[A few hours after dawn finally returns to Aldrip, there's a knock at the door to Dante's home-cum-office loud enough to hopefully be heard throughout the building.
The lack of communication available during the dark hour highlighted further how much Altius had relied on phones back in his own world; the tablet's lack of access to the locals was enough of an obstacle, but having all avenues other than physical meetings cut off had markedly limited his ability to keep an eye on the other Chosen and any developments they might have found. Suffice to say he didn't like it.
Dante was a part of those he'd wanted to track down, but between his exploration of the dangerous city for supplies and his own purposes, he hadn't ended up tracking the other down. Rather than immediately return to the network to contact Dante, he decided to dedicate his efforts to finding them in person. He wanted to have a conversation he was fairly sure they wouldn't want to be recorded, anyway.
However it is that he finally lays eyes on that clock again, it will be with a look of some tension, as if he's been holding on to some concern. The past week hasn't been kind to any of them, anyway.]
[It's the only thing they can say to a look like that. They can only assume it's due to the way they flinch when they move just so, or the way they're a little slower getting around their office.
It's neither the worst pain they've been in nor the worst injury they've had--not even close--but it's not like Altius knows that.]
[So his acquaintance was harmed after all. It's no great surprise, he supposes, but he's still not pleased about it.]
I hope you'll understand if that doesn't entirely reassure me... but it's good to see you.
[He lets out a brief breath, cutting out his usual small talk for a more direct manner. This is more serious than a business matter, anyway, and his tone makes that clear.]
[and he still has the potential of an injury in one instance but listen. healing magic is so overpowered.]
But I came across— [he pauses for effect, though there's an uncertain furrow to his brow.] —a doppelganger of yours, I believe. It had some strange things to say.
[His tone lends significant negative weight to the statement. It wasn't a meeting he enjoyed.]
[First Yuri gets to see their secrets dragged into light, now Altius. And from some copycat creature that seems determined to paint them in the worst possible light.
They heave a heavy, breathless sigh, shoulders rising and falling.]
< ...It exaggerated. I may be an amnesiac, but I'm not as worried about what my memories hold as it made me out to be. Though I can't say I'm happy about people knowing about my memory to begin with... >
[Is it truly an exaggeration, or was it simply drawn from a place Dante refuses to acknowledge? He wonders... but none of that comes to the surface.]
I understand. What you do or don't feel about anything in your mind is a personal matter.
[I'm going to say he's moved inside at this point because the last thing he'd want is for the winter air to make Dante's injuries more uncomfortable. Between showing concern for their physical well being and offering without prompting what secrets the copy shared, he hopes to build trust.]
It also spoke of an aimlessness that came with that lack of memory. [He's not looking directly at Dante, partly to not pressure them into giving any answers; he's not here to ask direct questions about their inner doubts, as much as he might like to learn them. So, to give them an out:] But the way it acted made it clear it wasn't truly you.
[He turns to look at them again with a breath let out through his nose.]
[They've already mentioned it over the network once.]
< It's hard to think of what you want to do with your life when you only remember about a year of it. >
[That he's so convinced their doppelganger ultimately wasn't them... It helps. The threats it made, and the things it said... All exaggeration, nothing more.]
< Just making sure, but it didn't do anything to you, did it? I know you said it just spoke to you, but... No threats? Nothing like that? >
Not at all. Unless you consider implying I'd meet another "me" a threat.
[And it certainly would have been a problem if he had, but neither of the Dantes could really know that.]
But I'll tell you what I said then: it's alright to be uncertain. One year is a very short time to learn about yourself and what you want. [He gestures casually with one hand.] It took me nearly twenty of them.
[That's a weight off their shoulders. Bad enough that Yuri had had a gun pointed at him. Altius didn't need the same thing to happen to him.]
< I know that, I do. Just one of those things that's hard to remember when you've got a bunch of people around you who do have an idea of what they want. >
[Even if those people don't always have an idea of how to get to that destination, it's still a destination.]
< But sheesh... Twenty, huh? Hope it happens a little sooner for me. Who knows if I even have that long left. >
[They're not sure how to feel, hearing that from someone else. Not that it isn't nice. Of course it is. Nevermind what their doppelganger heard or said or thought, they know--they know--that there is something horribly wrong with the way things are back home.
But Altius's words don't quite hit the way they should. Because he's still such a new face, they suppose. How long had it been before the Bus Team had listened to them? How long did it take for them to finally step up and be the Manager they were supposed to be?
They don't know. But they do know this:]
< I don't know what specifically that thing may have said about my experiences, but I hope you haven't had to go through anything like them. And I'm sorry if you have. >
[Commiseration and and an apology in exchange for the one they've been given. However little it means, it's the best they have.]
