dualislogs | [closed]

[ She could've gotten away with it, the extent of this bump in. Dualis has made Tidus a more paranoid person than he's ever had to be in his life, but maybe he's not paranoid enough: he doesn't suspect Arkady of anything more than simply being around, never thought to question the glimpses of the same shape around as anything more than just -- well. A coincidence. A 'huh' in the back of his head.

Later, he might question how easy he is to follow, that he should probably be more alert these days. Instead Tidus stares blankly at Arkady for a good second, before the hand used to wave at her turns into a finger pointing at her, as confused as the expression on his face. ]

Are you... following me?

[ Is that what she's implying?

He is so confused. ]

Maybe. [ Surprisingly there's no hint of sheepishness in her tone. In fact she just kind of seems vaguely amused that he's now noticed. Partially because it's a bit amusing it took him so long to actually catch her fully. She smiles, it's not an overly exaggerated smile but it's warm. A potentially vague attempt at being comforting. ]

Yes. Sometimes. Not all the time. [ Which makes it better, right? ] Just to make sure you're okay.

[ He continues to stare at her with confusion, like there's something here that he's missing. Maybe? Possibly? ]

I'm okay! Nothing's wrong with me. [ He says it reassuring, or aims for that, while not being entirely certain of what has Arkady concerned. There was the conversation they had a while back, but that was, well, a while back.

But then Tidus remembers the next biggest event to happen lately, and his features ease a little. ]

Oh, you mean 'cause of... the stuff on TV?

Something's wrong with all of us, sweets. [ Whether it be something from their own worlds or something that's happened here, every has something making them not quite right anymore. That just can't be helped, can it?

She takes his attempt at reassurance with a smile that may show that she's not quite sure if she believes him truly. ]

I worry about people sometimes. So I go and check on them. [ Simple isn't it? ] I hope you're not unhappy! [ She nods at his mention of what happened with the executions and shakes her head. ]

We were never safe but now we're even more not safe. [ At any point they could decide to do that to any of them, couldn't they? It's an unnerving thought. Not to mention the aspect of it that was just a public display of power and violence. ]

[ It has to be the most peculiar method of checking up on someone Tidus has ever seen in action, or heard of, and he meets her chipper reply with the same baffled confusion she's already instilled in him.

This may or may not be completely normal to Arkady... Yet it hardly seems to be worth the point getting stuck on. Tidus frowns, rubbing the back of his head. ]

Well... I'm okay, I think. Why wouldn't I be, right? [ At least he doesn't think he's in any danger, if that's what she's concerned about. His expression eases briefly for show (no anti-Dualis intentions here, city), but as he attempts to think before he speaks, the furrow to his brow re-emerges again. ] I've been trying to check up on something. Just getting to know the world better, you know?

[ ...he really hates this talking discreetly thing... ]

[ She tilts her head and a brief frown flashes over her face at the question. ]

There are a lot of reasons to not be okay I think. But I don't think anyone is safe. Especially people who may be trying to check up on things. [ She tries to hint at it discretely too but she's not entirely good at the wink-wink-nudge-nudge kind of thing. Her point is that people who look into things are definitely in danger. As are people that may be convinced that they should do something to stop the Head. ]

What have you learned about the world? Except that it changes weirdly in some places. [ Which she still finds eternally frustrating. ]

[ That last part of her wink wink nudge nudge gives the biggest clue, and while he doesn't go ohhhhh, the raise of Tidus's eyes pretty much covers that clarity. ]

Hey, doesn't that include you trying to check up on me? [ A joke, and he grins for it, before nodding his head towards the street ahead of them. ] How about we get a drink? I haven't really been looking up anything funny...

[ But it's just an excuse to get them to walk. It's what he's sorta learnt -- walk and talk. It's better than standing around unless you keep your head down, and maybe he is looking up things he shouldn't. Or trying, and failing.

