voidtreckernet | Video day 23 to everywhere- from cabin 4:D

[Taiki is sat on the bench in the small cabin, looking straight at the camera with a very serious expression. Despite the fact that speaking to so many people, even over a video is a terrifying concept and despite the cloud of sadness that still clings to him nothing shows on his face. He looks perfectly calm, though he doesn't smile as he begins.]

Good morning. I apologise for disturbing you all. I was handed this ballot. [He holds it up.] Unfortunately I disappeared for a little while and so I have missed any run up to this election. [At least he understands the concept of an election, even if political science wasn't exactly a subject he had paid much attention to in school.]

I am still relatively new to this train and so I don't know most of the people on this list. I don't feel I can cast a vote without knowing what the candidates stand for and so, though I apologise if it is covering ground that was covered whilst I was away, I would like to know something of each candidate.

Thank you for your time.

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"Being awake?"

Trapped in your own head sounded terrifying. But he felt she meant more than normal waking when she spoke of being awake. And if it had anything to do with time travel than it would probably be complicated.

"Aware on and of a more metaphysical level of existence," Nita explained.

"That's the only way I know of to describe a Dreamer becoming a Wakened, anyway. You can still feel your Unawakened self's thoughts, but you can't control what you're doing. The timeline and everything else in it is fixed."

Definitely not recommended.

His face turned to horror as she explained. Being in your own mind, unable to change anything that was happening, or control your actions at all.

"But... Who was controlling you?" If they did not control themselves.

"Myself," Nita said.

"Or my Unawake self. It still felt like both 'me's had free will, making our own decisions - but if I thought something was wrong, I couldn't communicate that."

The Powers did not wish to have a universe full of puppets - even if the hierarchy of Wakened undermined that somewhat.

"Time still passed normally when I was there, though; one second per second."

"Oh." He blinked at her, "Sorry... That sounds scary." It must have been a terrible thing to experience. To be both in control and not. To not be able to change course, despite knowing something was wrong.

"It was," Nita admitted softly.

"But if I wasn't a Dreamer first, then I couldn't have been Awake to begin with!"

One thing begets another.

"And eventually both 'me's became one me, once the Call to Wake wasn't needed anymore. So it worked out, sort of."

"I see." He sort of does. But he's still sort of confused. Nita's life sounded very complicated but she seems to understand it and that is the important thing.

She is not of his world, either of the worlds he knows and so just as the two worlds he knows are always unknowable to each other so are the other worlds of those on the train. He can hear their stories but there will always be things he does not understand.

"I am glad... That it worked out for you."

If Nita's life were ever not complicated over something, she'd start to think something was up.

She gave a small, sad smile.

"Thanks, Taiki."

Turning again to look back at him properly, she asked, "Anything else you wanted to know?"

It wouldn't bother her to be asked more questions, sad or disturbing as the memories got sometimes.

He nodded at her, sadly before changing to a shake of the head. "No. Thank you for showing me the speeches."

It had been very helpful, he feels he has a much better idea than he did before posting the video, about this upcoming election.

Nita gave one more nod before getting up.

"You can keep the journal for now if you want."

Just as long as she did get it back, but it wasn't urgent.

"It's okay.." He smiled and held it out to her. "I think I can remember what they said."

His memory wasn't brilliant by any means, but it wasn't bad either.

"Enough to vote by, then?"

Though there were still more speeches yet to be made, assuming more people made them.

Gently taking the journal back, Nita headed back across the hall.

He nodded silently and even ventured a tiny smile as she left.

Video day 23 to everywhere- from cabin 4:D

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[Action] 'To not be able to change course...' /stares at the train

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wrap?

I think so, yes!

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