AUDIENCE FOR: Hope Estheim

[guestservices]

Comments

[guestservices]

I would imagine so. Did she remember everything about you? Or did the displacement cause any gaps? How does one simply gain that kind of power?

[highestheim]

She remembered everything. In fact, she was one of the ways I had support for one of my earliest theories—when she met with me for the first time from my perspective, she mentioned that she had encountered a different version of me who had asked her to resolve a paradox. Given that I hadn't heard of that particular paradox, I could only surmise that she had corrected the anomaly "I" had told her about.

...Of course, to the layperson, it might seem like a whole—pardon my language—load of bullshit [ thanks seasons friends ]. But to me, it made perfect sense—history that Serah had borne witness to had been changed, thus allowing the future she met me in to exist.

[ if this doesn't make sense to you, don't worry, it doesn't make sense to me either. i'm talking out of my ass. i hate time travel ]

[guestservices]

[the worst thing is that gemini listens, arms folded over their chest as they mull over that silent.]

A history that had been realized, and one common factor in Serah. She was able to recall both the old timeline and the rectified timeline due to being the controlled variable. A redirection, if you will.

And that history only exists in her memories. Changing any one bit of it would then create a second history outside of the one where you met one another again.

[...]

Where is Serah now?

[highestheim]

[ hope nods. i refuse to talk about this ic anymore, but it's fine, gemini understands him. ]

Prior to coming here, we were made aware of a prophecy that showed the destruction of the world in four hundred years. I tasked her and her companion with resolving the paradox to avert this disaster. [ ... ] Because I don't have the same powers as her, I created a machine that would place my body in suspended animation so that I could meet her in the future and continue our work together.

When I woke up here, I expected to be in the future she'd saved.

[guestservices]

That...is a very smart idea, actually. [like. yes? saving yourself in order to preserve your being and carry on is very smart.]

Yet here you are. [. . .] You must have been surprised to find yourself here amongst people you once knew.

[highestheim]

...I was. But at the same time, I thought that this, too, was fate. Perhaps not necessarily in the way I'd anticipated, but it seemed like a start.

After all, the heart of my work has always been to see my friends again.

[guestservices]

[there's a pause.]

...unsurprising. [it does track with hope's files, and what hope has mentioned even briefly.] I suppose you may think of this as seeing friends you didn't realize you would need to see again anyway.

[highestheim]

[ a brief chuckle at gemini's comment. ]

Yes, I do.

[guestservices]

Are they the same as you remember?

[any time discrepancies there?]

[highestheim]

If anything, it's my own memories that have become unreliable—not because of any anomalies, but...simply the natural passage of time.

[guestservices]

I think the same could be said for anybody. Time changes everything, and even if you gain that time back...your memories remain consistent. It's a disjointed affair.

[and in its own way, it's interesting to think about.]

...perhaps it isn't so bad to take advantage of the time together then. Fortify your previous memories and create a sound foundation for the new ones.

[highestheim]

[ he just smiles. ]

. . .

What about you, Gemini? Or are you not at liberty to divulge that kind of information?

[guestservices]

Perhaps a different time, Hope. [though they do sound slightly regretful of that.] And anyway I highly doubt my history is nearly as interesting as yours.

[highestheim]

We always think of ourselves as inherently less interesting than others, because it's our own history. Curiosity about unfamiliar experiences, however, is in our nature.

[guestservices]

Even without considering my history I think I've always considered myself inherently less interesting. [a pause.] Though curiosity is very understandable. I often find myself curious about too many things all at once.

[highestheim]

Why do you think I became a scientist?

[guestservices]

I suppose being a scientist is the easiest way to be as nosy as you like.

[they. are most likely kidding.]

It's finding the answers that keeps you busy.

[highestheim]

Is that your way of saying that no matter how many questions I try to ask you, you'll find some way to deflect?

[ binch two can play at this game ]

[guestservices]

Maybe! [look.] Or, instead, you may attempt to rephrase your questions.

[. . .]

As staff, there are some things we cannot answer. You understand.

[highestheim]

I do.

[ ... ]

What is the nature of you and the other staff?

[guestservices]

[they consider this.]

How do you mean?

[highestheim]

Are you also previous participants of our games?

[guestservices]

Might I ask why you think this could be the case? Seems like a very strange leap of logic without evidence to back it up.

[highestheim]

You're correct in that it's merely a suspicion of mine, but... it seems to be a recurring theme of the hotel. These games are something we all have in common, and we are reminded further every week by way of the revolving door. Previous facilitators, now current guests themselves, have been revealed to be familiar to their games' participants...

It's not completely out of the question to think the same of the eight of you, is it?

[guestservices]

[nodding along...sure, fine, this is all very good information. it somewhat makes sense, even.]

Perhaps not, but I do find you are lacking critical evidence to support that point. Furthermore, how would that make a difference? Regardless, we are employed by the hotel. Nothing changes that.