But after a public broadcast like the one they recently had, Tidus is willing to try and be careful before he actually answers the question for real. ]

I've been trying to figure out what's outside the city. What else is out there, or used to be. But actually, I haven't found anything yet. There's some mines... but I haven't even been able to find old pictures. Is that strange? Most cities...you'd be able to learn more about the world outside them, wouldn't you? If they're...you know. Real.

[ Right? It's a question he hasn't been sure of himself. Not with the world -- the life -- he comes from. Maybe this is normal. Maybe it's the one thing about Dualis that isn't that strange. ]

Maybe, but I'm crafty! I bet they'd never notice. [ She lets out a tiny little giggle. Clearly she's not actually very good at being stealthy or sneaky. She smiles excitedly at the suggestion. ]

A drink sounds good! [ And she starts to walk with a tiny skip in her step. Whether that's to seem more normal or just because it's how she's decided to walk today is up in the air. Could be either, could be both. But at least it gives a pretty good illusion of a strange looking woman just happily walking around with her friend. ]

Maybe it's not real. [ There's a lightness to her voice that's definitely more than a bit forced. What if it actually isn't real and is just something created for...what purpose though? ] I've can't look far beyond the city. But maybe if I left it and went outside it I'd be able to look. [ And now she wants to try because it's strange to think there's no information at all about this place to be found. ] There should be pictures. Or information of something out there.

[ Okay, maybe he shouldn't have remarked about real or not real, because now that thought is going to be in his head. ]

We can take a trip out. If you go out, your view thingy will be able to see things better, right? Your powers? [ Was there a name for it? For now, it's view thingy. ]

As bad as it is, I'd rather this be reality than a dream or nightmare we're all sharing. Then you have to start worrying what's going on with the real us. And that's the start of a bad horror franchise I don't wanna be a part of! [ He gives off a (mostly) faux shiver. ] I think it's gotta be intentional. But what I remember seeing going to the temple, there's a lot of ground to cover.

A trip out! [ She claps her hands a bit too excitedly together for that. She likes trips. It almost sounds like something that could be fun. With the added, and certianly most important, aspect being that they might be able to find something out about this place that others don't know. Something that could help everyone. ]

Package. We call it the Package. [ She shrugs a bit at the explanation for what they call their powers and gives a half cocked smile. ] We were kids that did a lot of drugs when we thought that up. [ So don't blame them for the name being a bit lame! ]

Oh no. I think it'd be a nightmare if it was anything. A dream is something like swimming with all the fishies and talking to them.Or swimming in strawberry vodka. [ Now she actually wishes that's what this place was instead. Alas. It's not meant to be. ] Don't overthink things. It just makes it all worse. And things are worse enough, aren't they sweets? [ She smiles and nods. ] To keep us from learning something. But what?

[ The part about drugs does get Arkady a look, something baffled and confused, but intrigued. But otherwise Tidus scoffs at her description of a dream.

But that's definitely one's usual idea of a dream, isn't it. ]

Well, if the city isn't just a dream, that means there were places other than the city once, right? Or you'd have stuff outside the city... like that temple we all show up at. Shouldn't there be roads somewhere? Or things farther out. [ He waves a hand, indicating somewhere far off. ] What if someone hid something before our AI overlord came and took everything over? What if they knew something was going to happen before everything got crazy?

[ And he throws both hands out for that, animated, sounding half excited by his random guessing. Does anyone know what happened leading up to the Head's takeover? A virus probably existed, sure, but there had to be more to the story than the one the media feeds. ]

[ That's a lot that she's seen a lot before and she just kind of shrugs it off. ] I used to like to party. Some of the others said I liked it too much. [ But it doesn't really matter. It is what it is and the past is the past, right? Besides that was home and this is here. Not that her mind hasn't wandered to doing things like that here with all the horrible things going on. Maybe burying emotions is the direction they should go in at this point. ]

That's a lot of what-ifs really fast. [ And clearly why she should keep an eye on him. Thank you for proving her point correct, Tidus. ] If it's real then there has to be an entire world here beyond this city. I bet we could find clues out there! Or something at least!