[You wake up in a courtroom. You’re not really sure how you got here, just that you’re here. There’s Jerry, sitting at the judges box. For some he might be new, and others he might be familiar or semi-familiar. He scrutinizes you, and then motions to the jury box. There’s a plaque that’s sitting on the outside that says “Council”, but there’s no one sitting there. Everything looks clean and maintained, but there’s no one in the courtroom but you and Jerry.
Weird.]
You are charged with aimlessness. In order to repent and further your rehabilitation, you have been tasked to show remorse for your crime by finding worth for yourself and a direction to live life in. You must find a goal to work towards during your time in Aldrip. If there is no action taken, there will be consequences.
[Jerry blinks down at you, fingers threading together as he looks down from the judges’ box.]
How do you plead?
[ooc: you have until May 9th to submit your Sentencing HERE Even if your character doesn’t proceed with the Sentencing, you must comment on the NPC inbox for your penalty.
Also, there are effects for ignoring this Sentencing. The longer that Dante takes to complete their Sentencing, the more melancholy and apathetic they may get. They may even find themself finding it difficult to find entertainment in things that usually entertain them. If you have any questions about Sentencing, please let us know!
Jerry is interactive at this point, but we wanted to make sure you got your information in hand if you'd like to start plotting for your Sentencing!]
[Ah. So it's an accurate simulation of bureaucracy.]
< So why doesn't your superior come here themself? And why give us the chance to plead our case now? I thought everyone was declared guilty the moment they got here. >
[A slightly-angled nod. It makes sense, especially given what they know about the AI so far.
That said, it's probably better to keep what they know about the AI close to their chest. The best case scenario is pretty useless and the worst? Not really something they want to dwell on.]
< Okay... Then why take people from their own worlds and bring them here? A crime is a crime from your point of view, I get that, but kidnapping seems a little extreme. >
[Their ticking grows slightly sharper with irritation.]
< Okay, fine, they don't see it as kidnapping. But that doesn't change that that's what it is. I know that there are some... exceptions to this question-- > [Primarily in the form of those who died before ending up here] < --but what's there to say that the people who ended up here couldn't have been "rehabilitated" in their own worlds? Why us? What's going on? >
[The ticking becomes quicker and quicker as they speak, irritation giving way to a frustration that's been building with every part of them unwillingly exposed]
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The lack of communication available during the dark hour highlighted further how much Altius had relied on phones back in his own world; the tablet's lack of access to the locals was enough of an obstacle, but having all avenues other than physical meetings cut off had markedly limited his ability to keep an eye on the other Chosen and any developments they might have found. Suffice to say he didn't like it.
Dante was a part of those he'd wanted to track down, but between his exploration of the dangerous city for supplies and his own purposes, he hadn't ended up tracking the other down. Rather than immediately return to the network to contact Dante, he decided to dedicate his efforts to finding them in person. He wanted to have a conversation he was fairly sure they wouldn't want to be recorded, anyway.
However it is that he finally lays eyes on that clock again, it will be with a look of some tension, as if he's been holding on to some concern. The past week hasn't been kind to any of them, anyway.]
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[It's the only thing they can say to a look like that. They can only assume it's due to the way they flinch when they move just so, or the way they're a little slower getting around their office.
It's neither the worst pain they've been in nor the worst injury they've had--not even close--but it's not like Altius knows that.]
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I hope you'll understand if that doesn't entirely reassure me... but it's good to see you.
[He lets out a brief breath, cutting out his usual small talk for a more direct manner. This is more serious than a business matter, anyway, and his tone makes that clear.]
Do you have time to talk?
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< Thanks. I'm glad you managed to get out of all that unscathed, at least. >
[A pause and a tilt of the head as Altius continues]
< Um... sure. Everything okay? >
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[
and he still has the potential of an injury in one instance but listen. healing magic is so overpowered.]But I came across— [he pauses for effect, though there's an uncertain furrow to his brow.] —a doppelganger of yours, I believe. It had some strange things to say.
[His tone lends significant negative weight to the statement. It wasn't a meeting he enjoyed.]
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< Yeah, I had the pleasure of meeting it too. Gave me my "souvenir" for the night. >
[And given what Yuri had to deal with, they can only imagine what what Altius had to hear.]
< Sorry if it bothered you. I didn't even think about having one of my own until it was on me. >
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It injured you and you're concerned about it "bothering" me? [Half under his breath as he folds his arms:] I should have tried harder to find you...
[To warn Dante, is the implication of his guilty mutter. Altius shakes his head after a moment.]
All it did was speak to me. I only thought you should know what it said; things about lost experiences and fears of regaining them.
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They heave a heavy, breathless sigh, shoulders rising and falling.]
< ...It exaggerated. I may be an amnesiac, but I'm not as worried about what my memories hold as it made me out to be. Though I can't say I'm happy about people knowing about my memory to begin with... >
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I understand. What you do or don't feel about anything in your mind is a personal matter.
