IC Inbox (Imeeji)

[firstworldproblem]

[It just goes directly to the beep.]

Comments

[deicider]

There's no chance...?

[firstworldproblem]

Outside of wishing someone in the Production away. Or being very clever to get rid of them, but if the tracks were not perfectly cleansed another piece would fall out of place.

[deicider]

[tips their head mildly.]

That seems like a surmountable problem.

[firstworldproblem]

It is too risky to try now even if it was. Easily would I be identified or accused with no evidence.

'Tis a proposition that must wait.

[deicider]

[Cardinal nods.]

It's must be hard, to have it so close.

[firstworldproblem]

We were hardly near its completion, but it was the most promising path. It is truly regrettable and has been plaguing my mind of late.

And has put me in a sour mood besides. So I might have been more harsh in my judgements.

[deicider]

[glances at him, observing him.]

You keep going easy on me.

[firstworldproblem]

That's because I like you. I see no reason to be upset.

Though I am beginning to feel I do see a side of you that most others do not. Where some would see overbearingly righteous, I see an idealist.

[deicider]

[Cardinal seems to have finally relaxed back to normal emoting. They rub a hand briefly over their face.]

An ineffective idealist.

[firstworldproblem]

You foe is quite at an advantage. Consider it a setback.

And perhaps your reach is too broad. I doubt all of us could come together, but perhaps you could make a small pocket and call it your own.

[deicider]

You're right. I'm trying, but... [Cardinal makes a noise, amused but with a bitter edge.]

My reach used to be the whole world. [They flex their hand, fingers spreading out.] Now it feels like I'm missing a limb.

[firstworldproblem]

The laws of reality have changed for you. For everyone. Perhaps you simply need to grow a few extra set of limbs to replace the ones you've lost.

[deicider]

[Cardinal nods. Their expression is troubled, but mostly thoughtful, as if trying to feel the shape of those limbs now.]

You're right.

[firstworldproblem]

Do not be discouraged. The path you are looking for will find you of that I have no doubt. You will settle for nothing less.

[deicider]

[Smiles at him, a bit - bashful?? As if Emet-Selch had gifted them a significant compliment.]

Thank you, Emet-Selch.

[firstworldproblem]

[He reaches out and pats their shoulder.]

Follow your heart, for while it may lead you astray, well there are worse things. But do remember to keep an open mind. 'Tis a complex existence we live and we should not be bound by preconceptions.

[deicider]

[Another serious, studious nod. Cardinal reaches their own hand to lightly brush against Emet-Selch's, a tacit appreciation.]

[firstworldproblem]

[He takes a step back with a laugh. Making a motion with his hand to wave off the heavy topic.]

Though I do believe you've further soured your relationship with Five.

[deicider]

Oh, well. He had already given me an earful about how he doesn't like me or trust me. So he can just keep doing that.


You know the worst part? The game host, Yasuragi. He's the reason I have bad blood with Shu in the first place.

[firstworldproblem]

A graduate?

Do go on.

[deicider]

Yeah. One of Taisho's original members.

There was a hostage game, but the hostages were public. Everyone was together in the same room, and everyone had to work together to solve a puzzle in order to save both hostages. The catch was, there were two hostages up at any given time, and either unit could save their own hostage by crying uncle and killing the other one. The hostages underwent some escalating torture while everyone else worked on the puzzle.

The game had been going so-so, we'd gotten a couple puzzles right, but in the round before me one of the teams had to cry uncle at the last second. I was put up with Taisho's hostage, a kid, and we were rigged up to bleed to death.

[pausing briefly for questions.]

[firstworldproblem]

You wished to save him, and I imagine you asked for him to say the words that would spare them.

[deicider]

I didn't get a chance to say anything. Two minutes into the game Yasuragi called it, and I bled to death there right there in front of everyone.

It was my first death. I would have given my life, but Yasuragi took it from me in full public view, and no-one cared.

[firstworldproblem]

Then the mantle of a demon does suit him well if I understand what the term means.

[He pauses.]

No one? Not even your unit?

[deicider]

He's nothing so elevated as that.

I told my unit to stand down. I thought... I thought if I understood why he did it, everything would be fine. But he had no interest in explaining himself to me; I was nothing to him even though he killed me. Later, I learned he was simply a coward with no stomach for violence, even though he went on the commit quite a lot of it.

When I went over to Taisho to demand an explanation - demanding explanations was a thing I did a lot back in those days - he stonewalled me. I demanded Taisho secure his good behavior, and that's when Shu pulled an axe on me.

[Cardinal snorts.] I'm not allowed to be mad about that, though, because Shu didn't mean it. [Said with sarcasm, Cardinal rolling their eyes.]