During the apocalypse, people will take advantage of you. Once they’ve had enough, they’ll kill you because they’d be rewarded with coins from Constellations that find violence fun and entertaining.
With them, yes. They think of those dying on the battlefield on their screen as toys. It's just a story for them to consume, an escape from boredom.
Why would you want to talk to beings that don't see you and your suffering as anything more than reality TV? The only reason you would open communication is for bargaining. Negotiations. Demands. Of course these prompt possible threats on your life.
I will take it as it's something you may wish to see.
[ me crying as i send this memory late but i am giving it to you.
Stardust shimmers and it's an apocalyptic world, freshly ruined only a month or two ago. Joonghyuk knows the next scenario, the Disaster of Floods, will be difficult, but he has little worries. The Disaster is his ally, after all? Except... Well. She was. When she wakes, she's disappointed to know the information she gave him wasn't enough. She decides being put through the thousand years of suffering to bring him information and abandoning her world aren't worth his failures, so she floods Seoul with monsters and tries to kill him and everyone else.
[ me squinting to see in this morning imgur put them a bit out of order but it's fine. if you want to give one, you can. it is okay. ]
... No.
[ Omniscient Reader is a lot of depression.
CW: attempt to kill a child
The memory continues. The Constellations? Some are touched, moved, by this act—maybe this is the story they've wanted?
But, no, the dokkaebi (Paul) facilitating the scenarios doesn't like what he sees and enforces the scenario despite many of audience's wishes. 41st Shin Yooseung buckles under the call, for she is just a cog in this well oiled machine they call a story. Paul is only able to do this because many Constellations wish to see a bloodbath. They want to see you all broken, shattered, and crestfallen.
"Hold on," Dokja says.
"You failed."
You unsheathe your sword and lock eyes with a young girl, the child Shin Yooseung that lives in this regression. Sometimes, you think killing an 11 year-old is the right decision if it means it will abate the Disaster. Quickly, you're intercepted by the insufferable man himself. Standing in front of her, Dokja says he won't forgive you if you lay a hand on her—but what way is there?
"There's still a way."
... He has gotten you all this far. You believe him. And so you and your companions battle again the Disaster who is forced to fulfill her role.
It reminds you how much you detest the stars that look down upon this tragedy, donating coins... Looping their enjoyment. They add their commentary. They cheer. They boo. They cry. They twinkle so brightly in the sky watching the story they wish to see.
And when it is all done, you see 41st Shin Yooseung bleeding on the floor. She looks at you with a smile, having forgiven you for crimes you will commit in the future. She shouldn't, especially with her last breath.
also stop rewriting and killing are two different things to them.]
...waiting for the futures...it makes one wonder how anyone could have any sanity left.
[but, this is about when the stardust sprinkles over them. there's a surprised noise, and a "not now" from gemini before...a memory.
It wasn’t like you were planning on getting stuck here this evening. Likewise, you weren’t planning to be stuck here with four people, four animals, and very little moving space. The loud sounds overhead rang out across the area, three long, low noises that urged you to run and collect the others and hide away.
But it’s okay. People have been dying out there, but at least the people who matter most to you are in your line of vision. It’s sort of like a weird sleepover, except you can’t leave no matter how hard you try. You find yourself a little worried even as you settle between your closest friends, trying to glance outside.
It’s promising to have a plan though. You all work better having something to do. None of you are good at sitting still, and so you agree to take turns taking watch.
“We’re together. And whatever happens, don’t forget we’re still always together.”
You don’t quite know how to say what those words mean to you. It’s been so, so long since you’ve all been together. Being together now still feels like a weird dream, something you imagined, something that can easily slip through your fingers. A fourth of the people here have already been killed and it’s been less than week. What can you do to help?
You express these worries, but your best friend doesn’t speak up. When you finally glance over, you see an almost peaceful expression with closed eyes. Your first instinct is that sleep’s taken over…and then a weird sense of dread appears as you bend your head to listen for breathing.
…it doesn’t come. There isn’t any breathing, there isn’t any pulse, and your other closest friend in the world suddenly notices your growing panic. There isn’t a heartbeat, and no amount of CPR or trying to heal changes that.
You were able to save them both once before. You should be able to do something now. Why can’t you do something now to help?
You were supposed to stay together…but now all you have is a long night ahead locked inside a too-small space being unable to save the people you’re supposed to protect.
...there's a moment of silence as gemini...sort of pauses uncertainly.]
[ if you think the clown is him and not dokja... He frowns. i had to come back so i can conclude this thread ]
The novel described me like a psychopath.
