Register a SA Forums Account here!
JOINING THE SA FORUMS WILL REMOVE THIS BIG AD, THE ANNOYING UNDERLINED ADS, AND STUPID INTERSTITIAL ADS!!!

You can: log in, read the tech support FAQ, or request your lost password. This dumb message (and those ads) will appear on every screen until you register! Get rid of this crap by registering your own SA Forums Account and joining roughly 150,000 Goons, for the one-time price of $9.95! We charge money because it costs us money per month for bills, and since we don't believe in showing ads to our users, we try to make the money back through forum registrations.
 
  • Locked thread
Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 30: His Father's Son





: Oh, you're finally awake! You sure did have a nice nap.
: ...Where's Jack...?

I'd just like to take a second to be both mildly impressed at the extra detail (I'm pretty sure the hospital sprites/background never come up again), and irritated for the same reason.

: ...They still can't find him.
: ......
: But...it doesn't look good. I mean, from that height...
: ...Yeah...
: (I think we kept him from escaping into the past this time...)
: (But I never thought it would end up like this.)
: What about Dad?
: He's having a talk with Derek. It looks like a pretty intense conversation.
: Ah...
: (I guess Dad has a lot of explaining to do--about him and Mom, first of all.)
: The doctor said you should rest for a while.
: She said you really seem to have aged physically, too, on top of your injury.
: Imagine that--"really aged"! How rude!
: Ha ha...she might not be that far off.
: Huh?
: Er, anyway, I'll rest up and try to get better.
: Good idea. Get well soon, Ethan.
: Oh, yes-- I made some tomato soup for you. Want some, Ethan?
: Uh, sure. Thanks.





Pamela: ...You really are getting more and more handsome as you grow up.
Ethan: You're not, like, surprised by how fast I've grown?
Pamela: Mysterious things tend to happen wherever your father goes. I'm not particularly worried. Even if this IS the first I've seen anything like THIS happen...
Ethan: Oh, er, okay... (She's unbelievable.)
: Here you go. Be careful--it's hot.
: Thanks, Mom.



Ethan: !
: You okay? Did you burn yourself?
: N-no...I'm fine.
: (Such flavor...!)
: I was surprised, that's all. It tastes so...rich.
: Is it too strong? I'm so sorry.
: Your dad likes it strong. I guess I'm in the habit of making it that way...
: Huh? Dad likes it like this?
: I always make it strong because that's how he asks for it.
: ......
: But maybe it's not good for him after all. What do you think, Ethan?
: ......
: Maybe...just a little less...?
: ...Hmm...you're right. I won't make it that strong anymore.
: From here on out, it'll be nice and weak. Thanks!
: Um...you're welcome...?







Timothy: Well? Think you can use it?
Ethan: I think I'll be just fine.
Timothy: Now you're the only one who wields the Pen. Use it wisely.
: So there's actually a Hollow Pen thingy in that space there?
: Did Dad tell you about the Pen, Uncle Derek?
: More or less...but I'm finding it hard to swallow.
: Seeing you two here, though, makes it hard not to believe.
: I gave Derek a good overall explanation.
: To think the Pen becomes unusable once you pass through a Hole...
: Maybe because you can't "use up your Time" on that side...?
: Maybe so... Time as we know it most likely doesn't exist for those who've passed through a Hole.
: I--I can fix that. I know I can.
: For you and Mom...and for Kori.
: I hope so, Ethan.
: Don't worry.
: (Now...where to begin?)
: (Maybe I should try getting all my info squared away first.)

*Conversation: Pamela*
: I wonder if little Ethan isn't getting lonely back home...
: I just left him there before I came. I'm kind of worried...
: ...... (She really is concerned about me...)
: It's all right. I'll fix that up, too.

*Conversation: Timothy*
: How's Sox?
: Sox? You mean, the cat?
: Yeah.
: Fine...I think.
: He's been through a Hole himself. Did you realize that?
: Huh?
: One of his ancestors must've done it, I think...Sox has lived here for I don't know how long.
: ...I always thought he used to be Uncle Derek's cat.
: Sox did get rather attached to Derek, that's true...

Let's also take the chance to get our flashbacks cleaned up.

Flashback: Gas explosion posted:




For those who can't see it, we're down to one unconfirmed flashback now that the immediate time problems with Irving are resolved.



We do have to check out this flashback, even though we have no new information on it except for a quick comment wondering if this is from when Ethan's dad saved Kori.



: But when I came through, I was back in class. Your father had pulled me through.



*Conversation: Timothy*
: Dad, can I ask you something?



*Question: So Kori was in an accident?*
: I'll never forget it...
: It would have been...19 years ago now. 5:05 PM on October 20... By the time I rescued her from a classroom window, three days had passed.



*Question: Where did you pull Kori through?*
: It was a classroom at Kako High--3-B on the third floor, to be exact.



*Question: Why did you pull Kori through?*

{Soundtrack: Silence}

: ...I did it for Derek.
: F-for me?
: Three days after she fell from the roof to her death...



: ...Derek followed in her footsteps. He hung himself in the entryway after class.
: !
: !! I...I did?
: Yes. You did.
: The only way I could change that was by pulling her through.
: I get it now...
: I can't believe I would do such a thing...
: (So Uncle Derek had a thing for Kori, too...)



We've technically never seen this, because this was during the video.

Ethan: ......... (...I want to help her, too.)

Now we have enough information to finish off our last flashback.

Flashback: Rooftop Fall posted:


Ethan: (Now it's my turn.)







*Conversation: Vin*
: You're already out of the hospital? Thought you'd be gone a while longer.
: Yeah, they let me out.
: Huh...
: Well, if you're feeling up to it, stop by Chronos, too.
: Will do.
: See ya later.







: (Kori is way on the other side.)









*Look*



Ethan: (...! How am I supposed to save her like that? The only way to keep her from falling is to pull her over to this side... That's what Dad had to do. First let me figure out a way to put things back after pulling her through. I should have enough Time for that.)



And then we close the Hole.

===



===







: Are you all right?
: I-I fell... I know I did...
: You didn't fall. I saved you.
: Where am I...? Was I...rescued?
: There's so much I have to ask you, Kori. Would you mind coming back to my place to talk?



Kori: Your place...? But who are you?
Ethan: (...! That's right--THIS Kori isn't the same as THAT Kori. THAT Kori doesn't exist anymore...)
Kori: Who...who are you?
Ethan: ...... I'm Ethan Kairos.
Kori: Kairos...?
Ethan: Yeah...Derek and I are family.





Kori: Uh-huh...
: I'm...still not sure I believe it, but is this...the future?
: I know for sure you're Derek.
: Sorry I got so old.
: No, don't be...
: So, Kori... Who on Earth could have pushed you off the roof?
: ...I don't know... It all happened so suddenly.



