IC Inbox for VRDR

[herewardbound]

"This is Phoenix. If you have this number, you're smart enough to know how to leave a message."

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[seekerofjustice]

The same path? And what path is that, may I ask?

It's times like these where he's desperate for answers, anything to make it all make more sense. To make the truth within reach, to illuminate it all and for it all to be something he can grasp.

The dread is outweighed by desire in this moment, to understand.

What led you here?

[herewardbound]

Died, woke up in a weird fucking dream world, got forced to face my inner demons (hah), lost nearly everyone I cared about almost overnight, got pulled out of suicidal depression by a bunch of demonic weirdoes who cared enough to check up, got my creator manifested from my literal nightmares to try and do the same thing again, dealt with that...


Bunch of other steps along the way, about half of which I fucked up egregiously.

It's been a time.

[seekerofjustice]

That sounds incredibly stressful... Awful, even.

He pauses on the other side of the screen. What would be required to get him to overcome his doubts? His worries? His fears?

What would help him gain that inner steel required to save Ren, and put a stop to everything Maruki has done?

You're very strong-willed, Phoenix. Everything thrust against you, and yet you emerged more aware of yourself than before.

Truth be told, I think I envy you a little. You know who you are. Meanwhile, I still find myself hesitating in the face of everything.

He finds himself afraid.

[herewardbound]

I think hesitation is to be expected. This is uncharted territory, as far as human exploration of the mind goes. No amount of studying philosophy would have prepared you for this. It's unsettling shit.

But I'm confident you'll figure it out, and nobody said you had to do it alone. I certainly didn't.

[seekerofjustice]

There's a quiet pause on Dove's end as he thinks about it.

Thank you, Phoenix-san. Hearing that has lifted a weight from my shoulders, at least slightly. The friends I've made here are irreplaceable. People and experiences I know are real.

I hope you don't mind me considering you among those friends.

After all, they cognitions need to stick together, right?

[herewardbound]

Of course.

Door's open anytime, Dove.

[herewardbound]

And hey, you ever wind up in my neck of the woods, give me a call. I won't hang you out to dry.

[seekerofjustice]

Of course, thank you. The same extends to you as well... though hopefully you wouldn't find yourself in my world until after everything has been solved.