Camp: private conversations

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Respond here for a private conversation with Red! All comment threads are screened.

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No, he's not in this world. Though given the state of my world, I'm not sure if that is good or bad.

This one here-

[She taps the sword]

-has a computer in it to do what he used to be able to do. But otherwise it's just a normal sword.

[le_mat]

Computer... is that why at the campfires you're like, hm, 'Function Complete' and stuff like that?

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Exactly. My powers function much like a computer, so it's easier to tell them to 'turn off', so to speak, by doing that.

[le_mat]

It's weird... we're part of this big machine. Parts to be used and destroyed when our purpose is fulfilled. Replaced.

[Ren pulls his legs up, resting his head on his knees]

It was the same in my home too. The Grail, Yaldabaoth, was just the Overseer for a big process. The will of the people, but a will without any morals or real intent. Just... playing out something that had to be done.

[He thinks of the video. Of the idea of being 'fake', just a machine of meat and imagination meant to do a task for it's creator. Ren shivers]

Heh, sorry. I'm just... thinking out loud. Tell me more about the Man- did you get revenge for him?

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[Red actually looks a bit troubled there for a moment when Ren starts talking about 'a big process' and 'playing out something that had to be done'. Bad memories from home, man. And she's a bit off-balance when Ren asks that question.]

I didn't- it wasn't as simple as 'revenge'.

[le_mat]

[If they weren't as close as they are, Ren might have pounced on that bit of weakness. Instead, he lets it go- he doesn't want to upset her.

he does tilt his head though, in case she is up for explainaing]

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[Thanks Ren, she doesn't exactly like talking about how she got to watch people get deleted and turned into computer programs because of a computer program following it's programming.

Unfortunately, that's basically the explanation.]

The people responsible for his death all died because of their own hubris. I did get to fight two of the four, but given how they turned out, it was hardly fulfilling.

[Two of the four.

'The four'.

Sound familiar Ren?]

[le_mat]

Ah...

[The four people in her Palace. They killed the man in the coat, but she didn't even get real closure.]

I'm sorry... I shouldn't have pried.

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You had no way of knowing, it's not your fault.

[le_mat]

Still... it's not okay. We can talk about something else?

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Maybe it would be-

[She stops suddenly as she notices a flashing light on her sword. Frowning, she turns to it and checks an image that shows up on the red dot in the center. Ren won't be able to see the full image, because Red is blocking it, but that sure is a lot of blood.]

Oh.

[She just sounds so defeated when she says that too. She flicks off the image and turns back to Ren.]

You can stay put, or I can drop you off at your cabin. Your choice.

[le_mat]

[Ren is pale, and moves to stand- like he's going to charge out of the room, go and help.

...but if she was being contacted, then it was already done. And his face crumples- he sits back down.]

I'll stay.

[Because... Red might need company after this.]

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[It says a lot about how much she trusts him not to go through her shit too. Only one other person has been permitted to stay in her room without her there, and they only got about a minute of time out of that. Everyone else has been kicked out when she's needed to go somewhere.]

Don't leave the room until I come back, then.

[And with that she is gone.

She left the sword behind though, and Ren isn't actually blocked from going anywhere in the room.]

[le_mat]

[He stays put for a few minutes, gathering his composure. Knowing one of his friends is dead- the only one he knows for sure is safe is Chuuta. God, what would Red have done if Ren had collapsed dead right here in her room?

But eventually, he stands, looking around. He looks at the sword curiously]

You're probably recording, huh?

[He doesn't know why he's talking to it- Red already told him this isn't the actual Man in the Coat]

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[The sword's red light flickers, but otherwise it does nothing.]

[le_mat]

Well don't worry, I'm not gonna get into anything bad.

[But he can't resist snooping a little. Exploring, maybe, might be the better term- he does as asked and avoids her computer. but does stroll around, looking at things]

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[Is he staying on this side of the screen? There's the fridge, a closet, and Red's desk (minus computer funtimes) to explore here. Or he can look at the other side of the folding screen.]

[le_mat]

[He stays here for now, poking in the fridge first. The closet seems a bit too personal, but he does look at her desk]

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[The fridge is full of snacks and soda. All the Good Shit campers can't get. There's also several vials of medicine, but given how many doses Ren has taken he can easily tell there's only enough stock for one person's doses.

The desk is mostly clear, but there's a couple liquor bottles tucked under it. Mostly vodka.]

[le_mat]

...Red...

[He knows she apparently is safe from the infection, but as far as he knows SHE doesn't know that. Has she been giving him hers? He takes a coke and doesn't steal any booze- she clearly needs that

Then meanders to the divider and peeks around it]

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[Yeah, she's been told that she's immune NOW, but she still doesn't believe that.

On the other side of the screen is Red's bed and vanity. There's a lot of makeup and stuff on top of the vanity, and several pictures of previous years have been stuck along the edges of the mirror. It's mostly campers, and a few shots of other adults that Ren probably would not recognize.

Her walls over there are completely covered by drawings in various stages of yellowing and fading. Some Ren might recognize, as they were drawn this year, but most are older. It seems she keeps every bit of art people give her.

Hanging on a set of coat hooks on this side are a hideous hand-knit purple sweater with black music notes on it, as well as a yellow scarf that will look familiar if Ren can remember that video from week 2.

There's lots of places to search right now: the vanity, under the bed, a little side table next to the bed, the corners of the room, and so on. He could also look at the pictures more closely if he wants.]

[le_mat]

...I should draw something, later.

[He mutters to himself. And heads to the pictures first, since they are the most striking]

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[The pictures are indeed striking, and many feature the happy faces of campers doing everyday camp activities. They're from several different years, the groups are different, but they all seem to be having fun. And none of the subjects have any evidence of stonification. No strange eyes, no wounds changed into stone, and so on.]

[le_mat]

[It's strange... he's never seen Red take any pictures. He supposes her sword could have a camera option but still... if these kids were knowingly kidnapped, there's no way they'd be this consistently happy, right? Sure, they had their moments in his group but the air was always more tense than not.

He reaches out for one, plucking it free to turn over]

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[The picture he grabbed is one of Red and a girl in braces wearing matching music note sweaters. The one Red was wearing is probably the one hanging in her room.

On the back it says the following.]

Remember: there's no such thing as 'not the right weather for sweaters.'

Don't forget me.

-Mabel

[Hmm.]