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Right. So both alternate worlds.
[Which seems significant. He stops briefly when she picks the flower, making sure they stay together, before continuing to lead the way.]
Yeah, like magic. That'd at least be a simple explanation.
[Which would be welcomed, becuase nothing about this is simple.]
[Which seems significant. He stops briefly when she picks the flower, making sure they stay together, before continuing to lead the way.]
Yeah, like magic. That'd at least be a simple explanation.
[Which would be welcomed, becuase nothing about this is simple.]
I think it was real to us.
[And that's all he can really say, but isn't that what matters? It was real to them, and they have to deal with the experiences; it doesn't truly matter if it was some sort of mass hallucination or an alternate dimension, it just matters that they're going to have to figure out how to process and live with what happened.]
[And that's all he can really say, but isn't that what matters? It was real to them, and they have to deal with the experiences; it doesn't truly matter if it was some sort of mass hallucination or an alternate dimension, it just matters that they're going to have to figure out how to process and live with what happened.]
You don't have to thank me, but you're welcome. Even if I totally sucked at trying to save you.
[He says it lightly, almost a joke at how absurdly terrible the situation was, but he means the first part at least. She doesn't have to thank him.]
There was um... I don't know if you saw it or not, but there was supposed to be a bomb set off at the edge of the quarry. We were just supposed to have to make it that long.
[He couldn't tell her then, with all the cameras in the quarry and all the secrecy before, but he wants her to know there had a been a plan. He just hadn't made it that far, and he hopes she did, but he doesn't know if that's the case.]
[He says it lightly, almost a joke at how absurdly terrible the situation was, but he means the first part at least. She doesn't have to thank him.]
There was um... I don't know if you saw it or not, but there was supposed to be a bomb set off at the edge of the quarry. We were just supposed to have to make it that long.
[He couldn't tell her then, with all the cameras in the quarry and all the secrecy before, but he wants her to know there had a been a plan. He just hadn't made it that far, and he hopes she did, but he doesn't know if that's the case.]
[He definitely doesn't miss that, and wants to ask again if she'd like to talk, but decides that going indirectly might be better.]
I'm sorry. Some of those things are... Really bad.
[They were always hard to watch in quarries, because as terrible as being killed by a person is, you can understand it. Everyone's fighting to survive, and that's all it is.
But with the traps, the whole point of them is to kill. It's impersonal, no motivation, no one who's acting because they have to. It's just... Cold, and so incredibly pointless, and usually designed to be as awful as possible.]
I'm sorry. Some of those things are... Really bad.
[They were always hard to watch in quarries, because as terrible as being killed by a person is, you can understand it. Everyone's fighting to survive, and that's all it is.
But with the traps, the whole point of them is to kill. It's impersonal, no motivation, no one who's acting because they have to. It's just... Cold, and so incredibly pointless, and usually designed to be as awful as possible.]
Yeah.
[And maybe she does want to talk about it, consciously or not, because she keeps going, like she needs to explain.]
It was a puzzle, you know? One of the pressure plate ones. And there was an antidote I needed inside, but I couldn't focus because of the poison, and I just...
[Fucked it up.]
[And maybe she does want to talk about it, consciously or not, because she keeps going, like she needs to explain.]
It was a puzzle, you know? One of the pressure plate ones. And there was an antidote I needed inside, but I couldn't focus because of the poison, and I just...
[Fucked it up.]
I, uh.
[ Jesus, what a question. Sam runs his free hand through his hair--finally the right length again, shaggy but combed back away from his face--to buy himself some time.
Of course it matters. It wasn't real, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. But all it really says to Sam is that he's still the person he's always been: Nathan's his first priority, everything else comes after. None of it changed him. It just says he's been doing things for his brother all along, that he always will.
(Except for that one thing, the Henry Avery business--but that was for Nathan, too. Sam told himself that was for Nathan, too.)
But Kyna, she's asking because she needs comfort. He can feel that much without touching her skin, just in the way she's curled up next to him. So he looks for comforting. ]
S'easy to say we shoulda been tearing the whole thing apart, but we were trying to get by. Best that mighta happened was we ended up on the street--and trust me, sleeping rough ain't as glamorous as it sounds. Worst...worst was a helluva lot worse'n that.
[ Jesus, what a question. Sam runs his free hand through his hair--finally the right length again, shaggy but combed back away from his face--to buy himself some time.
Of course it matters. It wasn't real, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. But all it really says to Sam is that he's still the person he's always been: Nathan's his first priority, everything else comes after. None of it changed him. It just says he's been doing things for his brother all along, that he always will.
(Except for that one thing, the Henry Avery business--but that was for Nathan, too. Sam told himself that was for Nathan, too.)
But Kyna, she's asking because she needs comfort. He can feel that much without touching her skin, just in the way she's curled up next to him. So he looks for comforting. ]
S'easy to say we shoulda been tearing the whole thing apart, but we were trying to get by. Best that mighta happened was we ended up on the street--and trust me, sleeping rough ain't as glamorous as it sounds. Worst...worst was a helluva lot worse'n that.
[ He makes a little noise, thoughtful. ]
Let's see. Still had a brother. Still grew up the same way--mostly. Less prison time, more suits. Not that, uh, far off.
What about you?
Let's see. Still had a brother. Still grew up the same way--mostly. Less prison time, more suits. Not that, uh, far off.
What about you?
[ That, he gets. ]
Not much of a joiner, huh?
[ Or is that your thing, Samuel? (Clearly it's the only thing, it's fine.) ]
Not much of a joiner, huh?
[ Or is that your thing, Samuel? (Clearly it's the only thing, it's fine.) ]
[He's quiet while she talks, glad she's doing so; it's good to talk about it, no matter how terrible it is. It's much worse when it's just in your head.
The situation she describes is, unfortunately, to be expected; it's more 'entertaining' when the person is truly desperate, and when they have a high chance of failing. When they have to walk right into the trap because there's no other choice but to try to beat the odds that have been purposefully stacked against them.]
You're never really supposed to succeed.
[Some do but so many don't, and he hopes she doesn't feel stupid or ashamed or something because she was one of the latter.]
The situation she describes is, unfortunately, to be expected; it's more 'entertaining' when the person is truly desperate, and when they have a high chance of failing. When they have to walk right into the trap because there's no other choice but to try to beat the odds that have been purposefully stacked against them.]
You're never really supposed to succeed.
[Some do but so many don't, and he hopes she doesn't feel stupid or ashamed or something because she was one of the latter.]
[ He snorts, poking her in the side with his finger. ]
Like me better like this, huh?
Like me better like this, huh?
I wasn't obsessed with him.
[ Amused, a little indignant. ]
[ Amused, a little indignant. ]
I was his agent. I hear they gotta think about their clients once in a while.
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