paradisa | o6 | Dictated

Entry tags:

zack fair

o6 | Dictated

[Angeal Hewley]

Cloud's gone.

[/Angeal Hewley]

[About an hour after that filtered message, Zack addresses the journal without a filter this time. His voice is that mix of neutral and tired that marks familiarity of having to bring the 'not coming back' message to people waiting for their friends and loved ones to come home. Such can be life in SOLDIER.]

For those who knew him, Cloud Strife has gone home.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sadly, the laughter dies at the next question. and her tone sobers.]

There were only about six thousand left, actually. It was made so that if you die in the game, you die in the real world, too. Many have settled into lives there, but a fraction of us still fight to try and clear it. That's who I mean.

[Whoops, foot in mouth there. Way to go, Fair.]

I'm-- I'm sorry to hear that. I can't-- It's hard to believe something could be made so powerful that death in the game doesn't grant you freedom from it.

[But now her questions of people settling here make more sense.]

It's simpler than it sounds. To enter the virtual reality, the player puts on NerveGear, which is like a helmet that connects to the brain's nerve system somehow. If they die in game, it sends a signal so they can't ever wake up again.

Heh. I'm glad some of the people where I'm from can't get their hands on something like that. It sounds too powerful a tool.

I know what you mean. I really wish people hadn't died, but I don't want to give up my time there. I've learned a lot and met some amazing people.

But they'll all still exist when you get out, right? SO you could find ways to keep in touch?

Of course! I just mean that I don't wish it never happened. There's good coming from it, too.

But of course all good is balanced with the bad. I haven't heard of any place it's not.

You just have to find it!

Have you found anything so far that you like?

Do you mean here? Well, it's really nice to have my real body again.

Even if you're.. uh, dressed like your avatar?

Ah, well, that part's fine. It'll just take getting used to!

...didn't anyone mention the wishing thing to you?

Mm, it was briefly, but I do have some clothes in my inventory, too.

Well, stop me if you've heard it before. But the gist of it is, you can wish for stuff and the Castle will give it to you. So if you want clothes like your regular clothes, you can wish for them.

But you've gotta be careful. If you wish for too much, or too often, sometimes the Castle will get back at you by giving you headaches or making you sick. And sometimes it won't, too. It's fickle like that.

Oh, and you can't wish for weapons or anything like that. Or for people.

That's rather accommodating. I suppose that's an upside, though it'll take getting used to. What sort of things are wished for most?

Good with the bad, remember? I mean, the Castle takes something from you when it brings you here, don't forget that.

You know, I don't know. I've asked it for some uniforms to replace the one I was wearing when I got here, workout clothes, other little things. I don't really ask it for much because I don't need much.

It sounds like a very bad convenience fee to me!

Hm, that doesn't seem too awful. I can understand things like that.

I guess it depends on what your loss is. I still don't know mine, which probably means it's a memory. The thought of that stinks, but it doesn't impact my day-to-day, you know?

Yeah, I'm not sure about asking it for bigger things, so I can't give you any information on that. But I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you wanted more familiar clothes, you could have them.

I think I understand, it's just a little unnerving to think it could be something like that.

Thank you for the tip, but at this point, the clothes I have on now are probably the most familiar to me.

I try not to think about it. I know that sounds horrible, but I can't fight it, you know? I just want to live what life I can live out here, while I'm allowed to.

You're welcome. And yeah, it's not like you have to wish for things. Just if you want to, it's there.

It doesn't sound horrible at all. Some people think that way, and if it works for them, that's a good thing.

I'll remember that.

That's what I figured. Can't fight it, might as well just work around it.

Mmm. Anything else I could help you with though?

Exactly. There's always a way to work with what you have.

[She pauses, thinking.] Maybe!

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