animus_network | 002

[It takes him all day to muster himself out of his bed to make this post in the dormitory levels. Had he not been slammed with a message about his new "job", he would have kindly stayed in his room for a day or two just to... he wasn't even sure what the right word was. He didn't need to relax. He needed to detox. His journey home had been short, but he hoped and prayed it was just a dream. Only a dream, please just let it be that. But he'd seen the barren landscape, inhaled the putrid, acidic smell of miasma leaking out of every crack and crevice, seas of purple mud and poison all that remained of his world.

Of course he wanted it to be a dream.

...]

Two questions. Feel free to answer or not.

First: How many of you have been back home? As in: how many have returned to what used to be their home, only to come back? What did you see, and did it... feel real?

[...]

Second: What are we left with if the worlds we all know are really gone? Is it just us, this Tower, countless years and a few grim expectations?

I really am starting to wonder.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know. But my freedom is something that's really important to me, and I don't want to spend... however many years I live in the tower if there's a way that I can leave.

And if there isn't?

Then I'll do my best to make a home out of this place.

But I'm gonna keep holding onto that there is a way out of here.

Even if it takes much longer than you expect?

We don't know how long we may be here. Hell knows that people are coming and going frequently enough while some just seem to stay for ages.

How long is too long to hold on?

I'll always keep holding on. I haven't given up yet, and I don't ever plan to.

Heh.

I'm not sure whether you're just really optimistic, or too stubborn for your own good.

Based on what people have told me before, I think both would apply.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind, then.

You've got guts.

Thank you!

... That's a good thing, right? Sorry, I'm still picking up on different phrases.

Heheh. Yeah, it's usuallly good. Just means that you're a lot braver than some people might think and that you stick to what you think is right.

Just don't go getting into too much trouble because of that.

Oh, I see! Then thank you, I'm glad you think that!

... And I'll do my best. But if it helps, I can usually get myself out of trouble when I get in it.

Mmm. I'd say it's a nice trait to have, as long as you don't get cocky about it. Being cautious isn't a crime.

Yeah, that's true. I was pretty bad when I was younger, but I'm learning to be more cautious.

[Especially since she now has to sometimes fight without her powers.]

Keep practicing. Let yourself look at what can be done with what you have first and foremost, bravery aside. If it makes you smarter and safer in the long run, I believe it's gonna be worth it.

Okay, I'll keep that in mind and I'll do my best. Thank you for the advice, Guy!

You're welcome!

...

If you don't mind me asking, though: what was your world like, April? You said before that you'd lived in desolate condition.

It's a wasteland, basically. Plants don't grow, water is dangerous to drink unless filtered right and all of the old cities are in ruins. But we've managed to establish small settlements here and there, and we're working on rebuilding.

I see. Sounds like it's pretty rough.

It's nice to hear that you're working for survival regardless. What happened to make things fall apart like this, though? I mean, I assume these cities of yours weren't always ruins.

There was a massive world war around a 100 or so years ago, and it wrecked everything. People had to stay underground for a while since it was too poisonous to live on the surface, and it's only during the last few years that we've managed to get properly rebuilding.

[There's a twinge in his gut as he reads.

A world wrecked by war and poison...

He has to suppress a shudder at the memory of his own world.]

Does this poison still affect people outside food and water?

Edited (icooooooooons ) 2013-04-02 15:38 (UTC)

[There's a bit of a pause.]

It's thought that the poison was a volatile chemical found by people years ago. It's mostly cleared now, but mutants that have been born are thought to have this chemical in them. So yeah, I think it does.

[It's a small universe after all, then.

He stays quiet for a very long time, staring at the keyboard with clouded eyes.]

Do people with these mutations have any chance of survival?

Edited 2013-04-02 15:46 (UTC)

Yes. We- They are able to survive and most are granted different abilities, but they usually tend to steer clear of normal humans. There's some animosity between them.

Differences can bring conflict, yeah. A lot of fear, I imagine. Stubbornness and frustration over what they can't or don't want to understand.

That's pretty much it. It's been getting better over the years, but it's still bad. You can imagine how well things go when some humans discover their kids are mutants.

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