TEXT - anonymous

[fusionjack]

[ It's been a hard... last month or so. Hard enough to finally drive Isaka to try and solicit an outside perspective on his problems. Hopefully the anonymity will keep away certain people that he'd rather not discuss the matter with... ]

How many of you have found yourselves here with work left unfinished? Work that would be impossible to complete in this place?

What have you found to do with yourselves instead?

Was the change a difficult one to adapt to?

Comments

[fusionjack]

A break from my responsibilities was never an option, but I had never wanted one. I enjoyed the work. I was good at it. I'd made some interesting new discoveries very recently.

It means nothing here, and I won't get to resume anything if I ever leave this place. Perhaps you can understand why I'd be at a loss.

How do you relax, then?

[instaqueue]

I understand how that feels. Sometimes it can seem like you're the only person suited to a task. And who wouldn't enjoy doing something they are skilled at?

Why do you think your new discoveries are worthless? I apologize for the personal question, but did you die before arriving here?

As for myself, when I'm not in the company of my friends, I go around the city and help people. Even simple things like carrying someone's groceries can be fulfilling -- small changes are no less valuable than big ones.

[fusionjack]

I essentially died, yes. That's hardly novel for here, I've come to learn.

That sounds absolutely excruciating. I'm not an errand boy. I don't intend to become one.

[instaqueue]

I see. That can make finding a new purpose quite difficult, I imagine. I know a few people who have come here after their deaths, but I haven't discussed the matter with them... it seemed a bit tasteless to ask.

Ah, well. I know it's not for everyone.

Perhaps spending time with your friends, then? Is there anything you missed in life that you could maybe try here?

[fusionjack]

It's an understandably sensitive subject.

Given that I have no friends here, I suppose I should try and make some.

This is difficult. My work was my life, if I'm being honest.

[ He is not being honest, he is being extremely evasive about just what his "life" and "work" were, but no one can tell, right? ]

[instaqueue]

Yes, perhaps there are others who share similar circumstances to yours. That might be a good place to start.

I understand how that can be. Did you have any friends you made through work, at home? Maybe you can find similar people here, who did what you did.

[ Yeah he's definitely being vague but it's ok Qih'sae won't pry... for now... ]

[fusionjack]

Perhaps. I'll have to see who else I can find. It may take a while.

[ His circumstances are particularly unusual, after all. ]

If I made friends through work, none of them are here.

[ Because no one BOARD-affiliated that's here ought to even remotely be considered his friend, and he knows it. ]

[instaqueue]

Is there something similar? For instance, I fought monsters and the like in my world, but I also did a lot of errands... I've met people through those kinds of things!

Or I suppose you could try talking to people on the network and striking up conversation that way.

[ Does that work? He's not really the best with technology so he isn't sure tbh. ]

[fusionjack]

Monsters? Of what sort?

The line of work that I was involved was connected to a certain sort of monster from my own world.

And here I am, already striking up a conversation. I presume this is progress.

[instaqueue]

You see? You're not doing so bad after all!

I specialize in defeating monsters called primals, which are beings that can exert control on their environment and effect the minds of men, so they're quite dangerous.

An ability I happen to have, called the Echo, makes me immune to their influence.

[fusionjack]

Primals? When you say that they 'can exert control on their environment', what do you mean?

[ If he cannot help but think that sounds a little like the Undead... well. He is an Undead, he is biased. ]

Is that all that your ability does? Does it give you any other edge, when you fight?

[instaqueue]

I'm not quite a specialist, but the gist is that they drain the aether -- that is to say, the energy from their environment. With enough time, the imbalance can cause disastrous results to the surrounding ecosystem. For instance, a primal of wind can cause gales to surround an area, eventually stripping the land of its use due to winds. The land becomes saturated in wind-aspected aether, making it difficult for water, fire, or earth to balance it out.

It does, in some ways. At times I can glimpse into the future and see my enemies' attacks before they land. It's not perfect though, I'd honestly say it's right about half of the time.