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

[purrtagonist]

It won't be quite as satisfying as watching it burn ourselves, but I think we will survive.

[a beat]

For once.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Which will be a welcome change of pace. Still, you're right. The taste of a plot well-crushed is still sweet even from a distance where one's eyebrows are unlikely to get scorched.

[purrtagonist]

And I do happen to like my eyebrows.

We can celebrate by brewing the most expensive coffee we can find and sharing a toast across universes to our victory.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

By this point, even the cheapest diner brew is going to taste gourmet. Don't get too enthusiastic greeting your usual supplier.

[purrtagonist]

He'd probably kick me out for daring to use the expensive beans, anyway.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Maybe try paying for them, first?

[purrtagonist]

Being able to use his coffee beans is part of my payment for working in his cafe part-time.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Better to ask forgiveness than permission? Or at the very least, start picking up lots of overtime.

[purrtagonist]

I live there. That's practically overtime in and of itself, right?

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Sounds to me like those beans are deservedly yours in that case. Without them you'd be no more than an indentured servant.

[purrtagonist]

Exactly. I'm glad you and I think alike when it comes to this topic.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

It's natural. Manifest destiny. You have no choice but to claim what's rightfully yours.

[purrtagonist]

. . . I never thought about it like that, but that's because when you call it "manifest destiny" you make it sound like I'm trying to take over the whole cafe.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

You're not?

[purrtagonist]

N. . . no?

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

It's important to have long-term goals. Otherwise, you can end up wasting time inadvertently.

[purrtagonist]

True. But that isn't one of my long-term goals.

The cafe is currently under great management, anyway. I have no reason to oust the owner.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

You don't have have to encourage someone to take a header from the 40th storey just to inherit their job. Waiting for retirement is also a possibility, whether or not coffee is part of your desired career path.

[purrtagonist]

[another laugh, and Akira shakes his head]

No. It's a little too. . . quiet, for me.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Not going to become a celebrity chef? Traveling the country cursing them out for inferior brews?

[purrtagonist]

As tempting as the idea is, I'm afraid I was pretty serious when I told you I had an interest in politics.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

It won't hurt having some decent politicians in this country. ...Be careful, you'll need to look out for the likes of me dragging you down.

[purrtagonist]

[a sharp smile]

And here I was hoping we might be able to work towards the same cause.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[serious]

I'm sure there're plenty of efforts you might sponsor that major corporations would be happy to get behind. Just remember nothing comes for free. Make sure the cost is something you're willing to pay.

[purrtagonist]

[aha]

You remember what I said when we first met, don't you?

I don't do anything for free. Which means I don't expect to receive anything for free, either.