Epilogue

[cartesio]

Welcome to Cartesio!

You open your eyes and see the ceiling of the lodge. There is no real sensation of having slept, but you're still feeling rested. Sitting up, you can see that the building around you is in ruins. Dust and dirt dominate your environment. Around you, there are familiar people - some of them you've been with up until now, some of them you have been brutally forced to part with weeks ago. They all look alright, a little confusion aside.

From a corner of the room, you can hear the soft whirring of a machine. Upon examination, you can see that it's 3D-printing more gelatinous bodies like you've seen earlier today. Every body that is dispensed from the machine is a safe haven for another mind from the simulation, another mind to join your ranks as real people.

After you've adjusted to the new situation and left the lodge, you find yourself greeted with perfect sunshine. There's a town welcoming you, friendly and peaceful. Though it is more modern than what you are used to, there is no mistaking it.

Cartesio, Nevada, welcomes you.

You're new people, in a new world. Every chance it has to offer is open for you.

Comments

[marmoron]

[....God. God fucking damn it, she's so happy and Keith just doesn't have the energy to match it. Half of him just wants to push her away and storm off, the other half just can't bring himself to be the reason for another episode of Cian crying because he couldn't swallow how how he feels.

Ironic. After he'd been the one to yell at her for doing exactly the same in the diner all those weeks ago.

Doubly ironic that he even feels this way after just how badly she hurt him.]

... you doubted me again, huh.

[integratedsoul]

[ ... oh.

That's what he thought all this time, then. Of course he would. Of course it would look like that. Of course Cian would betray the trust of those she loves over and over. Cian has found a lot of new resolve and confidence in herself, but this still makes her feel bitter. ]

... more like, I wasn't thinking. I found that note and all I could think was 'this can't be Keith, he's in my room' and 'if I don't hurry, it'll be too late'. I was on the roof before I really knew it.

I'm sorry. I should have called you.

[marmoron]

[There's a pause. He knows she's sorry and that he can't hold this against her. She's the one who really suffered that night. Whatever he felt in the morning -- that was nothing comparatively.]

You don't have to be sorry. I just... it was hard, you know? I wanted to help you.

[And maybe that's the core of the issue here. It's not really anger he feels anymore, it's just a kind of irrational disappointment with himself. There's no need for it; they did bring everyone back in the end, bt whenever he thinks about the state of her and Millium's bodies that day, he knows he'll never forget how helpless he felt.]

[integratedsoul]

I... I think I know how that feels.

[ Though Keith knows the story, so he can decide for himself how accurate or not it is to his emotions. ]

I wish I hadn't put you through it. I don't even know what I was thinking... It was obvious I wouldn't be able to stop anyone here, but... I was so scared for Millum.

[marmoron]

[Keith is quiet for another moment before shaking his head.]

It's easy to stop thinking rationally when you're in a rough situation.

[Not like he hasn't gotten super tunnel visioned about saving Shiro at all costs. Or should that be the "original" version of him did that. It's hard to know what to think about all that still. It's like the information got thrown at him with next to no time to process what it all means. What it all implies.

Maybe he doesn't want to. Maybe the thought of trying to unpack of that also makes him feel ill. His voice is a little flat.]

I'm glad you're okay.