: I see...well, I can't blame you.
: Oh! They would have a scrape, a cut on their hand.
: A cut?
: I was trying to grab onto something, anything, and ended up scratching at their hand. It was bleeding, so I know it left a mark.
: A mark... It couldn't be...



Jack: You made your bed, Kori...now it's high time you slept in it!





Jack: Th-thanks...





: What!?
: Irving...yes. It may very well have been him.
: Did he and you...
: Once...the two of us were assigned to clean up the classroom.
: And...?
: And that's all.
: But ever since then... He'd call me every day, send me flowers out of the blue...



Cue gasps of shock that Irving would be obsessive in any way.

: Why didn't you tell me?
: Because if I did, he'd go after you next.
: ...
: He would say I looked a lot like his mother... According to him, that's why it would have been wrong for me not to care about him.
: He's always saying random things like that.
: W-wait just a second... How did he know you looked like his mom?
: She was killed in an accident a long time ago.
: Dead...? What do you mean?

{Soundtrack: Silence}

: But she's not dead--she's alive and well.

Cyouni fucked around with this message at 03:44 on Feb 9, 2017

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

Booky
Feb 21, 2013

Chill Bug


There's a broken img tag: IMG]http://lpix.org/2463415/DerekStern.png[/IMG]: I can't believe I would do such a thing...

You know, for Ethan having supposedly greatly aged he still looks pretty much the same! :v:

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


:suspense:

Oh poo poo what did we butterfly effect this time?

Glazius
Jul 22, 2007

Hail all those who are able,
any mouse can,
any mouse will,
but the Guard prevail.

Clapping Larry
Well, literally anything is possible right now. I think a long epilogue was kind of a mistake.

Nissin Cup Nudist
Sep 3, 2011
Probation
Can't post for 15 hours!
I hate time travel

Stabbey_the_Clown
Sep 21, 2002

Are... are you quite sure you really want to say that?
Taco Defender
Oh. So I guess some version of Kori will end up being Irving's mom in a time loop? Or else Kori was supposed to be Irving's mom, but wasn't and so Irving never was born to exist which means he didn't gently caress up everything which means ow ow ow ow ow

EagerSleeper
Feb 3, 2010

by R. Guyovich
Kinda strange to be giving someone who could be your own mom flowers.

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 31: Not-e Again





: I didn't particularly think we looked alike, but whatever.
: Eh?
: (...There's something about all this...I've got to think...!)



*In the bus accident 35 years ago*
: (That's right--she was in that bus accident. But Kori saw her after that.)

*She's still alive*
: (That can't be. We know for a fact that she's dead.)

*After Kori saw her*
: So Irving's mother would have to have died...
: ...after Kori saw her--maybe soon after.
: B-but Irving's mother died not long after he was born...
: Yeah--that's exactly right. (The question is, how could Kori have seen her?)



*Kori saw a ghost*
: (That would open up a whole new can of worms. Let's not go there.)

*It was a case of mistaken identity*
: Could it have been a case of mistaken identity, maybe?
: How so?
: I just saw her yesterday, when she came to school for Career Day.
: Irving introduced her as "my mother", so...
: This was yesterday?
: Oops--I mean my "yesterday". So...a long time ago, I guess.
: Oh, okay... But you did meet Mary Onegin in person, right?
: Right.

*Mary was still alive*
: Irving's mother was still alive when Kori saw her...
: Which means...?
: Which means any outside intereference happened after that. Trying to get her involved in that bus accident in the past...and trying to get Mom, Dad, and Uncle Derek in that explosion.
: Someone must have known about that bus accident 35 years ago and sent her there...
: Uh-huh.



*In the bus accident 35 years ago*
: (No, she'd already received the letter by the time the accident took place.)

*The arson at the secret hideout*
: (The fire would have happened well after Kori fell off the roof...)

*Luring Mary to the accident in the past*
: That's it! That's the timing we need...
: Figure something out?



: I know that doing away with the bus accident won't help. We need to focus on the part where someone got Mary into that accident in the first place.
: I've got to stop whoever lured Mary into the past instead!
: Ethan...do you know who would do such a thing, and why?
: Someone sent her a letter, telling her to go see you, Dad...



Ethan: Thanks, Uncle Derek. Now let me take a look...



Ethan: (...It's telling her to get on that particular bus to go meet Dad.)
Derek: Any idea why your dad's name is on that letter?
Ethan: ...None.



: A letter addressed to Mary Onegin...
: I still have that letter. Hang on a sec.
: I know this is some pretty weird stuff, honey.
: I don't mind. I like weird stuff.
: It's like a story in a book I gave Ethan when he was little.
: (!) That book--it couldn't be...
: "The Mystery of Parallel Worlds". Does that ring any bells?

You may recall this being mentioned in Chapter 3.

: (Was I the one who put that book in our secret hideout...?)
: (...Maybe I should have read it after all.)

: Here it is.



Letter to Mary posted:


Derek: Irving's mom had it on her when she got into that accident.
: Can I borrow this? (If I know who sent this letter and when...)
: (I should be able to save Irving's mom.)
: (The bus accident, Kori's fall... let's take this one step at a time. That way, I'll be able to help Mom and Dad one day, too.)
: If you need anything else, just say the word. I'd be glad to help.
: Good luck, Ethan.
: Thanks.
: Well, we're gonna go have a chat in the other room.

That puts Derek and Young Kori in the study.

We take a minor break to explore a bit.






: Oh...!
: I-it's Ethan!
: ...Yeah, who else would it be? What are you two up to?
: But you, Ethan--you've got awful timing! When'd you get out? We were just about to visit you!
: Er, sorry... (Wait--why am I apologizing?)
: Sheesh! Well, never mind. We're done for the day, Emily!
: What...!?
: See ya later, Ethan!
: A-Ashley, wait up!



: Er, about what?
: That you were in the hospital... So were you?
: Uh-huh--I just got out.
: Crrrrash! Crrrrunch! Kerpow! Wasn't it just totally crazy?
: ...Huh?
: With blood dripping all over the place, and you wrapped up in bandages like a mummy!
: ......
: Who would have thought you could get that messed up from food poisoning...!
: ...Umm...
: Yeah?
: It was...kind of...not food poisoning.
: Oh? Really? Hmm.
: I'm all better now, so it doesn't really matter.
: Oh, okay. Sorry about that! That's just what I heard.
: No, it's all right.
: (Who told her that!?)
: Coffee's on the house today, Ethan.
: Huh?
: You've been through an awful lot. C'mon--it's our treat.
: Thank you very much!

Okay, back on topic. First, our flashback, which we need to check to get further:

Flashback: School Hallway posted:






: (Maybe I can reach Irving's mother through Uncle Derek--when he was in high school.)



