ximilialog | [Mostly Open] So we'll press, and press 'til you can't take it anymore!

CHARACTERS: Precursors and you. And Eventually Newton. Hopefully!
LOCATION: A holding room in Ximilia Station.
DATE: Est. two days post-mission, after the kaiju is defeated and the orb is retrieved.
CONTENT: The precursors are revealed — and are finally removed from Newt's mind.
WARNINGS: Possession and the bodily autonomy issues that come with that. More will be added if necessary!

Closed and opened starters will be added as I go, which will be announced on plurk! But if you don't use plurk or would rather keep an eye out by email/tracking, feel free to use the tracking option and mark to receive notifs any new top level comments posted to this log! The log will involve an open starter to visit the precursors where they're cuffed/contained in the room, so stay tuned.

Also no rush once the open starters are posted!

Feel free to focus on the player plot log first and come back to this later.

CLOSED STARTER | THE DOCTOR
DARKLING'S TOP LEVEL | WHILE NEWT WAS SLEEPING...
OPEN STARTER | THE PRECURSORS, REVEALED
CLOSED FINAL CONCLUSION | THE PRECURSORS, REMOVED
OPEN PROMPTS | NEWTON GEISZLER'S RETURN

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm sorry. I- I should have noticed something was wrong sooner, even if those things suppressed some of my memories.

[In hindsight, it would be easy to see things that had appeared innocuous at the moment as warning signs, but at the time- no one had realized that something else had gotten into Newton's head and started using him as a handpuppet.]

I just... want you to get better. We all do.

[Newton hasn't really had time to digest that yet. That he survived, for one, but that the others are quietly supportive — that they just want him to get better. Maybe the precursors had planted that in his head. One last cruel intention before the road, to make him feel like returning to life would have been a crushing, painful blow... That they would reject him, or at the very least fear the sight of him.

He shakes his head.]

It's not something you have to apologize for, Sab. What you did — it was so big. I can't ever make it up to you.

[He breathes in slow.]

It's been since Sedorum. I realized they were there, so they... took over completely.

I had dreams... every night, I had dreams where they'd talk to me. But when I woke up...

You don't have to. If something happened to any of us- I know you'd do the same.

[She means it. And Sabriel's vaguely aware that the Precursors may have lied to Newt, to try to break him- just like they had tried to claim that there wasn't enough of Newt left to save.

At that, Sabriel stops, thinking back over the timeline.]

So that conversation we had- when you asked me to make that promise- it was either just before, or after they took over.

[It was true, and he knew it, even if he wanted to flog himself mentally for the mistakes he'd made along this trail. He'd do the same if it had been reversed... and now doubly so, when he knows just how painful it is to be in his shoes.

... Right. He'd practically begged her once, to not help him. To not fix him, if it meant the safety of the crew; the memory feels like it'd been so long ago.

"Isn't there an honorable kind of rule where you respect the wishes of someone in a coma or dying or dead? That's my wish, okay. Don't do anything that'll hurt you or anyone else in the process. I'm pinning a 'Do Not Resuscitate' to my jacket if it gets the memo across."

He breathes out.]

... When I asked for that promise... Yeah.

That wasn't long before the night I realized they were there. I think deep down, I knew... and once it was confirmed, I'd tried to stop them. I really did, but... [He shakes his head.] The person asking you to learn your magic after that... it wasn't me.

Then it's... probably for the best that I declined than offer.

[Because an ancient, evil hivemind connected to the Charter... is an outright frightening concept.]

That promise... I did remember that, and it was- part of the reason I asked for help. Because I knew we'd have a better chance if I didn't do it alone.

But I want you to understand, I did remember it. And if I thought there really wasn't a chance to save you... I would have honored your wishes.

I'm glad you did, too.

[They already had enough power behind them... They didn't need the power of the person who had helped get rid of them. As he sits there and considers such a thing, he can't help but shudder.]

I don't like that you guys did it. I would never have wanted any of you in danger, even a little — it would've been better if you'd just shot me out into space and let it do the dirty work. [But. But... Looking up at her, he can only looked painfully relieved.] But I'm really glad you didn't.

Thank you.

[Sabriel just shakes her head, fiercely.]

Newt- I'm telling you, that wouldn't have helped. It wouldn't have killed the precursors, and they'd still be out there, knowing about the orbs. It would have stopped the immediate threat, but... you'd be dead, and they'd still be out there. With knowledge of the Ximilia, and the orbs.

[He pales at the thought, freckles pronounced on his skin.

That they'd still be out there... The thought is a haunting one. They still could be, couldn't they? Who can know for sure, when there's no body to verify? His hands curl tightly in the sheets.]

... Yeah. I guess you're right.

It would've been bad, if they'd been able to take that with them. Anything I knew, anything they saw or heard... You're right.

But now... their minds have been shattered. They won't remember any of what they say through you, and probably can't string together a coherent thought.

[Which would be cruel, except... they're an evil hivemind that's a threat to the rest of the universe.

Sabriel's tone is reassuring, comforting.]

They're gone, and you're still here. Please, remember that.

[Newton nods. He had felt them shatter. He'd felt whatever part of him was still being latched into severed violently, left a sudden gaping wound in his mind where all the fear and anger and sadness could pour back in. Maybe that's why it's been so hard; maybe that's why he still feels these bursts of adrenaline or cold exhaustion between resting. It'll fade; they'll fade from him, too.]

... Right...

I'm still here.

[His fingers uncurl from the blanket of his own free will. He breathes in just to feel it.]

Still alive.

Edited 2022-06-10 00:17 (UTC)

And you're going to stay that way. We're all going to make sure of it.

[What the precursors said about what would happen after they were gone- Sabriel won't allow that to happen. They're gone, and Newton is going to live, and be happy. And not be burdened by what they used him to do.]

[Mostly Open] So we'll press, and press 'til you can't take it anymore!

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