futurology | !IMPORTANT! video; username: 82736775

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!IMPORTANT! video; username: 82736775

[The video is from everyone's favorite camera-shy mad scientist, 82736775. This time, he's not even present in a carefully-framed way; he appears to just be using his jewellery as a Go-Pro.

The view is a large machine in the middle of the woods. It's crudely constructed, with loud, grinding gears and exhaust tubes belching smoke. There are three figures scurrying about -- Dipper, Shiki, and Hide, for those of you who would recognize them -- pulling levers and turning cranks and struggling to hear each other over the machine's groaning. Jars of fairy goop hang off the thing like lanterns in a coal mine.]

Listen uuuup, bitcheesss!

[The view jerks, then readjusts as the sky comes into focus.]

Thanks to my genius and everybody else's scrappy, can-do attitude, we're about to make scientific history. By which I mean w-we're about to blow this bullshit away.

[His hand enters the frame. He is flipping off the sky.]

Engage Operation: Fuck You, Magic!

[The frame stays centered on the sky, though the machine's groaning reaches almost deafening levels. Above the cacophony, there's a high-pitched whining: something is warming up. All over Chantes, the ground shakes.

Then bright green fills the screen and everything is so loud that it's almost silent. Those of you who are at a distance may see a gigantic green beam shooting into the sky just before everything turns bright white for a few long seconds.

And suddenly, there is light. Stars. Two moons. The sky is back.

82736775 is laughing maniacally. He swings the frame around to the giant machine, which has blasted wide open: smoking panels have fallen to the ground, exposing frayed wires. His assistants are also on the ground, looking dazed.]

Suck my dick, Narnia! Haha, yeah!

Now let's figure out what to do and get the hell off this rock! Team science, ouuuut!

[ ooc. IMPORTANT! the sun is now returned. from this point on, there are normal day-night cycles in chantes! be aware there are two moons, and the sun rises in the west. use this post to discuss what to do now! threadjacking encouraged. thank you to my fellow players and our modteam for making this plot so successful! i love you all.

UPDATE! check this thread for conversation on a peaceful option. ]

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[Ban appraised Papyrus once, before sighing and moving on. The tone of his voice was lofty and bored. Sobriety wasn't helping him in the least. Leaned back, he moved with a heave into the story.]

There was a woman named Roxanne. Rich and intelligent, she was the envy of her town. Rumor had it, that she fancied torturing and killing children--but, no one cared to accuse her or bring her to trial. She was rich, beautiful and fortunate. No matter what she did, everyone would love her and protect her. That was how the world worked.

One day, a boy decided to take on a job to steal from Roxanne, alongside his mentor. The boy had nothing in the world but his name and the clothes on his back. His mentor warned him to be careful before their burgling-- getting caught would be dangerous. The boy, desperate to impress his mentor, snuck in ahead to try and steal from Roxanne before his mentor arrived.

His mentor never came, but it wasn't as if the boy blamed him. When he got caught, the boy was beaten. He was poor and alone, so no one in the world would come to his defense and he knew it. He ruined his chance to impress his mentor, who he didn't blame for leaving, because he had made that mistake for himself. It was his mentor's fault that it went wrong--it was the boy's. He barely escaped from death, coming to understand what had gone wrong.

He was born to the wrong parents, at the wrong time and in the wrong place, but he knew it didn't matter. If he stole from Roxanne, she would be hurt. She would suffer, in a way, so that he could be happy. If he succeeded, it wouldn't have been any different. It was easy to figure out at that point. He understood why everyone hated him.

Everyone else was poor. They wanted enough to survive, but then they also wanted even more. It was because he targeted Roxanne that he realized this. If he stole from one person to just eat, then that would be survival. Stealing from the richest person in town was the same as coveting fame and glory. He wanted much more than food in his belly. He wouldn't have been that way if he weren't a little skilled and arrogant.

It wasn't as if he asked others what they thought of stealing, though. He saw how men and women coveted food, riches and lovers. They way people looked at each other told him that there were thin threads stopping others from gutting one another in the street all the time. The only thing stopping people from committing crime was fear or being caught and imprisoned. Fear was the only thing that made people act decent.

