AUDIENCE: CLAUDE

[retellers]

Comments

[riegan]

(Take this tea he definitely didn't make himself,)

Wish I could return the favor from last week but... looks like I can't do anything these days.

(He speaking lightly! What's a little bit of self deprecative humor after some emotional loss. It's fine. Besides seeming tired, he's... fine? At least, better than the previous week. To be fair, that's also a pretty low bar.)

At least some things seemed to go right.

(They found each other. They seemed to have collected a decent amount of nova, too? Hm.)

[retellers]

[ rip your memloss claude

but fox takes it. ]

MacBean-san was rather determined to find as many as she could, after finally beating all of you to the weekly hint.

[riegan]

You know what they say. You snooze, you lose.

(SORRY, DOROTHY... but hmm, it's strange that he hasn't been able to wake up early these days. Once upon a time, he used to beat Izumo to these clues, too. I n t e r e s t i n g.)

You know, we all got together for a bit and did some talking. Call me an idealist but... the conditions for bringing back the removed? What do you think about them?

[retellers]

[ ... ]

That's not an easy question to answer.

But pragmatically speaking, the information has spread enough that I'm certain most people, if not everyone knows by now. Regardless of what our team chooses to do, at least a few people on other teams are going to act on it.

[riegan]

Yeah, it's really gotten around and I won't lie, I've considered it myself and not for selfless reasons.

(His reasons are mostly selfish. He can't die here. He refuses to.)

There's a war going on back home and there are people who need me. I need to get back to them and I need Hilda with me.

(He needs to get them back home, no matter the cost.)

I want to believe there's another way. A better way. And I know I'm not the only one.

You told me the Realm is based off of everyone's memories, knowledge, and emotions. Elsa mentioned something similar; that the Realm is shaped by our expectations. It senses what we want and forms to that. We can influence what will happen but if we try to do it directly... it doesn't work.

Doesn't this mean, in theory, if we truly wanted another way and worked together to find something, we could?

(This all feels... strange to him. He dislikes working with intangible things and uncertainties. )

[retellers]

... Hypothetically, I wouldn't say it's impossible--mostly because I wouldn't dismiss anything as impossible, at this point.

Practically, I doubt it'll happen. This isn't a matter of "the Realm decided it should be this way", like it did for the exact nature of the Sunday removals, etc. It's based off what actually stabilizes the pathway, and anything that relates to the stability of the Realm has never been influenced by us.

[riegan]

(...)

Hey, all I hear is good news, then. (If it isn't impossible, it's possible. Even if it's slim, it's good enough for him,) If our friends aren't completely lost then there's one thing to do: Bring them back. And if there's a better way to do it, we try to find it.

(All of his life, he's been called names. Weak, a coward, a monster, a menace, a liar, a schemer... and he can make his peace with some of those but at his heart, he's a dreamer. A practical dreamer but a dreamer all the same,)

... I won't rule out the option we have but if there's a chance... I want to try.

(Aaaaah, he lets out a sigh,)

Too idealistic for you? The others thought so.

[retellers]

... If I were a participant, I would wholeheartedly agree with you and tell you to go for it. But as a Leader, things I say--even in an unofficial capacity--have a different weight.

[riegan]

(Heh.)

I get that. I didn't really expect you to say too much on it anyway so don't worry about it. Nothing personal, I just know you guys have your hands tied.

(He shrugs! It's fine.)

[retellers]

[ they just smile apologetically. ]

It's just best that I not say anything that people might read things--falsely--into.

[riegan]

Understandable. I think all of us want to try to avoid unnecessary bloodshed if possible.

(Including the leaders,)

... But sometimes, it can't be helped.

(The reality of the situation is what it is,)

As a leader, you'd prefer one of us kill sooner than later with this information, don't you?

[retellers]

... What I want and what I understand logically conflict with each other. Do what you think is best--I'm not cruel enough to say not to try and bring back the removed.

[ but saying that they'd prefer for their to team to kill isn't exactly accurate. ]

[riegan]

(...)

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That's how it's always been for me.

(HMM,)

Whatever we choose, it won't be made lightly. (Foxes are already talking about it and everything.) There's some comfort in that. I'd be concerned if it was easy for everyone.

[retellers]

So I've said to others as well.

[ ... ]

That would be rather worrying, yes.

[riegan]

We'll see what happens. At the very least, there are four of us working together now.

(...)

Is that all?

[retellers]

Well, that's all I have, unless you have anything else.

[riegan]

(...)

There is one thing. I'm not sure what you can tell about it but, why did we get something today?

(The photograph.)

What did we do exactly?

[retellers]

Oh, that? Our team--cumulatively, over the last few weeks--gathered enough nova. That's typically what any surprise items on Sunday mean.

[riegan]

It took us this long then, huh?

(Interesting!)

... Well, I'm not complaining. (It's actually rather nice for the most part?) Did you get one one too?

[retellers]

Mm-hmm.

[riegan]

Care to share?

[retellers]

I don't keep it on me.

[riegan]

Then describe it.

[retellers]

I'm at a mall cafe with a person I don't recognize.

[ photos don't mean much if you have no memory of what they're capturing. ]

[riegan]

(What the heck is a mall.)

Huh... bring any warm and happy feelings?