Ethan: (What time was that, I wonder? Better ask Dad. Oh, yeah--I should find out what Uncle Derek's student number was.)

I'm not bothering to update the flashback here, we'll have that cleaned up in a minute.



: Sure, what is it?
: After Kori's accident...Uncle Derek hanged himself, right?
: That's right.
: Do you remember when that was? I know you said it was three days later.
: Yes, three days after the accident... We were devastated by it...
: ...
: Not something you easily forget.
: It was October 23, 19 years ago. After class--5 o'clock, to be exact.
: Thanks. Sorry I upset you.
: You needed the info, didn't you? Ask me anything, anytime.

And now to Derek.



: Do you remember your freshman class and student number?
: Wow, that takes me back... Give me a second, would ya?
: 1-A. Student number 15.
: That was fast...
: We were in the same class.
: Th-thanks. You're a big help.
: (You wouldn't normally know someone else's student number like that, I don't think.)

Flashback: Uncle Derek doesn't kill himself posted:


Ethan: (Kori remembered Uncle Derek's student number.)



And now, we can actually do something.

{Soundtrack: Silence}



: ("It has to do with Kori, and it's very important.")
: (There we go.)



This is just so we can place it - I'm not giving the picture for it since it's in existence for such a short time.

: (Gotta give this memo to Uncle Derek--the high-school version.)
: (Uncle Derek was a freshman 19 years ago... ... Student number 15, class 1-A... ...)
: (The Pen's glowing--now's my chance.)





On a side note, I've never been able to figure out when each of these plays in comparison to the other.





*Item: Memo to Mary*
: (Give this memo to Irving's mom... I'm counting on you, Uncle Derek!)



You can see the memo in there before we close the Hole.

===



===



: (I saw Uncle Derek read the memo...but that's it. Did he not give it to Irving's mother after all?)
: (I should ask him.)





: Uncle Derek... Do you remember me sending you a memo way back when? It would have reached you three days after Kori died...
: Yeah, Tim mentioned that. I only just now remembered it myself.
: What do you remember about it?
: Well...
: Not much, I'm afraid. Sorry.
: Oh...
: Kori's accident really threw me. The shock of her disappearing from class like that...
: So you must have thought my memo was just a prank or something.
: Yeah, maybe so...sorry, kid.

Flashback: Derek Reads Note posted:


The before and after of this flashback is pretty much exactly the same.

Cyouni fucked around with this message at 08:16 on Mar 6, 2017

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


drat it Derek! We're so close if you didn't gently caress this up! :argh:

xoFcitcrA
Feb 16, 2010

took the bread and the lamb spread
Lipstick Apathy
AARGH!
Man, did I pick the wrong time to catch up on the thread. The suspense is killin me! Is Derek the second penman on the grassy knoll? Was it the drat cat? Kori? Evil Ethan? Y'know, Ethan's mom's kinda suspicious too. The real teacher, maybe? Hey, isn't Mary also unstuck? Could she have set this up as a suicide to escape from... something? The misery of eternity? :sigh:

Glazius
Jul 22, 2007

Hail all those who are able,
any mouse can,
any mouse will,
but the Guard prevail.

Clapping Larry
...man, I'm getting a terrible terrible idea. What if Kid Ethan read that book and sent the letter because he was living out a fantasy, and that started this whole shitshow?

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 32: Right All Along

Last time our genius plan to communicate with Mary failed thanks to Derek tossing away the letter.

I think it's time to invoke my lifeline: Call a Friend.




: Welcome!



: How's that injury coming along?
: I'm just about back to normal.
: Ha! Define "normal"! Anyway, Ethan, listen--you'll back me up, won't you?
: What? Why?
: Oh, listen to this! Vin has a real heartbreaker for you. He had a love letter in his locker--and he threw it away!

Astonishingly relevant to our current scenario.

: You threw away a love letter!?
: I didn't recognize the name of the girl who sent it...
: And I didn't want to be bothered with dating someone I didn't already know.
: So you THREW IT AWAY? Man, you are as cold as they come! What I wanna know is, why do girls always go for creeps like you?
: (......... He threw away a letter from someone he didn't know, eh...?)
: What if the letter was from someone you DID know, Vin?
: Yeah, like from someone you maybe kinda liked?
: Well, obviously I'd read it on the spot--and I'd write back, too!
: I knew it! How unfair is that?!
: Wait, what's so weird about that? Wouldn't every guy do the same thing?
: (That's it...!) Yeah! He wouldn't throw away a note from someone he liked!
: See? I knew you got me, Eeth!
: You make me sick, the both of you!
: (That memo needs to be from someone he likes...)

And that's what we need to know. So let's go ask this completely mysterious person that Derek likes.





: Could you do me a favor? I need you to write something for me.
: Okay...is this what you want me to write?
: Uh-huh. And sign your name at the bottom. (The message is the same--just the handwriting's different. This way Uncle Derek is sure to respond.)
: What are you having her write, Ethan?
: A memo to you.
: To me, eh?
: I think you threw away the one I wrote...
: ? ...Oh! You mean it's for the high-school version of me! I get it now. Sure, a note from Kori would work!
: Great idea, right?
: Ha ha ha! Yeah, I'll read that one for sure!
: ...All set. How's that look?



Memo to Mary posted:


: Perfect. Thanks. (This should get Uncle Derek to act, all right.)

Refilled my Pen, so let's try this again.



: (This memo should do the trick--since it's in Kori's handwriting and all.)



===



You know the deal.





*Item: Memo to Mary*

: (Give this memo to Irving's mom... I'm counting on you, Uncle Derek!)



Again, the memo in the locker before we close the Hole.

===



===





: I'm glad he saw it and all...
: But when was that flashback--and where?
: (Would Uncle Derek remember when he gave her that memo?)

So back we go to ask him.



: Uncle Derek... Do you remember me sending you a memo way back when? It would have reached you three days after Kori died...
: Yeah, Tim mentioned that. I only just now remembered it myself. I remember finding a strange memo in my locker. It said, "Give this memo to Irving's mom", in Kori's handwriting.
: And you gave it to her, right?
: Of course.
: Do you remember when?
: I was curious about what it said, so I gave it to her right away--the very next day. Had to ask Irving where she was.
: (So four days after Kori fell...October 24.)
: Thanks, Uncle Derek.
: Not a problem. Ask me anytime.

Surprisingly, that's enough to get you the flashback clear. Why, you might ask? Well...

Flashback: Mary Receiving Memo posted:


Ethan: (October 24, 1989...at...hmm. Wait! I know what time it was! I can see a clock--2:30, eh? And since it's light out, I'd say it's 2:30 PM.)



Splendid deductive reasoning, Ethan. Now let's have that talk.





===



Still can't figure out the difference. Maybe it's specifically changing versus investigating?

Anyways, the flashback we have is zoomed far in, so we have to work with that particular section.






