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

[silvertongueheir]

...I see. I've heard attractions to childhood friends are often one-sided. [A pause as he considers.] I wouldn't know myself, I admit. I don't think I ever had anyone I could consider a childhood friend. [Gerard doesn't count, he's more like a son.]

[relieable]

[oh. that seems sad, that Franciscus doesn't have a childhood friend]

And Shaun... what's he like?

[silvertongueheir]

[He brightens for a moment. He does enjoy bragging about his (ex?) boyfriend.] Ah...he's the technological and chemical genius of our team. He knows how to make all sorts of medicine practically from scratch, and he's developed a wide variety of smoke bombs and a device for launching them. Sometimes he can get too caught up in his research and forget that the outside world exists...he's lucky he has me and the rest of the team to remind him when to take breaks. And Ogar to watch out for him and make sure he doesn't have any undue lab accidents. [A slightly sad chuckle.]

Really, he seems to know a bit about almost everything. If you want to know obscure trivia of some sort, he's the one to ask. He's quite the optimist, as well. He has a way of taking almost anything as a compliment-it was what started endearing him to me at first. And his hands are surprisingly gentle, even after he's replaced one of his arms with a mechanical one of his own design. Even the sound of their internal workings is something comforting to me, now... [A pause.] ...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to brag about him so much. [That's probably...kind of rude?]

[relieable]

No! I mean, I asked. [he did get quite the earful, though] It's... good that you have someone like that. [or, well. he's glad the real Franciscus does, anyway] Someone that makes you... happy.

[silvertongueheir]

[A hum of agreement. He's still smiling, a bit.] Thank you for listening, nonetheless. It was nice to finally be able to explain our full relationship. We try to make it less obvious back home-it is an additional potential vulnerability, after all. The Sergeant even used that as my secret, all those weeks ago.

[relieable]

[a potential vulnerability, huh? Osomatsu would be completely different, he thinks. if he was with someone, he'd want everyone to know about it. then again, he's not working in a dangerous field like Franciscus is..... was]

So it was a big deal.

[silvertongueheir]

[Well, Franciscus did praise Shaun's skills a lot, still. After all, he wanted everyone to know how cool his boyfriend was.]

To me, at least. [A pause] The Sergeant actually copied a series of texts between us, for the secret. [So, potentially embarrassment on top of the extra danger.]

[relieable]

Uh... That's a little creepy. Then again, this is Sarge, we're talkin' about...

[silvertongueheir]

It certainly is. I did confront him about it, too. Though I'll admit, there was a part of me that was glad to have them. [It was pretty much his only reminder of Shaun for a while, after all.]

[relieable]

[awkward]

I mean, at least it was kind of a nice secret? Mine wasn't nearly so kind.

[silvertongueheir]

I suppose... [He leans against Gerard's side a little, considering.] I won't pry, then. Though I admit I cannot see your secret being as bad as some of the ones that were mentioned. [So much death-related secrets...]

[relieable]

[he's silent for a moment, recalling the secret, wondering if he should tell it to Franciscus or not. little by little, Osomatsu's been revealing things about himself. he's mostly been open as far as feelings were concerned, but he did talk to Keith about... that one thing...]

I think, to me, it looked that bad. [he closes his eyes] My secret revealed that I was a selfish older brother who stole from my younger brothers. At the time, I didn't want anyone here to know that about me.

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus actually looks a little surprised at that.] I admit, I wouldn't have expected that. You do seem to care greatly for them, after all. [A bit of a teasing smile.] Besides, you have me to provide funds for you now.

[relieable]

[well, that does lighten the mood a bit. Osomatsu lets out a soft snort, shrugging his shoulders]

What, are you saying you're gonna be like my sugar daddy? [stop him]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus kind of chokes on his next breath, coughing slightly as Gerard looks at him with worry. He buries his face in his hands, looking embarrassed.] I would...prefer you not refer to it like that. We're...friends, after all, not just in a transactional relationship.

[relieable]

[Franciscus' reaction is hilarious. exactly what Osomatsu needs. he laughs loudly and reaches over to clap the other man on the back]

Hey, come on! I was only joking! [still...]

[silvertongueheir]

[Man, that reminds him of Jimmy...] Well. I hope you know you're much more important to me than that term implies, either way.

[relieable]

[EH? that gets Osomatsu's laughter to stop abruptly. he looks at Franciscus with wide eyes, surprised by his words]

...

[then the shock fades, and he smiles a little sadly. don't make him cry, dude]

You, too.

[silvertongueheir]

[...is he blushing? He hopes he's not blushing. (He's probably blushing.) Still, after a bit, he reaches out to just...hold Oso's hand? Feelings are so damn complicated, and he has no idea what to say, so he'll just...express his gratitude for that through action.]

[relieable]

[again, Osomatsu is surprised. but... he loves physical affection, so he's not about to brush Franciscus off. they've been through a lot together, and Osomatsu still feels bad about how he handled things. but... maybe they can get past it. maybe they can move on together, and be good friends. after all, Osomatsu said it before, that the people he'd spent time with in Cartesio were like his second family... he still can't believe he said that to the Sergeant, of all people. what a mess that last trial was! he goes quiet, scooting closer to Franciscus and linking their fingers together]

[silvertongueheir]

[What's a little murder between friends, after all? Though speaking of the trial...Franciscus' expression gets a bit more serious as he leans slightly closer as well.]

When you told the Sergeant he could just destroy you and you wouldn't care...you were just bluffing, right?

[relieable]

[oh... Osomatsu blinks and looks over at him]

...You could... hear all that?

[silvertongueheir]

We could. On our side at least, there were screens in the lodge showing your investigations and that final confrontation.

[relieable]

[DUDE. that is scary. Osomatsu's silent for a long time, several seconds, and then he squeezes Franciscus' hand]

...I wasn't bluffing, no. [he looks down at the roof] I really thought that if I was gonna have to do his bidding, I'd be better off destroyed. After all, I'm just a copy. [then he looks back up at Franciscus again] Right?

[silvertongueheir]

Perhaps it is true that it would be better to perish than serve him, but "just a copy"? [Franciscus suddenly reaches out with his other hand, both of them now holding Osomatsu's hand tightly.] There's no "just" about it! Like, I said, you're important to me. This version of you, specifically!