[ the most mediocre coffee in the world... and yet Setsu can't hate or be mad with it. sometimes you live off military rations and can be content with anything. ]
I don't know if you take it black but I've got a lot of cream and sugar in my pocket still. [ do not ask, it's fine. ] Your base had coffee, didn't it?
[ coffee! he'll grab it and hold it out for them to take. ]
Start the day...the afternoon...the night...the existential dread. [ joking. ] We can't be that picky here but I'm sort of hoping for something better later.
[ they'll take their delicious black coffee with thanks. ]
Maybe once some task wins come in... [ they look to consider their own words. ] I'm curious about the difficulty of the tasks we'll receive.. if I need to push myself to get them done, I will though.
Don't push yourself more than you have to for anything. [ he says this immediately, taking a pull from his coffee shortly after. ] You're going to be with us, and we'll be able to back you up for whatever we need to do. But I've been pretty curious, too. Talking to the Reapers yesterday didn't give us any hints about what to expect.
Don't worry. I'll only do what's necessary. During my time loops, I've been on different sides, both good and... not so good. So, if it comes down to it... try to trust me.
[ some reassurance... but they do nod at his assurance of backing them up. simply looking down at their coffee. ]
We'll just have to see what the next few days bring.
Even when you were on the not so good sides, it's probably just something that had to happen in the loop to get it completed.
[ he doesn't outright say that he trusts them because trust is still kind of a delicate thing for him, but he seems content with the answer. ]
Deadline's what, tomorrow? The game's probably starting officially the next day. We have some time to ourselves. Let's take advantage of that for now. [ even if he will be checking on teams and people and making sure things are lining up for some of them. ]
...It was. Which maybe is terrible. But I guess, when it came down to it, I was able to accept whatever it was that I needed to do.
[ you know, in a way, Setsu kinda wishes he had said he didn't trust them. maybe they would feel better about it. not that they can feel good about not having someone to trust them here-- but, they don't know what they might do here. how they may even go.. as far as to mess things up or make it worse. even if it's not intentional. ]
Yeah. We should. [ though they too are curious to check in on how other teams are going as well. ] We'll have a bit of time to settle down more, before we can start trying to see if we can plan things out more in the future.
[ they'll drink some more of their coffee that is just lukewarm now. ]
Was it because of the silver key? I mean you don't have to actually answer, it's just. When you told me about it and what it's doing to you, I just thought...it was treating you more like a vessel for what it wanted, so you might not've really had a choice in stuff.
[ this is really probably not any of his business, but...it's out there now. he will go back to the whole "settling down" thing in a sec, he feels like maybe that's not appropriate to just loop back into after asking them a pretty prying question. ]
it is out there. and, Jonas already knows quite a bit about their situation so... they seem to consider the inquiry. and while he does leave the option of Setsu not answering-- they don't shut it down. no, they seem to be thinking about what to say. saying this much... it should be fine. ]
...What you said, it's not wrong, no. I don't always have a choice of where I end up. What side I end up on... what role I end up with. I live through each new loop, giving it my all. I need to if I intend to gather the information that the Silver Key desires.
Of course, the loops don't always have a favorable end but it is what it is. [ it's moments like these, there's a clear as daylight look of exhaustion that shows on their face. how many loops can someone go through? how much is necessary? ] I guess, in a way, this is kind of a break from all that.
[ does that make things better? no, not really. but it's.. something. ]
anyway yeah. he's listening to that, and he's gnawing on his sandwich that's also grown a little cold by now, and he's just...considering all of this. thinking about a different conversation. thinking about what setsu told him already and applying all of these things to each other.
...maybe it's like. fine. to say something. ]
...I didn't always notice our loops. Usually it was Alex, and she'd get kind of annoyed I would repeat the same things over and over while she was reliving it. Eventually I started being able to kind of tell, but not as much as she could. It was weird.
Ours weren't as long as yours, but not all of the loops were great on our end either. We finally got out of them and left, but I think it would've driven me totally insane if we kept going. I can't really imagine how it'd feel to have to live each loop to completion and then just...start over again.
