text | un: m.cabrera

[naloxone]

[ turns out? space doesn't give a single fuck about your circadian rhythm. or maybe insomnia is just that attached to her that even the absence of a sun dictating her internal clock doesn't faze it, like an old friend you wish would just forget you already.

one night (?) late into the early hours (???) marta finds herself drifting out of the room she's come to assume will be hers for the indefinite future, passing through stark white walls with all the sterility of a hospital, but none of its familiar chaos.

she's still getting used to the earpiece. still getting used to hearing other people's voices in her head. she doesn't mean to add another in the void, but one of her own thoughts blares out too vividly as she stares out into an actual void: ]

—but where are the stars?

Comments

[anthropophagite]

That would also make sense. We could be hidden. [ the orbs are powerful, right? What if there are others after them? ]

Honestly, all of this feels like it came out of a sci-fi book. Nothing like this ever existed in my world.

[naloxone]

[ he can't hear it, but she breathes out a sigh of relief. getting the welcome from others has been comforting, sure, but there's also something comforting about someone who feels just as displaced as she does. ]

In mine, we've barely even explored another planet.

[anthropophagite]

Same in mine. I'm from a planet called Earth and we managed to reach its moon. Our neighbor planet, Mars, is only being explored at a distance.

I don't actually know much about space exploration other than that, though.

[naloxone]

Earth — yes, me too.
Though from what I hear, there are quite a few of us.
But it sounds like there may be... different Earths.

[anthropophagite]

Different Earths?

[naloxone]

There are people here from Earth that travelled galaxies, or have powers, or know people who have powers.
Very different from mine.

[anthropophagite]

Powers like in comic books?

How is your Earth like, then?

[naloxone]

Exactly like in comic books.

Mine is very, very plain in comparison.
The most fantastical thing we have is the occasional Bigfoot sighting.

[anthropophagite]

I don't think plain is bad. It sounds like a very peaceful life.

[naloxone]

It was.
Until it wasn't.

[ BUT ANYWAY— ]

What is your Earth like?

[anthropophagite]

[ well! She is here because she has some sort of regret, right? So Kaneki understands that.

But... Ah... He will have to lie. He hates lying, but he has no other choice. ]

A bit like that as well. And I did end up here, too. [ his life used to be peaceful. And then it wasn't.]

[naloxone]

[ marta wishes she had a choice about lying— ]

Sorry.
Or — maybe congratulations? [ if he's here she assumes it's because he's got a reason to be, but that also means he has the opportunity to fix it, right? ]
I guess it's not so black and white.

[anthropophagite]

I think it's complicated, yes.

It worries me a bit, if I'm making the right choice by being here. [ plus... is it really that simple? ]

[naloxone]

Hindsight, right? I wonder too. Especially after hearing about all that the others here have already had to do.

[anthropophagite]

Yes.

But I heard it's not all bad. That last mission they saved people. [ and maybe that will justify it ]

[naloxone]

Not without a price, it sounds like.

[ the thoughts come out before she can help it, and she regrets coming off so cynical. maybe the insomnia is finally getting to her. ]

But that's good to know. That we can do some good.

[anthropophagite]

[ uhm... ]

Do you regret accepting?

[naloxone]

[ there is a long, long pause on her end. measured silence to keep her thoughts controlled. ]

No.

[ it's only been a day. ]

Not yet.

[ she's here for a reason— ]

If they can do what they promised to do... I believe it's worth it.

[anthropophagite]

yes.

I hope it will be for you. [ Kaneki certainly thinks it is for him ]

[naloxone]

Thank you.
I hope for you, too.