Sage the Trustworthy [CLSMP]

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

it's me, s̸̛̠̓p̴̣̏a̷͙͑̏r̴͕̾͐r̷̭͒̏o̸̲̾̓w̸͉̃.

[the tone of her voice is distant and distorted, almost dreamlike]

i don't know how long it's been. are you doing alright?

An enemy then. So be it.

"Sparrow? I- I don't know how long it's been either. I tried tracking meal cycles but before I got my notebook it was- hard. It's been weeks though, maybe months, I know that for sure." There's something about Sparrow's tone... The boy from Sea Life who was Sparrow's friend and confidant is still somewhere inside him, crying that- that something is wrong with Sparrow, that he should be concerned. No matter the cruelty.

"I'm- I'm doing about as well as I could be. Are- are you okay? What's happening to you?"

i'm in a sort of stasis. self-induced, for the most part. no need to worry. the scientists won't be able to get any data on me no matter what they do to my body.

...

[quiet, frustrated] i'm sorry i couldn't get you out. i thought—nevermind.

have you been able to access the in between? see anyone else?

There's a twinge of jealousy as she explains her 'stasis'. A passing bitterness that Sparrow can just- trance this terrible middle time away, when he's forced to endure every moment of it.

He just shuts his eyes at the reminder of her promise to get him out. It's not worth thinking about. What- what's one more broken promise from Sparrow, right?

"No I-." His voice cracks. "I've been stuck in here. I don't even know what- what happened after I died, except for-." His voice stalls at the thought of the death loop he'd thrown himself into. The pain and blissful absence, over and over and over again. But he'll be dammed if he ever lets himself be vulnerable in front of Sparrow again. So he pivots.

"Can you still access the in-between?"

...i don't know. everywhere is so much more difficult to reach. the paths are hidden from me. i didn't even know if this would be able to reach you—redstone inc is able to do something to block me from everyone else. something with the f̸̟̠̌i̴͙̺̓r̵͙͓̃̄e̷̘͖̕w̸̼̉̉à̶̯̦̇l̸̜̳̀̉l̵̗̮͆̊s̶̬̼̊

are you sure you've been doing okay? your c̴̮̿̎o̷̤͗͋d̵̘̰͆͘ę̷̪͒͝ isn't as bright as it used to be.

Sage almost snorts at the question. Yeah sure he's doing great stuck in a tiny cell with nothing to do and no windows and no knowledge of where his friends are or if they're safe and no way to get home. But in the end his shoulders just slump. He could almost pretend that Sparrow cared.

"There was an- incident, in the in-between after I died, that got me removed and taken here. And-... There are no windows, no sky here. Nothing to do but write in the one book they've given me and wait." He doesn't talk about flying, about dreaming of a beautiful night sky and flying with someone unknowable who he loves and adores in some other world. He doesn't talk about waking up with that itchy restless feeling and no way to fix it. Sparrow can't fix it this time, and even if she could... he doesn't know if he'd let her.

oh. void below, sage. i'm so sorry. i wish—i wish i could help. is there anything i can do? give you some plants, a book, anything?

"No." The response comes harsher and faster than even he expects, but he reals it back as he continues to speak.

"I- anything I want, you can't help with. And- I don't want to owe you anything going into the next game. It- it's going to be a fresh start. It's got to be."

He takes a breath. If he closes his eyes he can almost pretend he's back in the forests of the simulation. ...How far has he fallen for that to be what he longs for?

"I'm fine. Okay? I don't need your pity."

[hurt, but resigned] it's not—it's not pity. and you wouldn't owe me anything—you never have to owe me anything.

if that's what you want, though, i can leave you alone.

"I-" The part of him that's been alone, alone, ALONE- rebels at the thought of asking her to stop. Anyone is better than no one, right? But- if he talks to her any longer, he's going to do something stupid. Like forget that she can't be trusted.

"...That is what I want."