*Talk*

===



: Hello...?
: Mary...Onegin, right?
: ...Who are you...?





: Yes. I'm Ethan Kairos.
: Kairos...I know a Timothy Kairos. He has the same Pen as I do. You must be his...?
: His son, yes. (Irving's mom... You know, she does kinda look a little like Kori after all.)

I...really don't see it at all. Maybe I'm just bad with faces.



Mary: Were you the one responsible for this memo, too?
Ethan: Yes.
Mary: And do you know this Kori girl?
Ethan: ......Yes. ...And your son, too.
: !!!
: (I thought as much...)
: Your son pushed Kori...
: ...Pushed her off the roof...
: ...Yes.
: ...... ......
: That's not all.
: Huh?
: When he doesn't push her off the roof, he stabs her with a kitchen knife... When I hide the knife, he hits her with a rock...



: ...!?
: (I had no idea Irving was that obsessed with Kori...)
: Where is the girl now? Did you take her away somewhere?
: Yes, we've brought her over to this side--for now, anyway.
: ...If that future comes to pass, there'll be no saving her.
: ...I'll keep her safe.
: Please, help her...



: ...
: I consider myself responsible, me and my son both...so, you see...
: (!! Impossible...! She's the one who's been fiddling in the past--because she's got a death wish!?)
: N-no! You can't!
: It's...it's the least I can do... I have to pay for all that's happened--before I give him this Pen!
: Please, Mary...think this over! Everyone can be rescued--everyone!
: I'll tell my past self to go see your father.
: Huh?
: I'm sure I'll listen to myself... Your father and I wield the same Pen...
: I'm sure my past self will realize it's important enough to get on that bus...
: Mary, no!
: ...Goodbye, Ethan.



Ethan: Mary! ...Ah!

===



===





: (I see...I get it now...)
: (Irving's mother--Mary keeps getting in that bus accident...by sending that letter to her past self. It's suicide...)
: (And now that I know that, I've got to stop her.)

Flashback: Kori Falling posted:


Ethan: (But I'm sure there's a way to save Kori.)

xoFcitcrA
Feb 16, 2010

took the bread and the lamb spread
Lipstick Apathy
Hey, one of my guesses was sort of close! Does this mean that Ethan could directly communicate with past Tim and Irving as well? Seems like a quick conversation at the right time could solve a lot more problems than being all sneaky with notes and such. Wait, if Tim has Mary's pen and Ethan got Tim's, where did Irving get his?
:sigh: More updates, more questions.

e: And what the hell is up with the cat???

xoFcitcrA fucked around with this message at 05:53 on Mar 10, 2017

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


drat. One step forward four steps back :(

I'm legit into this though, even if it is hard to follow.

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen

xoFcitcrA posted:

Hey, one of my guesses was sort of close! Does this mean that Ethan could directly communicate with past Tim and Irving as well? Seems like a quick conversation at the right time could solve a lot more problems than being all sneaky with notes and such. Wait, if Tim has Mary's pen and Ethan got Tim's, where did Irving get his?

Mary passed hers to Irving.
Tim presumably got his from his parent, and he passed it down to Ethan. When Ethan pulled him out of the past, possession reverted to him for a bit, until he got the leeway to give it to Ethan again.

xoFcitcrA
Feb 16, 2010

took the bread and the lamb spread
Lipstick Apathy

Cyouni posted:

Mary passed hers to Irving.
Tim presumably got his from his parent, and he passed it down to Ethan. When Ethan pulled him out of the past, possession reverted to him for a bit, until he got the leeway to give it to Ethan again.

Ah, okay. The "I'm sure I'll listen to myself... Your father and I wield the same Pen..." line threw me off.

Glazius
Jul 22, 2007

Hail all those who are able,
any mouse can,
any mouse will,
but the Guard prevail.

Clapping Larry
Okay, so why does time apparently have it out for Kori?

SystemLogoff
Feb 19, 2011

End Session?

Thank you for continuing to update this.

It's saving me from playing though it again myself. (I still listen to the soundtrack to this day though)

Keldulas
Mar 18, 2009

Glazius posted:

Okay, so why does time apparently have it out for Kori?

It's just that Jack is a creepy murderous obsessive gently caress really, and all the problems in this game are caused either by him, or by the consequences of people trying to stop him.

His mother got tired of him killing Kori, so she tried to kill both herself and Jack in the past... only Jack survived it and he thinks the other person with a pen killed her.

I also think it's an important detail to note just how OLD she looked. It's also really morbid to think that everytime Ethan or his father saved her from the crash, the one in the future just kills herself again.

wdarkk
Oct 26, 2007

Friends: Protected
World: Saved
Crablettes: Eaten
If your child is a murderous rear end in a top hat to the point you're doing time travel to kill him and yourself, wouldn't it be easier to send yourself a message to not have sex the night he's conceived?

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen

Keldulas posted:

I also think it's an important detail to note just how OLD she looked. It's also really morbid to think that everytime Ethan or his father saved her from the crash, the one in the future just kills herself again.

To top that off, Irving's tried to save her multiple times too, and ~15 years after that, she kills herself because of him.

wdarkk posted:

If your child is a murderous rear end in a top hat to the point you're doing time travel to kill him and yourself, wouldn't it be easier to send yourself a message to not have sex the night he's conceived?

Odds are that'd merely delay it, and really you'd want to make sure to not have kids in any way.

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 33: They're an Item





: ...
: Derek's in the study. We told him all about us.
: Again. From the very beginning.

*Examine: Study door*
: Uncle Derek... (Kori's gone. I messed with Mary's past, so the past of 35 years ago must have changed again. And so did Kori's situation... ...Kori...Uncle Derek...)



The sound of footsteps.

: Tim told me everything, Ethan. You're trying to save Kori, right?
: Uh-huh.
: But how...?
: By pulling her through--again?
: Uh-huh...but that's not a real, permanent solution.
: Oh...you're right.



: (I've got to think this all over one more time.)



*Answer: Skyrocketing debts*
: (First I've heard of it.)

*Answer: An Onegin-Kairos feud*
: (Two families, both with the Hollow Pen...but I've never heard of any feud between us.)

*Answer: Irving's obsession with Kori*
: (Actually...she DID say something about that... If I erased the rooftop incident, Irving would find another way to kill Kori...)



*Answer: Pull Irving through to this side*
: (I haven't had any flashbacks of pulling Irving through...)

*Answer: Pull Mary through to this side*
: (From 19 years ago...? That won't work. She's closed the Hole from the far side.)

*Answer: Keep Irving away from Kori*
: (...If there were a good way to keep Irving from killing Kori...)



*Answer: Irving and Kori will become friends*
: (...Yeah, right.)

*Answer: Irving will grow up spoiled*
: (At least he won't hold a grudge if his mother isn't killed...)

