[week five - wednesday]

[ceded]

[ Well.

.... well.

Xion's got a lot on her mind when she seeks out Percy. She's made a decision - and given what she knows, or she thinks she knows, she wants Percy to know it, too. Besides, maybe he can ... help her, too. Maybe he knows things she doesn't.

So it's with a sense of purpose that she finds him, and doesn't really waste any time on preamble. ]

Hey, Percy? Can we talk?

Comments

[ceded]

Well... first he told me he thought this world might be a pocket of space and time. I don't ... really know what that means, but I do know that there's a lot of things about this world that are strange. Like how there's no one here but us and the Sheriff, or how nothing ever changes. The other idea we talked about was this place being virtual reality. If that's true, though, there has to be a way to hack it. Something we just haven't figured out yet.

[ A frown. ] Damian thinks the answer might be in the mines, but...

[ You know. Obvious roadblocks. ]

[hydrokinetics]

...someone told me that the first one is right. We exist in a pocket of space and time that doesn't really exist, even though all of us exist. That's exactly why the world's weird. I found out yesterday.

And don't you dare go in the mines. Either of you. You saw what happened to the girls that already went in there.

[ceded]

[ Just. Stares at him for a moment, and then ... huffs. ]

No wonder this world feels so weird.

[ Not that she can feel anything particular or special. Any powers that could let her do that are gone. This was purely instinct telling her something was off. ]

It's all too ... mechanical. Like it's all a big machine instead of a real place.

Anyway, I wasn't going to go in the mines, Percy! [ looks offended ] There's no way I'd survive, and I don't want Damian to go, either.

[hydrokinetics]

[A crooked smile.] Things make a little more sense, huh? I was confused until it was explained to me, too. No idea what to do with the information now that we have it, but it's out there.

And good. Make sure you keep Damian away, too, I've been trying to get him not-killed for a few weeks now. I'm afraid of what else might be down there.

cora is curled up on your blanket in a purring little ball and i absofuckinglutely hate it

[ceded]

If it's a pocket, then someone made it. And if there's a way in, there has to be a way out, right? It's all ... artificial. None of it's real. There has to be some way to undo it, or find a way to ... break it somehow, right?

[ she's ... dreaming big. ]

As for the mines... it's just too dangerous. Even if I had all my powers and I wasn't hurt, I'm not sure I could survive down there. I wish we could find out for sure what is there, though. Maybe it'd help us learn something.

what if I just dropkick your cat for being really cute, wtf.

[hydrokinetics]

You're right, but the real question is what's outside of the pocket? Do we want to go out there? Would we survive if we broke it?

[Questions for the ages.]

I don't know if it's something you want to learn, Xion. If whatever's down there could hurt both Natalie and Seizaburo it might be best to leave it alone. I wish we could find out, too, but at what cost, you know?

im so angry im gonna show you all the pictures tomorrow

[ceded]

If we all got our powers back after we broke out, I could take us anywhere! [ ... ] Well, not really anywhere. But I could get us somewhere safe. [ Another pause, and in a mutter: ] I could fix my leg, too.

[ SIGH.

She'll glance up at him when he poses all those hypotheticals, but she doesn't seem to much relent. Just tucks her head against him and kind of harrumphs, honestly. ]

No, I want to know. I definitely want to know. But you're right, I don't want to get hurt doing it, and I don't want anyone else to get hurt, either. I wonder if we could trick the Sheriff into telling us.

good Im Ready

[hydrokinetics]

...you've never really told me about your powers. How would you do that?

[Maybe it doesn't matter, but he's interested all the same. He doesn't mind her bundling down and just remains as steadfast as ever.]

It's possible. Sometimes he's willing to answer questions or even point us in the direction of people to ask the questions to. He's a jerk and he has his own set of issues, but sometimes he can be reasonable. Annabeth taught me that.

[ceded]

I can open corridors between worlds. [ Just, you know, casual as you please. ] It's how I used to get around all the time.

[ ... ]

The Sheriff isn't so bad to talk to, but you kind of have to know what to say, or he'll get mad. If we tried it, we'd just have to be really smart about how we asked.

[hydrokinetics]

Like shadowtraveling, kind of. [Not that Nico can take them between worlds, but he's familiar with the idea of teleporting.] You've been to lots of worlds then besides this one?

[But...okay.] When was the last time you talked to the Sheriff anyway?

[ceded]

Mhm! Lots. It's actually pretty strange to be stuck in one place for so long.

[ That gets a considering hum. ] I guess about a week ago. I had some things I wanted to ask him, like about passing messages to the dead, and about the roles.

[hydrokinetics]

We're constantly used to moving, too. Annabeth and I were on a quest before we got here.

[There's a curious look.] Did you talk to him about the roles after you talked to Damian? And what'd he say about passing messages to the dead anyway?

[ceded]

Yeah! Actually, Damian was the one who told me to ask that question, about contacting people who've died. The Sheriff, well...

[ She frowns thoughtfully. ]

At the time he said to wait until Thursday and then reply to his letter. I didn't really get what he meant until all those letters arrived. I guess we can send replies back.

[hydrokinetics]

Everybody has mailboxes. I guess that's part of it, but I don't know if they're really going to get through either. I'm not sure I want to believe it's that easy either.

What would you write if you could guarantee it'd get through?

[ceded]

... I'm not sure.

[ She's been trying to think about it, but .... ]

I guess I'd just thank them for letting me know they're okay. And ... tell them not to worry, because we're coming to get them.

[hydrokinetics]

I don't think that's such a bad idea. The dead probably want to hear assurance just as much as we do. And Riku would like to hear from you, I bet.

[ceded]

... I think ... he would. [ Very soft. It's hard to picture. But he'd really cared about her. They're ... friends.

For once, she owes it to him to be the one saving him. ]

Percy... can you tell me more about the roles?

[hydrokinetics]

[There's a long and quiet pause.]

...it's better that you don't know, Xion. There are so many times I wish I didn't.

[ceded]

Percy...

[ A longer pause this time, and she sits up so she can actually look at him. ]

... I don't understand. How is it better? I want to help. I can't help if I don't know...!

[hydrokinetics]

Because having information in this place is dangerous. I promise you, it's better this way. Please just trust me, okay?

[ceded]

But...!

[ Despite herself, she's a little upset. ]

I do trust you! I just wish ... you felt the same about me.

[hydrokinetics]

Huh? [He's confused by the sudden change and he blinks in surprise, staring at her openly now.] Who said this was about not trusting you?

[ceded]

[ The look she gives him is just as confused, and a little hurt. ] ... wouldn't you tell me, if you did? It's not like I don't understand the risks!

[hydrokinetics]

[...yeah, he's not sure he likes that logic. He understands the frustration that comes from people not giving answers and he understands how annoying it is, but not trusting her? Why can't she see what's really happening here, why he's trying to make sure she doesn't get hurt?]

I trust Annabeth with my whole life even beyond the grave, Xion. And I haven't even told her everything I know in order to keep her safe. This isn't about if I trust you or not, it's about keeping you alive.

[ceded]

[ Xion looks at him for a long moment more, then turns her head, directing a troubled gaze down at her lap instead. ]

... I guess it's just ... [ she turns her hands palm up and stares at them, her fingers slightly curled. ] ... I'm tired of feeling so helpless.

[ Those hands curl into loose fists before she puts them down. ]

It feels like no matter what I try to do, I just can't help anyone. You already knew everything I did, and I'm sure Damian does, too. Every time I try to help, I just end up making a mess. I don't know what ... I'm supposed to do.