[I'm going to say he's moved inside at this point because the last thing he'd want is for the winter air to make Dante's injuries more uncomfortable. Between showing concern for their physical well being and offering without prompting what secrets the copy shared, he hopes to build trust.]
It also spoke of an aimlessness that came with that lack of memory. [He's not looking directly at Dante, partly to not pressure them into giving any answers; he's not here to ask direct questions about their inner doubts, as much as he might like to learn them. So, to give them an out:] But the way it acted made it clear it wasn't truly you.
[He turns to look at them again with a breath let out through his nose.]
I'm sorry you had to experience that.
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[They've already mentioned it over the network once.]
< It's hard to think of what you want to do with your life when you only remember about a year of it. >
[That he's so convinced their doppelganger ultimately wasn't them... It helps. The threats it made, and the things it said... All exaggeration, nothing more.]
< Just making sure, but it didn't do anything to you, did it? I know you said it just spoke to you, but... No threats? Nothing like that? >
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[And it certainly would have been a problem if he had, but neither of the Dantes could really know that.]
But I'll tell you what I said then: it's alright to be uncertain. One year is a very short time to learn about yourself and what you want. [He gestures casually with one hand.] It took me nearly twenty of them.
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< I know that, I do. Just one of those things that's hard to remember when you've got a bunch of people around you who do have an idea of what they want. >
[Even if those people don't always have an idea of how to get to that destination, it's still a destination.]
< But sheesh... Twenty, huh? Hope it happens a little sooner for me. Who knows if I even have that long left. >
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But Altius's words don't quite hit the way they should. Because he's still such a new face, they suppose. How long had it been before the Bus Team had listened to them? How long did it take for them to finally step up and be the Manager they were supposed to be?
They don't know. But they do know this:]
< I don't know what specifically that thing may have said about my experiences, but I hope you haven't had to go through anything like them. And I'm sorry if you have. >
[Commiseration and and an apology in exchange for the one they've been given. However little it means, it's the best they have.]
SENTENCING
Weird.]
You are charged with aimlessness. In order to repent and further your rehabilitation, you have been tasked to show remorse for your crime by finding worth for yourself and a direction to live life in. You must find a goal to work towards during your time in Aldrip. If there is no action taken, there will be consequences.
[Jerry blinks down at you, fingers threading together as he looks down from the judges’ box.]
How do you plead?
[ooc: you have until May 9th to submit your Sentencing HERE Even if your character doesn’t proceed with the Sentencing, you must comment on the NPC inbox for your penalty.
Also, there are effects for ignoring this Sentencing. The longer that Dante takes to complete their Sentencing, the more melancholy and apathetic they may get. They may even find themself finding it difficult to find entertainment in things that usually entertain them. If you have any questions about Sentencing, please let us know!
Jerry is interactive at this point, but we wanted to make sure you got your information in hand if you'd like to start plotting for your Sentencing!]
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< More than a little confused, to be honest. It's not that I think you're wrong, but... Is not knowing what you want really a crime? >
[It seems a little unfair to ask of a person who only has a year and a half of memories.]
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I have no opinions on what the crimes of others are. I only communicate what my superior would like to pass on to you.
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< So why doesn't your superior come here themself? And why give us the chance to plead our case now? I thought everyone was declared guilty the moment they got here. >
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[his superior would love to talk to them, though.]
They believe that they learn something from encounters like these. They are... interested in what the Chosen have to say for themselves.
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[A slightly-angled nod. It makes sense, especially given what they know about the AI so far.
That said, it's probably better to keep what they know about the AI close to their chest.
The best case scenario is pretty useless and the worst? Not really something they want to dwell on.]
< Okay... Then why take people from their own worlds and bring them here? A crime is a crime from your point of view, I get that, but kidnapping seems a little extreme. >
[Especially with some people claiming to be dead]
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[there's a beat.]
They do not see it as "kidnapping".
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< Okay, fine, they don't see it as kidnapping. But that doesn't change that that's what it is. I know that there are some... exceptions to this question-- > [Primarily in the form of those who died before ending up here] < --but what's there to say that the people who ended up here couldn't have been "rehabilitated" in their own worlds? Why us? What's going on? >
[The ticking becomes quicker and quicker as they speak, irritation giving way to a frustration that's been building with every part of them unwillingly exposed]
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I don't have the ability to tell you how the selections are made. That is something even I don't know.
[not privy to everything!!]
We are also learning with each cycle. We are learning, and some Chosen here have advanced through their list of crimes as well.
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< And the ones from the previous cycles? The ones who can't go back home or repent for anything anymore? >
[The ones who became part of the simulation itself]
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They were saved in the only way my superior knew how. There were some cycles that were beyond saving, however.
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