He ignores the taste of ash on his tongue. He's not lying. He's not.

okay. good luck in the next game. if it ever happens. i hope you get to see the sky soon.

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

it's me, s̸̛̠̓p̴̣̏a̷͙͑̏r̴͕̾͐r̷̭͒̏o̸̲̾̓w̸͉̃.

[the tone of her voice is distant and distorted, almost dreamlike]

i don't know how long it's been. are you doing alright?

An enemy then. So be it.

"Sparrow? I- I don't know how long it's been either. I tried tracking meal cycles but before I got my notebook it was- hard. It's been weeks though, maybe months, I know that for sure." There's something about Sparrow's tone... The boy from Sea Life who was Sparrow's friend and confidant is still somewhere inside him, crying that- that something is wrong with Sparrow, that he should be concerned. No matter the cruelty.

"I'm- I'm doing about as well as I could be. Are- are you okay? What's happening to you?"

i'm in a sort of stasis. self-induced, for the most part. no need to worry. the scientists won't be able to get any data on me no matter what they do to my body.

...

[quiet, frustrated] i'm sorry i couldn't get you out. i thought—nevermind.

have you been able to access the in between? see anyone else?

There's a twinge of jealousy as she explains her 'stasis'. A passing bitterness that Sparrow can just- trance this terrible middle time away, when he's forced to endure every moment of it.

He just shuts his eyes at the reminder of her promise to get him out. It's not worth thinking about. What- what's one more broken promise from Sparrow, right?

"No I-." His voice cracks. "I've been stuck in here. I don't even know what- what happened after I died, except for-." His voice stalls at the thought of the death loop he'd thrown himself into. The pain and blissful absence, over and over and over again. But he'll be dammed if he ever lets himself be vulnerable in front of Sparrow again. So he pivots.

"Can you still access the in-between?"

...i don't know. everywhere is so much more difficult to reach. the paths are hidden from me. i didn't even know if this would be able to reach you—redstone inc is able to do something to block me from everyone else. something with the f̸̟̠̌i̴͙̺̓r̵͙͓̃̄e̷̘͖̕w̸̼̉̉à̶̯̦̇l̸̜̳̀̉l̵̗̮͆̊s̶̬̼̊

are you sure you've been doing okay? your c̴̮̿̎o̷̤͗͋d̵̘̰͆͘ę̷̪͒͝ isn't as bright as it used to be.

Sage almost snorts at the question. Yeah sure he's doing great stuck in a tiny cell with nothing to do and no windows and no knowledge of where his friends are or if they're safe and no way to get home. But in the end his shoulders just slump. He could almost pretend that Sparrow cared.

"There was an- incident, in the in-between after I died, that got me removed and taken here. And-... There are no windows, no sky here. Nothing to do but write in the one book they've given me and wait." He doesn't talk about flying, about dreaming of a beautiful night sky and flying with someone unknowable who he loves and adores in some other world. He doesn't talk about waking up with that itchy restless feeling and no way to fix it. Sparrow can't fix it this time, and even if she could... he doesn't know if he'd let her.

oh. void below, sage. i'm so sorry. i wish—i wish i could help. is there anything i can do? give you some plants, a book, anything?

"No." The response comes harsher and faster than even he expects, but he reals it back as he continues to speak.

"I- anything I want, you can't help with. And- I don't want to owe you anything going into the next game. It- it's going to be a fresh start. It's got to be."

He takes a breath. If he closes his eyes he can almost pretend he's back in the forests of the simulation. ...How far has he fallen for that to be what he longs for?

"I'm fine. Okay? I don't need your pity."

[hurt, but resigned] it's not—it's not pity. and you wouldn't owe me anything—you never have to owe me anything.

if that's what you want, though, i can leave you alone.

"I-" The part of him that's been alone, alone, ALONE- rebels at the thought of asking her to stop. Anyone is better than no one, right? But- if he talks to her any longer, he's going to do something stupid. Like forget that she can't be trusted.

