Video;

[satsujinki]

[Standing in the rain, Shiki stood in front of a ruined castle. His communicator was soaked, the audio a little distorted and the video a little blurry. Not minding this at all, he could be heard walking under a little bit of cover, just to get out of the rain. The steam from his breaths could be seen and his voice sounded somewhat hoarse, as if he'd just been screaming for awhile.]

I wonder. If I killed enough soldiers, would I get sent back? How much would I have to kill for these people for the world to decide my ticket here is up?

Maybe if I volunteered for a lobotomy, I'd be able to work with this.

[Shiki fell onto his backside, setting his comm down and watched the ruins awhile longer.]

Comments

Private permavid

[showmeyourwreath]

[There are too many wrong things happening here.] Don't talk about yourself like that.

video; private

[5055034455]

[So.

This is worrying.

Saul looks worried. He doesn't like that he looks worried, but — ]

Where the hell are you? Is that a castle?

[satsujinki]

I don't mind it, anymore. [Shiki gestured to the almost entirely piecemeal remains of a few castle walls. At best, one could only tell it was even a castle once because of the pattern of the thick stone bricks.]

I'd wear down, anyway. My name was picked out of a hat, so I've got to comply and deal with this reality. Haven't you done that already?

[satsujinki]

What's left of one. There are tons of these lying around in these wastelands.

Mostly everything is dust and mud, but some of these stones are tough to break down so much. Only stone could last this long.

[voice]

[highfrequency]

There is more to war than just killing.... Especially if you are fighting a super power like the United Earth Empire.

[His voice is morose.]

[5055034455]

Huh. How far is that from the Hold?

[Trying to get directions without explicitly asking for them? Yes.]

[showmeyourwreath]

I don't know about that. I think most of us are wearing down in some ways, even if we try to keep going, but there's a difference between accepting that and making the best of it and resigning yourself to breaking down. Please, don't give up on yourself, Shiki. You don't have to do this on your own.

[lazyinlove]

tough day?

audio;

[isnotalone]

Talking like that, and doing any of that will not do any good. None of us know what reason or when we will be returned back home. The only thing we can do is wait it out and try to do our best to survive until then.

[All said rather harshly, but she thought that being blunt might be best method to use. Yet, it won't take long for her voice to soften though.]

Getting yourself needlessly into danger isn't the best method to use during these tough times. I'm certain your friends won't feel too happy to see you trying to get yourself into trouble like this neither. [A short pause.] ...why don't we talk for a little bit? It might help, even if it's for a little bit. [Then she wonders.] Choose a topic, okay? I'll listen to anything you like to talk about.

[satsujinki]

The quicker I get whittled down, the most likely I live through this and see it to the end.

I don't care how it happens.

[satsujinki]

Days. It took me a long time to find anything that wasn't just sand.

[satsujinki]

In the end, it's killing. That's something I can do, I guess. Whether they employ any other strategies isn't my business, but if I'm needed to do any killing, I don't think I have a choice.

[satsujinki]

No. Once you settle in, I imagine it gets easier.

[lazyinlove]

Sort of.

[showmeyourwreath]

But for what? There'll be nothing left of who you are at the end. You can't want that for yourself.

[And neither does she.]

[satsujinki]

I don't think we've really met. 'Danger' is a pointless word to use with me. [Almost constantly on the brink of an explosive brain anneurysm, Shiki could care less about wandering the wastelands for days. If anything, it was easier fighting a barren place instead of a country rife with the undead.]

And, no, I don't think small talk is going to make a difference. I don't think I want any friends here.

[satsujinki]

You don't know the decisions I've made and who I am. You don't know if it's for the best.

You're just delusional.

[satsujinki]

You've waved your flag too, huh?

[lazyinlove]

[Oh, man. Metaphors are hard when you're stoned. He hesitates for a moment, and decides to go along with it.]

nah just hoping it blows over.

[5055034455]

[oh god damn it]

...how'd you get all the way out there?

[highfrequency]

What do you mean?

[satsujinki]

...Walking. [He was a madman, if anything. Not many people would blindly wander the wastelands alone.]

[satsujinki]

Killing your enemy to the last man.

[satsujinki]

That won't work long at all.

[Bleak bleak. Shiki used to feel things like hope.]

[5055034455]

[Of course. Why is Saul surprised?]

You should maybe consider starting the trek back now, I think.