un: f̵̳̬̕a̵̯͊̉͌͘n̷̨̮̭͖̉̏̚d̸͓͈͔̠̆̓̈͝a̴̻̖̜͗̐͆̾n̵̥̺̩̽͌i̸̫̦͘ȩ̸͈͠l̶̦̳͊͆̓͝

[trollophoroi]

[ Nearly the very second the last note of music fades from Uta forever, tucked away in Δ Hidden Forbidden Dead Wood, Corbenik defeated, as though he had known this was going to happen, was expecting it— ]

Ahahahaha! Ha ha! Ha! You killed her! You actually thought you could save her? Amazing! Amazing!

But no, you did it, you put her in a grave, ju̠͡sṯ̐ as I͈͐ ̱̐foṛ̕es̺͞a̤͡w̲͑ ̯͞y̪̕ȏ̮u̗̿ ̥̍w̤̉oul͓̃d͆ͅ!

Tell me, was it worth it? Was your steadfast belief that there is a place to escape to for you more important than her life? When you knew? You knew! You all knew! She could only exist here! How you all delude yourselves into thinking everyone can be saved while putting them to the sword in the same breath.

Macha and Tarvos were too kind to you.

I would say to take this as a lesson but I already know that you will not. You have chosen the path of destruction, as humans oft do. Now live with the consequences, those of this inevitable f̍ͅä̢́t̹̿e, to kill, and kill again.

Comments

[gluttoning]

Tarvos is dead. Don't call me that.

What answer?

[trollophoroi]

Is he, though?

How sure can you be of that, when you still carry that core? Ah, but that was not my question. I already asked it! But I know you are slow, Tarvos, so I shall spell it out again just for you~

Are our lives worth your freedom?

[gluttoning]

[A long, long pause. Words dig sharp, as they always do. Always, with Amon.]

I don't know. It's cruel.

But we still have to try.

[trollophoroi]

It is cruel because cruelty is inherent in man. Given the choice of paradise and a mysterious beyond, they cut through everything for what they are not assured of.

Why do they choose this every time? Ẅ͖́h̺͆y ̻͑ḭ̔ş͡ ̭͠t͉̊h̠́is̼͠ ͍̂f͘͢a͔̚te͇͋ ͕͛ų̅n̟̕a̼̓v͘͜o̙͆ǐ̲da̦͑ble̻͆?

[gluttoning]

Maybe it's because we already have enough of a paradise waiting for us. Maybe it's not perfect like Lily wants it to be. But it's still good enough to want to go back to.

You really want him to be happy. Don't you, Amon?

[trollophoroi]

You already know that I do. What Lily wants, I, too, want. This was true even before I knew my true name, my true purpose.

What of those with no paradise to supposedly return to? What of us?

[gluttoning]

There has to be something out there. Even if it feels like there isn't.

I know that's easier said than done. But you deserve a place with love. Lily... Lily can try. But I've felt what he thinks love is, Amon. It's not going to make you happy.

[trollophoroi]

You are incorrect.

I have found a place that loves me, with Lily, in this world, the world I was made for. I am happy here.

[gluttoning]

[He knows he shouldn't argue. There's no point. He's seen with his own eyes how close they were, even before the changes.]

Were you that lonely before he found you?

[trollophoroi]

Before?

[ Before... when? He recalls being distinctly unhappy about... something... about his life? It filters through but only in the snippets that existed within Fragment. All his acting out, all the torment he endured when things began to get weird.

Why any of that had bothered him is a mystery now. ]

I cannot recall ever not being lonely before.

[gluttoning]

Then why were you looking for a place to be happy?

[trollophoroi]

Because I knew I never belonged. I have never belonged anywhere. When Lily revealed to me my true name, my true purpose, it all made sense. Finally, finally I could be happy, finally, as the real me, the whole me.

I am Fandaniel. I am Fidchell. The two have always been the same.

[gluttoning]

[A pause, brittle.]

Then Amon's really gone. The one that liked to cook and worked hard to be as smart as he was, that still missed his family. That doesn't have a place?

[trollophoroi]

Who?

[ He knows the name Fandaniel but... Amon? Hmm. ]

I still enjoy cooking, Tarvos, and why would I miss my family when I have them all here, you included? This is our place. Our home.

[gluttoning]

[His family... him included...

...]

I told you that he's gone. But I guess you'll still see Tarvos. I still see Amon. You.

When we first met, we played a questions game. Do you remember any of it?

[tablescraps]

Don't talk to him like that.

[trollophoroi]

Are you going to make me stop, Macha?

[tablescraps]

Yes, I am. If you're so sure of your fate, then you should have nothing to fear from meeting me.

[trollophoroi]

I would rather think not meeting you would be a part of ensuring my fate, do you not?

[tablescraps]

An "inevitable fate" is not a thing ensured. It simply is, regardless of action. Do I have to be the one to tell you that? Do I know your data better than you?

If your whinging about invitable fate is true, then my blade will fail to slice you clean. But if you have fear, if you doubt that this fate is true, then you'll keep hiding away from me.

Your choice says more about the legitimacy of your data and Cubia's heaven more than anything you type here ever could.

[trollophoroi]

Tempting me to lose my temper and offer to meet you. Still the Temptress, then, even as you pretend not to be.

It is not time to meet, that is what simply is.

[tablescraps]

( Unlike Barrett, he doesn't detest innately to be referred to as Macha. He sees his time as Macha as one under the influence, and altered in mind, but - hadn't that been himself under the professor's hand, too? He was altered, but that was still a time in his history, that was still himself, if as a puppet.

He would just have to kill the ones who made him suffer through it. )

I am what I am. I'm no longer manipulated into serving Cubia's ends, so I no longer call myself Macha. But if you still find me so tempting, I'll bring you to your knees again, and take your head with my guillotine.

Hide all you want. I'll be looking for you.

[trollophoroi]

You must forgive me, Macha. I still find myself preferring the healer's company when it comes to that, even now, as an AI. Indulgent of me, I realize, but please do not look down upon me too terribly for it.

Regardless, do enjoy your little hunt, futile though it may be.

not here

[secondthoughts]

[ ]

not here

[tablescraps]

( mithrun really is going to kill both of you so he never has to read about your sex life on the forums ever again )