o n e . ( TEXT ) . we are not frightened any more

[dedikated]

There's not a cave in this hell that actually goes anywhere, is there? All just one big loop leading back to this dump.

First person to prove me wrong gets a million bucks.

Comments

[circumitus]

a million bucks is pretty useless down here, all things considered.

and no, would not gamble that the tunnels lead to anywhere nice.

[dedikated]

I don't have it anyway. [ Which was kind of the point of the bet, in her mind. ] & they don't. [ They lead here and here sucks. ]

[circumitus]

so how long did it take for you to figure out the loop?

[dedikated]

Too long. [ By which she means she's spent every day since she got here trying each possible one. ]

You know what date it is, by the by?

[circumitus]

you mean here?
not really.
back home it was october something 2153. wasn't keeping track of the day.
doubt that's going to be the same case here. people seem to be from all over the place.

[dedikated]

Great. That makes everything much more simple. [ There should be a sarcasm font, really. ] You're more than a few years ahead of me, then.

[circumitus]

doubt things are ever meant to be "simple" around here.

don't think the year back home really matters either.
not when there are people from entirely different planets and times.

[dedikated]

Point taken. And agreed with. Guess all we should really care about is being stuck here.

[circumitus]

and not dying. who knows if hope will get sick of bringing people back someday.

[dedikated]

... that happens? [ Between this and the times and places, it's hard for Kate's brain to avoid making the connection:

Don't be stupid, you're not getting him back.

She taps against her phone and gets back to writing. ]

I mean, I generally try to avoid dying anyway.

[circumitus]

have spoken to someone who claimed they came back, and supposedly hope fixes them up.
can't say how much it's true.
been trying to avoid dying as well. [Which is quite a feat for how many times Rey has died before.]

[dedikated]

Is that supposed to be their idea of 'sorry' or what? Like 'yeah, you're stuck here, but you're immortal! Sort of.'

If it is, it fucking sucks.

[circumitus]

doubtful. it seems more like an invitation for them to do whatever they want with us without worrying about going too far. seems easier if we can just be brought back.

[dedikated]

Tsk. Bet my old bosses woulda loved that ability.

What's your name, anyway?</font?

[circumitus]

your bosses sound like assholes.

rey. and you?

[dedikated]

They were.

Kate.

[circumitus]

same, though fortunately said "boss" is dead and gone now.

good to meet you, considering the circumstances.

[dedikated]

Looks like we've got quite a bit in common. [ Guess whose asshole boss got murdered with extreme prejudice? YEEEP. ]

Suppose it's better than being a billy-no-mates here.

[circumitus]

possibly. [Rey doesn't share a whole lot of common traits with people in Hadriel, or so she thinks.] seems like we traded all that in for something worse.

suppose so, yes.

[dedikated]

You mean you're not fond of rotting underground? [ Is the sarcasm obvious enough? ]

[circumitus]

[While she can sense the dripping sarcasm in that text...]

was born underground and spent years living there. so no, not very fond of it.

[dedikated]

Remind me to never take you to my world. Whole lot of people who think things from Underground need killing.

[circumitus]

can't really blame them. have seen many of the things come from underground that would deserve it.

[dedikated]

... Not untrue. Just as many things like that above ground, though. [ There's concentrating on the shit that needs killing, and then there's deciding that all shit like it needs killing. There's just as many Creatures that don't give the slightest fuck about humans. But kill them all, why not? ]