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[ help

Time to pick up the compact... ]

"Hello?"

Yo. It's Elysium.

…

I was wondering if you could do me a favour.

"Do you need me to bail you out?"

[ of jail? Self imposed jail? ]

Yeah the cops might be onto me after getting into some cars with maniacs. I was just a passenger! In both instances! What do they want from me, huh?

… But, no. It's more to do with my memory. Good to know you'd bail me out of hell and jail, though.

[ guess who had a fun swim in the river! ]

[ There is a bit of silence... ]

"Alright. What do you want me to do to it?"

I don't know. Run a diagnostic…?

[ He's racking his brain, trying to interpret what that silence might mean… damn… ]

On second thought, if you end up having to see everything, thaaaaat's a lot. [ For both him and Hien. Truly, this is just the one quote from this week's log, the fear of being known… there's something of a frustrated sigh. ] I know we supposedly came back from the dead and all, and I shouldn't expect to feel completely normal, but something just felt really off, is all. Sorry.

"Oh. If it's just that, then yeah. I can do it."

[ A part of Hien sounds relieved. Probably has to do with the silence earlier. ]

"Where are you? I can go to where you are."

'Just that'? Do these things take a lot out of you? Like I said, it's just a weird feeling. Nothing super unmanageable.

"It doesn't. When people know that I can control memories, they often ask me to delete them."

[ Basically you can either ask the mods or Hien to erase memories, but the latter might tank your CR. ]

[ It's his turn for silence. ]

… I mentioned her in passing, right? My Captain? She has similar abilities, except she can implant suggestions, too. It gives her a lot of trouble when people want her to sell them on happiness that doesn't exist. The same goes for erasing memories they think might make them happier. Things don't work that way.

[ His tone carries a mix of apology and frustration, blurred together in a way that betrays his exhaustion. ]

I don't know how much it means for me to owe you one, but it feels like what I lost was really important to me. [ … ] I wonder if it's the same for the others, and if it'll be a trend going forward.

"You're right. It doesn't always work that way. Maybe if I was more academically inclined, I would say that it's based on statistical observation."

[ His voice is soft despite the distortion and static. Great memories to think back on! It's emotion share. Hien is glad that Elysium doesn't have to feel something absolutely rancid from him, even if for a short moment. ]

"... If that's the case, I can try looking into it for you, whether you really have a hole in your memories or not. If they're merely suppressed, I can bring them back to the conscious part of your mind. If they're just outright gone, I can't get them back if I don't know who stole them and even then, it's not guaranteed."

… Yeah? I don't know about busting you out of hell, but I'm pretty good at keeping people company in prison. [ When he says prison, he just means Kal'tsit's baby jail, which may or may not be worse…. ] I can make that time feel like it's no time at all.

[ HELP HER BABY JAIL................. There's no visual in this, but maybe Elysium can hear a little smile out of that. ]

"I'd like that. You're a pretty fun person to talk to, after all."

[ He has no general vulnerability issues, so admitting this is easy for him. ]

"Let me know where you are. We can start the diagnostic right away. I don't mind doing it as long as it's not deletion."

[ Is this what it's like being around people who can actually be honest with their feelings. Wow. There is the slightest pause at that, before he similarly sounds a little less burdened than he was when opening up their conversation. Unfortunately! Unless you're a younger kid, what is paying people compliments unless they're hidden under various layers of teasing…

Truly a good thing they aren't currently face-to-face. ]

If I end up with more holes than I started with, I'm leaving a one-star review. See if anyone comes at you for deletion then.

[ huffs. ]

Kidding. You've had plenty of chances and you're already doing me something huge. Have you had a chance to check out the river? I'm by there.

[ Sincerity is all Hien has to give, despite how it sounds like he's flirting sometimes. He doesn't see the point in lying right now—he doesn't have enough pride for it to be a sin in any definition, but humility isn't his virtue. ]

"By the river, huh? I'll be right there—wouldn't want to miss a ticket to paradise."

[ He thinks the location is funny. They say that Elysium, the afterlife in which gods, heroes, and other select few can enter—is past River Styx where they live happily ever after.

