FOR THEY CANNOT DIE ANYMORE, BECAUSE THEY ARE EQUAL TO ANGELS.

[cccorp]

Today, the canals of Mac Anu flow as gentle as they always do, gondolas drifting lazy through the paths of sunlight cut bright across the water. Shops and vendors line the stonework streets along the waterways, a general murmur of NPCs circulating through their preprogrammed business keeping Mac Anu, as always, feeling maybe a little more alive than a real city.

There is one particular bridge that nearly every player's taken at least once, because it connects to a great many other places of interest, and it's wide enough for easy travel. Besides, with the professions update, they've put a fishing spot on the other side of it. NPCs with fishing rods litter the spot in alternating shifts, their laughter mingling with the calls of shopkeeps advertising cheap prices for some simple plants to get started crafting with, and the clink of forks and plates at a restaurant nearby, its customers singing the chef praises.

Below the bridge, a gondolier passes, humming, his gondola drifting along its circuit through the canals, his tune in rhythm with the passing conversation. As he comes out from under it and sails further away, he glances up at the bridge, as if he were expecting something, and he seems to see it. His gaze remains fixed there until, eventually, the water takes him out of sight again.

Today, you might notice that at the base of this bridge, just before your feet, is a red sort of smear.

A little further down the bridge, about a fourth of the way along it, is a person collapsed on the ground. The red trails to him, fallen forward.

You see upon approaching his hand grasping at his throat at the singularly cut sliced deep into his neck. His one good eye wide and unblinking, he is—among all the laughter and conversation on either side of the bridge; in the shadow of the clock tower, which stands a silent witness, the sun at its back—no longer breathing, his body cool to the touch.

Perhaps this could be considered a kindness: for one who failed, time and time and again, to grasp the desire to live, maybe he found some suggestion of it in his last moments, his hand at his throat, his palm smeared with dried blood, a curious anomaly in the deathless Mac Anu. Fragment had, after all, taught him a great many things. Should he not be grateful for one more, no matter how permanent the lesson?

Mithrun is dead.

Comments

[insinning]

[ ... Oria had said it might have been Sarabi. But people could get hurt here too. Just maybe, just maybe... ]

Lets go to a dungeon. Lets see if we can find which ones he was exploring before...

[His voice catches for a moment. And he can't stand it, watching Tylor sit here for hours with no one to back him up.

It's not fair]

...someone has to test out all the keywords.

[selfconcept]

I'm not surprised. And of course you're angry.

[ Of course he expects it. He knows that his actions have consequences, but he goes through with them anyway. People will just want more and more--they will never be satisfied. People always want more. ]

I don't think you thought over this properly. I work for CC Corp. In situations like this, every single word that I say will be used against me, and by extension the company. We're already seeing it happen, so don't try to refute it.

[ People get hurt all the time. ]

If you want the answers, I'm sure you're smart enough with all your friends to figure out what happened. The only thing that keeps you currently bound is the lack of motivation to search for the answer yourself. Why are you still here? Go do something about it. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

[tylorific]

Oh, okay. You really think that'll help?

[ Tylor says it as he stands, Orion cradled in his arms even as he winces at the stiffness in his legs from where they'd fallen asleep.

He's shaking them out with some wobbliness when he asks-- ] What keywords do you think they are?

[insinning]

[It's fine. He understands this behaviour well. What had he been doing that first week? Going to sleep every night, hoping everything was a horrible nightmare. Waiting to be waked up by his sister's singing, waiting for reality to right itself when the morning came.

It never did.

But until he sees Mithrun's real body for himself...]

...unless you have Mithrun's list, I'm not sure. Trial and error, until we can work it all out.

[Until either of them can't move anymore. That's fine. That's an easier way of dealing with everything]

'Piling Season's Daydream'. Should we try that?

[trollophoroi]

[ Swallow catches his eye and he can only look back... and shrug. ]

[ganymed]

Sure you're not. If you weren't, you'd realize it's more than just anger.

As it is, I thought it over properly enough. Otherwise, I would be perfectly content with what you just said and not spoken a single word.

[ So as far as he's concerned, he has. They're in the right to receive more answers regarding this situation, and it is their right to demand them!

...This nonsense about the company and people's words being used against them. Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not. How is he supposed to trust that at all? It sounds like rubbish to him. Excuses.

