Reading

Open fileNeed to knowMy clearance

A.Journal

Checks

312 checks

The sheen of rain across the purple makes her image vivid, alive... realer than you.

The wind shimmers her image, making her vivid, alive... realer than you.

Glimmer of hope. Maybe she's been doing alright without you. Maybe she's figured herself out.

He's genuinely proud of what he and Karolina are able to accomplish here.

Artificial, canned laughter.

In his tone there's a spark of excitement not sufficiently smothered by anger.

They took everything from her. Flesh, family. The safety of her own mind.

And yet... The one they all covet, valuable not despite its flaws, but because of them.

You may have his permission, but he probably didn't intend to extend his hospitality to you showing up in the middle of the night.

But that's Tonio... the building manager.

'One' meaning 'Reno', of course. Singular.

Said without a trace of pride.

It's hard for him to remember.

They moved out before garbage collection day, hoping to avoid another fine stacked atop the broken lease, the lost deposit, the month's rent half-wasted...

It all happened very quickly, once they'd made the decision to leave. In that moment, the priorities seemed clear.

Still, a part of him was hoping for a little more out of their private journey.

Apart from the girl around which it is built.

A face flashes on the underside of your mind -- expression stern behind a black cigarette. Yana needs to agree to this too.

More than a trace of envy.

Former enemies can often make the most loyal allies.

Strange that she's not, now that she thinks about it.

The twinge of pain is familiar, almost nostalgic. That one's going to leave a mark.

You can. And you should.

Raw deal, she thinks, but still a deal.

An enviable life... if you squint.

Of course that's what you say now, in the cold light of rational thought. But a submerged part of you remembers those moments as they were.

Doesn't care for that collective noun.

Her boyfriend must know how it works.

Flirtatious but firm, she won't talk unless you play along.

No complications whatsoever. If he'll work with the woman who lobotomised him, he'll work with anyone.

You are. He did.

Lucid, self-aware -- this really isn't the worst version of yourself, all things considered.

The information to process is simply too much. He has no choice but to roll with it.

It's like asking a child with no experience of the world who they'll work with. He has no frame of reference.

It's like watching all the worst parts of yourself bound up in a male body -- and an ugly one, to boot.

This tradition is sacred to him.

Instead of a vegetable, you've created a man in a perpetual psychotic break. And now he's robbing random pedestrians.

The one that looks just like yours.

He's taking this seriously. You should too.

Surely you'll be able to tell which is Eszti's drawer from the contents? Cigarette butts, poker chips, crochet patterns...

Eszti, married? This can only be a desperate attempt to blend in. Not like a real husband.

You know this isn't better, that's why you didn't choose it for yourself.

Still nothing. This is who you chose to save.

He's trying his best to trust you.

Callous... but KALEIDOSCOPE did murder him.

Hershel... Now he's going to lose his mind trying to activate nonexistent beetle powers.

Even through the distorted connection, you can feel him weighing his next words.

She's not yet entirely convinced that you are 'normal people'.

Rendered a non-person for her betrayal.

Your asset loses control over herself in ways no one can predict.

312 skill checks - ZERO PARADES field manual - Page 5 of 7