*Answer: Irving will leave the Kairos family alone*
: (Irving wouldn't be "avenging his mother's murder". Which means he'd stop going after Mom and Dad.)



: ......!

{Soundtrack: Silence}

: (If we do away with Irving's reason for his vendetta against Dad... ...Mom and Dad won't get caught up in that gas explosion.)
: (Mom and Dad--the ones here now--must be living in the past...!)



: So that's it...Irving... If I can put a stop to him...
: Irving...
: I have to get Irving to have completely given up on Kori.
: What--forever?
: From the very beginning.
: And if I do... If Irving doesn't kill Kori, his mother won't kill herself.
: And if Irving's mother doesn't kill her past self... In other words, if that bus accident never happens...
: Yes. He went after Mom and Dad out of bad blood over that bus accident. So if we remove the reason for his grudge...
: Irving...won't try to kill you and mom!
: !
: You mean...
: I can settle all of this. If Irving will never again go after Kori...
: I'll do it.
: ?
: All I have to do is keep Kori safe the whole time, right? Send me beyond the Hole. I'll protect her.
: ...But...
: That'll put everything back where it belongs, right?
: Yes--absolutely.
: Ethan...
: Send me.
: ...... (Uncle Derek...)





: ...All right.
: Then let's get to it. To the Hole!

Some travelling later...







: Prepare yourself--you'll be hanging in mid-air in a moment.
: No problem. Leave it to me!
: So, Ethan...



===









Just to show you the new 'items' we temporarily have access to. By the way, if we try and pick anyone else, Ethan simply goes "...".



: Okay.











Ethan: (Uncle Derek... ...Kori...)



Ethan: Uh-huh. (Time to end this...!)

{Soundtrack: Silence}



Timothy: No! It can't be!
Ethan: !!



Man, he's absurdly tenacious. Even falling off a cliff didn't really stop him.



Ethan: Jack! (H-how is he still alive!?)



Jack: Shut up, you!!
Pamela: Stop it! Watch out!
Jack: I won't let you change the past any old way you like...!





Pamela: Timothy!
Ethan: Dad!!



Ethan: Dad!
Timothy: ...Close it...and this pain...will go away...
Ethan: Hang in there--I'm closing it now!
Jack: Not so fast!



Timothy: It's...okay...we'll meet...again...

And we close the Hole.



===







===


{Video: The Fall}

===



===

Ethan: ............



Pamela: What is it?





That's not a very nice thing to say to your mother, Ethan.

Pamela: Eh?
Ethan: You too, Dad...ha ha ha...
Timothy: ...Ethan... So you're back from, er, "far far away"...?
Ethan: Yeah...finally. ......







: (Finally... They're finally back...!)

Cyouni fucked around with this message at 09:00 on Mar 12, 2017

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


Uh okay look I'm certain there was a better solution than that like come on.

Nissin Cup Nudist
Sep 3, 2011
Probation
Can't post for 15 hours!
So where's the "Murder Jack/Irving" option?

cause that's the best one

EagerSleeper
Feb 3, 2010

by R. Guyovich
I don't understand all this time traveling, but uncle Derek is impressive.

Keldulas
Mar 18, 2009
It kind of amuses me that the solution is to throw his uncle out the window. It's so crude I love it.

Stabbey_the_Clown
Sep 21, 2002

Are... are you quite sure you really want to say that?
Taco Defender

Nissin Cup Nudist posted:

So where's the "Murder Jack/Irving" option?

cause that's the best one

It is, but Ethan needs a flashback. That's why "pull Irving through to this side" wasn't viable.

But on the other hand, this is not like Derek is totally gone. Young Derek isn't fated to die by going through the hole because this is a new timeline now. The Derek Ethan knew is gone, but now his Uncle Derek probably has a new aunt Kori. Irvine might have been arrested for trying to murder Kori.

Blueberry Pancakes
Aug 18, 2012

Jack in!! MegaMan, Execute!
Irving is such a piece of poo poo.

And his mom is incredibly terrible at decision-making/getting counseling for her clearly troubled child.

Blueberry Pancakes fucked around with this message at 22:09 on Mar 13, 2017

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 34: Back to the Past



(Two days later, a letter arrived.)

Dear Ethan. I've decided to write you a letter. It'll be the first and the last one you'll get from me. If what you say is true, I won't be around when you get this. I've been watching over her from afar for a long time now. I think she'll be all right. Irving and his mom left town and never came back. Now Kori's living happily ever after with the other me and their (our?) daughter. Let me thank you again, Ethan. Sending me into the past, helping her get her future back--it's all thanks to you. I'm so grateful. No one knows what you've done, but this is one guy who can never forget. And I'll always remember that you liked her, too. ...That's all, I guess. Give my best to your parents. Take care-- Derek.







: ...I have a few more things left to take care of.

First, our flashbacks.

Flashback: Irving Dropping Out posted:


Ethan: (Kori must have seen whoever did it.)


Flashback: Bed at Home posted:




Flashback: Present Chronos posted:




Flashback: Accident-free Olivia posted:




Flashback: Pals at Chronos posted:




Flashback: Watch Catalog posted:




Now we have free rein to go anywhere. Let's check up on all our contacts.





: I'm Ethan Kairos.
: I'm Jacob Eleven. You can just call me Jacob. And my dog's name is Lucky.
: Okay. My friend has a dog, too. His name is Shiloh. Maybe we can take them for a walk together sometime.
: Uh-huh--that sounds fun! See you later, Ethan!

===



: (It's Aaron. What's he doing?)
: Even with a new coat of paint, this bike still looks like a piece of junk. And I can't afford a new one... Man, what should I do?
: (... Guess Olivia's been bugging him for a new bike...)

===



: Hi there!



: Hey, Eeth! Over here!

*Examine: Ben*
: (Does Ben still have his eye on Olivia?)

*Examine: Vin*
: (Vin's still knocking back the java, like always.)

*Examine: Morris*
: (Morris is studying.)
: (I wonder what the big deal is with all the studying...)
: (I should ask him sometime.)



Ethan: Uncle Derek... (The other Uncle Derek...)
Derek: What? Anyone ever tell you it's not polite to stare?
Ethan: ...S-sorry about that.
: How're your folks doing?
: Fine, thanks.
: How about the three of you come by for coffee one of these days?
: I'll tell them.
: Enjoy yourself.

He walks off.

: ...Hey, I just saw the owner's wife not too long ago.
: Eh?
: She was helping out in the kitchen. What a knockout!
: S-seriously?
: What gives? Is the owner's family a bunch of lookers or what?
: (His wife--that must be...)
: (...)



Morris: Hey, what's with that doofy look on our face?
Ethan: Huh? Oh...nothing.

