001 | text (so sorry)

[murderingjustice]

Afternoon everyone.

Now that we've had time to recover and collect ourselves after the recent expedition I believe we ought to breakdown the events and our discoveries. Sharing our information might as well be the essential for us to figure out the true nature of this world and uncover the truth behind the events occurring here.



For those who decided to stay behind: during the expedition with the fairies we came across two types of 'creatures.' Let's call them group A and group B for time being. The group A were clearly humanoid and harmless at first. That being said, they did seem to be covered with set of markings, similarly to 'brands' that appeared among us 'The Chosen.' Group B were more mutated and only vaguely reminded human. They appeared from the shadows. They were actively hostile and aggressive towards the fairies -- and by the extension us. They also seemed to have some level of control over group A.

Some of us were able to 'save' them through either selfless acts or reuniting them with items from the deserted apartments. Group A seems to have returned back to their previous forms, even if their minds don't seem to be quite there yet. But group B simply faded away.

Now, what makes this interesting is the language fairies used to when addressing these creatures. At first, their leader called them 'people' before correcting himself and later used a word 'the infected' to describe group A. Honestly, this leads me to a following hypothesis:

The group B were once humans just like group A. They both were 'infected' with a similar if not the same ailment as the ones with the Brands did. If this is correct it seems like there are at least three stages to infection:
1. A contamination. This is where the brands/markings appear
2. Activation of the ailment. I believe that in this stage the infection has spread to a person's brain, causing them to act hostile.
3. Mutation. Rather self-explanatory. This is the last stage of the infection and the point where the person is beyond salvation.

If my hypothesis is correct it leaves the following questions: what is this 'infection' and where did it originate from? why were the shape of the brand extremely personal to its bearer? why is it the act of the kindness that seem to lift the ailments? are the other variations of the 'infection'?

The last question makes me think of the reported odd behavior of the locals living in Aldrip. If they are beginning to act strangely and similarly lose memories and traces of self we can't overlook the possibility of the whole branding-event occurring again.

That is all I have at the moment. If you have anything to do add I'm all ears.

Goro Akechi.

Comments

[fatalism]

acts of kindness? that would be interesting if it were true but what proof is there for such a thing? and by acting with self-interest are those acts not negated?

[murderingjustice]

from what i understood the way to lift the ailment was to perform a selfless act of sorts, sacrifice yourself for them and so on. and didn't the leader of the fairies say something alike to it at the desert?

[fatalism]

yes, but performative kindness is not the same as true kindness. you understand the distinction, right?

[murderingjustice]

[he's rolling his eyes here. duh.]

of course, not all kindness is honest or sincere. it can all be part of survival tactic.

that being said, during the first adversary we didn't have context that we did during the expedition and people acted out of instinct.

But you do raise an interesting point regarding the authenticity. Out in the desert group A were "cured" once they gained lost pieces of their past. So, the key element here could very well be the targets interpretation rather than our original intentions.

[fatalism]

it may well be so and that is an incredibly important thing to keep in mind. do you know why?

[murderingjustice]

why is it important, Dostoevsky-san?

[fatalism]

it's your homework to figure it out and tell me. you have three tries.

[murderingjustice]

[RED FLAG]

I'm not your student.

[fatalism]

oh? you don't want to be?

[murderingjustice]

don't take my refusal as a sign of disrespect, dostoevsky-san. [you're sus but he likes you.]

I have no interest being in a relationship where I'm not in a equal standing with the other party. I'm done with following others.

[fatalism]

i see.

[ he sees why dazai finds it so amusing to antagonise this one. it's that pride, that refusal to bow down. fyodor thinks it might be fun.

fyodor only considers one person to be of equal standing to him: dazai.

also, how does dazai even have mentees? fyodor sucks at this. ]

either way, if you think it through you'll see the answer of what i mean right there

[murderingjustice]

[He'd rather die than compromise his own values, there's nothing as important to him as his independence and self-agency. He's fought so hard to break free from his previous "mentor's" grasp, only to find himself to be seeing traces of the man's shadow behind him. So, yeah. He's very wary about trusting himself into someone's care again.

Just wait until he starts trauma dumping, Fyo.]


1. It implies that our activities are potentially being observed by those who created this reality. In this case we are most likely being put through a test.
2. The "cure" is less about acting kind but meeting the target's own idealized version of humanity.
3. The whole deal about infected is nothing but a sham.

[fatalism]

these are all very valid conclusions but not the one i was getting it, but i'll tell you. the most important thing in all of this:

god sees through us, we cannot lie, we lay bare to him. if this premise applies to all gods who are worthy of the title of god, it means that our intentions would not be hidden. faking concern would not have deterred the ghosts.

whatever is watching us is not a true god.

1/2

[murderingjustice]

[....]

[murderingjustice]

[Well. This is Fyodor Dostoevsky. He really should've expected the God being brought up at some point. How silly of him.]

maybe it's not the 'god' we need to convince here. it could be very well be about allowing the ghosts and other infected rekindle their memories of the self. the genuinety of the action would hardly matter.

and if it's a god that's behind all of this they will be slayed like the rest.

[fatalism]

[ alskdaksjlda LOL ]

god doesn't bargain. there is no need for god to do so

ah, are you strong enough to kill gods, akechi-kun?

[murderingjustice]

there was a man who intended to take god's place in our world after the original one had been killed and create a false paradise free from pain and suffering.

needlessly to say we took him out.

[fatalism]

oh? what power do you have the takes out a god?

[murderingjustice]

that's a bit forward of you.

considering you haven't shared anything of your power.

[fatalism]

i can assure you mine is nothing impressive if yours can take out a god-like being.

[murderingjustice]

still, what is fair is only fair.

[fatalism]

ah, fairness has nothing to do with this

[murderingjustice]

no? everything has it's price, you realize that.

[fatalism]

that is about cost not fairness.

[murderingjustice]

well, my price is information of equal worth.