[ Which! He seems funnily offended by? The memory happens and me oocly like squinting but this really means nothing to Joonghyuk. He's silent, back to moving some pieces on the chess board. ]
My younger sister once told me I did my very best. No one can do more or better than what I have already done. [ ... ] You did what you could.
[they're quiet for a moment as the memory goes away.]
I think you of all people may understand it best when I say that even doing what you could sometimes isn't enough. But I agree. You do what you can and that has to be what you live with.
[no commentary on yjh being a psychopath because this is a very reasonable conversation.
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During the apocalypse, people will take advantage of you. Once they’ve had enough, they’ll kill you because they’d be rewarded with coins from Constellations that find violence fun and entertaining.
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...it is truly a wonder you haven't tried to burn down this whole hotel, actually.
[SOMETIMES. THERE ARE SIMILARITIES ON ACCIDENT.]
Is there any way to change the minds of the Constellations?
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[ For Now. ]
They are not so different from people. The most obstinate are impossible to persuade. I personally see it a waste.
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...regardless. You truly think communication is a waste? Is this a decision you made on your own, or by experience?
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With them, yes. They think of those dying on the battlefield on their screen as toys. It's just a story for them to consume, an escape from boredom.
Why would you want to talk to beings that don't see you and your suffering as anything more than reality TV? The only reason you would open communication is for bargaining. Negotiations. Demands. Of course these prompt possible threats on your life.
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Isn't your life already being threatened by their existence in the first place? Even if you don't speak up at all.
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Yes, but you can become strong enough to match them, to drag them down, and to kill them.
[ don't we love a story about climbing the corporate ladder and beating up the board of directors ]
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. . .
. . .]
You're anticipating waiting around for the Nightman to kill him, aren't you.
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I believe I’ve shown interest before.
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[ I hope the Nightman ends up being sympathetic blorbo or something and yjh would need to rethink everything ]
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I obviously cannot encourage you to do so. But I certainly cannot stop you from doing as you wish either.
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[ me crying as i send this memory late but i am giving it to you.
Stardust shimmers and it's an apocalyptic world, freshly ruined only a month or two ago. Joonghyuk knows the next scenario, the Disaster of Floods, will be difficult, but he has little worries. The Disaster is his ally, after all? Except... Well. She was. When she wakes, she's disappointed to know the information she gave him wasn't enough. She decides being put through the thousand years of suffering to bring him information and abandoning her world aren't worth his failures, so she floods Seoul with monsters and tries to kill him and everyone else.
However, with the help of companions and Kim Dokja (after him dying again), they are able to subdue the disaster of floods. This is how they want to resolve the scenario. ]
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[memerie....hei lmk if you want one back then.
anyway a lot is happening here. so much in fact that gemini has to pause for a moment to really decipher all of this.]
...the inevitable future, is it? Did she ever learn to live that way, too...?
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... No.
[ Omniscient Reader is a lot of depression.Niah whines some. ]
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niah whines, and gemini looks down, extending a hand for the creature. they look up again to face yoo joonghyuk though.]
...some do say that the end justifies the means. But it isn't always an easy decision to decide the path to get to the end.
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Niah will nose against their hand. ]
The stars are to blame.
[ mad? blame the stars. sad? blame the stars. want to kill something? kill the stars. ]
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good niah, best dog.]
But there isn't a way to rewrite the stars without changing everything else, and that's the most frustrating part. Isn't it?
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Joonghyuk feels like he has said you can kill stars too many times with Gemini, so he won't this time. ]
... I can expect them to act as they did in the futures I've seen.
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also stop rewriting and killing are two different things to them.]
...waiting for the futures...it makes one wonder how anyone could have any sanity left.
[but, this is about when the stardust sprinkles over them. there's a surprised noise, and a "not now" from gemini before...a memory.
...there's a moment of silence as gemini...sort of pauses uncertainly.]
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The novel described me like a psychopath.
[ Which! He seems funnily offended by? The memory happens and me oocly like squinting but this really means nothing to Joonghyuk. He's silent, back to moving some pieces on the chess board. ]
My younger sister once told me I did my very best. No one can do more or better than what I have already done. [ ... ] You did what you could.
[ also tell me how well they play chess ]
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I think you of all people may understand it best when I say that even doing what you could sometimes isn't enough. But I agree. You do what you can and that has to be what you live with.
[no commentary on yjh being a psychopath because this is a very reasonable conversation.
also. they are losing.]