R1 DEADLAND

[lockdownmods]

[it’s strange, for the people who were already dead, the shift in scenery is sudden and complete. For those who have just arrived? It’s like you’re back where you left?

How strange.

But if you ever need her, you can always reach out to the guardian of this place.]

LOCATIONS
Note: locations lag a week behind the living counterparts

Comments

[machrophage]

I don't think anything today qualifies as 'good.'

[What with. You know. Connor happening.]

You can go back and forth, right? How are the others doing?

[The ones that are still alive.]

[newhire]

...that's true, I suppose. It's been... a lot.

[And his question doesn't help things. The last she saw of everyone was the chaos that was left in Connor's passing and...

She wants to lie. But... she can't.]

...it's a disaster, truthfully. Rebecca was trying to fight the damn machine that hurt Connor even though she knew it would get her killed, Osomatsu is barely holding it together... so many of them are suffering.

[machrophage]

[At the mention of Rebecca, his visible eye closes.]

Well, I can say one of those surprises me less than she might think.

[He always did think Rebecca had a fire in her.]

I begin to think that the suffering might even be the point of all this.

[And he doesn't need to say how much that disgusts him. She already knows that - has known it for weeks.]

[newhire]

[Rebecca’s strength... Vivienne admires it but she also fears it. One day she’s going to burn herself... or simply burn out, at this rate. She just doesn’t know which.]

...I think the only person who hasn’t realized the real result of this program is Oswald Hale.

[He’s horrible— but the source of that is the fact that he’s deluded beyond all good sense. He needs so badly to believe that what he’s doing will get him the results he wants— yet anyone else would see it’s not.]

[machrophage]

Todd's a fool, but we knew that already.

[No, he doesn't deserve a Real Name until he pulls his head out of his ass.]

Not only is he the only person who hasn't realized it, but everyone knows it about him. If they didn't from the beginning, they certainly do now.

[newhire]

I don’t think anyone expects anything out of him. It’s for the best. I’d rather be rid of him completely but...

[She wonders if he hasn’t doomed himself after blatantly ignoring his orders. The Administration has cared so little about the suffering they’ve gifted him. Do they even care enough to keep him alive?]

[machrophage]

We'd best save our energy for the people who matter.

[And on that note...]

Can you take them a message? Or is this - [He looks around at their surroundings.] - still too secret?

[newhire]

Right.

[He’s absolutely right. But when he asks about sending a message she blinks. Though there is thought given, it’s not long before she makes her choice.]

...it’s okay, I can take them your message.

[They... they probably needed it now more than anything.]

[machrophage]

[For a moment, he seems almost uncertain -

But no. No hesitation. It's the space of a breath, that's all.]

Tell them... That we haven't given up here, yet. And they shouldn't either. If we're digging through an obstacle from both sides, then we'll get through it twice as fast.

[And...]

...And tell Rebecca that... Humans are unique in their potential to evolve beyond the person they were a moment before. As long as she keeps her eyes facing front, her spirit will guide her down any number of dark tunnels.