"...That is what I want."

He ignores the taste of ash on his tongue. He's not lying. He's not.

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

it's me, s̸̛̠̓p̴̣̏a̷͙͑̏r̴͕̾͐r̷̭͒̏o̸̲̾̓w̸͉̃.

[the tone of her voice is distant and distorted, almost dreamlike]

i don't know how long it's been. are you doing alright?

An enemy then. So be it.

"Sparrow? I- I don't know how long it's been either. I tried tracking meal cycles but before I got my notebook it was- hard. It's been weeks though, maybe months, I know that for sure." There's something about Sparrow's tone... The boy from Sea Life who was Sparrow's friend and confidant is still somewhere inside him, crying that- that something is wrong with Sparrow, that he should be concerned. No matter the cruelty.

"I'm- I'm doing about as well as I could be. Are- are you okay? What's happening to you?"

i'm in a sort of stasis. self-induced, for the most part. no need to worry. the scientists won't be able to get any data on me no matter what they do to my body.

...

[quiet, frustrated] i'm sorry i couldn't get you out. i thought—nevermind.

have you been able to access the in between? see anyone else?

There's a twinge of jealousy as she explains her 'stasis'. A passing bitterness that Sparrow can just- trance this terrible middle time away, when he's forced to endure every moment of it.

He just shuts his eyes at the reminder of her promise to get him out. It's not worth thinking about. What- what's one more broken promise from Sparrow, right?

"No I-." His voice cracks. "I've been stuck in here. I don't even know what- what happened after I died, except for-." His voice stalls at the thought of the death loop he'd thrown himself into. The pain and blissful absence, over and over and over again. But he'll be dammed if he ever lets himself be vulnerable in front of Sparrow again. So he pivots.

"Can you still access the in-between?"

...i don't know. everywhere is so much more difficult to reach. the paths are hidden from me. i didn't even know if this would be able to reach you—redstone inc is able to do something to block me from everyone else. something with the f̸̟̠̌i̴͙̺̓r̵͙͓̃̄e̷̘͖̕w̸̼̉̉à̶̯̦̇l̸̜̳̀̉l̵̗̮͆̊s̶̬̼̊

are you sure you've been doing okay? your c̴̮̿̎o̷̤͗͋d̵̘̰͆͘ę̷̪͒͝ isn't as bright as it used to be.

Sage almost snorts at the question. Yeah sure he's doing great stuck in a tiny cell with nothing to do and no windows and no knowledge of where his friends are or if they're safe and no way to get home. But in the end his shoulders just slump. He could almost pretend that Sparrow cared.

"There was an- incident, in the in-between after I died, that got me removed and taken here. And-... There are no windows, no sky here. Nothing to do but write in the one book they've given me and wait." He doesn't talk about flying, about dreaming of a beautiful night sky and flying with someone unknowable who he loves and adores in some other world. He doesn't talk about waking up with that itchy restless feeling and no way to fix it. Sparrow can't fix it this time, and even if she could... he doesn't know if he'd let her.

oh. void below, sage. i'm so sorry. i wish—i wish i could help. is there anything i can do? give you some plants, a book, anything?

"No." The response comes harsher and faster than even he expects, but he reals it back as he continues to speak.

"I- anything I want, you can't help with. And- I don't want to owe you anything going into the next game. It- it's going to be a fresh start. It's got to be."

He takes a breath. If he closes his eyes he can almost pretend he's back in the forests of the simulation. ...How far has he fallen for that to be what he longs for?

"I'm fine. Okay? I don't need your pity."

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

it's me, s̸̛̠̓p̴̣̏a̷͙͑̏r̴͕̾͐r̷̭͒̏o̸̲̾̓w̸͉̃.

[the tone of her voice is distant and distorted, almost dreamlike]

i don't know how long it's been. are you doing alright?

An enemy then. So be it.

