Day 68: PUBLIC CHANNEL

[mylastchance]

This is late, but... I wanted to apologize to the people I put in danger with my reckless behavior.

At the library I acted without thought. I don't know the details of what happened afterwards, but some of it was probably my fault.


I'm sorry.

Comments

[starseedling]

What happened to you?

[Steven was never totally sure. He felt something empathically, but after being captured himself he was never allowed back into that area.]

[mylastchance]

[He doesn't even know if he can explain it.]

I was buried.

[And he knows that's probably not even the answer Steven is looking for, but what else can he say? The endless suffocation, the pressure, the darkness, and then the growing, all of it feel impossible to describe.]

...I guess I look a bit different now.

[He's more curious about what happened to Steven honestly.]

They weren't able to help you, were they.

[starseedling]

She got me, but... everyone else got me out again. Obviously, I guess. And...

[He's trying to find the words to say. He kind of thought it might be something like that, he knows it's something the Rose Queen does.]

...I'm sorry that happened to you. I know how it feels.

[mylastchance]

[Unsurprisingly, it doesn't make him feel better to know someone else has gone through the same experience. He wants to apologize back, but knows the words would be useless. And he'd already apologized, in some sense. Better not to get stuck in that kind of loop.]

Thank you.

[Still there is something he could offer, though it feels embarrassing to even mention it. He doesn't even know Steven that well, but still.]

I'm not good at talking about things, but I can listen, if you ever need it.

[starseedling]

[Steven is quiet for a brief period, trying to decide what to say. Eventually, he settles on this:]

Could we meet up in person?

[He doesn't know if talking about it on the radio would be very good.]

[mylastchance]

[Lauren nods, even if Steven can't see it. Then he realizes being in an unfamiliar forest might actually make this difficult...]

Um... Where are you?

[spaghettimonster]

Well... It all worked out, well enough. Nobody died.

[That's the regrettable metric for success around here.]

I'm sure you won't do it again.

[mylastchance]

[He absolutely will not be doing it again. Not if he can help it at least.]

I owe you thanks too. You tried to help Susan. Besides that you came with Carly to get me.

[spaghettimonster]

That's true! I didn't want to leave you behind. So, when we had to... I was first in line to un-leave you.

[Maybe more like second or third. Susan hadn't wanted to stay in the carnival, Hinawa had been adamant, and Carly lead the whole thing.]

[mylastchance]

[It's certainly a funny way to put it, unfortunately it doesn't even get a laugh from him now.]

Well. I appreciate it.

[spaghettimonster]

[Maybe it'll be funnier later, or maybe something else will come along to lighten the mood.]

I would say anytime, but we already agree it won't happen again. So, just take the spirit of the offer.

[mylastchance]

[That gets a small smile, at least.]

People like you don't exist back home.


It would be a kinder place if they did.

[spaghettimonster]

It's true... I hear it all the time.

[He's bragging, but sincere as well; there's a lot of people working at the carnival who've said things like that. Probably something to do with the carnival tending to be staffed by people who are running away from unpleasant situations.]

But you never know... They might get it in their heads to be more like me any time. It's hard work, being so kind, but I'm sure anybody can be kinder. If they try.

[mylastchance]

[Kind and a braggart. An interesting combination.]

Maybe that's why they don't. It takes effort.

[spaghettimonster]

Hmm... You may be onto something there.

[He can't argue it; people who don't want to work hard don't do the difficult things, even when those are more rewarding.]

[hippocarnival]

I'm glad they got you out. [He doesn't have much to say on the apology, having missed that entire ordeal. But at least he's okay.]

[mylastchance]

...Me too.

[Would he still be trapped beneath the ground now if they hadn't? He shakes the thought away.]

It wasn't... pleasant.