[ so. he gets it's a break for them and does not think it's wrong for them to feel that way. ]
when they stop talking, their own thoughts trail back. to their own universe, to someone as deeply intertwined as a fate like theirs, and it's why they blink a bit in some surprise his way when he starts. ]
..Your loops.. [ it would be a lie to say that Setsu didn't think there was something there. not that they knew what. but his understanding, even if he wasn't the center of it entirely but... they grow quiet again, but keep their gaze on him. if to show that they're listening to his words, letting him continue without interruption.
only when he's done, does Setsu look to consider their words again. ]
In my case, sometimes, the loops weren't all long. I think the longest a loop has gone is fifteen days... never any longer, time would always stop and force me into a new loop if it ever reached that point. And they can end as early as two days depending on the situation. [ but.. they understand. the idea of going through loop and loop again-- rewinding, going through events, the repetitive notion... anyone would go insane in that position. ]
...I also wasn't the only one going through these loops. [ he had mentioned alex, so it only seemed fair to share this as well. ] There was someone else with a Silver Key like me, making them the only other one that remembered. Except, we weren't always in sync with our loops. What was my hundred and fifty-ninth loop could actually just be their third loop.
Even two days is longer than what ours were. All of ours occurred on the same night. Alex would...do these things to fix the breaks and stop us from looping. Sometimes the solutions were easy. Sometimes they took more effort.
[ he doesn't continue on that though because he's more curious about their situation, especially when they also mention another person. ]
So you both were stuck collecting information. Did you get your keys at the same time? What would cause your loops not to sync like that?
[ They can't help but be curious of their situation as well. comparing it to what they know of their own. considering what may have been the cause of theirs-- while Setsu's own laid dormant in their own pocket. but they reply in turn. ]
Basically. We were capable of exchanging information, but our conditions were different for us both. So I couldn't necessarily gather all the majority information myself and expect them to break out of the loop after linking up with them. It ties more with the experiences, I believe.
[ couldn't cheat per se. ] We received our keys at different time periods. So that's probably one of the factors why our loops were on different timelines? Either way... I'd gotten used to it.
Not always. But sometimes there were steps in between, I guess. Alex would mention that something didn't work when we know it did before. [ he's really just kind of coming along for the ride a lot of the time. ]
But I guess that'd make sense. If you could just have someone else do half or all of the work for you there'd be no point in the key attaching to either of you. [ experiences also makes sense. you have to go through certain things to understand others, even when you would prefer not to. ]
Still, used to it or not, it sounds like it's both a good thing and a bad thing to have. Like..."hey, you're not alone, but also you sort of are until conditions are met."
Some slight alterations then. [ it's different from their own experience, but they can imagine the process without much difficulty. the concept of time rewinding, of loop, it's similar on paper but the whole construct and structure of it is different. ]
... [ "hey, you're not alone, but also you sort of are until conditions are met." it really does sound lonely to hear, and maybe it's because they resonate with those words in a way they wish they didn't.
they aren't too sure what else to say. they can only nod, because he is right. a quiet exhale leaves them after a moment... ]
That person is why I need to go back to my world. They've done a lot for me, more debts than I could repay, but the least I can do is help break them out of their loop.
Right. That's about it. [ alex would be able to explain more, he thinks, but he doesn't offer that. the loops are still something they aren't really discussing too much.
but he hears the sigh from them and offers them a sympathetic lil shoulder bump. he gets it, or at least he gets it as best as he can. ]
Makes sense. Nothing wrong with a person being what motivates you to figure out how to get back. [ case in point. ] ...it's sort of how I feel about Alex, I guess. I want to make sure she gets back whatever it takes. And now that you and Kazuki are going to be a part of our team, that extends to you guys, too.
[ they glance a little up at him when he offers that lil shoulder bump, only to glance down afterward. but they lean a little in his direction in response to that brief touch.
it's comforting. already, Jonas has done a lot, it causes something to sit deep in their stomach. they really hope they can do what they can to secure that he gets to return back to his world- including alex and kazuki. ]
..In that case, we'll have to make the best of these coming eight weeks. I'm willing to do whatever it takes as well. So, if you need anything, let me know.