"Sparrow? I- I don't know how long it's been either. I tried tracking meal cycles but before I got my notebook it was- hard. It's been weeks though, maybe months, I know that for sure." There's something about Sparrow's tone... The boy from Sea Life who was Sparrow's friend and confidant is still somewhere inside him, crying that- that something is wrong with Sparrow, that he should be concerned. No matter the cruelty.

"I'm- I'm doing about as well as I could be. Are- are you okay? What's happening to you?"

i'm in a sort of stasis. self-induced, for the most part. no need to worry. the scientists won't be able to get any data on me no matter what they do to my body.

...

[quiet, frustrated] i'm sorry i couldn't get you out. i thought—nevermind.

have you been able to access the in between? see anyone else?

There's a twinge of jealousy as she explains her 'stasis'. A passing bitterness that Sparrow can just- trance this terrible middle time away, when he's forced to endure every moment of it.

He just shuts his eyes at the reminder of her promise to get him out. It's not worth thinking about. What- what's one more broken promise from Sparrow, right?

"No I-." His voice cracks. "I've been stuck in here. I don't even know what- what happened after I died, except for-." His voice stalls at the thought of the death loop he'd thrown himself into. The pain and blissful absence, over and over and over again. But he'll be dammed if he ever lets himself be vulnerable in front of Sparrow again. So he pivots.

"Can you still access the in-between?"

...i don't know. everywhere is so much more difficult to reach. the paths are hidden from me. i didn't even know if this would be able to reach you—redstone inc is able to do something to block me from everyone else. something with the f̸̟̠̌i̴͙̺̓r̵͙͓̃̄e̷̘͖̕w̸̼̉̉à̶̯̦̇l̸̜̳̀̉l̵̗̮͆̊s̶̬̼̊

are you sure you've been doing okay? your c̴̮̿̎o̷̤͗͋d̵̘̰͆͘ę̷̪͒͝ isn't as bright as it used to be.

Sage almost snorts at the question. Yeah sure he's doing great stuck in a tiny cell with nothing to do and no windows and no knowledge of where his friends are or if they're safe and no way to get home. But in the end his shoulders just slump. He could almost pretend that Sparrow cared.

"There was an- incident, in the in-between after I died, that got me removed and taken here. And-... There are no windows, no sky here. Nothing to do but write in the one book they've given me and wait." He doesn't talk about flying, about dreaming of a beautiful night sky and flying with someone unknowable who he loves and adores in some other world. He doesn't talk about waking up with that itchy restless feeling and no way to fix it. Sparrow can't fix it this time, and even if she could... he doesn't know if he'd let her.

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

it's me, s̸̛̠̓p̴̣̏a̷͙͑̏r̴͕̾͐r̷̭͒̏o̸̲̾̓w̸͉̃.

[the tone of her voice is distant and distorted, almost dreamlike]

i don't know how long it's been. are you doing alright?

An enemy then. So be it.

"Sparrow? I- I don't know how long it's been either. I tried tracking meal cycles but before I got my notebook it was- hard. It's been weeks though, maybe months, I know that for sure." There's something about Sparrow's tone... The boy from Sea Life who was Sparrow's friend and confidant is still somewhere inside him, crying that- that something is wrong with Sparrow, that he should be concerned. No matter the cruelty.

"I'm- I'm doing about as well as I could be. Are- are you okay? What's happening to you?"

i'm in a sort of stasis. self-induced, for the most part. no need to worry. the scientists won't be able to get any data on me no matter what they do to my body.

...

[quiet, frustrated] i'm sorry i couldn't get you out. i thought—nevermind.

have you been able to access the in between? see anyone else?

There's a twinge of jealousy as she explains her 'stasis'. A passing bitterness that Sparrow can just- trance this terrible middle time away, when he's forced to endure every moment of it.

He just shuts his eyes at the reminder of her promise to get him out. It's not worth thinking about. What- what's one more broken promise from Sparrow, right?

