savetheearth | 07

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07 | Audio

Hey. Has anyone remembered something where you've seen yourself? I don't mean seeing your reflection or anything like that, I've done that before, but I saw myself standing there off to one side while I was doing something else. He had my face and everything.

[There's something Hajime's not saying there. He remembers being an angry and wounded and defeated bug monster, and as he got sucked into that cramped prison, he was raging at the human who was responsible…the one with his face. Filled with rage and consumed with the disbelief that he had lost to such a weak creature.]

It feels like it should be one of those weird metaphorical symbolic dreams or something, only I know it's not. The memory's too real to be a dream, it feels like the other memories I have, and everything else about it is pretty much in line with what I've been remembering except for seeing myself there like that…

[He trails off in a bit of uncertainty. Nothing about that memory makes sense.]

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It was unpleasant. That's all I remember.

[No, that's not all he remembers, but that's all he's willing to talk about at this point.]

I can do better than tell you.

[There's a picture attached of this guy ~~who in no way looks like Uva~~ taking a self-portrait with a cell phone in a bathroom mirror.]

[ WHOA. OK that definitely gets a very long pause in which she gets a very distinct echo and the instinct to BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL BACKPEDAL FOR DEAR LIFE. ]

ok. so, i don't think you're dangerous or anything, and i'm sure that overall you're a really great guy, but i got one of those pulses and i think you might have been attacking me?

[There is the biggest wince ever on Hajime's end.]

I'm sorry to say that's very possible. Most of my memories revolve around fighting or attacking things.

[ oh. well. ordinarily, she'd say that's better than nothing, but... ]

it's not like that guy is actually you, right? so... it's all right. i'm not about to flip out on you for doing something you didn't do to someone who may or may not have been me. sort of. (this is confusing.)

It's just some big bug I'm getting memories and a body from. Not like we have any idea where this is coming from or if any of it actually happened.

that's true. but if none of the things we're seeing or getting or doing have actually happened, this is all a really elaborate mass hallucination, isn't it? like, too elaborate. if none of this is some kind of conspiracy, if it's just kind of... happening? then this is the most weirdly specific natural phenomenon i've ever heard of. it'd be a lot harder to fight.

We're remembering a lot of different realities. Things one person remembers wouldn't make any sense in the worlds another might remember.

There's really no easy way to explain it. And I'll keep fighting no matter what happens or how it works.

[He is not going to become the crazed bug monster he remembers. He won't allow it...]

different realities? huh... that would explain why some people are more affected by certain triggers than others. i mean, i know i'm affected by the bugman thing, and these medals, and maybe fighting now? but there are definitely some people who can't relate as strongly. it makes sense.

uh, sorry about the ramble! i just like to see the logic in front of me.

i think keeping optimistic about all of this is a good move! as long as we aren't specifically out to get each other, i think we should be able to wrap up whatever this is and get back to our normal lives. i'm looking forward to that... but i'd also like to keep some of my powers, if i can!

Really, at this point, one theory's as likely to make sense as the next. I seem to be particularly triggered by fighting and playing cards.

No, it's alright. It helps to lay things out sometimes.

What sort of powers do you have?

playing cards? of all things... which ones in particular?

and actually, it'd probably be easier just to show you. just a second!

[ video! she's very careful to position the camera so the edge cuts off right at her chin, but she waves cheerfully before setting a glass of water down on the table, then sitting herself behind it. She puts both hands out, palms towards the glass... and after a moment, the water starts splashing around in the cup. A few seconds more, and she has a little whirlpool going out of the cup and around it in a rough ring. She lets the entire system cycle around a bit before letting out a breath and returning the water to the cup. ]

it works with orange juice too! which is how i figured out i had this power. i wish i could have seen my face when the orange juice stopped and the cup kept going. lol!!

Hard to say anything more specific than this.

[And he will attach a photo of the one card he's received back.]

I remember others but not what they look like, if that makes sense.

[He's wracking his brain trying to think of all the other monsters he'd seen in his memories of fighting. He isn't sure he's seen anything with the ability to do that to water, but then again, he didn't give many of them a chance to fight back. Just plowed right on through there, sealing them into cards...]

Can't say I've seen anything like that before.

[ a pause as she considers the image... ]

same here with regards to your card. i haven't seen anything like that yet, and i'm not feeling anything. maybe we aren't that closely related? i wish i could help.

i feel like that's the most frustrating thing about all of this. the fact that we've got so many clues, but there aren't any consistent triggers for anything! it makes experiment impossible, let me tell you. how are we supposed to test for echoes when we can't get any consistent catalysts? ARGH

You never know. Stuff doesn't always happen instantaneously, or we might figure something out down the line.

I am pretty sure this thing was in part designed to frustrate anyone trying to apply any sort of logic whatsoever to it.

yeah, you're right. i always wish i can do something NOW. it's a real problem lol.

if this was intentionally designed, i'm sending in a complaint about poor documentation. geez! :P with all due seriousness, though, i hope there's someone behind all of this. that'd make this a much more concrete problem to solve.

I know the feeling. Being patient in a situation like this is hard.

I am pretty sure that if someone were responsible for this, my first order of business would be to give him a good, solid punch in the nose.

Might not solve any problems, but it would make me feel better.

there's nothing wrong with a little catharsis. i think that that's what we're all going for, in the end.

anyway, like i said, sorry to butt in on your topic! i feel like i do know a lot more though. i'm glad i asked. you've been really helpful!

After what some of us have been through, it's the least whoever did this deserves anyway.

Not a problem. I'm glad I could help you out.

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07 | Audio

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