He had mentioned, between the two of you, he didn't always notice your loops. That usually it was you. [ they pause for a bit. ] But that, eventually, he started to be able to tell.
[ their hand hovers over the water, watching the shadow of a fish swim by beneath the surface. ] They always happened on the same night, and you would do things to fix the breaks and stop the loops.
[ she considers for a moment. she doesn't exactly want to talk about this, so she may be a little bit uncomfortable, but—it definitely helps that setsu is going through something similar.
and sometimes you want to do things even though they're hard, so... ]
Yeah, I... think I figured out why I'm the only one who remembers the loops clearly.
[ that's a little vague. ]
But it's fine. When this ends and we get out of here, he should be done with them. The night should be over.
[there's... something a bit too familiar about it. a flicker of that last memory. a kind of feeling that reaches out and grabs a hold of them. it's probably why they can't help but ask]
And what about you?
[ he should be done with them... but what about her? ]
[ ...ah. so that's what it was. which makes them wonder what that means for jonas. what that can do for their world. will they forget her? just like... ]
No... it may not be so bad. Even so, you're putting a lot on yourself. [ ... ] But, I couldn't exactly judge you for your decision.
[ looking back at it all, it's.. a bit funny. their experiences, the time concept, the twisting of loops and universes-- they are different, yes, but in a way.. ]
The person I want to pay back my debt to... not too long ago, there was a time when two of them existed in the same universe. So.. I understand. To avoid the universe collapsing into itself, I had to help one. It's a decision I still stand by even now.
I don't know. It's—I don't really even remember everything, so it's... Like, not so bad, maybe?
[ how bad can being stuck in an eternal recursion of your death really be if you don't even fully remember the previous iterations? ]
Well—you had to. Right? So... [ she doesn't fully understand, but she's sure that setsu must have made the best choice with that was available to them. she just assumes this very confidently. ]
[ they don't want to speak for Alex on that regard. not remembering, it could be good. not that they themselves could really say for sure. after all, it's different for Setsu. who remembers every single loop. remembers every time they've been sent to cold sleep, they've been erased, had been the one to-- ]
I had to. [ and not once did they contemplate not doing it. ] And I'm happy to have done it, despite everything.
[ Alex would be right with that confident thought. it really was the best choice available. ]
..We sure have quite a predicament for ourselves. [ in hindsight, to anyone that didn't understand it as much as them, it must seem very messy. their loopy time universe shenanigans. ]
[ she's not trying to make light of setsu's situation or compare which of their situations suck worse - but it's like optimism? like trying to cheer setsu up a little. she already considers her own situation not the worst it could be, as long as she can help other timelines. even before knowing that, as long as she could save jonas and her friends, it was good enough for her.
she also kind of just wants to redirect conversation back to setsu. ]
We just have to make sure you get out of here so you can keep working towards it.
[ the optimism is, in a sense, certainly appreciated... that they can tell what alex is trying to do here. after all, setsu is in the same boat. that simply being able to help someone they care about back home... was good enough for them. they didn't need anything else.
however, they don't readily agree to alex's words. they only offer a simple smile. as if there's something missing to her words. but nothing else gets added to it, nothing to try and imply differently otherwise.
no, they just focus on the water again. ]
...Yeah. We'll all work towards getting us all back.
[ this fills me with worry for my setsu, but unfortunately alex is a little bit self-absorbed and a lot distracted in this conversation, so she doesn't entirely pick up on... what that might mean. ]
[ hehe? it's fine? what do you mean? :) but Setsu brings a hand over their own chest with the following words. ]
I won't tell him.
[ after all, that is consequently something Jonas will need to hear from Alex. or even, come to see happen if it does in his time. Setsu doesn't believe they have the right to invade on something like that. ]
[ it may not be touch week anymore, but they gently reach out to place one of their hands over Alex's. only briefly though, just in case it is unwanted. ]
[ listen i'm not sure alex ever really realized touch week was A Thing, so she just thinks setsu is a touchy person. but she doesn't mind it, and smiles. ]
[ not alex and jonas BOTH thinking this way about them it's so funny. Setsu isn't overly so, they may now and then, but new week and that feeling before aren't really there so.. now there's obvious hesitation. unsure if it's Okay. especially since they take their hand back when she smiles their way. ]
The museum has some interesting displays... and there is various entertainment at the coliseum. ...Though, I somehow keep getting roped into chariot racing with the latter. [ help. ]
[ i somehow find a way-- no i'm kidding, setsu deserves a break. i say but look at mini event warily now ]
No, I haven't. Like most places here.. it's pretty new to me. Maybe if I one day get to take a visit to Earth back in my universe. [ but museum is quickly in sight, welcoming them to all the goodies and relics to behold. ]
Have you seen one? I know you said you came from a small town.
Local art galleries... I see. [ well, the museum has some paintings on display? so they can sorta picture it. ]
...Mm? Well, there are numerous planets outside Earth within my universe that are travelable. To be more specific, I originated from Base Fifty-Two but my loops always begin with us having just left the planet Liu-An. A planet that ended up overrun by Gnosia, which is where their threat comes in.
