chimericalclaw | open post

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EXPIATION FLAVORED
⬬ the AI filled it out for him this time
⬬ saw something you weren't meant to see
⬬ the person he has to return to
⬬ the truth has to come to light
⬬ should have broken it a long time ago

GENERAL MEMERY
⬬ can't sleep, won't bother trying
⬬ well well well if it isn't the consequences of my own actions

OR check out this selection of memes I like!

OR whatever shenanigans you please!

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Ain't that the truth.

[It truly is a wonder sometimes, how he's still in one piece.]

I won't let you get a lot though.

[Another crackling in the air, a tensing of his jaw. He doesn't even want to bring up the idea, but he currently doesn't get to decide what he says—only how he says it. It's an attempt to regain some control when he forces a dismissive tone into his reply.]

What, then? Will you run to warn everyone about my sinister nature?

Only if you try something. But I'd like to believe you're better than that, Mr. Altius.

[He's not even smug, he's just honest.]

[Though the answer should be a relief, he finds himself bristling for a separate reason entirely.

He doesn't get it. Is this sort of naivete so strong it simply leaves those afflicted with delusions? He'd hardly even been trying any particular manipulation with Sawada...

... it bothers him.]

Why are you sorts this way, [he mutters, bringing a hand to rub at his face. His next remark leaves him with greater ease than it should:] If you wait long enough for that to be obvious it will already be too late.

[Tsuna shrugs. He supposes it's been than the alternative. He doesn't want to be like Xanxus.]

Too late for what?

For anyone to stop me.

[He always has contingencies and only makes his moves when he's certain he can get what he wants. He's had the years needed to teach him how; if Sawada truly, foolishly decides to keep all this to himself, then that's a simple matter to take into account among the rest.]

Not that my plans are likely to involve much more than returning home and destroying this place as I leave it.

I get that we all want to return home, but I don't think this place needs to be destroyed.

[Even if it is just a computer program, there is something more. Of that, Tsuna is certain.

Truthfully, he hasn't decided what to do just yet. It's times like these that he misses his Guardians.]

[His eyebrows raise slightly and he folds his arms.]

You would leave it and risk that other innocents might be abducted and tortured here?

[He knows others believe this place might be worthwhile if they could only gain control or reach some sort of agreement with the AI. Altius has no such optimism.]

Of course not! I'd want to make sure it was changed, before anything else.

[He sighs.]

Or at least try to.

And if that wasn't an option? And the only way to prevent further harm was to bring it to an end?

[Would Tsuna have the willpower for it? Or would he keep hoping that others would somehow achieve that idealistic solution despite the truth?]

Then I'd do what I have to. But I wouldn't stop looking for another option.

[He is pretty straight forward like that. But he'll carry the regret if he has to. He already is, in some ways.]

You'd be smarter to cut your losses. Besides—it's unlikely you'd even remember to look if our fellows who've left and returned are to be believed.

[His tone is quite low as he replies, implying a particularly grim resignation to the idea. Ultimately: nothing here will matter. He can't believe anything else, when it comes down to it, even if he's found things here he might have yearned for in another life.]

[Tsun shrugs, as if to say that's what they all say.]

Maybe, but also maybe not.

Because I feel like losing those memories makes all of this pointless. Like, why do it in the first place.

If we're supposed to be repenting for a crime, then we have to remember that and everything that came after, right?

[This idea, at least, they can both agree on. There's truly no point if all that happens to those who leave is they return to their lives, none the wiser... like it never happened at all.]

One would think. [The reply is less sarcasm and more genuine displeasure. Why is a question he's been wondering for some time. Though his disdain for them is clear as he continues, his tone is relatively even.]

I question whether their stated purpose is simply a lie, or if those maintaining all this are truly that incompetent. [It could easily go either way.] They certainly appear to have a poor definition of the concept, judging by all of the interactions with them I've had and heard.

Seems like a long way to go for a lie.

[But then, Tsuna has never been the best liar.]

They seemed pretty honest to me.

Forgive me if I don't particularly trust your judgment.

[His tone is low without being insulting; he simply doesn't think Tsuna's personality allows for sensible scrutiny over his optimism. There's only so far Zekarion can hold that against the boy.]

If you believe in your purpose enough, the lie can become second nature. Take it from a man who's maintained one for more than a decade.

It's still a lie though.

[He shrugs. He rarely trusts his own judgment, though he's been getting better at that. Mostly he just trusts his friends who trust him.]

Doesn't that get hard?

I'm not arguing that it becomes true. It merely becomes reflex.

[Even if he were inclined to pretend he had an easy time with all of it, his current state wouldn't let him.]

Most things that are worthwhile are. Though I wonder if a machine could even have that sort of difficulty if it was programmed with falsehoods from the start.

I think it could.

Whether or not it's truths or lies, it's still whatever it has to work with, right?

[Altius lets out a hum of acknowledgement. He has little experience with sapient machines, though he's met one here and heard of others, so his statement about wondering was truthful. If there is truly any personality to the thing maintaining this world, would it be that different from what he already knows?]

I suppose in something advanced enough, that program would be more like an instinct. Much like the human will to survive regardless of the difficulty or the harm we cause simply by living, it continues because it sees no other valid path.

[It's pitiable either way—whether its stated purpose is true or false, whether it's aware of that fact.]

But if that's the case, then isn't there the chance to introduce something new?

[He just, has to explore all the other options.]

There's a chance all of us could be sent home tomorrow, as well, but that doesn't mean it's likely.

[Zekarion, meanwhile, knows he only has so much time and energy, and intends to spend both carefully. Optimistic potentials of reforming anyone or anything are extremely low on his priority list.]

We don't have forever to find our way out from here, lest you've missed or forgotten the fate of our predecessors.

Then we have to use what time we have, and I don't think plotting destruction is going to help anyone.

[Granted, he knows he's not smart enough to be much help.]

[One eyebrow furrows. These idealistic types always shy away from bitter truths...]

You don't consider it helpful to prevent the inevitable suffering that would result should this place remain as it is?

I just don't know if destruction is prevention. Destroying something is kind of a last resort, right?

And what if we manage to change it?

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