No one was any different than Roxanne. If they were as rich as her, they would do cruel things and feel no remorse. Even the boy realized that if he had that sort of power, he'd be happy to use it. When he realized that much, it was only natural that his conclusion was so simple: that even orphans, weak and pathetic, could be beasts like Roxanne.

Any human being could be a beast with the right security. Even the boy.

[ That sure was the worst story time he's ever heard. And while Papyrus didn't go into too many details about why monsters and humans went to war...

Well. It seemed like he didn't need to go much further about that anyway. Ban knew that humans could be cruel. Saying anything more would only reinforce his mindset. But that's one of the things that made Papyrus worry the most about Ban. A human that hates humans with such ferocity, it never let to anything good. For either races.]

Thank you for sharing your story with me, Ban. But...

Do you not think people can change for the better? Be better people if they try to be?

Because I do, with all of my soul. And I think that even if you used to not like who you were, or used to want to be someone else... I think you grew into the kind of person that can think beyond that now. You wouldn't be cruel to someone, just because you could be.

[As if struck by the punchline to a joke, what Papyrus said riled up a smile out of Ban. It was worse than before, if only because--

He had thought about that possibility once, before. He thought if he lived long enough, something good could happen to him--not that he would use it to take from others. He just wanted the world to let something nice happen.

In that argument, he realized where he was wrong.]

Just saying that doesn't mean I haven't been cruel--and, that people haven't suffered and died because of me. Being good...

[He was reminded of his sister starving to death--of Elaine's blood covering him and the feeling of Zhivago's absence.]

Doesn't bring back the dead.

[He didn't know how to put it in words. Every feeling Ban had about wanting to do good spawned from his worst mistakes. It amounted to little, whatever good things he did. When he really needed to be a better person--when it really mattered, he failed.]

...

[ It's true. It doesn't. And while he's never had to deal with that himself... He feels for Ban. Whatever he's gone through, it's been hard on him, and Papyrus probably wouldn't ever understand. But maybe now... is the best time to ask. Things seemed serious enough, and he's been meaning to say this at some point anyway, ever since he heard Ban mutter this a while ago. ]

...Who is Elaine?

[Papyrus wasn't a mind reader, as far as Ban knew. He had also refrained from telling a soul about Elaine before, too.

There was a more reasonable explanation for it.]

She is-- [He corrected himself. Ban looked away, becoming distant and locked in a memory he visited more often than he should have.]

--Was my lover.

[The pieces made sense now. He doesn't know how long ago this happened, since Ban was immortal, but... if it was true love, he'd never really be over it, would he? ]

Ban...

[A joke or one of his usual japes might not be the best solution here. He knows he and Sans tended to rely on those to make each other feel better, but here... ]

W-wait right there!!

[And with that, Papyrus shuts off his jewelry communicator, choosing instead to book it to what he hoped was the rooftop he thought he recognized. He's in luck this time that goblin rooftops tended to look pretty distinctive, and hurries to climb up the building Ban's sitting on.

Now in person, he ... somewhat unintentionally tackles Ban with the force of his hug, as he wraps his arms around the other. Not that Ban would probably feel much of it, since Papyrus is a skeleton in a costume made to look like a set of armor, but it's not like he's trying to knock him down anyway either.]

Listen!!

People have to want to be good. You can't force someone to change like that if it's not what they want to do. Maybe you haven't been good in the past...

But you want to be now, right?

You're right that being a good person doesn't bring anyone back... but that's not why someone should do it. You do it so less people have to be sad or lonely.

...I know you're lonely, and you miss her. But as long as I'm here, I want you to know- you aren't alone!! If you're ever lonely, you can call me, okay??

Ah?

[Ban braced himself for more chiding, finding himself surprised when Papyrus flat out disappeared. He barely got what he said at the end, frowning inwardly and tossing his jewel to the other end of the roof in irritation.

When Papyrus showed up, he fed him a terse frown.]

What're you... [The moment Papyrus hugged him, Ban stiffened up. Many times before, Ban hugged Papyrus, but--it was different. He hugged him because he was a cool friend. It was difficult not to hug him for the hell of it.

But, for all he knew, comforting gestures were just an irregularity.]

