we_meet_again | Phone inbox

[He pulls out his phone and spends a moment composing the shot, trying to show the light off the chrome at its most dazzling. He takes a photo.

It's a FUCKING GREAT PHOTO holy shit. ✨✨✨]

Thank you.

Ok what's this.

[He walks over and picks up the envelope ... reads over the contents.

"still unsure if willing death is a requirement," huh]

...Have you already heard about Yasuragi?

[Tilts her head to the side, quizzically.]

Yasuragi from Taisho died outside of a game recently and pep!pep! was not involved in his revival. I'm pretty certain his death was... not willing.

I've never spoken with him. I don't know if he'd be willing to talk about it but... maybe something worth pursuing for more information.

[Flattens her head back down on the snow, watching Cobalt the entire time]

...It's a bummer.

Anyway, thanks for keeping me in the loop! I appreciate it.

[Flicks her tail back and forth, nodding again.]

Anything else? If not, I think I might head back inside.

[Scoots over to nudge him back in the direction of the hotel.]

[oh no Blue Eyes is so cute send help]

Haha alright. Catch you later, then! Thanks again!

[Later, another text]

Cobalt: sometimes this place really gets me down. but other times, things don't seem so bad.

[Attached: BlueEyesInSnow.png]

CEO: Something about a silver lining?

Cobalt: A lining so silvery I had to stop and take a picture
Cobalt: i can't believe you got Blue Eyes as an ability
Cobalt:i think you won the abilities lottery

CEO: Says the person who can revive the dead.
CEO: In terms of personal satisfaction, yes, we won the abilities lottery.
CEO: Not for usefulness.
CEO: Or bargaining power.

Cobalt: fortunately, people can come back with or without our help
Cobalt: i mean, i'm grateful for this power, and if it can be used to relieve even five minutes of suffering then it's worth it!!!
Cobalt: but bargaining power is questionable at best these days
Cobalt: it's hard to tell if it actually does anything to prevent murders, which is the only thing i'd want to bargain for

Cobalt: anyway i can appreciate both revival power and Blue Eyes at the same time. i have it in me!

[Intensity is typing...

Intensity is tying...]

CEO: It's not your job to stop people from being idiots.

Cobalt: good thing. I'm not sure i'm
very good at it
Cobalt: i'd have to resign in disgrace
Cobalt: people are very committed to doing the things they do

CEO: Yes.
CEO: So you concern yourself with shoving them out of your way.
CEO: When they interfere.
CEO: Not wasting time trying to understand them.

Cobalt: i am coming to terms with the fact that there are some people i probably won't be able to wrap my head around, no matter how much i try
Cobalt: and some people i disagree with, even if i understand them
Cobalt: so i'm trying to focus more on doing the things i *can* do and let go of all the things i can't
Cobalt: that's the best i can promise right now, but it's a start

CEO: Sounds entirely too logical.
CEO: How'd you even come up with that?

Cobalt: idk there's this guy i know who keeps giving me all this good advice
Cobalt: even though he's probably having a rough time right now he still makes an effort to touch base with me and make sure i'm hanging in there
Cobalt: and he probably has a finite amount of energy but he chooses to spend some of it on me, and it makes a difference to my quality of life in this trash heap
Cobalt: so maybe i'm taking a page from his book, trying to be more judicious with what i spend my energy on so i can use it more effectively and not run myself into the ground.

Cobalt: either that or compassion fatigue

CEO: You make that guy sound entirely too altruistic.
CEO: He's probably just putting the minimum effort into low-maintenance people.
CEO: For maximum benefit.

CEO: And careful.
CEO: I hear compassion is contagious.
CEO: Which means the fatigue is inevitable to follow.

Cobalt: oh shucks do you think i'm low-maintenance?
Cobalt: that might be one of the nicest things i can remember someone saying to me

Cobalt: also, you know that telling me compassion is contagious is just going to make me want to double down on it, right?
Cobalt: don't do this to me right when i was finally starting to find my chill and/or sense of resignation

CEO: What can I say?
CEO: Some people just can't stop themselves from catching it.
CEO: It's not for everyone.

CEO: But store up on your chill.
CEO: Like a fucking squirrel preparing for winter.
CEO: You'll be thankful when you have the extra reserves.

Cobalt: yesterday I packed a bag and got as far away from here as i could get
Cobalt: explored the edge of the city where space gets all wonky
Cobalt: took a bunch of stupid photos
Cobalt: it was good. refreshing.

Cobalt: i think i need to do stuff like that more often
Cobalt: if this place is gonna suck this hard then i need to just make my own happiness, out of spite
Cobalt: spend time with the people i care about in ways that aren't related to Who Died Today
Cobalt: i hope you get some time to do stuff like that, too
Cobalt: you don't seem like the type to "take vacations" but maybe if you framed it as "morale-boosting company retreat" you could at least get a tax write-off for it

CEO: Sounds like I'd have to take all of you with me if it's a "retreat".
CEO: Also I have problems with attending anything called a "retreat" on principle.

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