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[CONSOLE] video;
I regret to inform those who knew her that Lady Alayne Stone appears to have left the city.
Thank you for letting me know, Anton.
[ He actually felt sad that the girl was gone. It was strange to him.]
[ He actually felt sad that the girl was gone. It was strange to him.]
What? When? Are you sure?
[Unlike Gene, Tony's been lucky: few of his friends and close relationships have vanished. So he's not used to it, and he's never prepared for it when it does happen.
He'd really liked Alayne. He'd considered her a good friend. And he hates the thought of her going back to her world alone. She'd never really opened up about her past, but it had been pretty obvious that the place she was going back to wasn't a great one.]
[Unlike Gene, Tony's been lucky: few of his friends and close relationships have vanished. So he's not used to it, and he's never prepared for it when it does happen.
He'd really liked Alayne. He'd considered her a good friend. And he hates the thought of her going back to her world alone. She'd never really opened up about her past, but it had been pretty obvious that the place she was going back to wasn't a great one.]
She didn't... leave a note or anything, did she...?
[A few people had done that, especially when there'd been more foreigners: wrote 'wills' or left messages for their friends in case they got pulled home.]
[A few people had done that, especially when there'd been more foreigners: wrote 'wills' or left messages for their friends in case they got pulled home.]
No, I was just hoping she... [He trails off, and shrugs, obviously trying to look less upset than he is.] It doesn't matter. Thanks for saying something.
Just, left messages or something. It sucks when people go home and they just... vanish, you know? I mean, yeah, everybody vanishes, but...
[He shrugs again. The sentiment he's trying and failing to put into words is: the foreigners' disappearances are always unexpected, but when they leave nothing behind, it makes it that much harder for the people who cared about them to deal with their loss.
When foreigners return to their universes, they lose all their memories of Keeliai, and the friends they'd made in Keeliai can never see them again. Except on the very rare occasions that they return and get their memories back, it is, functionally, just like they've died.]
[He shrugs again. The sentiment he's trying and failing to put into words is: the foreigners' disappearances are always unexpected, but when they leave nothing behind, it makes it that much harder for the people who cared about them to deal with their loss.
When foreigners return to their universes, they lose all their memories of Keeliai, and the friends they'd made in Keeliai can never see them again. Except on the very rare occasions that they return and get their memories back, it is, functionally, just like they've died.]
Yeah. This whole setup is kind of shitty, honestly.
[Tony looks away, his expression shifting into an angry frown. His anger isn't directed at Anton, though. There is no such clear target for his frustration - and that's part of the problem.]
But this... This place, it's— worse. We get stuck here with no way home, and then as soon as we start to get used to it and make friends, we get zapped back home and forget everything. You start to care about people, and suddenly they're gone and they've forgotten you. And what about the people who can't go home? The ones who died right before they came here? They build whole new lives here and then they're just dead again, for no reason. We've built so much here— and we're all going to lose everything, with no warning.
Why can't we stay? Why can't we keep our memories? It's like whoever made this magic just wanted to fuck with us. It feels somebody's idea of a sick prank.
[Tony glances at the screen again, seeming to realize how agitated he's become and how long that rant had run on. His jaw takes on a sullen set, and he sighs and crosses his arms.]
There should be a way to fix this, [he mutters bitterly.]
But this... This place, it's— worse. We get stuck here with no way home, and then as soon as we start to get used to it and make friends, we get zapped back home and forget everything. You start to care about people, and suddenly they're gone and they've forgotten you. And what about the people who can't go home? The ones who died right before they came here? They build whole new lives here and then they're just dead again, for no reason. We've built so much here— and we're all going to lose everything, with no warning.
Why can't we stay? Why can't we keep our memories? It's like whoever made this magic just wanted to fuck with us. It feels somebody's idea of a sick prank.
[Tony glances at the screen again, seeming to realize how agitated he's become and how long that rant had run on. His jaw takes on a sullen set, and he sighs and crosses his arms.]
There should be a way to fix this, [he mutters bitterly.]
Edited 2015-07-24 06:29 (UTC)
Rather boring, if I am to be perfectly honest. I am now in the sky district, and still working. I heard you were unwell, are you feeling better?
[ irritated: ] I'm not looking to cash in on her stuff, Anton.
[Anton listens patiently, with every sign that this was why he was prompting in the first place. But he waits until he's sure that Tony is done before speaking, and does so gently.]
Is life so different? No warning for the deaths of loved ones, few second changes. The fear, or likelihood, of being forgotten after the fact.
All things end, Tony. Fair or not, it isn't a fact that can be fought. It's what makes the moments between that much more precious.
Is life so different? No warning for the deaths of loved ones, few second changes. The fear, or likelihood, of being forgotten after the fact.
All things end, Tony. Fair or not, it isn't a fact that can be fought. It's what makes the moments between that much more precious.
[He pauses for a moment, as if trying to figure out which of them misunderstood the other, but then says gently:]
I didn't think you were. I mean, if there is some personal memento you shared with her which you would like to keep to remember her by, I will set it aside for you.
I didn't think you were. I mean, if there is some personal memento you shared with her which you would like to keep to remember her by, I will set it aside for you.
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