Tenth Unused Utility Belt | Video

[hellofist]

People keep showing up, with memories... that don't match up. Happening a lot, lately. Guess it happens... all the time, but... seems like more, now.

[Cass stops a second, not looking into the feed but at something past the comm, jaw clenching and relaxing as she thinks.]

Know I did... something. Or... something happened, to me. Made me... someone people don't like? Or are scared of. Don't know.

[It's a little terrifying, to talk to Tim and see him be relieved she's not whatever she becomes in his future.]

I guess, want advice. Want to know... if you did something... bad, or wrong, would you... want to know? Want someone... to tell you, so you could stop? Or just... let it happen, hope you... do right things?

Comments

Private.

[an_abomination]

I'd want to know so I could change it. Being here allowed me to change a couple of things in my future.

[youwillgotohell]

Knowing what's to come helps nothing, Cassandra, believe me. [The future's haunted her since childhood, she would trade that gift in a heartbeat, still.]

Private.

[hellofist]

What'd you change?

[Private]

[wedonot]

I would rather know, especially if there's the potential to change the future for the better.

[hellofist]

But what if it meant... saving lives? Stopping people I love... from being hurt?

[Private]

[hellofist]

[That's really the option she's leaning towards too, but she's too scared to just take the plunge and ask someone, to really know.]

To try to, at least. Trying to fix it... seems better than hoping. You'd know... what to look for, to stop it.

[Private]

[wedonot]

Exactly.

Private.

[an_abomination]

Harvest tried to mind control me and make me turn on one of my teams. If I hadn't gone my mental therapy here and had the "berserker switch" removed from my mind, I would have hurt a lot of people. Instead I turned around and nailed Harvest in the face.

[youwillgotohell]

You can't change the future.

[love_slave]

Knowing the future became a self-fulfilling prophecy to some people I knew. As much as you know about it, you can't know all of it.

[Private]

[hellofist]

I just... I must become something bad, and I don't... know how that can be.

[Private]

[wedonot]

Are you certain it is you?

Private.

[hellofist]

You knew... he'd do that? Prepared for it?

[hellofist]

Shouldn't I try? If I just... let it happen, it's still my fault.

Private.

[an_abomination]

Not exactly. I knew he was going to try it at some point since he put the switch in there for a reason, I just wasn't sure when. Before he said the trigger words, he hinted that he was about to do something to make me turn on everyone.

If the future was meant to be set in stone, a place like this wouldn't exist. I mean, the whole point of this place is to graduate Inmates so they get to change their future, and Wardens get the chance to change their past or future.

[hellofist]

[Well, that's an interesting point Cass never thought of.]

So you'd rather... just see what happened?

[youwillgotohell]

I've tried. Nothing's changed.

[Private]

[hellofist]

[She nods.]

See it, on every new person... from my world. They're all ahead, they all... they're glad I'm this way. Still like this.

[love_slave]

I think so. I think I would just trust in the type of person that I am instead of trying to be something that I'm already not.

[hellofist]

[The way she says it, so bleak and with no room to argue, makes Cass want to cry.]

Where are you?

[She's coming to hug you. No arguments.]

[youwillgotohell]

[No why hugs are. things she doesn't do often anymore B(]

My room. Why?

Private.

[hellofist]

Told Steph, want to stay here, keep helping inmates. She thinks... it's hiding.

[It is, but Cass isn't ready to admit that to herself yet.]

What if... it means I don't have chance, to change? Would that be good?

Private

[hellofist]

What if... you didn't trust yourself?

[hellofist]

Want to see you. Can I come?

[You know, for the hugs. And she doesn't even usually ask, but she hasn't been feeling all that sure of herself lately.]

[ Video ]

[surfaceshine]

[He's tempted to go audio on this one because it's way too close to home, but that's what she needs right now. He remembers what it was like when people who knew him from further down his own timeline casually mentioned things he didn't know about, things he thought he'd never do, things that someone he never thought he'd be was doing; he'd been angry, and maybe panicked a little, and hurt beyond belief.

And now he's determined not to be that person, and she needs to see all of that, so he clicks on the video.]

Future's not set, sweetheart. If you start believing that, might as well quit while you're ahead, and don't you dare.