029. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

Memory seems to be something of an elusive thing for some people, from what I've heard; I've never really considered it to be much of a problem myself, for various reasons both personal and not. But since we're all in this more or less together, and we have no obvious indication of if - or when, depending on your level of optimism - we'll be returned to our worlds of origin, I have to admit curiosity regarding the experiences of others.

Memories being the finicky things that they are, I'm sure we all have things we remember vividly about home - people, places, various other whatnot that I'm sure mattered to you at the time. I'm mostly curious about the people; you don't have to give me specifics if you choose not to, but I want to know -

What sort of things do you remember most vividly about the people that were important to you, and what sort of things do you not remember but wish you could? I'm sure we've all had that jarring moment when we realize that we don't remember what someone's voice sounded like, for example; I want to hear about things like that, if you don't mind. As always, do it anonymously, if you wish; I have less interest in your name than I do your answer.

Perhaps someday I'll learn to ask questions that are more seasonally-appropriate for any oncoming holidays; unfortunately, I've never really been one to adhere to the spirit of a season that I have no real understanding of in the first place.

Comments

[doubleornothing]

In which case, death might be preferable. There's no point in playing a game if you're no longer capable of making any more moves. Defeat is never certain but if there are no more cards left to play, then it would hardly make sense to linger on.

Your world plays a cruel game, sir.

[explosivecombat]

Oh, it would certainly seem that there are no cards to play in such a position, but the one I'm thinking about managed to make a finishing move against someone else despite being in that particular situation. So perhaps there's something to be said for not giving up.

That said, however, it's a cruel game indeed; most don't know the half of it, either.

[doubleornothing]

Then your friend must have Lady Luck on his side, to have been given such a chance when others of his kind are not so fortunate. I wonder what made him so different from everyone else?

A puppetmaster from the shadows? I really shouldn't be surprised.

And what of you? What was your part to play in this tango in the dark?]

[explosivecombat]

Apparently he was different in many ways; his emotional range (or more specifically, the lack thereof) and scope of understanding was considered highly unorthodox when compared to most of humanity's. There are a few ways to interpret it, really - it's possible that he didn't go mad because he was already mad, and therefore he wasn't corrupted further by the experience; it's also possible that he was just depraved to the point that he didn't see any reason why he should go mad and therefore he thrived.

As for me, I'm a weapon, nothing more. I'm just privy to a fair amount of information thanks to the people I worked for.

[doubleornothing]

Well then, that certainly adds a loophole to the rules. One could say that in losing most of his mind, he preserved whatever sanity he had left. I have to ask; did he participate in this contract willingly?

And what was the prize you sought? You don't strike me as a man who pursues wealth of the material kind.