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

text; un: qihsae

[instaqueue]

It's true that I have work to do at home. But things are paused here, they'll be the same when we return.

I haven't been very good at giving myself breaks to relax in the past, but since getting here and knowing that, I've been taking this chance to simply spend time with my friends. I suppose I'm fortunate though, since many of them are here, so I understand that isn't the case for most.

Have you never wanted to take a break from your responsibilities?

text: un: gardener

[kenzaki]

Hi! I'm doing okay, but there was a time when I would've found it really hard to wind up in here. I think keeping busy is important. Maybe find a hobby? I hear making takoyaki is pretty good!

text; un: athanasia

[trivialization]

I mostly read books and learn hobbies and criticize people. Further my craft.

But I'm used to it. Being between causes.

[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?

[fusionjack]

[ Takoyaki...? ]

That's an unusually specific suggestion. Why that in particular?

[fusionjack]

You make it sound like your craft is criticizing people. Is there that much to criticize?

I don't think there are many causes to take up here.

[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?

[kenzaki]

[Kenzaki grins at his screen.]

A friend. And I like takoyaki. Maybe you could learn how to make that, or something else. Is there anything I can help with?

[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? ]

[fusionjack]

[ And Isaka frowns at his. ]

Just because YOU like takoyaki doesn't mean I should suddenly start producing it.

Who the hell are you, exactly?

[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... ]

[kenzaki]

[Huh. Grumpy.]

Oi, it was just an idea! Kenzaki Kazuma. Who are you?

[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. ]

[fusionjack]

[ What? What? There is a long delay, while he groans and rubs at the bridge of his nose. Where did this pain in the ass come from? ]

Call me Jack. What exactly makes you an expert on things to do, Kenzaki?

[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. ]

[trivialization]

Oh, people are endlessly flawed and self-deluding. Each the villain of some drama or another. They'd be hard to like if they weren't.

But that's not my craft. The practice of magic is.

There's enough to do. It's considering it my own cause that's the issue. Even when the fate of a world is at stake, it comes down to one's own passions.

[kenzaki]

[Why is this taking so long? Kenzaki settles back on his couch, wondering if this grumpyass guy has had enough of him. Then the reply comes through, and he resolves to be pleasant and not turn this into a fight, but that resolve doesn't last through the second message.]

Jack. Hi.

I don't know, never said I was an expert!

[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.

[fusionjack]

But you're here, giving advice anyhow.

What makes you think that your suggestions are worthwhile?

[ ...did that come across as dickish? Yes? Ah, good. That was the effect he was hoping for. ]

[fusionjack]

...you lost me at the "hard to like" part. You criticize so harshly, and yet...?

The fate of the world is the sort of thing that once concerned you? That's interesting. I was tangled up in something like that, myself.

[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.

[kenzaki]

[Dick! Well, Kenzaki's not going to let someone else win a dick contest... that came out wrong]

At least I'm trying to help, instead of sitting on my ass complaining!

[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.