[video] they ain't gonna catch you when you fall

[builditstrong]

[The feed is turned away from Kid, showing a view of a shattered Wonderland, chunks of land suspended in midair, some of them connected by bridges made out of debris, some not. Some are small, some are large. The feed catches a door and a section of wall tumbling out into the nothingness below with a crack of wood and metal.]

Yeah, this one's mine.

[Kid keeps the camera pointed out at Wonderland. He doesn't want to look at the camera right now. Of all the events to happen only a week after his death, it had to be this one. It's adding insult to injury, this reminder of what his world has become, and all the things that go along with it. And all of this on top of hearing that Dean has vanished.]

[It's just been a miserable month.]

Looks jus' like Caelondia. 'S uncanny. [That's one word for it. "Disturbing" is another.] Figger things're pretty obvious here. Don' bother tryin' t' jump, it jus' ain't worth th' risk 'nless ya got some Hop-Scotch on ya, an' I dunno 'f the closets are gonna work. S'ppose Wonderland ain't gonna be kind like Caelondia an' form up bridges 'neath yer feet. Keep t' ropes an' such. We got folk what kin fly here, yeah? They might be willin' t'help.

I'd gen'rally say jus' stay in one place, but that means settin' fer three 'r four days without food an' water fer some. 'F th' diner's whole, I'd say head that way. 'Course I ain't got no idea where it's ended up.

Jus'...look out fer each other. An' don't fall. [He pauses.] Th' gods sure ain't gonna catch ya.

Comments

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[eatsyourscience]

...Long story.

He's with the people he knows. I'm sure he missed them when he was here.

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[builditstrong]

Take yer word for it.

Yeah...poor fella never had anyone 'round what knew him.

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[eatsyourscience]

He was a lot of fun, but for most people, it's better for them to go back to where they really belong.

[Souji offers a smile that he hopes is encouraging.]

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[builditstrong]

Yeah. Some parts 'f this place are great an' all, but home's better. [Even a shattered home.]

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[eatsyourscience]

You have people to go back to, right?

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[builditstrong]

Yeah. Folk what need me. [He pauses.] Folk don' really...need me here.

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[eatsyourscience]

...I understand. [It's pretty similar for Souji.] But I'm glad I got to meet you, here.

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[builditstrong]

Yeah. M' glad I got t'meet you, an' all th' others.

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[eatsyourscience]

Hey, can I ask what you're going to do at home? If your world is like this...[He gestures vaguely at their surroundings.] What's the future look like?

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[builditstrong]

Tha's what th' Bastion was for. T'leave all this behind, start new somewhere else. We were gonna try an' see if we could make it t'the Motherland.

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[eatsyourscience]

Is it like a spaceship?

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[builditstrong]

Dunno 'bout that. S' sorta like a piece 'f old Caelondia itself. Big ol' floatin' island 'f land what can be piloted.

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[eatsyourscience]

Where's the Motherland? How do you get there?

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[builditstrong]

...Honestly don't know. Rucks's th' one with geographical know-how.

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[eatsyourscience]

[Fair enough.]

What is the Motherland?

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[builditstrong]

'S where we're from--th' Caels, my people.

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[eatsyourscience]

Why did they leave?

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[builditstrong]

T'find an' settle new places. T'explore an' such.

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[eatsyourscience]

My people did that too. [Though they weren't super friendly about it and it didn't really end well for them.] Are there still people living in the Motherland?

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[builditstrong]

We think so. Ain't sure, though. Were headin' there to find out.

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[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods.] I'm sure you'll make it.

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[builditstrong]

Thanks. I sure hope we do.