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[Ring ring ring...
It's a call from the same area code, surprisingly?]
It's a call from the same area code, surprisingly?]
[...
He answers the line, though it stays silent for open air for a few moments. When he speaks, his voice is rough and exhausted.]
Who is this?
He answers the line, though it stays silent for open air for a few moments. When he speaks, his voice is rough and exhausted.]
Who is this?
[A familiar voice can be heard on the other end:]
It's Hana.
...How are you holding up?
It's Hana.
...How are you holding up?
[...]
I... don't know. [His tone is uneven. But he swallows, exhales.]
You said this was urgent. I want to know why.
I... don't know. [His tone is uneven. But he swallows, exhales.]
You said this was urgent. I want to know why.
[She goes silent for a moment on her end. And then, after a deep breath to steady herself:]
...When you're stuck in the game with the log out error, if you die, it'll kill you in real life.
That's what Hien told me when we tried the little PK plan. ...And then he threatened me and Fandaniel to keep our mouths shut about it.
...When you're stuck in the game with the log out error, if you die, it'll kill you in real life.
That's what Hien told me when we tried the little PK plan. ...And then he threatened me and Fandaniel to keep our mouths shut about it.
...
I know.
Someone already told me, too.
...
I'm... [A waver, a swallow. He sounds very close to tears, but is pushing past it.] I'm worried that's what happened to Morgan. But... it wouldn't explain why his caretaker is gone, too.
I know.
Someone already told me, too.
...
I'm... [A waver, a swallow. He sounds very close to tears, but is pushing past it.] I'm worried that's what happened to Morgan. But... it wouldn't explain why his caretaker is gone, too.
[Oh good she doesn't need to talk about it any more than that.]
Caretaker?
I didn't know much about the guy myself.
Caretaker?
I didn't know much about the guy myself.
[How much does he want to say here...]
He has an injury. Something that effects how he can function independently. So he has a couple people that help him.
One of them was supposed to be coming with him to Berkeley today. I... I was supposed to meet up with them, after the UCB game.
He has an injury. Something that effects how he can function independently. So he has a couple people that help him.
One of them was supposed to be coming with him to Berkeley today. I... I was supposed to meet up with them, after the UCB game.
...
Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but... when my situation happened, Hien made a point of using my real name. Same goes for Fandaniel. Like he wanted us to know he knew exactly who and where we were.
But... it'd be too crazy for the company to mess with them in person, right? I mean, he didn't even do anything wrong, did he?
Not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but... when my situation happened, Hien made a point of using my real name. Same goes for Fandaniel. Like he wanted us to know he knew exactly who and where we were.
But... it'd be too crazy for the company to mess with them in person, right? I mean, he didn't even do anything wrong, did he?
...I don't know. He liked to explore into things he probably shouldn't.
[He thinks to one person in particular. But there's no way they could have found a way into the game. Not from what Morgan has said. Not unless they had ties.
...]
Why would they need to do anything with us in person? Why not just cut off our access to the game, like a block?
[He thinks to one person in particular. But there's no way they could have found a way into the game. Not from what Morgan has said. Not unless they had ties.
...]
Why would they need to do anything with us in person? Why not just cut off our access to the game, like a block?
I dunno. Why make a point of using our real names as a threat?
...I don't know.
Did Amon have any ideas about it? [Speaking of real names.]
Did Amon have any ideas about it? [Speaking of real names.]
Not really. After Hien left, we mostly complained about how crazy unethical the game is. Not that any of it was enough to stop people from playing, of course.
Yeah. Hien already doesn't seem to care what happens to the company. Or, if he does, he's a good actor. I can't tell.
[He exhales hard, the phone mic crackling.]
I don't know how much more I can take, honestly. I'm worried about everyone here. And I don't want my brother to get hurt. But...
Mmn.
[He exhales hard, the phone mic crackling.]
I don't know how much more I can take, honestly. I'm worried about everyone here. And I don't want my brother to get hurt. But...
Mmn.
If you want my honest opinion?
Just quit while you're ahead. And make sure your brother and anyone else you care about quits too. Whatever's going on here, it's not worth it.
Just quit while you're ahead. And make sure your brother and anyone else you care about quits too. Whatever's going on here, it's not worth it.
[...]
I. Um.
...I don't want to leave Morgan unresolved before I go.
[Not a wise choice. But emotions aren't always wise.]
But I'll try to think about it.
I. Um.
...I don't want to leave Morgan unresolved before I go.
[Not a wise choice. But emotions aren't always wise.]
But I'll try to think about it.
Edited 2023-09-05 20:57 (UTC)
I mean, I could always see what happens and let you know?
No.
I want to say goodbye before I lose my chance. I don't think Hien will keep him out there forever. And I have another game on Saturday that I can't... [A beat, a frustrated exhale through the nose.] If it were something we could find him over here in real life then maybe it would be different, but this--
It feels kind of final. Like waiting for a coffin or something to show up. You know?
[It feels like his mother, being there and happy and pregnant and then being a body in a church only days later. It feels like his sister, the street run red while she was crying, and the coffin a mockery with nothing but silence.]
I want to say goodbye before I lose my chance. I don't think Hien will keep him out there forever. And I have another game on Saturday that I can't... [A beat, a frustrated exhale through the nose.] If it were something we could find him over here in real life then maybe it would be different, but this--
It feels kind of final. Like waiting for a coffin or something to show up. You know?
[It feels like his mother, being there and happy and pregnant and then being a body in a church only days later. It feels like his sister, the street run red while she was crying, and the coffin a mockery with nothing but silence.]
Edited 2023-09-05 21:06 (UTC)
[...Well, how's she supposed to deny him that kind of closure, knowing his past?
...]
Alright. But once we figure this out, you should seriously bounce before anything else happens.
...]
Alright. But once we figure this out, you should seriously bounce before anything else happens.
...
Someone I've known for a really, really long time doesn't want to give up on the game.
So.
Someone I've known for a really, really long time doesn't want to give up on the game.
So.
Trust me, I haven't let my guard down on this game since the log out error incident.
I'll be careful. And you guys take care too, got it?
I'll be careful. And you guys take care too, got it?
...Mn. I'll try to take care of Levi the best I can.
...
...Hana. Nothing you told me will leave this call. Okay?
Promise.
...
...Hana. Nothing you told me will leave this call. Okay?
Promise.
...Thanks. If you need to tell him or anyone else about being able to die from the game, you have my permission. Just make sure it doesn't get back to Hien or anyone else from CC Corp.
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