log; i don't know cries

[inoperative]

[Congrats, you poor sucker. You're in a post-apocalyptic world! Specifically, you're in an abandoned amusement park (so beware of killer birds. No, really) at night. Doesn't look very nice, but hey, it could be much, much worse. The ferris wheel is pretty to look at, at least, with the moon shining nearby. And there's a... pig fountain thing. It's kind of cute?

... But is it abandoned? There's the sound of movement coming from somewhere, up above, but no one can be seen. Dun dun dun—]

Comments

[inoperative]

[He jabs a thumb towards himself.]

I'm the guy who owns this place. It's pretty much my turf.

[... Not that anyone really owns much of anything but he's been here for a while, okay. It's got his scribblings.]

So you're a traveller, huh? Looking for more survivors?

[triverse]

["I wrote on it, so it's mine," huh.]

Well, anything would have sufficed. But to find another living being in a place such as this . . . You said this is your turf? Are there more?

[People?]

[inoperative]

Here? Nope. Just me, myself, and I. Well, unless you count the dogs. [which will try to kill you.]

Honestly, if you're looking for more humans, your chances of finding some aren't very high.

[He leaps, flipping through the air before landing lightly behind Kongwai. Nice cape you have there, Kongwai.]

As a matter of fact, I wasn't really expecting anyone else to be coming through here. Man, I sure am popular these days.

[triverse]

[Pink capes are the best, thank you. Not dogs, though. Cats would be better.

Once Crow lands, Kongwai turns around to maintain some semblance of eye contact.]

I see. Then for the most part, you're alone.

[inoperative]

[Well, at least the cats are friendly in this world.

Also, don't mind him as he reaches out to fiddle with the edges of your cape, Kongwai—]

Huh? Yeah, pretty much. Just like you and every other person in this world, you know.

[triverse]

[ . . . touchy feely, much? For now, he's going to let it slide.]

That might be for the best.

[Aside:] Though this is unexpected . . . Well, it's fine.

[inoperative]

[What happens when you don't get the chance to develop social skills. At least he's not stealing stuff from you.

Anyhow, he'll let go of the cape and leans forward in what's supposed to be in an intimidating manner, maybe invading Kongwai's personal space a little.]

Really? That's not something I expected you to say. You're not interested in finding others? More people to be with? You're weird.

[triverse]

[Standing as still as earlier, Kongwai continues, unperturbed in the slightest.]

I'm used to traveling on my own. In fact, I came here alone.

. . . Then, does that mean that you're interested in company?

[inoperative]

[Peeeeering at your face.]

Well, yeah. If you were already with someone, then you'd be less likely to want to find other humans. That's what I figured.

[He leans back, hands on his hips.]

But nope, not really. I'm not some typical human.

[triverse]

[It's beautiful, he knows.]

What are you, then?

[inoperative]

Crow. C-R-O-W.

[Because that's totally what you meant.

He does another leap, this time smoothly landing in a sitting position on top of the fountain.]

And that's all you need to know.

[triverse]

[ . . . like the animal?

Airily:]

It seems that way.

Can I ask you something?

[inoperative]

[... Is it too late (or uncool) to use a line from Pirate Isle when he already used it on Seto...?

Probably.

He shrugs.]

If you want. Doesn't mean I'll answer, though.

[triverse]

That's fine. It's entirely up to you.

This world—what happened to it?

[inoperative]

That's a pretty loaded question.

[He tilts his head.]

But I guess I can answer that. And by that, I mean that I don't have a clue. It's been like this for as long as I can remember.

[triverse]

[He cups his thin, averting his gaze from Crow.]

You've managed to survive this long in a world like this? [Well,] I suppose it isn't so surprising at a second glance. Still, conditions seem rather harsh.

[inoperative]

Yeah? Got a problem with that?

[He stands up, balancing on top of the fountain.]

You think so? What, did you come from a cushier place than this or something?

[All things considered, the park is one of the safer places, in spite of the killer dogs and birds...]

[triverse]

[Kongwai straightens, returning his focus to Crow.]

. . . well, someplace like that. All things considered, where I've been are far less desolate in comparison.

[inoperative]

... Seriously? Where? Man, where did you even come from, anyway? What are you even here for?

[triverse]

Seriously.

I can't say that it was my intention to come here, but . . . you would call me an otherworldly visitor.

[inoperative]

[Okay, he can't resist gaping at that, before he shuts his mouth.]

... Y'know, if you're trying to pull my leg, it ain't working. Stuff like that only happens in books.

[... He thinks...]

[triverse]

I'm not. I've never set foot on this world before until now. And there are accounts of real history in books, aren't there?

[inoperative]

Yeah?

[He crosses his arms.]

Well, if you can travel through worlds, then why are you still here? Doesn't seem like to me that this place would appeal much to you, if it's so "harsh".

[triverse]

It's true that I didn't come here intentionally—but there must be a reason. My objective now is to learn that reason and pursue it. How harsh this world is is a minor setback.

At the least, it's not completely uninhabitable.

[Since you're around.]

[inoperative]

A reason to come here? You know, this is starting to get confusing.

[He jumps down from the fountain, before leaning into Kongwai's face again.

Do you have anything shiny on you that he can steal...]

That could be pretty much anything. Tough luck trying to find it!