[Ah. Well, Caitlyn can't say much, she's also guilty of over committing her time. She's currently running two businesses (co-owning with Lupin, at least), and also spends time training on her own, and helping with the training days Richard arranges.
She's not very good at being still for long.
As Altius pulls out the list, she takes it, examining it curiously. He's certainly piqued her interest with this request. She's a little relieved that he plans to do the talking, though. She can talk, but she gets awkward pretty easily.]
Yes, that sounds reasonable. You've definitely caught my curiosity. I can look into them for you, so long as you share the results of your research with me.
Of course, and thank you. I can share my other notes as well, as I'd hope you're willing to let me take a look at yours?
[He's already made a copy of them before for Miss Ushiromiya; he's not looking to hoard anything about Expiation to himself. He knows collaboration is the only way he's getting out of this place.]
It's an impressive amount of research, by the looks of it. How long have you been here?
Of course. I've been meaning to condense it into notes to share on the network, but years of notes on everything on this wall will take more time than I give myself.
[Caitlyn can't be still for two seconds, okay!! She'll get around to it one of these days, though.]
Nearly two years, now. My partner has been here since the cycle began, even longer than that. We did leave and come back, but we were only gone from here for a week.
It's no simple task, [he says with understanding as he turns his attention back to the wall.]
Especially with that amount of time. I don't suppose you've found any significant connections between these temporary return trips of ours? [A mostly rhetorical question that he expects little out of, but he might as well put it out there.] A friend of mine was gone from this place for weeks, but only ended up passing a few days in their world, in contrast.
[He remembers what Caitlyn said about the timing of her injury; no doubt the time she spent back in her world was more than that three months.]
I'm afraid not. It affects people randomly, just like leaving for good does. I wish I could pin point a rhyme or reason, but there doesn't seem to be.
[Caitlyn has theories, of course. Everything from glitches in the system to it being related to them meeting the Council's demands, but nothing feels like the right answer.]
In most cases, people leave here for a week, but the amount of time passing in their worlds is always different. Vi and I were home for a little over nine months. I've seen some that say they were home for years. Some, as you said, were home only a short time. It's not very consistent.
[The hum he lets out is disappointed, but not surprised.]
A dead end, perhaps... [He wonders if it might have more to do with the nature of their experiences rather than the time spent, but... such a thing would be notoriously hard to investigate—even if one could trust all of the answers coming from the Chosen.] There are too many variables.
[Departure and return may not be something he can learn much about for now, but it's far from his only concern. He can't help but feel like the sword of Damocles hangs over him, and it's only a matter of time before the hair snaps...
Sitting forward with renewed interest that implies he's about to get to his feet, he continues:]
Perhaps you can direct me towards what you have regarding sentencing? Ah—and I'd like to take you up on that coffee, if the offer hasn't expired.
Edited (i don't think that's how that phrase goes...) 2025-03-10 00:45 (UTC)
[Not from the lack of trying!! It hadn't been just Caitlyn, either. There have been plenty of other brilliant minds that were here before her, their notes dispersed among her own after their disappearances.
The shift in the conversation towards sentencing has Caitlyn raise an eyebrow, but it's not unwelcome. She had actually intended to bring it up, given her own directive from Jerry at the moment.]
Coffee it is. How do you like it?
[She moves to stand, clearing the steps to the side of the room where a pod machine is. She's not much for coffee, herself, but Vi is, so she keeps coffees on hand for her and for others that come here to seek her help or advice. She pops one of the pods into the coffee machine, places a clean mug under the spout, then turns the machine on, only then turning her gaze back to Altius.]
I've actually just been sentenced, myself. This is my second time, since my arrival. What would you like to know?
[While he doesn't necessarily think all problems are solvable, all that means is that the problems that can be solved are what deserve all of his attention. They will find a way through this tangled mess, somehow.]
Black, please.
[He drinks it largely for the physical benefits, anyway. As Caitlyn moves, Altius follows her with his eyes, and her reply draws his eyebrows upwards, then faintly together with some concern.]
I—suppose my first question is, how are you dealing with it?
[The machine makes some noises as it starts to brew behind her, and soon, the smell of the coffee wafts through the small room.]
As well as one can, I suppose. I feel... off. But that's hardly a surprise, the Council does love to mess with our heads.
[But Caitlyn hates feeling off. She's been off since the war with Noxus back home. She was trying so desperately to get back to some kind of normal, physically, only to be hit with this, mentally.]
I'm supposed to ask others about what justice means to them. It isn't even anything complex. But I'll take it, in comparison to what I had to do the first go-around.
[He can't help but let out a scoff. It's so simple it's absurd.]
I'd rather they go ahead and give us tasks like this than force us through the messes we've had in the meantime.
[But he lets out a slow breath and considers; he does want to help, if he can. Feeling off could lead to any number of unpleasant things.]
This place does encourage thinking about the topic, in any case. Being brought here, where we could never make amends for whatever imagined harm we may have been accused of, certainly isn't it.
As if I wasn't already doing that enough, back home.
[Recovering from her injuries had given Caitlyn plenty of time and opportunity to think of her crimes. Ironically, they weren't even crimes being shoved in her face here, in Aldrip.]
One of my ongoing theories has been that that's the point. It makes us think, work through our "crimes", so when we go home in that blink, like nothing really happened, those moments linger and help influence our future decisions.
