[the voice is still so small, so soft. a girl whispering to a single light, at the bottom of the deepest well in the universe. not quite entirely lost anymore, and not yet found.]
Can you hear me...?
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
I am, or was, a remote terminal. My sisters explored other stars, and I remained by our creator's side. They reported their findings to him through me, utilizing our joined consciousness. I learned...a little more of life apart. Not enough.
[Minuet can actually feel thoughts and images trying to press through their connection to him, a natural form of communication to show him a broader picture of what she's talking about, but the channel is too narrow and tenuous to put them through, just now.]
When they fell into despair, they stole me to them; others could have reached them through me, otherwise, to stop them.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
[ There's a sensation like perhaps he realizes what she's doing and attempts to help . . . but without a physical connection, his abilities are limited. He relents.
This despair . . . from what I hear, they're intent on spreading it. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
The question they...we...were asked to find the answer to...
"Does life have meaning? What do other races, on other stars, live for?"
[the connection actually flickers for a moment, much like Minuet's flickered in the mindmeld but in the opposite direction, something dark and too-heavy rather than a bright boost crossing it like a cloud over the sun]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
[her hands, their one point of anything even close to physical connection, tighten slightly on his, a comforting gesture. he can feel the vast, distant strain she makes to complete the psychic movement of her touch.
but her answer is bleak nonetheless.]
"Though worlds apart, these peoples shared a belief. The belief that they had tried their best; that they had tried to fulfill their potential, with every step and success. In the course of this they learned the truth: that they would never be free of fear and sorrow, anger and despair--of loneliness--so long as they yet lived."
It hurts them so, still. The souls in us cry out. And we will never...never see our creator smile again.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
[there's a sort of very gentle refutation that comes down the line, not judging or fearful, just wordless fact: if he binds one, he actually binds them all. Hope's ego might be a thing apart, in this small secret way, but metaphysically he is fucking with something that had deeply murky definitions of objective individualism before it became an MMORPG endboss. he will have to be careful.]
Yes.
...I don't think I can speak very much longer, but...I'll keep the light going.
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featherduster) wrote2023-06-15 02:30 pm
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
[the voice is still so small, so soft. a girl whispering to a single light, at the bottom of the deepest well in the universe. not quite entirely lost anymore, and not yet found.]
Can you hear me...?
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
But a comforting voice managed to reach him then, too.
I can hear you. But whether it's a dream or something else, I can't tell. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
[there's a smile in her voice, briefly, though it sobers]
Thank you for reaching out. And I am sorry, for the harm caused by my sisters and I. It has been...a long, long time.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Cool. Cool cool cool. Cool.
Why have they imprisoned you? ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
[Minuet can actually feel thoughts and images trying to press through their connection to him, a natural form of communication to show him a broader picture of what she's talking about, but the channel is too narrow and tenuous to put them through, just now.]
When they fell into despair, they stole me to them; others could have reached them through me, otherwise, to stop them.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
This despair . . . from what I hear, they're intent on spreading it. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
The question they...we...were asked to find the answer to...
"Does life have meaning? What do other races, on other stars, live for?"
[the connection actually flickers for a moment, much like Minuet's flickered in the mindmeld but in the opposite direction, something dark and too-heavy rather than a bright boost crossing it like a cloud over the sun]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Something sharp and too close and still so acutely painful flares up, before being dragged back into the depths.
And the answers they found among the stars weren't to their liking? ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
but her answer is bleak nonetheless.]
"Though worlds apart, these peoples shared a belief. The belief that they had tried their best; that they had tried to fulfill their potential, with every step and success. In the course of this they learned the truth: that they would never be free of fear and sorrow, anger and despair--of loneliness--so long as they yet lived."
It hurts them so, still. The souls in us cry out. And we will never...never see our creator smile again.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
(There is no life free of fear and sorrow)
(Anger and despair)
(Loneliness)
And yet--
They're wrong.
They gave up halfway. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
you could show them (us)...
the rest of the way?
[the voice is beginning to take on a more distant, echoing quality again, though her quiet hold doesn't falter.]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
I can.
And I will.
Is that the ending you want? To step into the light together with them? ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
I gave you a memory, when you reached for me. It was from...the start of our long, long journey.
To step into the light together...I don't know how it can be done. But I'd like that, I think.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
As long as that's true . . . you have limitless potential. Don't give up. We will find a way. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
I will wait for you, and all the others. I'm only sorry...I can't do more in the meantime. But I'll keep trying.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Actually . . . I should be thanking you. You helped Crescendo, didn't you?
And you're still fighting to help even now. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
there's something chime-bright and flustery in the fading line for a moment.
Could you please tell Crescendo...I would like to speak to him again? But, um, maybe not the same way. It was really...really very bad for him.]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Like this, with me as the conduit. I could keep him from touching the shared consciousness himself.
. . . He really wants to talk to you too. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
I left him a word. I don't know why they were hiding it, but, I think it might help?]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
"Eternity"? ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
a dark thrum full of teeth and the ringing of bells...descends. he can feel it drape over her
(not just her not just her)
like a net.
she is still. she does not fight it. it's another point of connection, though it doesn't naturally belong to either of them. he can feel what it does.
luckily, at this point in real time, her sisters are still asleep.]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
HEY. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS. He doesn't want this--
Shit! I'm sorry. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
But . . . I can see where it'll be useful against your sisters. ]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Yes.
...I don't think I can speak very much longer, but...I'll keep the light going.
I am with you.
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]
Re: [somewhere in the coma time (day 20-23ish? whenever it's a coma)]