Anyway, it doesn't take long for Hien to actually appear there. And since Hien hasn't hung up on the compact properly, he is cursed. Which one? Elysium will find out soon. ]

[ the way you worded this is so ominous

But the reference isn't lost, and so it draws a laugh out of him all the same. ]

Paradise is always open for the right people, my friend. See you soon, and don't forget it.

[ And so he waits by the river, idly flipping a coin. Even though the conversation had ended more lightheartedly than it began, he still looks contemplative, mind elsewhere entirely. ]

"I'm here, nya."

[ He gives Elysium a small wave. One day, I'll go with a worse curse, because this thread deserves better. ]

"Just make yourself comfortable anywhere and let me know when you're ready, nya."

[ By the river? His distorted voice with static really makes this whole experience so surreal. Nya. ]

Is this how we're communicating with each other now, nya?

[ Repeats but also includes a little paw gesture with his hand. When in Rome, do as the Romans… but at the reminder of what they're here for, his shoulders tense——then untense.

He decides to just relax where he is. ]

… Sure. Anytime you're ready.

[ His memory is probably full of obscufated figures… like someone's taken film and thrown ink blots all over it. The way I'm just here for my CR opportunity, sniffles. This thread deserves nothing but us living our best lives. ]

[ Hien returns the paw gesture before reaching out and pulling out the ethereal film reel from Elysium's head. He sees the obfuscated figures. They're everywhere. Hien squints at the film reel and then looks at Elysium with a more default expression. ]

"... You wanna explain this, nya?"

[ He is genuinely surprised. ]

"It'll help me sort through these better if I know why it's like this, nya."

If I knew how to explain it pawperly, I wouldn't have sought you out.

[ Meanwhile, his gaze lingers on the dark water in front of them, a murky mirror that offers no reflection back. This was comforting to him? Really? ]

But there's a reason why I chose this place in particular. I was in a pretty rough shape when you guys found me, right? I don't remember much from that stretch of time, but the river did patch me up right after.

"Right, nya. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, but it's all over your reel instead of a specific place, nya."

[ Should he say it's a little alarming? No. Keep the patient calm. Hien finally starts looking through the film for any abnormalities. ]

"Here it is, nya."

[ Hien gestures to the loosely stitched film. I don't know what you made Elysium forget, but the disappeared memory is basically "gone" with the before and after that memory got stitched together as if it's attempting to make it flow smoothly. It's definitely not smooth. ]

[ Does Hien really think he'd be that patient? Sometimes you get so used to being handed the worst news that you can smile through just about anything.

Well. It is emotionshare week so his emotions are essentially as so: 📈📉📈📉📉. They might be in freefall after his two attempts at playing it cool, but his expression stays chipper! And surely that's what counts. ]

Wow. You'd think I'd be less functional after damage like this. Honestly? Isn't it kind of impressive they'd only manage to make it feel slightly off? Scary!

[ the vibe is murderous ]

[ Compared to that, Hien just has Concern despite his mostly neutral expression. ]

"It just proves that you're strong and enduring."

[ ... ]

"Wanna let it out with a sparring session?"

[ He is not the sort to use sparring as a coping mechanism.

But.

But! If there ever were a moment for it, it would be this one. ]

You're not planning to use a gun in a close-range duel, right?

[ In the span of two seconds, two things: he rises to a stand and unsheathes his sword with theatrical flourish, letting it spin once in the air before catching and pointing it squarely at Hien. ]

[ Let him rewind all that film back inside Elysium's head first. Also, he would totally be the kind of the guy to use a gun in a close-range duel, but he'll be fair to him even though Hien isn't really a typical sword guy.

So he gets out a rapier. It looks very standard and normal, but there's something weird about it, like how it seems heavier than it looks though Hien has no problem wielding it. Aren't rapiers supposed to be light? That's their thing. ]

"Fancy. I'll make an exception for you just this time."

[ Just a bit of teasing. It's fine.

Then he promptly dashes in for a good stab on the shoulder. ]

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