[That didn't make it better, or even actually true, but it's certainly something she's pondered. She can't help but wonder if the fact that she had grown semi-civil with Jinx here had influenced her decision to finally let go of her anger with the other woman and let Vi break her out of prison.]
[Altius lets out an unhappy noise from the back of his throat, arms folded.]
As much as I hate to think all this could leave any real trace behind... I can't deny the possibility.
[If it can take them here, and if they are truly themselves and capable of being sent back... perhaps only leaving subconscious memories behind isn't beyond their captor's ability.]
But I refuse to think forcing us to stay here in this dangerous unpredictable place is anything like justice. Self-righteousness, perhaps.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
She's not very good at being still for long.
As Altius pulls out the list, she takes it, examining it curiously. He's certainly piqued her interest with this request. She's a little relieved that he plans to do the talking, though. She can talk, but she gets awkward pretty easily.]
Yes, that sounds reasonable. You've definitely caught my curiosity. I can look into them for you, so long as you share the results of your research with me.
no subject
[He's already made a copy of them before for Miss Ushiromiya; he's not looking to hoard anything about Expiation to himself. He knows collaboration is the only way he's getting out of this place.]
It's an impressive amount of research, by the looks of it. How long have you been here?
no subject
[Caitlyn can't be still for two seconds, okay!! She'll get around to it one of these days, though.]
Nearly two years, now. My partner has been here since the cycle began, even longer than that. We did leave and come back, but we were only gone from here for a week.
no subject
Especially with that amount of time. I don't suppose you've found any significant connections between these temporary return trips of ours? [A mostly rhetorical question that he expects little out of, but he might as well put it out there.] A friend of mine was gone from this place for weeks, but only ended up passing a few days in their world, in contrast.
[He remembers what Caitlyn said about the timing of her injury; no doubt the time she spent back in her world was more than that three months.]
no subject
[Caitlyn has theories, of course. Everything from glitches in the system to it being related to them meeting the Council's demands, but nothing feels like the right answer.]
In most cases, people leave here for a week, but the amount of time passing in their worlds is always different. Vi and I were home for a little over nine months. I've seen some that say they were home for years. Some, as you said, were home only a short time. It's not very consistent.
no subject
A dead end, perhaps... [He wonders if it might have more to do with the nature of their experiences rather than the time spent, but... such a thing would be notoriously hard to investigate—even if one could trust all of the answers coming from the Chosen.] There are too many variables.
[Departure and return may not be something he can learn much about for now, but it's far from his only concern. He can't help but feel like the sword of Damocles hangs over him, and it's only a matter of time before the hair snaps...
Sitting forward with renewed interest that implies he's about to get to his feet, he continues:]
Perhaps you can direct me towards what you have regarding sentencing? Ah—and I'd like to take you up on that coffee, if the offer hasn't expired.
no subject
[Not from the lack of trying!! It hadn't been just Caitlyn, either. There have been plenty of other brilliant minds that were here before her, their notes dispersed among her own after their disappearances.
The shift in the conversation towards sentencing has Caitlyn raise an eyebrow, but it's not unwelcome. She had actually intended to bring it up, given her own directive from Jerry at the moment.]
Coffee it is. How do you like it?
[She moves to stand, clearing the steps to the side of the room where a pod machine is. She's not much for coffee, herself, but Vi is, so she keeps coffees on hand for her and for others that come here to seek her help or advice. She pops one of the pods into the coffee machine, places a clean mug under the spout, then turns the machine on, only then turning her gaze back to Altius.]
I've actually just been sentenced, myself. This is my second time, since my arrival. What would you like to know?
no subject
Black, please.
[He drinks it largely for the physical benefits, anyway. As Caitlyn moves, Altius follows her with his eyes, and her reply draws his eyebrows upwards, then faintly together with some concern.]
I—suppose my first question is, how are you dealing with it?
no subject
As well as one can, I suppose. I feel... off. But that's hardly a surprise, the Council does love to mess with our heads.
[But Caitlyn hates feeling off. She's been off since the war with Noxus back home. She was trying so desperately to get back to some kind of normal, physically, only to be hit with this, mentally.]
I'm supposed to ask others about what justice means to them. It isn't even anything complex. But I'll take it, in comparison to what I had to do the first go-around.
no subject
I'd rather they go ahead and give us tasks like this than force us through the messes we've had in the meantime.
[But he lets out a slow breath and considers; he does want to help, if he can. Feeling off could lead to any number of unpleasant things.]
This place does encourage thinking about the topic, in any case. Being brought here, where we could never make amends for whatever imagined harm we may have been accused of, certainly isn't it.
no subject
[Recovering from her injuries had given Caitlyn plenty of time and opportunity to think of her crimes. Ironically, they weren't even crimes being shoved in her face here, in Aldrip.]
One of my ongoing theories has been that that's the point. It makes us think, work through our "crimes", so when we go home in that blink, like nothing really happened, those moments linger and help influence our future decisions.
[That didn't make it better, or even actually true, but it's certainly something she's pondered. She can't help but wonder if the fact that she had grown semi-civil with Jinx here had influenced her decision to finally let go of her anger with the other woman and let Vi break her out of prison.]
no subject
As much as I hate to think all this could leave any real trace behind... I can't deny the possibility.
[If it can take them here, and if they are truly themselves and capable of being sent back... perhaps only leaving subconscious memories behind isn't beyond their captor's ability.]
But I refuse to think forcing us to stay here in this dangerous unpredictable place is anything like justice. Self-righteousness, perhaps.