Unfortunately, so long as the ship has Gnosia detection aboard, we aren't allowed to go within any planet's vicinity or we risk spreading the infection further. If we even attempt to, the interstellar cruise will self-terminate itself. [ and killing everyone on board, for protection measures and all. ]
[ but, they've become accustomed to likely not seeing anywhere new for some time, if not... well in any case, they aren't too bothered by the thought. after all, they're managing to experience a new place here technically. ]
I am. But, the captain of the interstellar cruise I've been on is actually from Earth.
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He had mentioned, between the two of you, he didn't always notice your loops. That usually it was you. [ they pause for a bit. ] But that, eventually, he started to be able to tell.
[ their hand hovers over the water, watching the shadow of a fish swim by beneath the surface. ] They always happened on the same night, and you would do things to fix the breaks and stop the loops.
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and sometimes you want to do things even though they're hard, so... ]
Yeah, I... think I figured out why I'm the only one who remembers the loops clearly.
[ that's a little vague. ]
But it's fine. When this ends and we get out of here, he should be done with them. The night should be over.
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And what about you?
[ he should be done with them... but what about her? ]
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It kind of sounds like it was already too late a really, really long time ago.
[ she is bad at this, so blurts out a second later: ]
But—there are other Alexes. Like your—like the parallel dimensions thing? And I can help them, I think, so it's not so bad.
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No... it may not be so bad. Even so, you're putting a lot on yourself. [ ... ] But, I couldn't exactly judge you for your decision.
[ looking back at it all, it's.. a bit funny. their experiences, the time concept, the twisting of loops and universes-- they are different, yes, but in a way.. ]
The person I want to pay back my debt to... not too long ago, there was a time when two of them existed in the same universe. So.. I understand. To avoid the universe collapsing into itself, I had to help one. It's a decision I still stand by even now.
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[ how bad can being stuck in an eternal recursion of your death really be if you don't even fully remember the previous iterations? ]
Well—you had to. Right? So... [ she doesn't fully understand, but she's sure that setsu must have made the best choice with that was available to them. she just assumes this very confidently. ]
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[ they don't want to speak for Alex on that regard. not remembering, it could be good. not that they themselves could really say for sure. after all, it's different for Setsu. who remembers every single loop. remembers every time they've been sent to cold sleep, they've been erased, had been the one to-- ]
I had to. [ and not once did they contemplate not doing it. ] And I'm happy to have done it, despite everything.
[ Alex would be right with that confident thought. it really was the best choice available. ]
..We sure have quite a predicament for ourselves. [ in hindsight, to anyone that didn't understand it as much as them, it must seem very messy. their loopy time universe shenanigans. ]
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[ she's not trying to make light of setsu's situation or compare which of their situations suck worse - but it's like optimism? like trying to cheer setsu up a little. she already considers her own situation not the worst it could be, as long as she can help other timelines. even before knowing that, as long as she could save jonas and her friends, it was good enough for her.
she also kind of just wants to redirect conversation back to setsu. ]
We just have to make sure you get out of here so you can keep working towards it.
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however, they don't readily agree to alex's words. they only offer a simple smile. as if there's something missing to her words. but nothing else gets added to it, nothing to try and imply differently otherwise.
no, they just focus on the water again. ]
...Yeah. We'll all work towards getting us all back.
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Yeah, that plan's not changing.
[ ... ]
... Don't tell Jonas.
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I won't tell him.
[ after all, that is consequently something Jonas will need to hear from Alex. or even, come to see happen if it does in his time. Setsu doesn't believe they have the right to invade on something like that. ]
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Thanks.
Uh, and for listening. Thanks for that part, too.
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[ but... ] ..I would've listened anyways. I want to be able to support you, we're a team after all.
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...Shall we see what else there is to find?
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Yeah. Yeah, maybe there's something cooler than... Giant squirrels and out-of-place towers.
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The museum has some interesting displays... and there is various entertainment at the coliseum. ...Though, I somehow keep getting roped into chariot racing with the latter. [ help. ]
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[ EMBARRASSING. ]
I think the museum is more my speed.
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[ they don't need to seek out healing again any time soon, alright. let's try and go one week without that happening. ]
Let's check out the museum then. It's still pretty new to me so I don't mind going again.
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[ don't let setsu get hurt every week i'll cry. but yes. onward to the museum!! ]
Had you been to anything like that before coming here? Like, I guess a museum wouldn't really be in... space.
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No, I haven't. Like most places here.. it's pretty new to me. Maybe if I one day get to take a visit to Earth back in my universe. [ but museum is quickly in sight, welcoming them to all the goodies and relics to behold. ]
Have you seen one? I know you said you came from a small town.
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[ ... ]
Is Earth just—there waiting for you?
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...Mm? Well, there are numerous planets outside Earth within my universe that are travelable. To be more specific, I originated from Base Fifty-Two but my loops always begin with us having just left the planet Liu-An. A planet that ended up overrun by Gnosia, which is where their threat comes in.
Unfortunately, so long as the ship has Gnosia detection aboard, we aren't allowed to go within any planet's vicinity or we risk spreading the infection further. If we even attempt to, the interstellar cruise will self-terminate itself. [ and killing everyone on board, for protection measures and all. ]
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[ that's kind of sad, she thinks. ]
And now you're quarantined.
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[ but, they've become accustomed to likely not seeing anywhere new for some time, if not... well in any case, they aren't too bothered by the thought. after all, they're managing to experience a new place here technically. ]
I am. But, the captain of the interstellar cruise I've been on is actually from Earth.
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