[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

[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.

[lovesthepain]

Then you must realize that I have nothing to lose. Even if escape were to become possible, I can't go back to Neo Arcadia. That entitles me to a little recklessness, don't you think?

All the more reason to see that it doesn't, then. I don't enjoy being disappointed, Zero, especially not by you.

[dividedby]

I think your Master X would disagree.

[Something else was written here about Neo Arcadia...but Zero has wisely scratched that out. Information better saved for another time.]

...I've noticed. I'm more concerned with trying to figure out where these people are disappearing to, and why.

[lovesthepain]

Master X's kindness alone doesn't absolve me of anything.

These individuals who sleep through most of the day... is it safe to presume they sleep through the night as well?

[dividedby]

Maybe. But getting yourself killed for nothing won't change anything, either.

Yeah, I think some of them have.

[lovesthepain]

I don't take action unless I'm prepared for the consequences, Zero. I'm not afraid of death, but I'm also not stupid. I won't die pointlessly, but my life will always be a lower priority than the lives of those I exist to protect.

We don't have enough information to declare anything fact, but if that's the case... we can at least consider it unlikely that those few are being deliberately silenced. The passive would present the least threat to this place.

[strike-out...maybe purposefully sort of legible]

[dividedby]

I know you aren't stupid usually. Just don't forget that humans are fragile, and you can't afford to get injured if you want to protect anyone.

I don't think he's silencing them. I wonder if it's [pen taps] a way for him to choose which of his 'stock' is worth keeping...

[gee thanks zero you're such a pal]

[lovesthepain]

You really believe a little pain is going to deter me?

Culling, rather than silencing? If the struggle itself is what he's interested in, then that may make sense. If the end result is what matters more... it's possible that those who sleep more are simply more vulnerable to being "cured?"

[he just wants to show how much he cares, bro]

[dividedby]

When you keep getting injured night after night? Eventually, yes. It will.

Maybe. It would help if there was some pattern in the victims, but two I knew personally - my last roommate and a young girl - didn't seem to have much in common.

[ew who needs Zero caring about them gross]

[lovesthepain]

I [a single pen tap.] acknowledge your concern, Zero, but aren't you pushing the point a little too strongly? I don't need sympathy from you.

There's no use speculating when we only have a fraction of the picture. If it's possible that it could happen to anyone, then that's all the more reason to be vigilant. The more prepared we are, the better.

[More pen taps.] On that note... tell me your room number.

[shh let Zero fulfill his dreams of being the ultimate stoic care bear]

[dividedby]

...I don't see how teaching you common sense is sympathy, but fine. You know best.

Point taken.

M79. Where are you and X?

[Brickheart Bear?]

[lovesthepain]

Did you forget which Guardian you're talking to? I hardly think I can be accused of lacking common sense.

I'm in M3, though I don't know where Master X's room is yet. I'd meant to ask last night, but we didn't have much time for small talk. I intend to try again tonight; if we're going to make a regular thing out of each other's company, we may as well make it easier to meet up.

[THE BEST BEAR]

[dividedby]

As far as I'm concerned, you're all the same to me.

Alright. Let me know once you've asked him. Out of the three of us, he's the one who definitely shouldn't be running off on his own.

[MORE LIKE THE RUDEST]

[lovesthepain]

I suppose the color-coding was a little too subtle for you to grasp?

Agreed. I'll be better suited to guard him once I'm properly armed. Until then... I suppose I have no choice but to keep relying on you.

[PROBLEM, HARPUIA? also poor attempt at making strike outs illegible again]

[dividedby]

Just because you're all different colors doesn't mean you all don't say the same things or are reckless or tried to kill me at some point.

You have to rely on me, huh? I'm so flattered.

[uh Zero who hasn't tried to kill you let's be real here]

[lovesthepain]

Is that really what you think?

Believe me, Zero, I will never rely on you by choice. Desperate times require desperate measures.

[Uh....Ciel? Ciel hasn--oh wait..../cue that fanart of her punching him into the sky]

[dividedby]

Perhaps.

Nice to know I'm such a desperate last measure to you. I suppose those times I helped you out don't count for anything, right?

[clearly violence is just how people say they care in the future]

[lovesthepain]

If that's true, then should you really be so relaxed? There's simply no way to tell if I'm one of the ones that still wants you dead, is there?

Equally desperate measures. I never asked to be saved by you.

[23XX: violence, short androgynous teenagers, and midriff baring]

[dividedby]

Whoever said I fully trust you?

Oh. Okay. So next time you're in trouble, I'll just leave you to die.

[23XX: secretly an 80s movie?]

[lovesthepain]

How unfair of you, Zero. I trust you.

But not before a lengthy chastising on how I should take better care of myself? Your words and your actions don't quite seem to be lining up.

[I knew it.......]

[dividedby]

Really.

That was before I found out that helping you was such a horrible, terrible desperate measure.

[TWO REPLOIDS ENTER ONE REPLOID LEAVES]

[lovesthepain]

I see no reason to lie.

You're certainly being dramatic about it. Did I hurt your feelings, Zero?

[Thunderdome: the real method Copy used to solve the energy crisis]

[dividedby]

I can think of a few reasons.

You're calling me dramatic when you're the one who treats being helped like the end of the world?