to the pleroma (text)

[passio]

[ it’s not an intentional attempt at anonymity. dextera just has no experience with this kind of broad communication, and to him, there’s little point in introducing himself anyway. those who have met him may be able to recognize the emotional “signature” attached to the words newly displayed in their minds, and may be able even to attach the soft sound of his breath or the perpetually-uncertain expression he wears to the message he knows is about to be contentious.

but, it’s been bothering him since the events in venera. perhaps the seed was planted even before that, from his very first experience with the kenoma and having the pleroma overtake it to save him in the end. ]

Are we wrong?

[ it’s… actually not what he wanted to open with, but the panic of broadcasting a message so publicly has him blurting things out even through what should be the most temperate of mediums. ]

The Regent said it was the Pleroma that caused the disease in Venera. That force wanted us to live forever in delusion. I don’t want to destroy the world. I don’t want to make a new one either. I was happy there. I would have been happy there.

The distilled Kenoma tried to manipulate our thoughts. Didn’t you all feel that power when we escaped? The Hope that allowed us to fight? Are we still being manipulated?

Comments

[comelately]

Me...?

[ how honest should he be? then again, there's no reason to hide anything, is there? ]

... I want to walk again. [ a beat. there's the sense through communion that this is only the surface of a deep, dark pool, that his true wish is more complicated, but that's all Johnny actually says. ] But... there's things I got to take care of back home, too. There's some people I have to protect. So I guess that's my priority now - getting back to them.

[passio]

[ it confirms to dextera that he’s speaking to who he thinks he is, since there aren’t many other people who would have the same wish. ]

What if they were here? Would you defend any world that they’re in?

[comelately]

[ this is not something he's really thought about. He wishes Gyro was here often, but if he was...? Johnny pauses, thinking. ]

If keeping them alive meant protecting this weird place, then I guess I'd have to.

[passio]

[ it helps a little, or at least enough that dextera doesn’t push johnny with more questions. ]

I hope you can find them again. Or that they can find you.