===





: Hey! What's up, Ethan?
: I was just passing by and thought I'd stop a while.
: Where are you two headed off to today?
: Well, I can't give you the specifics...
: Aw, Ashley...
: (I see they haven't changed.)
: Hey, how about we go somewhere fun this summer? There are three of us girls--me, Emily, and one more. Is it just gonna be you and my big brother?
: Ashleyyyy...
: Sure--I don't mind.
: Hey hey! You serious?
: Really?
: Then it's settled. Leave all the planning to me!
: Got it.
: I'll be in touch!
: Oh, er...goodbye, Ethan.

===



: Oh, no...thanks. (This Eva probably doesn't even know who I am.)
: Do you go to that high school over there?
: Yes, I do.
: I'm going to start a little takeout lunch shop here. Once I'm up and running, be sure to come visit--and bring your friends, okay?
: Oh, cool! I'll tell the guys. We'll be sure to stop by.
: Great... I'll see you around!

===



: Well...
: ?
: Don't be shy. You can ask me anything.
: Okay. Thanks. For everything.
: For...everything?
: Oops! N-never mind.
: O...kay...

===



: No, sir. I'm fine.
: Say, Ethan... Have you heard the saying "Time and tide waits for no man"?
: Huh?
: Time marches ever onward, without bothering to look out for us petty humans... To put it simply, it means you should treasure the present.
: Yes, sir.
: And these words are my gift--to you.
: Huh?
: Make every moment count, Ethan. Goodbye.
: (Mr. Twombly...)
: (I'm glad he's okay.)

And now, to recreate the beginning of the game.



: ...and the letter I got from Dad.



===







*Item: Watch & Letter*



And we close the Hole.

===





: C'mere, Sox.
: Mrowr.



: ...... That'll do.

: Mrowr.
: (...I doubt everything's back to normal. The past has changed, and Irving's meddling has disappeared somehow.)
: (Now to send the Hollow Pen back to my past self... Call it a test, to see how good I've gotten at using it.)



: (I know--I'll open a Hole right about where I was sleeping. Like the Hole I found in my room in the first place...)

And then we don't open the Hole. Instead...

Ethan: (...Maybe not right now.)



: Mrowrrr...

Sox runs off.

: (Maybe he wants to go for a walk, too.)



So right now we're going on a Sox scavenger hunt.



: Um, er, ...huh?
: ?? What is it?
: ...There was a cat here just a minute ago.
: What...?
: It was really cute--kept saying "mrowrowr".
: (......Sox.)
: ...But I guess he's gone now.



: Well, hello there! How are you?
: Mrowrowr.
: Really?
: Mrowrrr...
: Oh, my goodness!
: Mrowrowr...
: Heh heh...you're a real cutie.
: Mrowrrr...
: Okay, see you later!
: Mrowr!
: (Man...you never know when you're going to run into Sox, do you?)



: Your cat's over at our house!
: Huh?
: Whaddya mean, "huh"? Didn't you know? He naps on our porch all the time!
: Like this--with his big ol' belly hanging out. Ha ha ha!
: Oh, er...sorry about that.
: No need to apologize! It's not like he's bugging us or anything.
: (It's as though Sox thinks the whole town is his backyard...)
: Oops, I'd better get going. Mom's got me running some errands.
: See ya!
: Er, yeah--later.
: (That Sox keeps popping up everywhere!)



: (??? What on earth is he doing?)
: Yoohoo! Here, kitty-kitty-kitty!
Ethan: ......
: I've got some more num-num for you! Heeeere, kitty-kitty-kitty!
Ethan: ............
: Bah. Nowhere to be found. Catch you later, kittycat!
: (Kittycat...could he mean...?)
: Mrowrrr...
: So it WAS you, you little troublemaker...
: Mrowr.
: Hey, Sox! (He's gone... .........)
: (If other people keep feeding him, I should give him less to eat at home.)





: Yeah, I guess so.
: (I thought for sure the guys would be here...)
: Your buddies should be here soon. Coffee, right?
: Uh-huh.

The bell rings.

: See? What'd I tell you, huh?



: We were just taking Shiloh over to Morris for a nice bath.
: ...So Morris is working?
: Yeah. Busy as ever, too.
: Oh, yeah--that reminds me... I saw the Chronos kitty when we were over at Morris's place.
: Huh?
: The Chronos kitty...you mean Sox?
: Uh-huh. Morris says Sox is a regular visitor over there.
: Yeah, he did say that, didn't he.
: Oh, uh...really?
: ...But I could've sworn I saw him in front of my house, too. Yeah, I did--today and yesterday both...
: Sure your eyes weren't playing tricks on you? Sox was here yesterday.
: Right, boss?
: Who? Sox? Sox was looking after the place all day yesterday.
: Seriously? That's weird. I'm positive I saw him...
: .........
: (...What kind of walks is Sox going on, anyway?)

Now we've found Sox at all the places we could find him during the game to refill our Pen.



: C'mere, Sox.
: Mrowr.
: Don't be wandering around and making trouble for people, okay?
: Mrowrrr...
: (...? But the window's closed.)
: Mrowrowr.
: (.........)
: (...Whatever.)
: Mrowr.

And then we attach the note and get ready to toss Sox through the Hole again.



===







*Item: Hollow Pen*

===











Ethan: Huh? (Did...someone say something? ......... ...Guess it was just my imagination.)



Ethan: What is it, Sox?







: (Good luck, me...)
???: (Same to you, Ethan...)

A meow accompanies that line.

===


{Video: Credits}

If you want to listen to the music without my horrible attempts to fix the video's audio:



===





Ethan: But we're already there...

===


{Video: Post-Credits}

===



But we're not quite done yet... There are a few more things I want to show off before I close this up. Some alternate realities, if you will.

Cyouni fucked around with this message at 00:24 on Mar 14, 2017

Keldulas
Mar 18, 2009
Huh so I guess the new Kori look-alike is Derek's daughter. Makes sense. Though it kind of amuses me that Ethan throws Sox through the hole, considering that Sox isn't even his cat in this universe.

Nissin Cup Nudist
Sep 3, 2011
Probation
Can't post for 15 hours!
So how did Twombly become Jack/Irving to begin with?

And I'm guessing Irving's mom locked Irving in the basement for all eternity

Nissin Cup Nudist fucked around with this message at 04:19 on Mar 14, 2017

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 35: Morphogenetic Sorrow

So our first trip happens at the beginning of the game. When we try and leave Ethan's room the first time, a new set of dialogue appears:





: Sox? Where are you going?



Obviously, prompt 1 leads to the rest of the main game. So instead...

*I should see what he's up to.*

Still the prologue, so we get the opening, prologue screen, and the shot of Sox noticing Irving.

It's time to head this problem off at the pass.




: Mrowrowr!



: !! Why, you...!



*Answer: Not at all*
: ...G-good evening.
: ...Indeed...

