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

[robitussin]

Yeah, well. She's not really the adjusting sort. She's basically the opposite of that.

[She takes a breath.]

I don't know. It sounds stupid, but - even if she never really cared about me, I always kind of hoped that one day she would, you know? Giving up that chance is just... [She trails off.] But maybe it's enough that the other version of myself or whatever still does.

[marmoron]

[His reply is quick.]

That's not stupid at all, Natalie. You deserve a whole lot better.

[Honestly? He hates it. He hates that she has to feel unwanted and unloved when there's just so much good about her. But there's a pause, a sigh as he tries to let some of the force behind his tone go.]

...But I get it. She's your mom, after all. You can't help wishing it could be different. I did the same, even when I was mad that mine left me, you know?

[His hand tightens a little around hers.]

What I'm trying to say is that maybe you should focus on being the person that makes you happy, rather than the person you think would make your mom happy.

[robitussin]

...Thanks.

[As is typical for the two of them, her response is shorter, but just as sincere.]

Maybe we can both find something that makes us happy now.

[marmoron]

You don't have to thank me for pointing out the truth, you know.

[But the next part of that gets a bit of a pause. She asked him weeks ago what would make him happy here, and parts of that got fulfilled, other parts... not so much, and right now it's hard to fathom what being happy really even looks like.]

....What would make you happy?

[robitussin]

...Staying with you.

[She says, trying to ignore the color creeping into her face.]

God, that was sappy. I can't believe I actually just said that.

[marmoron]

[There's a moment where his expression is pure incredulity, but then he has to fight to keep a laugh in check. It's not funny, it's just...feels like another out of body experience. But it's a pleasant one.]

You can take it back if you want.

[robitussin]

...No. I think I'll stick with it.

[And as if to cement that point - she moves forward slightly to kiss him.]

[marmoron]

[It takes him a second to respond to this. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the printer's right there, still whirring along and slowly spitting out humanoid shapes that has him a little surprised by the "where" of all this, but... it's only a second and then he kisses back.

Maybe there's no real need to overthink and make things complicated because they can just figure this out together.]

[quickpersuader]

[Is that a golf clap from somewhere to the side?

That is a golf clap.]

[robitussin]

[Well, that was nice for about five seconds. Now she's pretty hurriedly pushing herself away from him immediately, going red.]

—Shut up!

[Natalie, she didn't say anything??]

[marmoron]

[Cue acting like he just touched a fucking electric fence.]

Have you just been watching this entire time?!

[quickpersuader]

[Now Kino's just

laughing at the both of them. It's a sound of delight, the kinds you hear when she's petting Cosmo.]

Long enough. Congratulations, you two.

[linearcrash]

[ From some where in the background... ]

Huh? So they are sleeping together like that.

[relieable]

[elbows Nine]

[linearcrash]

[ He was expecting an elbow, but not from Oso. Hi Oso Mats. ]

Huh? What's up?

[robitussin]

[screams internally]

No we're not!

[linearcrash]

[ Man Keet keeps sharing a bed with all of these chicks... ]

Does he play hard to get too? You know, you could just sneak up on him in the shower.

[marmoron]

[Holy shit, holy fucking shit??????]

Can you just shut the fuck up?! We're not-- it's not like that!

[carbide]

Not yet.

[I GUESS OLYMPIA IS PAYING ATTENTION TOO???]

[tuffguy]

[ loudly calls out ]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH.

[marmoron]

[Bolin. Bolin.]

It's not....

[Not WHAT. Who knows.]

[tuffguy]

Can't complete that, Keith?

[robitussin]

[Drags her hands down her face!!]

Why? Just answer that for me. Why?

[robitussin]

[Whispering his way while everything happens so much:]

Let's leave.

[marmoron]

[Natalie, why did you pick this spot for this.... He's so red he's matching the armor right now.]

Yeah. About time.