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

[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!

[triverse]

[Anything worth stealing is tucked away in his hammerspace of a cape. Too bad, sucker.

Well, there's the thing hanging around him.

The orbs on his hands won't come off if you try to grapple for that, though. Just try it.]

They say patience is a virtue—I'll just have to be patient, then, right?

[inoperative]

[Loser. You should keep everything out in the open. Like Crow aka Mr. I-Have-A-Teapot-Hanging-From-My-Belt.]

Preeeeetty patient. You ain't gonna find anything here, though. I should know.

[Cartwheeling around to behind Kongwai now.]

So what kind of reason do you think it'll be? If you really do come from another world, at least.

[triverse]

[That teapot will break one day.

This boy likes to be on the move, doesn't he? It's almost tiresome to keep following along.]

Who knows . . . It could very well be the matter of salvation again.

[inoperative]

[No, it won't, because Crow dies before then—]

Salvation? As if. I don't think there's anything that could save the world at this point. Not enough humans left.

[triverse]

[Crow, your life.]

. . . Let me ask you this, too: what do you think salvation is?

[inoperative]

Never thought about it.

[He shrugs flippantly.]

That kind of thing's a little too far out of my reach. I'm not some hero or looking for one or anything. I'm just out to live my life, you know?

[triverse]

An easy spirit . . .

My salvation is one that removes a soul from suffering. Do you understand?

[inoperative]

Not much else you can do in a place like this.

[He blinks.]

... Removes a soul from suffering? What are you even talking about? Huh?

[triverse]

That's the salvation that I sought to share in the previous world, and one that only I was capable of achieving. The nature of this world is probably much more different than the other—but they may share similarities.

[And that probably didn't explain anything at all.]

[inoperative]

[He holds his hands up.]

Whoa there! I don't think we're speaking the same language anymore.

[triverse]

[He looks sharply at Crow.]

Crow, was it? Do you think you live a life without suffering?