...You're my friend, alright? That much I'm always gonna be grateful for--'cause, you're better than everybody else by a league, but--

[She was an irreplaceable, important person who wasn't just Ban's friend--she was his lover. Elaine was someone Ban couldn't think to find a substitute for. Arms hanging limp, Ban didn't want to return the hug quite yet. It seemed as if he didn't have strength in his body.]

Life without her doesn't feel right--like, nothin' tastes good. I hate bein' awake. I can't stand bein' alive.

[He never said it out loud, before. Ban had kept that one close to his heart for years.]

Plus... I can't even bring her back~. She's dead and I'll never die.

[Papyrus keeps his arms around him, leaning his forehead against Ban's back. The other is still a foot taller than him, and it feels like even more when he's not slouching drunk like he usually is. The familiarity of this doesn't escape Papyrus' thoughts. Not because he's felt this way personally, but...

...A real friend would be able to help Ban figure this out, right? Even if he doesn't know if what he's going to say is right, or works, or will even make a difference... He has to at least try. ]

I don't... know what she's like. I can't speak for her. But...

I don't think she'd want you to be miserable about this.

[Or maybe she would?? But that doesn't sound like the kind of person Ban would like enough to love.]

I know sometimes people can't help it. They have bad days, and even worse days... and it's a fight to even get up in the morning.

[Papyrus is quieter, for a moment.]

Sometimes even my best encouragement... won't work.

[After pausing for a moment after that, his voice rocks back up to it's usual loudness. Not yelling, but... not quite so dejected sounding either.]

Maybe it doesn't mean a lot... but I'm glad you're alive. I'm glad I got to know you! I'm glad we got to be friends.

And I'm glad you haven't given up. I think she would be too.

[From one bout of depression to the next, Ban's descent had always been seamless. He never pushed things too far. All he did was soak it in, settling for numbing his pain in liquor. He had to stop drinking for a short while, though--at least for the last aspect of their mission.

It bubbled up too easily when he was sober.

While some would have thought Papyrus' embrace would be lacking in normal human warmth, Ban didn't feel that way. It was surprisingly strong--binding, even. It was natural for Ban to shove others away through his actions--even his friends. Someone, he wanted Papyrus to give up. It would only make sense if he did. Everyone was supposed to give up on him.]

She could have saved her own life, when we were attacked. I wanted her to drink the fountain of youth, but she made me drink it, instead. I thought...

[It was sickening to have those words in his mouth.]

...That she would drink it herself, but she waited until I couldn't move. It was my fault she had to do it. From the start, I was useless man. That much only proves it further.

[ Maybe Ban just needed to talk this out. He'd be here to listen, naturally. But unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot else for him to say. He can't sympathize with being in love with someone, because he never has before. Well, he's been in love with a lot of things, but not... the kind of love maybe that Ban was talking about. He's also never been in a situation where he was nearly dying, or anything like that. Never hard to witness someone die in front of him. It all sounds very traumatic, but he's out of words of wisdom. The only real things he can say at this point... ]

If she saved you, then don't you think she did it because she thought you were worth saving?

Why wouldn't she? [Ban loathed himself, but he didn't take Elaine or Meliodas' feelings towards him for granted. What he said came out too easily--]

You're one of the rare folks who likes me, even knowing what kind of person I am~.

She loved me even after she found that out.

[Ban turned a bit to give Papyrus a pat on the shoulder. There wasn't really any way out of his friend's concern, but--he knew whatever Papyrus said, it wouldn't help him. Fifteen years of blame and fifteen years of life in hell taught him to give up on himself.]

Don't worry about me, pal~. There isn't any undoing it. Sometiiiimes, it's beyond fixing.

I know.

[There isn't any undoing it that Papyrus can do. He knows. He's tried, with his own brother.

Papyrus always aspired to be a Guardsman, or a Knight, or something of that caliber... But his skills lay mostly in caregiving or helping others. He always had a natural inclination in taking care of people, or trying to do what would make people happy. Maybe that sprung from his infinite attempts to appease everyone, but either way, there were only so many things Papyrus wouldn't do for the sake of someone else.

He knows there's not a lot he can do about depression. It can't be cured with hugs and promises and reminders to cheer up. It's something the other person will struggle with, and it hurts a little that he knows he can't ever just fix someone's problems with enough elbow grease. But he does what he can for Sans. And he'd do what he could for Ban, too. ]

But I'm not going to stop telling you how much you mean to me.

