IC Contact; Exsilium

[debtor]

TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION

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[wilder]

[a pause]

Nothing like the city we knew.

It's all small villages now. I haven't found anything that seems familiar.

[debtor]

[No, but - how is that possible...]

Nothing?

Not the people? The Initiative?

[wilder]

No one I recognize.

There's rumors some version of the Initiative exists, but...the locals really don't like talking about it. We're still looking into whether or not they still really exist.

[debtor]

[It's a few minutes before he responds.]

All this, it was our doing?

[wilder]

[There's a pause before he answers]

Yeah, it was.

1/2

[debtor]

[They've brought something back. But what, exactly?

The city... The people who lived there, have they simply moved to the towns, or...

He's starting to feel a bit sick.]

Let me know what you find, please.

[debtor]

The Initiative, it must still be there.

[wilder]

[he wonders if Allen is reaching the same conclusion he did awhile back: that their meddling with the timeline went hand-in-hand with erasing people. He had kept it to himself because he knew it would hurt Allen, especially when they had no other means to make things better]

[Just like he's keeping quiet about it now]

I will.

And I'm sure they are. Not everyone can be happy living in this frozen wasteland.

[debtor]

[It's a possibility he has difficulty even considering. He can't bring himself to ask.

Instead:]

We should have thought to pick up winter coats on one of our missions.

[wilder]

[Yes good, focus on a not so important detail]

Oh, yeah. That was an oversight.

Let's do that when I get back, okay?

[Except you'll get canon bumped and run off and WE"LL NEVER GET PROPER WINTER COATS]

[debtor]

[When all else fails, LEVITY.

shh, shh, no idea what you're talking about]

All right. Coats and gloves. I gave my winter gloves to Cat... [ for donuts. ]

[wilder]

Hm? Why'd you do that?

[The kid was pretty resourceful not to be without...]

[debtor]

She was trading food for valuable items.

[wilder]

[...]

Allen.

[debtor]

[Is that 'Allen.' as in, 'I really admire your bartering prowess, Allen.'?]

She had doughnuts and pizza!

[wilder]

[no]

Oh wow. What a steal.

[debtor]

It was! You don't understand. I can't survive on these rations alone, Kaneis, I'm not like you. What good would winter gloves do me if I starved before returning to Earth!

[wilder]

Survive on these rations alone like me? Dude, you've been eating my rations too.

Is there seriously no way you can cut down on your food consumption?

[debtor]

You don't need them.

I've been trying! I've had to cut back my training drastically, already.

[wilder]

Yeah, but maybe I miss eating meals like a normal person.

Uh huh. Well keep at it, if we end up settling in this winter wonderland, I doubt food's gonna be in endless supply.

Also, your winter clothing is coming out of your money.

[debtor]

The rations are terrible, you aren't missing anything.

Fine.

[Though if you were a REAL FRIEND you would totally buy him winter clothing.]

[wilder]

Wow. Are you saying there's such a thing as foods you don't like?

And don't cheap out because you want more burgers! Buy clothing that will actually keep you warm!

[No way he is a arranged-friend and also he's pretty sure he's done enough by going without food for two months for you tyvm]

[debtor]

[He likes food that's actually food. He's not convinced SPACE PROTEIN BARS are food.

But did someone say burgers-]

Can we still go someplace that sells burgers though?

[wilder]

[....Allen really never changes]

...If you and Sophie are good, sure.

[debtor]

I'm always good. You're sounding too parental.