auroraexpress | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: anyone
When: day 57, afternoon
Where: anywhere it's a mingle

[This is a mingle but there is a comment in a Chain Chat to the whole train!]

Rean: A while ago some of us were discussing a festival where every team puts on a production, game, booth, whatever, maybe based around team bonds or interests.

What do people think? Maybe it's a good time to to talk about it again?

[Feel free to discuss with each other! Or just mingle as usual.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Much as he wants to he doesn't wrap his arms around Dusk, but he does return to the lean a bit.]

You can lean more than that. I know you're heavy but trust me, you won't knock me over.
Okay, can you try to hear my heartbeat?

Are you calling me fat...? [That]

[That is not Dusk's usual cadence. Actually sounds more like when he was calling himself Church???]

[Hm!]

Not exactly.

Not fat. Totally strong enough to carry me and piggyback rides are awesome.

[Dazed declaration.]

That's true.

Who am I talking to?

Church.

[Frowns.]

No, that's not...who....?

Okay. Don't hurt yourself. Right now it's okay whoever you are. I just want to know if I end up talking to anyone else, does that sound fair?

There isn't supposed to be anyone else. It's not-I'm not-

[Breathing is getting erratic again, far too quick.]

Shh, shh, breathe. Keep breathing. Breathe in time with me okay?

You're okay.

I'm not-I can't-I'm just-

I'm only me, can only be me-

A pretty good sentiment. Do you think you can talk it out without panicking too much? After all, you can still feel me right? I'm real.

Are you?

Am I?

Just stuck in another cell with memories always memories the memories that never go away-

We're both real enough to count.

Here, look, you can reach out and touch the things around us. You're not imagining anything.

Could be a simulation...

[And that's the Epsilon cadence.]

How good are simulations where you're from? Can you taste things in them?

Doesn't matter when...

When....

[Frowning in confusion.]

When?

When...

[Just trails off and now he's just starting to zone out hardcore.]

[Oh well, time to risk some aggression. He warps an arm around Wash and ruffles his hair.]

Come back to me, okay? Present time.

[Hand shoots out to grab his wrist of the hand in his hair.]

[He blinks.] Don't. [Harsh, firm, even as he closes his eyes and shakes his head.]

Okay. Do you think eating something might help ground you?

Food...too much.

Okay. I could carry you somewhere more comfortable but you might not be keen on the holding aspect.

No. No, that. No.

....guide.

[Because he doesn't trust his own perceptions.]

Okay, keep hold of me. Do you want to go to your cabin?