And he walks off.

: (...There he goes.)
: Mrowwrr...
: C'mon, Sox--let's get home. Dinner's waiting.
: Mrowr...

And we get kicked back to the story as before. Obviously that wasn't the right answer, so...



: Jack! I mean, Irving!
: What's this...? Why do you know my name?
: I have a...a "memory", of sorts.
: Mrowr.
: ...
: I know what you're up to...!
: What ARE you talking about?
: Before I inherit the Hollow Pen tonight...
: Aha, so you must be Ethan Kairos.
: ...Irving... I know what you're about to do.
: Oh, really? And what would that be?



Any wrong answer gives:

: (...Yeah, I don't think so.)

*Answer: "Erase" Mom and Dad*
: You're planning on making it so my mom and dad never existed!
: Mrowr.
: !!!
: (I knew it...!)
: ...
: ...Heh heh heh...
: ...?
: Heh heh...heh heh heh...
: What are you going to do about it? You don't even have the Pen yet!
: (...! He's right--I don't have the Hollow Pen yet... Rats...isn't there anything I can do?)



*Answer: Take Sox and go home*
: Heh heh heh... Then I guess I'll be on my way.

And then it's the failure dialogue from earlier. And Ethan forgets to even inform his parents that this is going to happen.

*Answer: Talk Irving out of it*
: Wait just one day! That's all--just one day!
: What?
: Wait until tomorrow--that's all I ask. Even without the Pen, I know all about it.
: All about the real reason your mother died...
: ...Excuse me?
: Irving...I know how to save her.
: ......
: And you want me to believe you?
: That's right. All I ask is for one day... Just trust me.
: ......

{Soundtrack: Silence}

: ...Bah.
: Irving...
: ...... ...... One day.
: Huh?
: I said, I'll give you one day. Or didn't you hear me?
: Irving...!
: There's a lot riding on these next 24 hours, Ethan. You're going to owe me big time.
: Of course--I understand.
: ...Sheesh. I must be an idiot.

And he walks off.

: Mrowrrr...
: C'mon, Sox--let's hurry home.
: Mrowr.

Having skipped dinner, we arrive to Derek and Timothy's argument.



: Nice timing--could ya talk some sense into your old man for me?
: Uncle Derek?
: Wh-whaddya want?
: And...Dad?
: Hmm?
: I have something to tell you. Both of you. Can we talk?
: Mrowwrr...



Ethan: ...talked until morning. About Irving, about Uncle Derek...and about Kori. At first, Uncle Derek didn't really believe me. But when I mentioned the necklace Kori was wearing...he finally started listening--with tears welling in his eyes. The next morning...





: Uh-huh. No more regrets, bro.
: All right.
: ......
: Ethan, I'm going to open a Hole just at 6:04--the moment you were born. According to my flashback, on that evening 19 years ago...
: Yeah?
: My father could still see this Pen at the moment I inherited it. Which means both of us should still have some time to use it. We've got to use that time, and use it wisely...it's our only chance.
: Quit yakking and let's get down to business!
: Uncle Derek...
: There's nothing but air on the other side. Be careful, Derek.
: Don't worry about me.
: Well...it's about that time...



==





*Item: Derek*



: ...Ethan, can you move?
: Uh-huh. I'm fine.



Timothy: Like this, I guess?



Timothy: I'm passing the Pen down to you. It's yours now.
Ethan: ...Okay, Dad.





Ethan: ...Dad? (Everyone's frozen in place...)



And we close the Hole.

===

{Soundtrack: Silence}



Ethan: (I guess this is really goodbye, Kori...)

===



===

And credits again.

===


{Video: Post-Credits}

===



That was a lot faster this time.

For the next few updates, we'll look at what would have happened had different choices been made during our playthrough.

Cyouni fucked around with this message at 10:34 on Mar 14, 2017

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


So no matter what happens, Derek still dies huh.

Stabbey_the_Clown
Sep 21, 2002

Are... are you quite sure you really want to say that?
Taco Defender
Apparently Derek actually survived that fall? drat, he's tough.

Thanks for the links to the theme song, Cyouni, I like that song.


SSNeoman posted:

So no matter what happens, Derek still dies huh.

Where'd you get that from?

Derek's Letter posted:

Dear Ethan. I've decided to write you a letter. It'll be the first and the last one you'll get from me. If what you say is true, I won't be around when you get this. I've been watching over her from afar for a long time now. I think she'll be all right. Irving and his mom left town and never came back. Now Kori's living happily ever after with the other me and their (our?) daughter. Let me thank you again, Ethan. Sending me into the past, helping her get her future back--it's all thanks to you. I'm so grateful. No one knows what you've done, but this is one guy who can never forget. And I'll always remember that you liked her, too. ...That's all, I guess. Give my best to your parents. Take care-- Derek.

Clearly, Through-the-Hole-Derek survived the impact and Kori landing on top of him (although I guess he didn't have as far to fall as she did). The "I won't be around" likely refers to Through-the-Hole-Derek who Ethan knew. The Married-to-Kori-Derek is still around and doing better than Through-the-Hole-Derek was at this point in his life.


Also, who did you piss off to get that red title?


Nissin Cup Nudist posted:

So how did Twombly become Jack/Irving to begin with?

And I'm guessing Irving's mom locked Irving in the basement for all eternity

My guess is that he was killed and his identity stolen and replaced by Irvine.

So after you beat the game you get a NG+ thing where you can skip the whole game and go right to the end? :allears:

I still don't get why Irving would be messing with Olivia trying to get her killed. Irving was an rear end in a top hat, but he wasn't completely irrational. I don't see what the point of cutting Olivia's brakes was and how that would help him with his mother. Was it just him attempting to flush Ethan out and confirm that he had a Hollow Pen?

EDIT: Hold on... Ethan uses the Hollow Pen to open a hole, then attaches it to Sox and sends Sox through the hole to his past-self... so how does Present-Ethan close the hole?

Stabbey_the_Clown fucked around with this message at 15:32 on Mar 14, 2017

Blueberry Pancakes
Aug 18, 2012

Jack in!! MegaMan, Execute!
So no one has any reactions to Sox talking? :v:

Also, this sure is an easier ending than having to deal with all of the nonsense in the main game.

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen

Stabbey_the_Clown posted:

I still don't get why Irving would be messing with Olivia trying to get her killed. Irving was an rear end in a top hat, but he wasn't completely irrational. I don't see what the point of cutting Olivia's brakes was and how that would help him with his mother. Was it just him attempting to flush Ethan out and confirm that he had a Hollow Pen?

EDIT: Hold on... Ethan uses the Hollow Pen to open a hole, then attaches it to Sox and sends Sox through the hole to his past-self... so how does Present-Ethan close the hole?

