text | UN: blitzace

[blitzcheer]

magic question

say there's something that keeps someone alive in their world and if it doesn't exist, they don't

do you think it's possible to still exist in another world without it? like there's any chance that they just can

or does something have to keep them there on purpose

i get this is weird but i don't know a lot about magic

anyway thanks

Comments

[blitzcheer]

coffee works. you know a good place?

[ichoosefight]

For sure. And we can take a walk if they're too crowded.

[ Read: depending on how big a concern being overheard is. ]

[blitzcheer]

thanks. is [ insert x time later in the day ] okay with you?

[ichoosefight]

Sounds great. I'll see you there.

to action?

[blitzcheer]

[ Tidus would have confirmed the coffee place with her, sent over a basic but hopefully helpful enough description of himself ('guy with blonde hair and a blue jacket') along with a name, and gone for waiting outside the coffee shop than inside. The weather's been decent for it, and he's usually too fidgety to sit in place when he's meeting anyone for anything other than a normal hang out.

And this doesn't fit that at all.

So dressed with the jacket and in jeans, he's got a foot tapping against the coffee shop wall, looking less than comfortable with his phone out. But he's not so distracted by it not to look out once in a while for someone approaching. ]

action!

[ichoosefight]

[ In a shocking twist Steph emerges from the cafe itself with what is at least her third coffee of the day. She squeaks into it as she spots him and swallows her sip. She thought it was earlier than it is. ]

Oh, hey! Sorry, you haven't been waiting long, have you? I kinda live here during the day.

[blitzcheer]

[ Oh??

--oh! Surprise widens Tidus's gaze, takes a second for him to laugh a little nervously, closing off the phone and shoving it in his pocket. ]

No -- but guess I should've checked inside! [ He sort of looked, through the glass... but also, that's too many heads to guess at, so. ] You really love coffee or something?

[ichoosefight]

It's what keeps me alive. No blood in here, only caffeine.

[ She waves a hand at her other arm and smiles, letting him in on the joke. ]

Did you want to order anything?

[blitzcheer]

[ He chuckles, getting it. Takes a step towards the door. ]

Sure. You uh, already got a place in there?

[ He spares a glance through the shop by the window, sounding slightly hesitant. But it wasn't any big deal if she did. ]

[ichoosefight]

Nah. [ She shrugs. ] I'm travelling light today. We don't have to stay put if you don't want to.

[blitzcheer]

Yeah. Lemme grab something, then we can wander? [ But, dipping his voice: ] 'less you think the noise makes it okay.

[ Maybe. Maybe not. ]

[ichoosefight]

[ She gives a quiet snort. ]

I wouldn't count on anything making it okay.

[ Trust nothing, but you gotta keep holding on to hope. Maybe they aren't being listened to 24/7. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ That gets a small scoff back. He gives his arm a poke through its sleeve, says in dubious (but joking) manner: ]

Well, think I'm still made up of whatever it is I'm made of.

[ As in, his big mouth hasn't gotten him in trouble yet. All the same: ]

Let's walk then.

[ And he'll order his drink, give a quick sorry if it takes too long, but eventually they can actually get going. Tidus knows to keep his head down, his drink held close to chest like he's going to forever be waiting to take a sip of it. ]

Thanks though, for meeting me. I guess what my problem was really about, well... you know. The thing in us. [ He's keeping his voice as low as being in a street works, but tries to be careful saying even that. ] It's the last thing I should care about, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. Like I'm going to be minding my business, and -- and it's just gonna happen.

[ichoosefight]

[ Steph stares dourly at her coffee cup at that, remembering the executions. She couldn't stand to watch most of it, but she remembers what happened to Mello clearly. It's just still overshadowed by the sight of her friend being beheaded. ]

I can't tell you that it won't happen, obviously. But I can say that if it does, we'll know it wasn't you. I know that's not much comfort if... [ if he kills someone. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ He breathes, or shivers at the thought once it clicks to him what she means. ]

'Least I won't be hard to... [ Take out? Take down? He wants to play it off as a joke, but then realises quick how unfunny it is no matter the way he frames it; or that it's a matter he just doesn't want to joke about. Or think about it. It might not be him, but that he could be made to hurt anyone... ]

Were you here when that happened? The blackout.

[ichoosefight]

[ She grimaces. ]

Yeah. Creepiest fight of my life, hands down.

[ She pauses, thinking about that word, 'creepy'. ]

...Okay, maybe not creepiest. Definitely weirdest though.

[blitzcheer]

[ Tidus huffs, incredulous. ] What's creepier than...

[ He waves his free hand in place for 'fighting yourself', though he can't remember if that was exactly a thing. Except then, he remembers. ]

--The zombie thing?

[ There was definitely something creepy about zombies he remembers her sharing. ]

[ichoosefight]

[ She shakes her head. ]

Something that happened a long time ago. Trust me, you don't want to know.

[blitzcheer]

[ Well. He tips his head. ]

Fair enough. [ He won't nose too deep if she doesn't want to share.

...but, there was something else... ]

Um, do you mind if I ask about the... how you think you're a... you know?

[ The c word??? ]

[ichoosefight]

[ It's very fortunate that he didn't say that out loud, or she would have been very confused. She hums thoughtfully, turning her gaze from her coffee to the horizon. ]

We don't really know anything. We found evidence that most of us had been there before, but didn't remember it. It looked like we were kept in some kind of stasis for a while before waking up, too. Sometimes someone would wake up remembering more of their life back home than they had the day before. People pretty much decided that meant we were clones, and the originals were still back home where they were supposed to be.

Back then I didn't really care, so I didn't look into it too deeply.

[blitzcheer]

Oh. [ It's a different situation from the one here, isn't it. Tidus wasn't thinking they would be too similar, but her answer gives him pause, making him silent for a moment. ]

So you never had any trouble because of it? Like old friends you knew-- I dunno, having a problem about it? With you?

--I don't think anyone should, [ he's quick to clarify. ]

[ichoosefight]

[ She glances to the side, taking a sip of her coffee to give herself time to control her bitterness. ]

Well, nobody believed what really happened. So now they all think I faked my death and ran away.

[blitzcheer]

[ Oh, geez. ]

I'm sorry. It sounded like you had a rough time already. Dying, and all.

[ He doesn't know how more graciously to put that, and feels the need to say what exactly he's referring to. Didn't she die and then end up somewhere completely different? What a mess. ]

So you ended up in that place, went back home... now you're here?

[ She told him a bit about herself, but it's been a bit. He's just trying to remember the timeline. ]

[ichoosefight]

[ She just huffs a sigh. At least Tim is finally starting to forgive her for it. She has to let it go eventually, right? ]

Give or take a few years, yeah.

[blitzcheer]

Life doesn't want to give you a break, huh. [ He can't imagine how frustrating it must be. ]

How'd you get back home?

[ Finally he tests his coffee for heat and taste, taking a sip. ]