"No I-." His voice cracks. "I've been stuck in here. I don't even know what- what happened after I died, except for-." His voice stalls at the thought of the death loop he'd thrown himself into. The pain and blissful absence, over and over and over again. But he'll be dammed if he ever lets himself be vulnerable in front of Sparrow again. So he pivots.

"Can you still access the in-between?"

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

it's me, s̸̛̠̓p̴̣̏a̷͙͑̏r̴͕̾͐r̷̭͒̏o̸̲̾̓w̸͉̃.

[the tone of her voice is distant and distorted, almost dreamlike]

i don't know how long it's been. are you doing alright?

An enemy then. So be it.

"Sparrow? I- I don't know how long it's been either. I tried tracking meal cycles but before I got my notebook it was- hard. It's been weeks though, maybe months, I know that for sure." There's something about Sparrow's tone... The boy from Sea Life who was Sparrow's friend and confidant is still somewhere inside him, crying that- that something is wrong with Sparrow, that he should be concerned. No matter the cruelty.

"I'm- I'm doing about as well as I could be. Are- are you okay? What's happening to you?"

#clsmp #community life smp #sage the trustworthy #sage the trustworthy asks

sage? are you there?

i don't know if this will reach you

Sage's head jerks up from his notebook at the crackling of the speaker. It- it's been weeks, since anyone other than a Redstone Inc Employee spoke to him, he had started to fear that- that they'd cut him off again.

He's not going to let this go to waste if he can help it, but- the low quality of the speaker makes it hard to tell who's there.

"Hello? I- I'm there, you've reached me! Who- Who is it?" Please god let it be a friend. I'm so tired of enemies.

....sage? i'm sorry i couldn't get you. i tried, i swear i did, but—

i failed. you and beetle, i failed both of you. i'm sorry.

"...Sparrow?" He doesn't know whether to believe her. Doesn't- doesn't know if this is genuine or if she 'tried' the same way that she was 'being held hostage' by Trizzin. ...He's long since found that he can't trust his own judgement when it comes to her. Can't ever tell if she is lying or not. Not- not for certain.

"It's fine. It- it's what I expected anyway. Right? I'm never getting out of here. Not unless I play by- unless I play by their rules."

He smiles bitterly. "I guess you were right. In the end. It- It's all a fucking game."

they found a way to keep me from the others' cells, so... yeah. i don't think you'll make it out until the experiments end.

i'm sorry.

#clsmp #community life smp #sage the trustworthy #sage the trustworthy asks

....sage? i'm sorry i couldn't get you. i tried, i swear i did, but—

i failed. you and beetle, i failed both of you. i'm sorry.

"...Sparrow?" He doesn't know whether to believe her. Doesn't- doesn't know if this is genuine or if she 'tried' the same way that she was 'being held hostage' by Trizzin. ...He's long since found that he can't trust his own judgement when it comes to her. Can't ever tell if she is lying or not. Not- not for certain.

"It's fine. It- it's what I expected anyway. Right? I'm never getting out of here. Not unless I play by- unless I play by their rules."

He smiles bitterly. "I guess you were right. In the end. It- It's all a fucking game."

It's strange how not fully forgetting the way all of us were gathered here together during these games throws everything off balance, I should've hated you guys; especially Radio. And yet, the hate has no place to flourish within my heart for I've witnessed everything you went through, I can't bring myself to ever hate you, for as long the Babstle stays standing in the now abandoned world, I will watch you without malice no matter the pains you may put me through in the future. - X

"Xarius... I- I am sorry. For what we did to you. Even if- even if it was revenge for Ster, it wasn't... it wasn't what I wanted to be."

The mention of the Babstle brings a sheen of tears to his eyes. The longing for that more simple time... well. It's not worth thinking about. He's never going to see the Babstle again.

