this?]

[thornsofmalkav]

Hey, it's one of my crowning achievements of subterfuge.

[keepcalmcookon]

You have my condolences.

[Yes, the last time they interacted was way back when Ignis was blind, and Hajime didn't exactly make the best impression... but a death is a death. And Ike would have remained here after they had left. There's no second chances for Overlays.]

[chalicejoker]

[Oh, Hajime's well aware he made a terrible, terrible impression. He's just...going to keep on with this conversation in the spirit it was intended.]

Thanks. It's...the other times my overlays died, they deserved it. This guy? He didn't. I feel like I need to avenge him somehow.

[keepcalmcookon]

[Which is what Ignis intends to do as well.]

I fear he's only another to a long tally of people who need revenged for in this place—or at least one of many who will only rest easier once we can assure that others don't die as they did.

[chalicejoker]

I just...want to wreck their system. Whatever lets them think they can use these people as their toys, whatever power they use to do it--I want to destroy it.

[keepcalmcookon]

As do I. The problem with theses systems is that if you tear them down without care, worse ones can end in their place.

[chalicejoker]

I'm not really good with the consequences. Just the wrecking.

Which is why I haven't gone back over there to try again.

[keepcalmcookon]

Good, because making a workable new government in the time we have here is nigh impossible.

[chalicejoker]

We just need to get them to the point where they can do that themselves without any outside interference--us included.

[keepcalmcookon]

Having been in government myself... that process usually takes decades. I suppose we may have to figure out how to fit it into a couple short weeks.

[chalicejoker]

I don't have the patience for government, so maybe that can help get to the point of things quickly.

[keepcalmcookon]

Ha! Most don't, to be fair. There's much boring work to be done to make things run smoothly. They do, however, have automation on their side, I suspect. That takes away the worst busywork.

... but I suppose we have no choice other than to help make enough changes that a good future can find root.

[chalicejoker]

I don't think these people are advanced enough to worry about taxes and the worst of the busy work now, anyway. They may have lucked out in that regard.

But yeah, we've got to do what we can.

[keepcalmcookon]

Well, no. The people above are, however. ... but sometimes you cannot save everyone, only some.

[chalicejoker]

Considering what brought me back to the network like this...yeah.

But I don't want this to happen to anyone else. Not if I can help it.