[Ban didn't hold any doubt in him that Papyrus was telling the truth. Papyrus had already shown a bit of wear, but it wasn't in his resolve. For such a happy guy, Papyrus took the sadder aspects of Ban with a measure of grace. After all--hadn't he rushed over to comfort him when he saw how bad he felt? Just like Meliodas. His Captain went through some pains to keep Ban active, knowing when the immortal was in a particularly bad move. He gave him missions and even fought with him to try and make him happy. It must have been difficult, knowing a friend was hurting, but not knowing how to fix it.]

[But, the same as sunlight breaking through dark clouds during a summer storm, Ban's smile came back with a surge. He even laughed, tapering off to a chuckle after forcing himself to turn around and lift Papyrus up in his own hug.

It was still raining--pouring, even. Despite that, it was sunny out. Ban's smile was a long, self-sustaining lie.]

And that makes you my best pal, doesn't it!?

It makes ya' the best!

[He didn't hold doubts that Papyrus would always want to make him feel better and try his hardest, but--

Everyone would leave Ban, eventually. It was never their fault. He was the only one to blame.]

[The hug is great, and Papyrus squeezes back- as much as one with just bones can do, that is. Ban's smiling for him, and he can tell it's not totally a real smile there, but it's the fact he's making the effort that makes Papyrus smile back.]

The best of best pals!

[And when the laughing and smiling tapers off, just a little bit...]

...Thank you.

[There were some things he couldn't do to help improve Papyrus' mood, but there were plenty other attempts he could make.

At the very least, Ban was a good friend, when it came down to the true matters of it. He preferred his friends be happy over himself, if only because the latter was so very difficult to please.

He released Papyrus, placing his hands on his hips.]

You don't need to be grateful~. A guy like you can't ever be in short supply of friends.

[Pleasantly enough--]

I'm the guy much more in need.

I do seem like the kind of person to be overwhelmingly popular, don't I! "That Papyrus, he must have friends all over the Underground, and definitely at least a dozen on the Undernet!!" It's hard to imagine I wasn't always surrounded by people who love me!!

[Papyrus exclaims, a hand on his chest as if he's declaring a statement of fact. And then he... sighs a little, and stops posturing so proudly.]

But, actually... I don't have a lot of friends. Not before coming here, at least. I- had Undyne! And Frisk! I was sort of becoming friends with Undyne's friend- Dr. Alphys! And there was also this nice yellow flower! But my quantity of friends was originally... quite small. So I... I mean it, that I appreciate you saying that, and I know how important it is, to have someone you can count on.

[He didn't want to admit that it was easy to tell that Papyrus would have a hard time having friends as a monster stuck underground with other monsters.

Not that it mattered. Ban didn't think Papyrus needed human friends, really. What was the point in having those?]

Look~. It isn't even important to have that many friends at all, alright? You're the sorta guy who'd get the friends who matter.

So-- [He gave Papyrus a little bit of a shrug.]

The Great Papyrus shouldn't have any half-assed friends~.

... You're right! I am always going to try and make more friends... but I also need to really value the friends I have who like me as much back!

[He might not acknowledge it, but he knows he'll get caught up in trying to be so impressive to people he doesn't know... he might wind up not paying his full attention to the friends he already has. And even if he tells himself not to do it, it'll wind up happening. Luckily, most of the people here so far he's pursued as friends were worth it, and had no interest in just using him. But that might not always be the case...]

[Papyrus had the right idea, Ban thought. Someone who just aimlessly wanted friends was desperate. Someone who only wanted the right friends was modest.

It meant that, if he didn't deserve friends and knew it, he likely wouldn't feel as bad about it as he might have. Fortunately for him, Ban figured, Papyrus deserved plenty.]

That's the best attitude to have, y'know. Couuurse, it means we're incompatible~. Me, I'm the Sin of Greed ♪.

I couldn't be so modest as you, Papyrus~.

... Alright, I know there's a lot of things I am great at, but being modest is not one of them.

[Because he is, and will always be, a little more on the desperate side. Whether he says he's going to only make "the right" friends or not, he's always going to think of everyone he meets as "perfect friend material" until proven otherwise.]

And we aren't incompatible!! That's not how this works!!

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!IMPORTANT! video; username: 82736775

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