"I-" ...He almost starts to promise that he won't hurt him in the future but- he bites down on the words before he can. ...He can't promise anything, in the games. Not if he wants to win. Not if he wants to get home.

"I- I don't want to hurt you. ...I hope I won't have to. In the future."

#clsmp #community life smp #sage the trustworthy #sage the trustworthy asks

I didn’t realize they let some of you guys back out. But from the sounds of things, it hasn’t been a happy return back. Not that it ever could…

I can’t guarantee anything, but…I’m hoping you can find some sort of peace before they send you all back in. —Silver

Sage's eyes widen, as he recognizes the voice speaking, even through the distortion of the speaker system. "Silver?!

I- I don't think they took me out of the simulation willingly. I kind of... forced their hand.

But how are you speaking to me? Are you still in the games? What- what happened after I died?"

He bites down on his questions. He's been so starved for any sort of interaction, any familiarity, that its easy to forget that Silver was... his enemy? In the last game? Was she? It- it's all so complicated. Does any of that matter? Now that its over?

"I- I think peace is hard to come by. Even outside the games."

The idea of another game... Sage knows its going to happen. Can't image a world where they don't continue. But- its still unpleasant to think about. Even if he would be grateful to see the sky again. ...Grateful to see the people he cares about again.

silver-clsmp

Soft laughter drifts through the speaker, with the slightest tinge of saddness to it.

“Ah, I see. I’ve heard whisperings whenever they take me for treatments. But I wasn’t sure.

Regarding your questions…”

There’s a brief pause, as if she’s debating how to even answer.

“…I was told there’d be a microphone and that they wanted people to speak to you again. Like I said, I’ve got no clue what they’ve been doing to you, but it sounds like it’s been horrible.

The rest…I’m afraid isn’t a question I can answer. It’s…complicated, to say the least.”

She sighs, shifting slightly behind the mike.

“…even if it’s hard to come by, I can’t wish anything but peace for you. For everybody inside the simulation, trapped within this cycle.”

"...Thank you. I suppose."

Hello, little bird! Are you comfortable? Can you hear us now?

Sage's head whips up at the voice coming through the speakers, desperate for any sort of break to the monotony of isolation.

"I- comfortable? No. I hate it here. But- I can hear you, now. Who- who are you?"

I’m—

[The voice halts, faltering, the faint crackling of the speakers punctuating the silence as they seriously consider which identity to portray]

We’ve spoken before. But I’m not in the games.

[Yeah— yeah. Riddles! Riddles are good— ominous, vague, all that important shit. It would leave them enough time to figure out why they acted on impulse by reaching out]

"You- you did the interview. Didn't you?"

Sage asks, finally putting together the similarities in voice between this one and the one who first asked him questions, despite the crackling audio of the speakers

"Why- why are you talking to me? This isn't part of the interview. That was days ago. What- what do you guys want from me?"

I can’t speak for all of us, but I want to learn about you.

And— well— it’s kind of sad? Observing you lose yourself to isolation? It isn’t fun or scientifically productive.

Sage just laughs bitterly.

"Yeah I- I'm sure it's real sad for you guys, having to watch us suffer. You poor things, I just don't know how you've coped."

His voice is dripping with sarcasm, but- it doesn't have as much bite, as it should. ...he's just tired, of it all. He doesn't have the energy right now to muster up the hatred that used to come so easily to him.

You keep talking like I’m not the only voice coming through the speaker right now. It’s just me, Sage.

And I’m not— you make me sound so evil.

[ They chuckle, and the gentle sound of a pen clicking nervously can be heard in the background.]

Like I’m some villain. I’m not! I swear!

"Evil? Maybe not. But- you're a redstone inc employee right? You know whats been happening to us? You're complicit in- in these games. Games which I was kidnapped for. Where I've been forced to fight and kill and die-. " It's clear he's not talking as if you're just you, but as if you're-. Well. You're as close to 'Redstone Inc' as he can get to from in his cell. He doesn't have anyone else to blame.