That's what it is in the end, isn't it? Ganymede is practically bristling at this and realizes swiftly he's going to get nothing he wants out of this. But you know what? Fucking fine. He'll give a lovely parting gift at the very least. ]

So, do me a favor and don't patronize me. Every avenue must be questioned when searching for answers. I already figured I could get the same response as everyone else; the fact I tried at all means I have more than enough motivation.

With that said, and all of our efforts combined, even as we speak, I'd say you're the pathetic one!

[ He hrmps, turning on his heel, and stalking right off. ]

[selfconcept]

[ k ]

[threatmewted]

[Heaving a sigh, and shooting a glare at Hien that may just go unnoticed what with the Everyone Else.]

[tinged]

[ sometime late in the evening, hani comes for him, floating in like a specter in red rather than a nymph. a cool hand brushes his hair, waking him up from his long wait. ]

I can’t find him.

[tylorific]

Trial and error sounds like just the sort of thing Morgan likes.

[ Tylor laughs, it's such a bright sound. Even when he looks back to Morgan's body one last time and adds-- ] I sure hope he's doing okay.

[ But almost as soon as he says it, he's heading towards the gate. ]

Alright, let's go!

[tinged]

If it doesn’t, then I’ll make it. I have to.

[ hani answers lightly despite the weight of their words. ]

It’s my choice to be here, after all.

[tinged]

Hello.

[ if they could feel reluctance, they wouldn’t turn away from the barrier to face winter. but they can’t feel anything; their facial muscles seem to be locked in place. ]

Why do you think this keeps happening?

[insinning]

[Sinclair says nothing. But he takes Tylor's hand to hold him steady. Both of them steady]

...then we'll keep going until we find something.

[Or Hien lets them near Mithrun's body]

[tylorific]

[ Tylor takes his hand as naturally as breathing, lacing their fingers with a squeeze. ]

That's the spirit. Everything will be okay.

[tylorific]

[ He'd returned to his post after running areas with Vogel, and so Hani finds him in the same spot, their hands breathing life back into his shoulders as he smiles over at them.

Maybe Hani can see the difference. His smile is as genuine as all the rest, but it brightens from its mellow curve upon seeing them; upon him reaching to try and tug them down to him so that he might cradle them here in his arms. Where he can't do the same for Morgan.

He sounds too airy--- ] Oh, that's a shame. But you tried your best, and that's all we can ever do.

[tinged]

[ hani doesn’t smile, but they are visibly softer for him, exhaling tension when he pulls them in. they curl into him, completing his parenthesis; the pair of them, complete but empty, waiting. the space between their curved brackets vacant for the time being. ]

I’ll try again tomorrow. I won’t stop until I find him.

… Did he answer you?

[insinning]

[ Nothing is okay. But as unsettling as Tylor's relentless optimism is right now...]

The gate is opening.

[And they step through, into a murky forest]

[tylorific]

No. But it'll be okay, Hani, no matter what happened.

[ He squeezes them tight, content to sit here in the quiet. The plate of cream puffs and the whiskey are untouched. But with Hani there is peace that he doesn't need to fill. A three part molecule, stabilizing with only two. ]

[ this is an area run now ]

[tylorific]

Oh, there's a tower.

[ Tylor says as they step through, and he's ready to casually make his way there, Vogel's hand still in his. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel's gaze wanders Hienwards but it's less of a glare, more of a thoughtful stare. He isn't sure what the head admin will do now, but... back to Swallow, he gives a jerk of his head, indicating, hopefully, that she should follow him.

Then, he turns! And off he goes~. ]

[tinged]

[ hani nods. it has to be okay. they’ll make it okay. if they can protect justy’s heart, and help carry ganymede’s past, surely they can do something for mithrun, too. ]

Justy-kun, will you come see us? I want to see you.

[threatmewted]

[Giving another sigh tbh. But with one last glance at Hien, she'll move to follow Fandaniel.]

[tylorific]

Why, of course. Any time.

[ Tylor sounds like Tylor. Normal, daily Tylor. But his hold on Hani is tight, not willing to let them escape for once. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ Down the street, around a corner, and then straight into an alley. Suspicious? Probably! But he'll only be waiting for Swallow to show up. ]

This may be jumping the gun, especially as we haven't been allowed a closer look at his injuries, but... I've been killed by having my throat cut before, in the game.

[ Although, clearly, his own PK via throat-slicing was temporary. ]

[tinged]

[ where would they go? the only safe place left in this game is within his arms. look what happened to lovely mithrun for leaving it? ]

And you’ll stay? Forever.