[two separate notes]

[dividedby]

X, Harpuia:

Seems I slept in.

Are you both okay?

- Zero

______________________________

[posted elsewhere on the board, left unsigned:]

Question--

I was told by someone that sleeping a lot means you'll 'disappear' soon. Is that true?

If it is, then what happens when you 'disappear'? Where do you go?

Comments

[maverickhunterx]

Oh, so that's what happened. I was a little worried.

I'm okay; I haven't seen Harpuia all day, though.

[dividedby]

Trust me, I didn't intend to sleep that long. It just happened.

He's around here somewhere. I saw his writing on the board.

[maverickhunterx]

Maybe you needed the rest. Human bodies are fragile, after all.

Oh, good. After last night, I at least wanted to check up on him to see if he was all right. I'm still sorry about that.

[dividedby]

I've heard it's not good to sleep too long in this place.

Don't worry. He's [pen taps and small illegible scratch out?] tougher than he looks.

[maverickhunterx]

Why? What happens if you sleep too long?

Yeah, you're right. I just can't help worrying, I guess. About both of you.

[dividedby]

You 'disappear', apparently. I don't know much beyond that.

There are more important things to be concerned with right now, the sick patients being one of them. Landel being another.

[maverickhunterx]

And what good are any of us to those patients, or against Landel if we don't look out for each other? Besides, both of you are my friends.

Though, how long has this sickness been going around, anyway?

[dividedby]

There's a difference between being actively concerned and worrying too much.

Only a few days so far. I don't know if it's been spreading or if only certain people have it. At the very least, it seems that there's a cure.

[maverickhunterx]

I think that's only in the eye of the beholder.

[A few dark spots sit on the page]

A cure that isn't readily available, obviously.

[lovesthepain]

I'm surprised you're even asking. I may be human, but I'm no less resilient than I used to be.

Though I wonder if the same can be said about you. Sleeping in? I can't say I expected that of you, Zero.

[dividedby]

And no less cocky, either.

I didn't mean to sleep in.

[lovesthepain]

I doubt you would find a few scratches worth complaining about either, Zero. Cockiness has nothing to do with it.

Ah, of course. You didn't mean to. That excuses your lack of discipline entirely, I'm sure.

[dividedby]

My bad. No less reckless, then.

So things that happen to human bodies beyond their control are considered 'lack of discipline' now? Thanks for informing me.

[lovesthepain]

There's nothing reckless about upholding my duty.

Do you really intend to use your body as an excuse to behave this pathetically? I certainly don't see any other humans around here having difficulty getting out of bed.

[dividedby]

There is when you take it as extremely as you do. Don't forget this isn't Neo Arcadia anymore.

Actually, it's more common here than you think. My last roommate spent a lot of his time sleeping and he's recently disappeared. It could be a bad sign.

[lovesthepain]

[One single pen tap.] That's a low blow, Zero.

You believe you're going to disappear as well?

[dividedby]

It's only the truth.

No, as long as this doesn't happen again.

[undisguised block print in response to second note]

[ryuuzaki]

Causation isn't correlation.

Most people who disappear are released. Some come back to visit after they've been cured.

[strike-out illegible]

[dividedby]

So not always, then.

'Cured'. Just like

Why does that happen?

(is sarcastic underlining a thing?)

[ryuuzaki]

No, not always.

We don't know how or why it happens, but there was a day almost three weeks ago when a number of people seemed to be cured. Dr. Landel seemed extremely optimistic about their condition, even before their improvement was established, if you understand what I mean. However, in spite of that, they were back to their usual state the next day.

I suppose Dr. Landel is always honest.

[it is now!]

[dividedby]

Huh. Didn't know about that.

Thanks.

[hesitant pen taps, then:] Is there any known way to cure the 'cure'?

[ryuuzaki]

Not to my knowledge. Not after release, although it seems that people sometimes relapse. They may or may not remember their previous stay.

[dividedby]

I see.

[There was something else written here, but it's been scratched out entirely.]

to the second note.

[purgatio]

From information I've gained, there's the potential to cease to exist. Or even lose the self you were, and be remade into another.

As well as simply be brainwashed into believing what's given here.

[dividedby]

Cease to exist?

Do you know any reason why?