Catch-all: Taichi

[ercnerd]

Comments

[goalsides]

Couldn't take the hood off? [no, because that's rude, taichi.]

...how did you know you could trust them? When they were giving you instructions, I mean.

[ercnerd]

We had no choice: it was either follow the voice or stay trapped.

[goalsides]

Trapped where, exactly?

[ercnerd]

Where could it have been? We started out in the storage room, then went out to the hangar, and eventually washed up onto the island . . . There was nowhere else to go. We would've been trapped the moment we stopped.

[goalsides]

I can't tell if you're being avoidant or if you really don't know where you were. [hard to tell with sieg, sometimes, and taichi frowns as he thinks.] So you kept going to get back to here. Following a mysterious hooded voice.

...what kind of objectives were you supposed to do?

[ercnerd]

Ultimately, the goal was to reach a cathedral on the island. Our objectives were the steps we had to take to get there, and that was where we met the voice in a hood.

[goalsides]

Why a cathedral? [that's not a real question.] ...that doesn't explain why all of you were really badly injured, you know.

[ercnerd]

. . . We fell from an airship . . .

[goalsides]

...how are you even alive right now?

[ercnerd]

There were two parachutes between four of us. Most of our injuries came from the water landing.

[goalsides]

[there's a wince because...ouch.]

...I don't know if you even know, but how did you guys get back? Like, officially.

[ercnerd]

. . . We walked. The jungle we passed through came out here, even though it should have been the shore. You probably won't be able to reach the cathedral from this side.

[goalsides]

I don't know if I'd want to if that's what happened. [he doesn't seem all that surprised to hear that they started walking one place and ended up back on campus either, even if it's frustrating.]

...things like have have happened before, but usually there's some kind of explanation. I can't think of a good one for this.

[ercnerd]

I don't really understand it, but the voice called us sympathizers and our objectives a test.

There was also one last test at the cathedral . . . It was meant to test how far we'd go for our loved ones.

[goalsides]

Sympathizers of what? [hate this, hate this, hate this.] Maybe it doesn't matter. We're being tested here enough as it is.

[...he doesn't want to ask, but.] ...what kind of test was it?

[ercnerd]

There were illusions of those close to us inside the cathedral. They were being threatened by the illusions of some of the people here.

[goalsides]

[...he wants to ask a few things. what people here? how were those people being threatened? why a cathedral? but he pauses again.]

...how were you so sure they were illusions?

[ercnerd]

I know my descendant well enough. Her faker didn't make a convincing display.

As for the other group, I understand them enough to know they wouldn't reach for the explosives without attempting conversation first.

[goalsides]

....did the other three realize they were illusions, too? Or was it harder to tell for them?

[ercnerd]

I don't know whether they realized it sooner than later, but they were aware.

[goalsides]

Good. [...or as good as you can get.] I don't understand any of this, but I'm glad you guys are back.

[ercnerd]

[He nods.]

I have a feeling something like this may happen again. If it does and it's you, be careful. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment.

[goalsides]

I don't plan to. [he says that, but he knows himself. it'll all depend on some things. he can be pragmatic when he has to be though.]

I hope it doesn't happen again, but you're right. If we get locked in again tonight, that just increases the chances of this being a regular occurrence, too.

[ercnerd]

There's also the matter of the map piece. The map isn't finished, and I haven't heard anything about another piece being found on campus. That means the rest of you guys may be put to the test.

[goalsides]

That other group came back at the same time you did. Maybe they found something else, too. I haven't had a chance to ask any of them.

...but I don't think you're wrong either.