ENDGAME/EPILOG

[pandatreasure]

[In the control room, the raccoons float quietly in their pods; none of the wild cackling from before, no raucous mocking—Where did those pesky animatronics go, anyway? Maybe not every question has been answered, but...how much does it matter? The lost souls are back, tangible and whole, though marked still by whatever's done them in. Maybe those scars and aches won't fade, either.

A metric fuckton of experimenting has gotten us to the answer of how to get back to where we belong: the first control room console makes it easy to find the thumbnail of your world, and, when selected, it automatically brings you to twenty two days from moment you were kidnapped from. It's easy to see an image where you should be there and aren't, and simply select it. The program confirms that you'd like to initiate the transport process, and directs you to stand on the glowing platform; have someone hit the button to shut the process down, or it will time itself out in five minutes.

Is the moment you were brought from not good enough? What about the rewards you were promised? It seems as though specifying those offers or threads isn't quite possible, but the console has two options, each manipulable independently of each other: you can control the date and time, allowing yourself to return as though you hadn't been kidnapped at all. You can also use a slider at the bottom to control the quality of the universe you're brought back to, sliding from the carrot to the stick side: A world where everything that possibly could have gone right for you and those you'd want it for does, where every choice and chance resolves in your favor...or one where there isn't a single moment that isn't conspiring to work against you.

It should be that simple, but...none of those are your universes. Trying to go to any universe but the one marked for you, and/or at any point but that three-week span you've been gone, prompts a warning message about a duplicate version of anyone belonging to that world. It asks if you'd like to proceed, and warns you once more by giving names of potential "doppelgangers"—but will not stop you from stepping onto the platform as it twinkles blue light, regardless. Is improvement worth interfering, maybe destroying, the life of another you?

That choice is up to you. For the first time in a long time, these choices are yours.

It's over. Happy graduation day.]

Comments

[truthstranger]

Ah... just about, yeah.

[ He can't help smiling a little. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . cute]

So. . .? Have you and Akechi made up your minds?

[truthstranger]

Mm. We're coming back with you.

[purrtagonist]

[it's like someone flips a switch. he lights up immediately, both relieved and happy all in one]

You-- convinced him?

[truthstranger]

...Yeah. Ah, well... more like, he agreed immediately once I said that was what I wanted to do.

[ He doesn't sound entirely pleased about that part. ]

It... sounds like it's risky for him in some ways. But I'll be there for him no matter what, so... hopefully it will work out.

[purrtagonist]

[ah. . . yeah, Akira can see why Shuichi isn't thrilled about that]

It will be. But I'll do what I can for him.

[not that it'll be easy, of course. it'll be a balancing act. Akechi has killed people, after all. . . two of those people being the parents of two of Akira's best friends. he knows they'd want to see justice, and Akira thinks they deserve it. they deserve their anger, and Akira would never take that from them]

[but he can at least make sure Akechi gets a fair shake in the system; that's what Sae Niijima is for. and he can at least make sure Akechi isn't alone as he tries to rebuild. ]

[truthstranger]

Mm.

[ There a serious pause for a few moments, and then he continues, with an attempt to pitch his voice more light-heartedly: ]

Well, it's probably a bit risky for me too. I'll have to forge my identity, and everything.

[purrtagonist]

I know someone who can help you with that.

[. . . well!!]

[truthstranger]

Akechi-kun said you might...

[ Though there's still a question in his voice as he says that. ]

[purrtagonist]

And you're wondering how I do, aren't you?

[he can tell there's a question there, and he's totally assuming that's it]

[truthstranger]

A-Ah, well... I am a bit curious...

[purrtagonist]

Thieves need connections. Confidants. We wouldn't have been able to keep our operation going without the help of. . . certain people on the outside.

[weapons dealers. a doctor willing to sell them healing medicine. other shady character types]

I have a friend who owns a model gun shop. He used to be yakuza; he'll know exactly who to call to help you forge a proper identity back home.

[SAYING YAKUZA LIKE, IT'S NO BIG DEAL]

[truthstranger]

I see.

[ WELL, Akechi also already said yakuza, and at least it's used to be. ]

If he can help me out, I'm grateful to both of you. I wouldn't know where to start with something like that.

[purrtagonist]

Neither would I.

[again: confidants!!]

I have a lot of connections I can use to help you and Akechi. . . adapt, I should say. Are you planning on bringing all of that cash with you?

[truthstranger]

I think so. I intended to distribute it among people a little more, but with everything I sort of forgot. And it seems like it could be helpful to have.

[purrtagonist]

[eh]

I'd just keep it if I were you. No point in distributing it now.

[he's selfless, but not that selfless, apparently]

[truthstranger]

Haha... well, if you think so.

[purrtagonist]

Ah. . . I should warn you, by the way.

When we go back, we're going to appear right out of thin air in the middle of a van on the highway.





We might wind up scaring the other passengers.

[truthstranger]

Ah. Yes, I imagine that would be startling.

Will there even be enough room...?

[purrtagonist]

For nine people and a cat. . .

Probably not.

[they'll make it work]

[truthstranger]

Nine...

[ Is this really a good idea. Well, probably there are worse ideas. ]

I’ll... try to be ready. As ready as I can be for suddenly appearing in a crowded van full of strangers, I suppose.

[purrtagonist]

[there are significantly worse ideas]

Which isn't ready at all, is it?

[heh]

I'll explain everything to them as soon as I can. They're good people, don't worry.

[truthstranger]

I'm sure they are. It will just be... interesting.

I'm looking forward to it, though. Overall.

[purrtagonist]

"Interesting" is one word for it.

[his group is interesting, that's for sure]

And you should. I think. . . you'll like it there.

[truthstranger]

Do you think so? I don't actually know that much about the place that you're from itself. Other than that it sounds more or less like... what I'm familiar with.