IC Mailbox

[aibolition]

5005 Apple Pie Place

Comments

[aibolition]

[What a strange question to get out of the blue. But it seems harmless enough that he opts to answer it.]

I was trapped in a world that was something like an infinite loop. If I jumped off a particular point, I could just keep falling forever in nothing but sky. There wasn't really anything else to do. Couldn't go anywhere, get inside, and there weren't any people either. Boredom's a real killer.

[telecosmetic]

[Well, she also talked to Stephen about stuff he said during the fight that wasn't actually fight-related.]

That sounds terrible! So it was really the only thing you could do? How did you get out of there?

[aibolition]

[It is terrible but it feels wierd when someone else says it. Like pity.]

Uh. I didn't? Unless you count worlds like this. I pretty much live there. Forever. I only get out rarely and it tends to go badly. That's just how my existence is

[telecosmetic]

[Shh, Zan, it's called sympathy.]

What do you mean, your existence? [Eliza scribbles that out pretty quick. That feels too intrusive to ask.] Well, I'm very glad Zephyr found you then. And I hope however they got you out of there didn't make things go badly.

[aibolition]

[He's glad that bit's crossed out because he's not going to answer it. This is already uncomfortable enough.]

I don't actually get to stay. There are things I have to go back for. I owe Zephyr a lot, just don't mistake that I'll be sticking around.

[telecosmetic]

[Wow, Eliza thinks that sounds horrible. It reminds her of B, a bit, and his own plan to go back and trick that detective rival of his...but he wasn't going back to a featureless plain.]

Do you think you'll be able to bring things back there, at least? So it's not just going back to that blank world?

[aibolition]

It's not entirely blank. It looks like a city. There's just no way in to any of the buildings.

I can't bring anything with me. But I can bring my mother back to her home when I go. I'm not going to explain to you the details, but it will make things better for me back in the city.

[telecosmetic]

[Man, no wonder he was so excited about everything when they first met. Eliza wants to know more, but it's pretty obvious he doesn't want to say more. She decides not to ask why Masaki was away from home in the first place.]

That's good. I'm happy things will be better for both of you then.

[aibolition]

Right. Sure. Did you really write a letter just to ask about all that?

[telecosmetic]

I was just curious, that's all. I didn't get a chance to ask about it after your mom showed up. And I figured a letter would be less extreme than just knocking on your door to ask about it.

[aibolition]

[... He has to admit. That reason is perfectly sound.]

Alright. That's fair. You win this time, Eliza.

[telecosmetic]

[Heeeee. She's not quite sure what else to add, so she just draws a scoreboard with both their faces and a "+1" on her side.] Anyway, thanks for answering. Good luck with bringing your mom home.

[aibolition]

[Despite himself, that garners a laugh from him. Thankfully, no one's around to see it.]

I don't need luck. I'm going to bring her home. :)

[telecosmetic]

[The old Owens charm works again! Still, it's not like there's much of a follow-up she can write to that.]

Alright. You don't mind me writing you again if I have other questions?

[aibolition]

Uh. Sure? I'm not promising answering them all, especially not if you're going to jam my mailbox with them, but otherwise knock yourself out I guess.

[telecosmetic]

[This is just a quick note on a smaller piece of paper.] Thanks! [And one last doodle of Eliza smacking herself in the head with an envelope.]

[aibolition]

[Chh. Weird girl, he thinks. He doesn't toss the note out.]