quietmounds | (no subject)

(no subject)

WHAT IN PERSON, YA FOOLS
WHERE anywhere
WHEN Day 8, evening

[ it's beginning to be summer -- or something like that, sort of. late spring? the weather has been warming up is the point and in the twilight of, well, now, the fireflies have also come out.

twinkling little stars that are actually bugs. Rather, slightly larger than the normal firefly -- in fact, perhaps they seem more like will o' the wisp sized.

But still, a lovely summer. If you follow one they may lead you (crashing into) the path of someone else.

Or the lake.

Definitely also the lake. ]

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That--

[He looks a LOT like McGillis just punched him in the gut, to be quite honest.]

No... that can't be it. They... somehow...

[Rationalizing around soul-crushing disappointment is hard.]

Edited 2017-06-12 07:33 (UTC)

[ we're one for one on punches now ]

Perhaps ... they will arrive, at some point. We did arrive here, after all, and before you arrived I hadn't expected to see anyone else from home.

Now that's changed.

[He knows when someone is throwing him a lifeline when he hears it.

Honestly, it's not like learning something miserable that makes him want to throw up or scream or fight when none of those are viable options is new.

But that, the futile gesture of someone offering a weak hope is what reminds him to swallow it down. Hold it together.

It's not like he believes McGillis has answers or power in this situation. Not even Gjallarhorn's reach could extend into the afterlife.

So there is a visible effort as Orga locks down on his considerable bitterness.]

Yeah. I. I'll... ask around about them, later. Definitely, even if it's only a few... There's no way I'd be the only one.

Wherever you led them, Tekkadan followed. I have no doubt that even if they're not here now ... There may be more to follow.

[ that he says more confidently; and he's sincere in at least part of it, the unfaltering faith of Tekkadan in their leader.

but he is still reminded -- at times, he can forget -- how young Orga is, how emotional the lot of them can be. ]

[It's, the right thing to say, apparently. Believing in Tekkadan is practically reflex. If it's put like that, well, what's rational or possible doesn't matter so much.

Orga takes a long second to catch his breath, then nods as he lets it out.]

Aa, you're right. They've never been more than a step behind me.

[He half turns away, back toward the lake.]

Well, as long as it's just the guys who we already lost, I can wait for them to catch up. The rest have orders to survive. They better not get insubordinate now.

I would hope they would not, after how far you have all come.

[ he looks back towards the city ]

Now ... would you like that change of clothing you mentioned?

[HUFFs, doesn't quite slap his own face but it mostly has that same effect. And when he turns back to also look in that direction, he's achieved an 80% successfully collected air.]

Yeah, thanks. That's a good place to start.

[He picks at his sodden dress shirt, which is more visibly marred by blood and bullet holes, and grimaces as he starts to peel that off too. Whatever. He'd rather walk around shirtless than looking like he just died.]

I read the paper that came with the keys. But it sounded like a lot of nonsense.

[ he turns towards the city area, gesturing for him to follow as son as he sees him collect himself a little ]

It has been ... strange, to say the least. How it has been described to me makes it sound like a place that is very determined to say the same. Some have been trapped here for years ... decades; it is impossible to destroy the buildings; and there is no "death".

[Orga pauses to quickly scoop up all the other random items he had strewn out on the grass, and catches up with all rolled up and shoved under one arm.

He was looking around curiously, but barely gets the chance when what McGillis says pulls his attention back to the other man again.]

No 'death'? What the hell does that mean? If I shoot someone they won't die?

[ hairtug, even as he walks -- because yes it's something that's weirded him out too. he's in some thought. ]

Apparently ... before people die, they are rushed off to the hospital and saved even from lethal damage. In effect, we've become immortal.

[Okay, lots of things here don't make sense, and maybe it's too much to expect logic when he did just die but feels quite alive, but... well, it sounds pretty fucking ridiculous.]

Seriously? You seen proof?

No. But it would be a very strange thing to lie about.

And ... unfortunately, it's not so easily tested. As I said, this place seems peaceful so far.

"Peaceful", eh?

[he says it like that concept is something he believes in about as much as he believes in immortality, but with an added sense of wistfulness]

Well, I don't plan to be the one to test it, anyway. And it'd be fine if no one gave me a reason to.

I would be happy not to have to test it at all, you're right.

[ hmm, looks at him a bit. ]

What do you think you'll do? I'm curious.

"Do?"

[Orga echoes back, not quite following]

Here?

Yes. You could go to school, if you'd like, or pick up another occupation... There's more possibilities.

Ah.

[He certainly hasn't thought that far ahead.]

I guess... If it's like the colonies, I'll need a legitimate job. I can manage to get hired somewhere, probably.

[Digs through his bundle of stuff and finds the keys. ]

Do these really go to a place to live?

They do, yes.

[ he'd expected some uncertainty with this -- with Orga, with anyone else from Tekkadan who shows up. ]

A place to live, food, no war, free education ... It's a paradise the likes of which Kudelia Aina Bernstein would dream up.

[That catches him off guard, and his eyes widen as tries to wrap his head around it.

Then that softens into an awkward smile]

All of that, huh? I can't really imagine it. But it certainly sounds like someone's idea of a perfect world.

The only complication is ... Those who are alive, here, and very much do not wish to be. There's no avenue for them to escape. And ... I did mention some have been here for decades, yes?

I cannot imagine living for decades in unchanging scenery.

Living for decades, huh...

[Yeah, who could imagine that. It's weirdly sobering when honestly he didn't need to be any more sober. ]

So, what you're saying is, alive or dead, everyone is stuck together to in this 'paradise'.

[Squints up at the sky]

This doesn't like like a space station. What keeps us here?

I've heard it's impossible to fly out, though I don't recall exactly why. There aren't any planes or even cars here.

If food is so easy to come by, walking should still be an option.

Apparently, if you walk too far you'll only end up here again.

[Cocks a slow, disbelieving eyebrow at him, then sighs and rubs his neck. Mumbling to himself. ]

I guess I shouldn't be so skeptical. My own life feels real enough.

At least that one should be easy enough to check.

Edited 2017-06-12 16:19 (UTC)