No, I don't suppose you can. [...they finally turn away from the papers to look at hope entirely though, leaning forward on their knees to examine him.]
But that might be part of the problem. [and they seem a little...unsure.] Um. You still have the copy of the contract, don't you?
I know—the clause about how we must be present in the lobby in the same state of existence that we arrived in, right? [ ... ] Our contracts aren't over yet. We still have time.
Right. This--[a wild wave at hope's everything]--probably isn't the same state of existence unless there's something you're not telling me. You're starting to run out of time is the other thing.
Maybe so, but the fact is that it isn't over yet. There's still a chance that we can change our fates, and I intend to do everything in my power to make that happen.
pause, actually. and sort of look at hope for a second.]
...I'm not going to stop you. But I don't know how much I can help you right now. You get that, don't you? [it's hesitant, because they are kind of worried about this.]
[ man it sucks being a ghost. hope will allow them some time to collect themselves, but not before trying to reach out and pat their shoulder... only to withdraw it yet again. ]
Not if the reason you can't be with them is because you're stuck working for the Nightman.
...Trust me. I know what it's like to be beholden to your duties. But in my case, my loved ones were gone, or otherwise unable to reach—yours are out there. You should be with them.
And I agree with that, too, but you are missing the point, Hope. Even after this is over, I don't know when we'll see each other again. It's not the same.
All of that can also be true. [. . .] ...I'm the one who ended up going back to fix stuff that went wrong to save them. But because of it, I'm not with them anymore. That's what happened. The dormhead that you knew--[they don't say riku's name in case people are Listening]--is from before any of that happened. He doesn't know.
[ hope nods; it's the same reason he referred to riku simply as "him" earlier. ]
So you're more like Serah or Lightning than me. Haha... I have to wonder if all of this is connected somehow. The reason why people like us get roped into these games... do you think it's because we've already had so much taken from us?
Right. I went back to fix...an anomaly, I guess, and created a different timeline where things changed. But because of that, I lost some of my abilities and I can't go back to where I was before with everybody else.
[they think about this though.]
...maybe it is. Either that or because it's easier to give someone hope of changing something when so much is wrong. That's why you're here, isn't it? You want to save her.
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But that might be part of the problem. [and they seem a little...unsure.] Um. You still have the copy of the contract, don't you?
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I know—the clause about how we must be present in the lobby in the same state of existence that we arrived in, right? [ ... ] Our contracts aren't over yet. We still have time.
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[ . . . ]
That includes you, too, you know.
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pause, actually. and sort of look at hope for a second.]
...I'm not going to stop you. But I don't know how much I can help you right now. You get that, don't you? [it's hesitant, because they are kind of worried about this.]
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...seriously, focus on your own contract first. That's all I'm asking for you guys.
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okay.
that kind of blindsides the hell out of them so they sort of make a weird sound that isn't quite a word.
actually yeah, no, they aren't sure what to say. sora.exe has crashed, please hold.]
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...Sorry. That may have been a bit of a low blow.
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...I knew what was going to happen when I left, Hope. [evenly.] As long as he and Kairi are together, I can wait.
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Not if the reason you can't be with them is because you're stuck working for the Nightman.
...Trust me. I know what it's like to be beholden to your duties. But in my case, my loved ones were gone, or otherwise unable to reach—yours are out there. You should be with them.
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Ah. A similar situation to mine, then.
[ except on the other side of things... ]
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You never wondered why I understood exactly what you were talking about?
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So you're more like Serah or Lightning than me. Haha... I have to wonder if all of this is connected somehow. The reason why people like us get roped into these games... do you think it's because we've already had so much taken from us?
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Right. I went back to fix...an anomaly, I guess, and created a different timeline where things changed. But because of that, I lost some of my abilities and I can't go back to where I was before with everybody else.
[they think about this though.]
...maybe it is. Either that or because it's easier to give someone hope of changing something when so much is wrong. That's why you're here, isn't it? You want to save her.