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[fullcursemeal]

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[thefaultinthestars]

In a way.

Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World was always a story with only one reader.

And stories, you know, they have no power if no one reads them.

[fullcursemeal]

[frowns a bit]

... Is that so...?

[thefaultinthestars]

That's how it is, so you see.

... If I had never read it, then everything wouldn't have happened.

[fullcursemeal]

... But you wouldn't have met each other, right?

[thefaultinthestars]

That's true.

I don't... exactly regret it.

But the cost was very, very high.

[fullcursemeal]

Mm. [nods]

Well, I can't claim to know how any of them feel about that, specifically. But from what you showed me, I doubt they regret it either.

[thefaultinthestars]

...they've made their feelings clear. My comrades, at least, don't hate me.

[fullcursemeal]

If they've said as much, then you should work on being less surprised about it.

[thefaultinthestars]

[he laughs but it's a pained sound. he smiles but it hurts]

...if someone told you that they would rather save your one life, even at the cost of infinite suffering and infinite death across an infinite universe, would that make sense to you?

[fullcursemeal]

If it were about my own life, no, of course not.

[thefaultinthestars]

[time to just

lean his face back onto Curtain's shoulder]

[fullcursemeal]

[reaches to pull him a little closer, petting his hair. it's okay, there's no need to say anything anymore]

[thefaultinthestars]

[cool excellent he's gonna need a few minutes]

[fullcursemeal]

[he can take the whole night if he wants]

[thefaultinthestars]

[no that's too embarrassing]

I think we got side tracked.

[fullcursemeal]

... No, this is relevant to me.

[thefaultinthestars]

Is that so?

[shifts to lean against him a little more comfortably. he didn't even break down into a sobbing mess but the effort to prevent it was So Much and now he's tired]

[fullcursemeal]

[he shifts also to make that more comfortable]

Yeah. I feel like I understand you a little more now.

[thefaultinthestars]

[i wonder if that's good]

You still owe me your thoughts on that story, though.

[fullcursemeal]

... It was sad.

[thefaultinthestars]

[...shifts a little to look at him more, but doesn't say anything to that]

[fullcursemeal]

[no, don't look at him.]

... Strategically, I can understand why you did what you did. Why you had your party take those actions, as well.

But it was still too cruel, for everyone involved. Even the Constellations were upset.

[thefaultinthestars]

The ones that like our nebula were upset. Most of the Star Stream ate it up.

...I can't deny that it was sad.

[fullcursemeal]

Your "nebula". Is that your party?

[thefaultinthestars]

That's right. It's what you call a group of constellations and incarnations all working together in the Star Stream.