[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 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.]
[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...
[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.]
I'm sure you would've, if you were given a fair chance.
[He has no doubt she could've solved the puzzle. As for whether or not she would've survived, he doesn't know, but--]
It matters because you had to experience it. But you're right that maybe it doesn't matter so much about surviving there, since it means we're awake here now.
[And that's better, isn't it? He thinks so. He hopes so, anyway.]
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[Absently, she plucks a flower from the vine and then keeps moving.]
Like magic, right?
[Yeah, she means literally, but also not. It's beautiful, and she needs to cling to that right now.]
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[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.]
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She's quiet for a bit, mulling that over silently. Mulling it all over, really.]
Do you think it was all real?
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[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.]
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[Maybe that's the best anyone can really say right now. She doesn't know how to sort it out, either.]
Thank you. I mean, for trying to save me.
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[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.]
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[It's clear by her response that she didn't make it, probably.]
No. A trap got me.
[She tries to say it lightly, like it's no big deal, but her voice catches.]
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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.]
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[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.]
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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.]
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[Logically she knows that. Everyone did, and especially her, with all the designers she hung out with.]
I was good at those puzzles. I would have figured it out.
[She hesitates, not quiet looking at him.]
And then died anyway, I guess. So maybe none of it matters.
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[He has no doubt she could've solved the puzzle. As for whether or not she would've survived, he doesn't know, but--]
It matters because you had to experience it. But you're right that maybe it doesn't matter so much about surviving there, since it means we're awake here now.
[And that's better, isn't it? He thinks so. He hopes so, anyway.]