[ even if it means seeing someone outside their team as an enemy. ]
[ it's...reassuring to think that he can actually trust them. time will tell, of course, but he thinks he and alex wouldn't have agreed to partner with them (and kazuki) if they thought they were anything less than upfront about both good and bad.
it's a long road ahead, but...it can't be that bad yet. ]
Same goes here. We'll make it work. [ it's a lofty thing to offer, but it's there. it's important to know. ]
...let's just finish breakfast and we can figure out the rest later. Sound fair?
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w0 monday
Setsu. [ a lil 'sup nod. ] Want one?
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[ the most mediocre coffee in the world... and yet Setsu can't hate or be mad with it. sometimes you live off military rations and can be content with anything. ]
I'd like one yes, thank you.
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I don't know if you take it black but I've got a lot of cream and sugar in my pocket still. [ do not ask, it's fine. ] Your base had coffee, didn't it?
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Just black is fine with me. [ a nod. it's ok they won't. ] Most of the time. It's a good way to start the day.
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Start the day...the afternoon...the night...the existential dread. [ joking. ] We can't be that picky here but I'm sort of hoping for something better later.
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Maybe once some task wins come in... [ they look to consider their own words. ] I'm curious about the difficulty of the tasks we'll receive.. if I need to push myself to get them done, I will though.
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[ some reassurance... but they do nod at his assurance of backing them up. simply looking down at their coffee. ]
We'll just have to see what the next few days bring.
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Even when you were on the not so good sides, it's probably just something that had to happen in the loop to get it completed.
[ he doesn't outright say that he trusts them because trust is still kind of a delicate thing for him, but he seems content with the answer. ]
Deadline's what, tomorrow? The game's probably starting officially the next day. We have some time to ourselves. Let's take advantage of that for now. [ even if he will be checking on teams and people and making sure things are lining up for some of them. ]
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[ you know, in a way, Setsu kinda wishes he had said he didn't trust them. maybe they would feel better about it. not that they can feel good about not having someone to trust them here-- but, they don't know what they might do here. how they may even go.. as far as to mess things up or make it worse. even if it's not intentional. ]
Yeah. We should. [ though they too are curious to check in on how other teams are going as well. ] We'll have a bit of time to settle down more, before we can start trying to see if we can plan things out more in the future.
[ they'll drink some more of their coffee that is just lukewarm now. ]
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Was it because of the silver key? I mean you don't have to actually answer, it's just. When you told me about it and what it's doing to you, I just thought...it was treating you more like a vessel for what it wanted, so you might not've really had a choice in stuff.
[ this is really probably not any of his business, but...it's out there now. he will go back to the whole "settling down" thing in a sec, he feels like maybe that's not appropriate to just loop back into after asking them a pretty prying question. ]
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it is out there. and, Jonas already knows quite a bit about their situation so... they seem to consider the inquiry. and while he does leave the option of Setsu not answering-- they don't shut it down. no, they seem to be thinking about what to say. saying this much... it should be fine. ]
...What you said, it's not wrong, no. I don't always have a choice of where I end up. What side I end up on... what role I end up with. I live through each new loop, giving it my all. I need to if I intend to gather the information that the Silver Key desires.
Of course, the loops don't always have a favorable end but it is what it is. [ it's moments like these, there's a clear as daylight look of exhaustion that shows on their face. how many loops can someone go through? how much is necessary? ] I guess, in a way, this is kind of a break from all that.
[ does that make things better? no, not really. but it's.. something. ]
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anyway yeah. he's listening to that, and he's gnawing on his sandwich that's also grown a little cold by now, and he's just...considering all of this. thinking about a different conversation. thinking about what setsu told him already and applying all of these things to each other.
...maybe it's like. fine. to say something. ]
...I didn't always notice our loops. Usually it was Alex, and she'd get kind of annoyed I would repeat the same things over and over while she was reliving it. Eventually I started being able to kind of tell, but not as much as she could. It was weird.
