case 22 | bbs + locked action

[bratbeyond]

Hey Garden,

Is it weird to think about making a will for when you go back home? We're all twiddling our thumbs until Compression randomly takes us back - except that's the thing. It takes us without warning. So has anyone thought about what they'd do for the people they'd leave behind?

I know we won't be here forever, but it feels slagged dumb to know that our friends may not necessarily get a proper goodbye. Or our stuff. I've still got some of my old roommates' things, since no one else wanted them, though it feels kinda weird.

If you guys haven't planned one, is it because you think you won't be here long? Or for some other reason? I'm just curious, I guess.

[His post is unsigned, since hell if he'll admit to writing this, but most SeeDs and Instructors should be able to figure out it's him.]

[action]

[Sometime after he makes the BBS post, Day's back in his room, playing video games as usual. He's on break, so he's decided to start a playthrough of an old Batman-based video game.

After half an hour of playing, he irrationally throws the controller at the screen and glances over at Ahki's room. He's not sure if his twin's in at the moment, or if he's still at Obel Lake, but... if anyone can (unknowingly) make him feel better about his life and his choices, it's his twin. The game's still on, and he's not particularly sure he likes watching Batman die thanks to an ill-placed batarang, but video games - for once - have lost their appeal.]

Comments

Re: [action]

[worthyheir]

[The nook is mostly empty, other than a batarang and the mechanical squirrel Ronnae gave him for their birthday.] Progress reports, if you must know. I'm trying to expand into as many divisions as possible without too great a loss in profit.

[action]

[bratbeyond]

Oh. [Bilal sighs, staring up at the ceiling... and trying to pretend like he has some sense of what's going on.] So you've gotta approve all of those, right?

[action]

[worthyheir]

[Looks up at taht and just sort of... stares.]

You are kidding, right? No, I've already approved them, I'm checking their progress. That's why it's called "progress report"

[action]

[bratbeyond]

[Now he just feels embarrassed. Cue him immediately looking at Ronnae's squirrel.] Riiiiight.

... How much longer is it gonna take you?

[action]

[worthyheir]

[Looks up at his twin.] What do you want, Bilal?

[action]

[bratbeyond]

It can wait 'til you're done. [He smiles, somewhat exasperated.] If you're anything like your dad, you won't listen to it anyways.

[action]

[worthyheir]

[Puts the papers down.] Try me.

[action]

[bratbeyond]

Uh.

[Now that he's been put on the spot, he feels awkward about it.] It's not that big. I'll go get some more tea or something.

[action]

[worthyheir]

[Just. Stares.] Out with it, Bilal.

[action]

[bratbeyond]

Okay, okay!

[He rubs the back of his neck.] I was just thinking... is there anyone that you're close to here? Like if they left, you'd be pissed and want to kill everyone and stuff?

[action]

[worthyheir]

That isn't why you're acting strangely. [The answer is you, but he doesn't want to say it.]

[action]

[bratbeyond]

[Cue the eyeroll.] Not more than "usual," whatever that is. I was gonna write everyone notes in case I left...

You wouldn't mind telling people, right? I'd do the same for you.

[action]

[worthyheir]

You want me to deliver letters in your absence?

[action]

[bratbeyond]

You don't have to deliver them - just put a note on the BBS or something if that's asking too much.

[action]

[worthyheir]

Yes, Bilal, I can do that.

[Brow furrows a bit.] Do you think you're leaving?

[action]

[bratbeyond]

[He shakes his head.] No one knows when they leave - not until they manage to figure out what causes Compression.

I've just noticed that a lot of people don't stay here very long.

[action]

[worthyheir]

[You don't have to tell him that.] And yet you've been here over a year. What made you change your mind?

[action]

[bratbeyond]

Over two years, yeah.

[It's making him slightly uncomfortable just admitting it, but...] You know Instructors Farron and Raines? They were here for forever - and then Instructor Bronson went into a coma, and I think Artemis and Rinoa left too - so I don't know. Some people stay here longer than others, but no one's ever made it past 4 years.

[action]

[worthyheir]

So be the first.

[action]

[bratbeyond]

Only if you'll be the second.

[He's quiet for a moment, as if he's embarrassed to admit this...] I tried to read Spanish today, and I was tripping up on the tenses. Spanish's my native language, Ahki.

[action]

[worthyheir]

...How much magic have you been using?

[action]

[bratbeyond]

More than I used to. [He wrings his hands.] It's not the magic that causes memory loss so much as actual summoning, but I think being in this world's making me forget things just by being here.

[action]

[worthyheir]

Most likely due to the fact you waste your free time on useless things like video games.

[action]

[bratbeyond]

Video games aren't useless! They're good for hand-eye coordination and other stuff.

[action]

[worthyheir]

Actual training would be useful for "hand-eye coordination and other stuff."