"I- I'm tired. You should go, I don't want to talk anymore."

…Okay! I’ll be back later, yeah? Rest well, your highness.

Hello, little bird! Are you comfortable? Can you hear us now?

Sage's head whips up at the voice coming through the speakers, desperate for any sort of break to the monotony of isolation.

"I- comfortable? No. I hate it here. But- I can hear you, now. Who- who are you?"

I’m—

[The voice halts, faltering, the faint crackling of the speakers punctuating the silence as they seriously consider which identity to portray]

We’ve spoken before. But I’m not in the games.

[Yeah— yeah. Riddles! Riddles are good— ominous, vague, all that important shit. It would leave them enough time to figure out why they acted on impulse by reaching out]

"You- you did the interview. Didn't you?"

Sage asks, finally putting together the similarities in voice between this one and the one who first asked him questions, despite the crackling audio of the speakers

"Why- why are you talking to me? This isn't part of the interview. That was days ago. What- what do you guys want from me?"

I can’t speak for all of us, but I want to learn about you.

And— well— it’s kind of sad? Observing you lose yourself to isolation? It isn’t fun or scientifically productive.

Sage just laughs bitterly.

"Yeah I- I'm sure it's real sad for you guys, having to watch us suffer. You poor things, I just don't know how you've coped."

His voice is dripping with sarcasm, but- it doesn't have as much bite, as it should. ...he's just tired, of it all. He doesn't have the energy right now to muster up the hatred that used to come so easily to him.

You keep talking like I’m not the only voice coming through the speaker right now. It’s just me, Sage.

And I’m not— you make me sound so evil.

[ They chuckle, and the gentle sound of a pen clicking nervously can be heard in the background.]

Like I’m some villain. I’m not! I swear!

"Evil? Maybe not. But- you're a redstone inc employee right? You know whats been happening to us? You're complicit in- in these games. Games which I was kidnapped for. Where I've been forced to fight and kill and die-. " It's clear he's not talking as if you're just you, but as if you're-. Well. You're as close to 'Redstone Inc' as he can get to from in his cell. He doesn't have anyone else to blame.

"I- I'm tired. You should go, I don't want to talk anymore."

#clsmp #community life smp #sage the trustworthy #sage the trustworthy asks

Careful now. Don't want to become a shadow of yourself, like I did. Stay sane Young King. My other half won't remember this, won't remember you. But I do. And I will. I won't be able to help you. Not in my current state. But I can remember. Be kind to Astrin for me

-Auri

His mind has to be playing tricks on him. If- if he didn't know better, he'd say the voice he's hearing was Astrin. Or- was the part of Astrin that he killed, even unintentionally. But it can't be. So- it must be something else. Right?

"...I'm already a shadow of myself. I'm- I've already lost myself in this. In the games, in this cell. But- I'll be kind to Astrin. Or- I'll try."

He owes him that much, after what Sage did.

Hello, little bird! Are you comfortable? Can you hear us now?

Sage's head whips up at the voice coming through the speakers, desperate for any sort of break to the monotony of isolation.

"I- comfortable? No. I hate it here. But- I can hear you, now. Who- who are you?"

I’m—

[The voice halts, faltering, the faint crackling of the speakers punctuating the silence as they seriously consider which identity to portray]

We’ve spoken before. But I’m not in the games.

[Yeah— yeah. Riddles! Riddles are good— ominous, vague, all that important shit. It would leave them enough time to figure out why they acted on impulse by reaching out]

"You- you did the interview. Didn't you?"

Sage asks, finally putting together the similarities in voice between this one and the one who first asked him questions, despite the crackling audio of the speakers

"Why- why are you talking to me? This isn't part of the interview. That was days ago. What- what do you guys want from me?"

I can’t speak for all of us, but I want to learn about you.

And— well— it’s kind of sad? Observing you lose yourself to isolation? It isn’t fun or scientifically productive.