Ours weren't as long as yours, but not all of the loops were great on our end either. We finally got out of them and left, but I think it would've driven me totally insane if we kept going. I can't really imagine how it'd feel to have to live each loop to completion and then just...start over again.
[ so. he gets it's a break for them and does not think it's wrong for them to feel that way. ]
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when they stop talking, their own thoughts trail back. to their own universe, to someone as deeply intertwined as a fate like theirs, and it's why they blink a bit in some surprise his way when he starts. ]
..Your loops.. [ it would be a lie to say that Setsu didn't think there was something there. not that they knew what. but his understanding, even if he wasn't the center of it entirely but... they grow quiet again, but keep their gaze on him. if to show that they're listening to his words, letting him continue without interruption.
only when he's done, does Setsu look to consider their words again. ]
In my case, sometimes, the loops weren't all long. I think the longest a loop has gone is fifteen days... never any longer, time would always stop and force me into a new loop if it ever reached that point. And they can end as early as two days depending on the situation. [ but.. they understand. the idea of going through loop and loop again-- rewinding, going through events, the repetitive notion... anyone would go insane in that position. ]
...I also wasn't the only one going through these loops. [ he had mentioned alex, so it only seemed fair to share this as well. ] There was someone else with a Silver Key like me, making them the only other one that remembered. Except, we weren't always in sync with our loops. What was my hundred and fifty-ninth loop could actually just be their third loop.
[ It's Complicated. ]
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[ he doesn't continue on that though because he's more curious about their situation, especially when they also mention another person. ]
So you both were stuck collecting information. Did you get your keys at the same time? What would cause your loops not to sync like that?
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[ They can't help but be curious of their situation as well. comparing it to what they know of their own. considering what may have been the cause of theirs-- while Setsu's own laid dormant in their own pocket. but they reply in turn. ]
Basically. We were capable of exchanging information, but our conditions were different for us both. So I couldn't necessarily gather all the majority information myself and expect them to break out of the loop after linking up with them. It ties more with the experiences, I believe.
[ couldn't cheat per se. ] We received our keys at different time periods. So that's probably one of the factors why our loops were on different timelines? Either way... I'd gotten used to it.
[ though more like Setsu adapted. ]
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But I guess that'd make sense. If you could just have someone else do half or all of the work for you there'd be no point in the key attaching to either of you. [ experiences also makes sense. you have to go through certain things to understand others, even when you would prefer not to. ]
Still, used to it or not, it sounds like it's both a good thing and a bad thing to have. Like..."hey, you're not alone, but also you sort of are until conditions are met."
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... [ "hey, you're not alone, but also you sort of are until conditions are met." it really does sound lonely to hear, and maybe it's because they resonate with those words in a way they wish they didn't.
they aren't too sure what else to say. they can only nod, because he is right. a quiet exhale leaves them after a moment... ]
That person is why I need to go back to my world. They've done a lot for me, more debts than I could repay, but the least I can do is help break them out of their loop.
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but he hears the sigh from them and offers them a sympathetic lil shoulder bump. he gets it, or at least he gets it as best as he can. ]
Makes sense. Nothing wrong with a person being what motivates you to figure out how to get back. [ case in point. ] ...it's sort of how I feel about Alex, I guess. I want to make sure she gets back whatever it takes. And now that you and Kazuki are going to be a part of our team, that extends to you guys, too.
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it's comforting. already, Jonas has done a lot, it causes something to sit deep in their stomach. they really hope they can do what they can to secure that he gets to return back to his world- including alex and kazuki. ]
..In that case, we'll have to make the best of these coming eight weeks. I'm willing to do whatever it takes as well. So, if you need anything, let me know.
[ even if it means seeing someone outside their team as an enemy. ]
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it's a long road ahead, but...it can't be that bad yet. ]
Same goes here. We'll make it work. [ it's a lofty thing to offer, but it's there. it's important to know. ]
...let's just finish breakfast and we can figure out the rest later. Sound fair?