PC - Ludger

[maladied]

Comments

[chromatized]

[ it was more the cycle of reincarnation and, you know, you could say that infection can be broken down. but yeah. ]

I know Chronos would argue humanity created the problem.

[ but who gives a fuck what that being things ]

You're not wrong, though. I'm not even sure where we should start.

[sideline]

[ spoilers, this was a route that could have been taken.

anyway not fran mumbling under his voice about the way he isn't so sure about humanity causing the problem here. ]

They didn't provide any sort of clue to figure things out?

[chromatized]

[ oshit new cycle thru the universe AND no wishes??? we gotta do over- ]

Um.

[ he thinks about what Origin said to him and Elle.

he does Not think about what Origin said to him and Elle. ]

Nope. Origin's kind of into that cryptic air.

[sideline]

[ NO WE'RE NOT.



also way to not look guilty ludger. not that fran is going to call him out on it. ]

Is that so...

[chromatized]

[ look he's not gonna think about what Origin's words Might Mean. are he and Elle miasma free forever? are they the example that all of humanity needs to go through Trials??? he refuses to consider it. ]

They operate on a different wavelength than other beings, I think. It probably comes with only communicating with souls.

[sideline]

[ gazes tiredly at them. ]

I see. I can't say that it's something that I have a lot of experience with, so I'll just trust your judgement on it.

Before coming here, I would have thought that sort of thing would be impossible.

[chromatized]

The me of several months ago was in the same boat as you. My biggest worry was making a good impression at my new job and keeping the fridge clean. It's... kind of crazy how quickly things can change.

[ and how small you realize your worldview is. which he's sure Fran knows all about! ]

[sideline]

It certainly is. Just a single encounter can change everything.

[ boy doesn't he but hearing that from ludger is comforting in its own way. ]

...did you manage to keep your new job?

[chromatized]

[ just. this face. ]

[sideline]

[ oh. ]

I...see. I'm sorry to hear that.

[chromatized]

It's alright. It's not like you blew up the train.

[ he is calm, he is serene. he is the ripple on the lake. he has achieved zen, and true enlightenment in the transient nature of all things. ]

[sideline]

[ well, given fran's crimes against trains.... ]

Trains get targeted more than I realized.

[chromatized]

They're very convenient, since they leave the protection of the city behind. But anyways, after the explosion, I couldn't exactly report in for my first day... so.

[ fired before he ever started... ]

[sideline]

I see...

[ of course there's no way that fran was responsible for what happened with ludger but now he's imagining an alternate universe where the shenanigans that he got involved with could have upturned someone's life. ]

Well, maybe that was for the better. ...unless you were looking forward to the job.

[chromatized]

[ the ghosts of job hunters past weigh upon Fran... ]

Mmm... at the time, not really. But looking back, I think it would have been pretty satisfying.

[ there's a fond nostalgia coloring his tone, and when Ludger catches it, he hastens to clarify: ]

Ah- Not that I would've changed how things turned out.

[sideline]

[ look. ....sometimes you just do things because of peer pressure. ]

I think it's reasonable to imagine the path not taken to potentially being better than where you've ended up. [ ... ] Under certain circumstances.

What was the job that you were supposed to have?

[chromatized]

[ oh sure blame your friends for you mistakes, fran... wrow... ]

I would have missed out on a lot of precious things, if I'd kept that job. Ah- it was a job at the train station's cafeteria. Cooking for anyone and everyone passing through, pretty much!

[ and also bound to one place ]

[sideline]

[ no??? but...huh. given all that he's seen of ludger the idea of him working in the kitchen at a train station seems so....quaint. not in a bad way.

perhaps a little unexpected but— ]

You really do enjoy cooking for others, don't you?

[chromatized]

[ it would have been an enjoyable existence! but a very small one. ]

I know my cooking is good, but knowing that someone else is savoring it - that just makes it better.

[ hmmm, thinking about that Cardia person... or how close Fran is with Cantarella these days... ]

You should learn to cook something.

[sideline]

Huh?

I know how to cook. It's not nearly as good as your's or anything special, but I'm capable of making something that can be enjoyed.

[ he won't be burning down any kitchens or banned from cooking... ]

[chromatized]

[ he. just squints at Fran. and glances down at the food he had to bring the other so he wouldn't shrivel up and Die. ]

[sideline]

[ I NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THE CORRECT ICON TO USE HERE....links it instead.



and look. there's a difference between not eating and not knowing how to cook. ]

[chromatized]

[ uh huh. yeah. sure. ]

... Maybe you should learn some more. And then you have to eat the results of your lessons.

[sideline]

[ looks at how much fran weighs compared to ludger.... ]

Is this a not-so-secret plan of your's to get me to eat more?

[chromatized]

You make it sound so sinister.

[ spirits forbid he tries to get people to maintain a regular dining schedule ]