[ whatever could you mean, arkady!

Tidus laughs lightly at her remark, but he's not that embarrassed about it. He wants to see if it'll lead anywhere or not. ]

It'll be more fun than being stuck in the city all day! [ And this coming from a city boy. Congratulations, Dualis. ] Even if we don't find anything. Getting out of here... it'll be good. Who knows how far out we can get?

[ Will anything be stopping them? Would the Head notice? He wonders... ]

Anything is more fun than that, right? [ Well, maybe not precisely fun but at least it'll be something. ] I hope we can get out far. It shouldn't be too hard, right? [ Or maybe it will be. Who really knows with anything to do with this place. ]

No way. [ He shakes his head confidently, but then he only needs a few seconds to think-- ] Unless we go deep enough and there's something blocking us.

[ Which makes his brow knit, his pace slow. There's a coffee shop he sees up ahead and that's partially why, though it's not what he wants to make mention of immediate. Tidus turns to Arkady, so he can dip his head when he asks: ]

You think anyone's tried just...running off?

I bet nothing can block us. [ She doesn't really believe that. But she's trying to seem cheerfully over-confident. She wants to go whether or not it's dangerous.

She tilts her head as his question and furrows her own eyebrows. ]

Why hasn't anyone tried that? [ so what if powers don't work as completely. Why didn't anyone just ....leave? Leave the city and see what the rest of this place is like. There has to be more right? ] Maybe people have and something has happened. Or they're just not here because they found other places? [ It's probably the first one. ]

[ I bet nothing can block us. It's a sort of confidence that Tidus can appreciate, smiling some. Sure, maybe it won't be true, but they'll never know if they don't try. ]

It's possible! [ The latter option, he means. ] You'd need to pack well... but maybe there's animals away from here. Stuff to live off. [ Well. ] We'll need to pack well anyway, that's for sure. I have a stomach for five!

[ A grin, and Tidus will take the time now to look back to where he spotted the café, jab a thumb in its direction. ] Did you want a drink? What kind?

[ He's pointing to the café, but maybe there's something else? ]

I don't have to eat. So you'll have to pack for five for yourself! [ She sticks her tongue out briefly in a light teasing manner. It's all pretend but it feels like the time to pretend a little. Sometimes you need to pretend a bit. It makes everyone feel a tiny bit better and it's nice to feel better. ]

Hmm but there's no alcohol there. Can haz vodka? [ Maybe she's just kidding, or maybe not. ] Maybe tea wouldn't be too bad.

[ Tidus puts up his hands, eyes raising, all in faux defence to her remark. ]

Oooooooooh. [ Carried like a kid witnessing another getting told off by the headteacher, until his hands go on his hips. ] Well you're the one missing out! Food's great! All the more for me!

[ But guess who doesn't get haz cheezburger references? The strange speak still gets some amusement out of Tidus, although- ]

You'd go drinking that hard at this time of day? We can, [ he offers after a small hesitance -- if she does want to -- except the but in that can be heard before he says it, ] but I'm on a drinking ban, so I can't join in. I'm really depressing when I'm drunk.

[ He sweeps out his hands. It's not exactly a lie, but his relationship is a complicated mess he doesn't want to touch. ]

Doesn't mean I won't eat ! I like fish and chips and strawberries and lots of other stuff! [ She wants cheezburger now. Please, let her memespeak more for him with cheeseburgers. ]

I drink all the time. [ Should she just up and admit that? Probably not. Miki chastises her for it all the time. It's really probably not that good of a thing to do, but neither is a lot of the things she's done in her life. And it helps her to cope and to use her powers more. Mostly cope. Does that make it worse? ]

Why a drinking ban? That's no fun!

[closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

I somehow lost this like a loser