My thought is that it's partially that and partially for the sake of watching Ethan suffer when a friend's killed. Same-ish reason Jack-Irving went after Morris, Ashley, and Emily.

If you check Update 2 again, the first thing Past-Ethan ever does with the Hollow Pen is close the weird Hole in his bedroom.

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


Stabbey_the_Clown posted:

Also, who did you piss off to get that red title?

I wish I knew though apparently I did it so thoroughly that it's the third time I get the same sort of custom title. I post a lot in D&D and I try to convince people that voting third party in a FPTP system is stupid, especially as a "morality vote".

This ruffles some feathers.

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 36: You've Been Carded

Before, we voted to place the money in Ashley's locker. But what if we'd given it to her during the Chronos argument instead?





: (And all over my missing birthday present money.)



: (Wish I could do something for her... All right! The Pen's glowing!)



===





In an awkward moment, I discover I can't pre-steal Emily's glasses here. I proceed to do that later instead.



*Item: Envelope*



: (They shouldn't start fighting if the envelope's right next to them...)



And the envelope magically appears between them as we close the Hole.

Ethan: Whoa!

===



===



You may notice the different present in the background. The rest is the same, but this is the present instead:



Birthday Card posted:


: (It's...a birthday card. "We still owe you an absolutely massive present!")
: (That's right--they would have found that envelope in the middle of the night. Can't do much shopping at that hour, after all.)

That's all for this alternate timeline. I'm pretty sure they still turn into cookies in Chapter 5.

Flashback: Birthday Card posted:


Ethan: (Looks like they didn't find the envelope in time to be able to buy me that clock.)

Cyouni fucked around with this message at 06:31 on Mar 15, 2017

Glazius
Jul 22, 2007

Hail all those who are able,
any mouse can,
any mouse will,
but the Guard prevail.

Clapping Larry
That's an interesting way to do New Game+, I guess? If you wanted to see what would happen?

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

Cyouni
Sep 30, 2014

without love it cannot be seen
Update 37: Rocks Fall, People Die

The first step in our next alternate timeline stop: Removing the pliers in advance. When we go to stop Olivia from riding her bike during Chapter 2:



*Examine*





So Ethan takes the pliers. I also take the chance to steal Emily's glasses for our last alternate occurence.

So this time, when Vin calls Ethan at the beginning of Chapter 3...






And...



: WHAT?
Sara: Silence!
: I'm headed for Chronos. Are you coming?
: Do you have to ask?

So when we get to Chronos, this is what we see:



: (Is that...Jacob?)
: I don't see Vin or Ben anywhere.
: Me neither... (Let's see what Jacob has to say.)

*Conversation: Jacob*
: ...Lucky...
: What happened?
: Did something happen here?
: ...
: I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.
: (...So the reality where I'd already spoken with Jacob has been erased. I guess that means the Jacob that knows me is in some other world? Is this...a parallel world?)
: (Gah, my brain hurts.)
: (I'll just introduce myself...again.)
: I'm Ethan Kairos, but call me Ethan.
: Morris.
: I'm Jacob Eleven. You can just call me Jacob.



*Question: What were you doing here?*
: I was taking a walk with Lucky...
: A boy with glasses came walking from way over there...
: (I'm guessing that would be Ben.)
: And when he saw Lucky, he got really mad all of a sudden.
: Sounds like Ben, all right. He absolutely despises dogs.
: ...Yeah.



*Question: What happened to the boy with the glasses?*
: When the boy with the glasses got mad, this other boy came out of the cafe...
: He and the boy with the glasses started arguing.
: Another boy, eh?
: Who is he? Some random customer?
: During their argument, the boy with the glasses hit his head. He didn't move any more after that.
: Then his friends came and called an ambulance... They just took him away in the ambulance.
: (So it's true...Ben...)

*Question: Where's Lucky now?*
: Lucky's not used to being yelled at like that. He got scared and ran away...

Ethan's phone rings.

: Hello?



Vin: Vin here. Ben's still unconscious...
: WHAT!? ...So...he's still alive?
Vin: Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's alive.
: Man! Don't scare me like that!
Vin: I was so flustered earlier that I might have said he was dead. Sorry 'bout that. Me and Ben are down at Central Hospital.
: So how's he doing? Did he really hit his head?
Vin: Yeah, right on the ground. Unfortunately, he landed on a rock that happened to be in about the worst possible place... When I got to Chronos, he had collapsed in the parking lot.
: Sounds like really bad luck... Who was Ben fighting with?
Vin: Aaron. He's here, too.
: Aaron?
Vin: You know--Olivia's boyfriend.
: Oh, right...



Ethan: (So it was him... That must be the "other boy" Jacob was talking about.)



And he hangs up.

: How's Ben? Not so good?
: Vin says he's still unconscious...
: ...

So now this flashback changes...

Flashback: Rock on the Ground posted:


Ethan: (It's the same as that flashback. Vin said Ben hit his head on a rock, right?)



So we do.



: (...Can I make it so that Ben's accident never happened?)
: (If I use my flashbacks... Think I'll give it a try. Who knows--I might be able to change things around here.)



===







*Examine*



: (I should just be able to take the rock in question and bring it through to the other side.)

And then we close the Hole.

===



===





: Huh? (Wh-what's going on?)

*Conversation: Ben/Vin*



Vin: All right, all right--calm down!



Morris: Look--Ben's hands are all torn up.



*Conversation: Jacob*
: :: sniff ::
: (Huh? What's Jacob doing here? Has he gotten caught up in some kind of trouble again?)





And then the whole questioning begins again. The differences:

*Conversation: Jacob*
: (...The reality where I spoke with Jacob has been erased again, eh?)

*Conversation: Morris; Question: What weapon did this?*
: I'd have to say he was hit with a rock or something like it.

Instead of asking if Ben has a knife, we ask if he hit Aaron.

*Conversation: Ben; Question: Why Aaron?*
: That's when they started arguing. The one boy got down on his knees and the boy with the glasses just kinda took this rock and...

And then we go off looking for Lucky again. We find him in a place I didn't know he could go.



After Morris calms Lucky down...

: I didn't know you had a dog!
: Oh, this fella belongs to a friend of mine.
: Right, Lucky?
Lucky: Woof!
: Let's go, Ethan.
: See you later!
: Bye!

When we return to Chronos, and find about Aaron's death:



: No--Ben said he was going to turn himself in.
: He wouldn't have the guts! I'm gonna go find him. Vin, you look after Lucky.
: Oh, er...sure thing.
: I'll come, too.
: Okay.
: I'll go take Lucky back to Jacob, then.

And when we go to the station, we run into Kori, and the chapter merges from there.



With just this minor change to account for Kori being seen again in this timeline.

Flashback: Rock Beats Aaron posted:



Cyouni fucked around with this message at 14:21 on Mar 15, 2017

  • Locked thread