pokebox | LOCKED TO nullorvoid

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[How many people can say that they've woken up with no memories of who they are or what they've been through? Probably not very many, and he's one of the unlucky few. A lack of memories is only one concern, however; this place is foreign in every sense of the word and even though he's been here for a few days, he's still learning how to handle the environment he's been placed in. He knows that it's a bar and he understands that these games are played to determine what happens to a person's soul, but there are plenty of questions to be asked. He just hasn't had enough time to ask them all yet.

He thinks his name is Archer, but even that's not clear. There's a strange militaristic-looking uniform in the back of his closet, but it looks bulky and uncomfortable, so he hasn't tried it on. It had a tag on it with the name Archer, so that's what he's been calling himself. Not that anyone's asked, of course, but he supposes that's just how things work around here. He has a boss he works with daily, but he doesn't know the guy's name. There are some others he's seen around, but he doesn't know any of their names either, or who they are or why any of this is happening. He's kept quiet and observed everything, but things still aren't any clearer than they were when he woke up several days ago with no memories whatsoever.

This morning is no different from the previous ones. Archer gets up, gets dressed (the uniform he wears is simple: a black dress shirt and slacks, accompanied by a white tie) and spends a moment fixing his hair. He isn't sure why he always slicks his hair back, but this is what he's done since he woke up so perhaps it's some sort of remnant of who he was before whatever happened that caused him to lose his memories. For a moment he considers how pale he looks before shrugging it off as usual.

Archer is prompt as always, entering the bar and immediately looking around for anything out of place or in need of cleaning. He's not entirely sure how this place is always so neat, since he doubts his boss is the one keeping everything perfectly clean. The desire to make himself useful is one that's helpful in this situation, but it's a bit odd if he thinks about it. He doesn't even know the situation or why he's here, why should he want to help any of these people out? He doesn't allow himself to think about it, instead heading toward the bar to see if his boss is already here.]

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Hence the "if." It's not like cats really have it in them to pass judgement, either.

[Most things don't, really; he's absolutely certain of that, anyway.]

Why is she so different?

[Is she just a magical cat or something, because nothing would surprise him at this point.]

[...Oh, boy, here we go.]

...Different to what?

Than other cats. She's not like others, is she?

[Of course he isn't entirely sure about that since he can't remember any other cats, but she definitely seems smarter.]

[And that just gets another of those agitated sounds out of him.]

Are you here to talk, or are you here to work?

[...Well, it's not like he was expecting any answer. It would have been nice though.]

I don't see why I can't do both, but if you'd really like me to be quiet I suppose I can comply.

[You can probably hear the eye-rolling.]

At least you take orders well.

[Hell if he knows why.]

Just don't be annoying.

[...So of course he's going to follow up the...vague not-praise with something practically designed to be confusing if one tries to act on it. Sure.]

[You know, he's not sure if that's actually supposed to be praise or not, but it sort of sounds like praise, so he'll take it. Maybe his opinion's got something to do with that military uniform in the closet though, who knows.

Of course he adds that on and Archer has to refrain from sighing. He's really not sure how you expect him to follow that one.]

Is there anything else you'd like me to do?

[He's all done over here and everything looks perfect in his opinion.]

Ah, and I'm assuming you have more... guests coming soon?

[Ah, right, the...guests. Always a thrill a minute. It's easier to talk about that than try to figure out what to tell Archer otherwise, though; he still has no idea what he's supposed to do with the guy.]

I'd be told if I had the day off; I'm just waiting on memories. I don't decide when they show up.

I see.

[He's tempted to ask what that's like, both getting the memories and watching these games with full knowledge of what these people can remember. The latter sounds fun.]

How long have you been doing this?

[He approaches the bar, but he doesn't sit and he stays away from those dolls, just to be safe.]

[Ginti sighs a bit at that, the motion sort of irritated, though it's less because he's terribly annoyed at the question and more because he doesn't get why it matters.

He leans up against the bar, though, running his hand over Memine's spine again when she promptly bumps her head up against his chest.]

Five years - so not nearly as long as some of the others in this place, and I'll probably still be here long after they're gone.

How long do most people do this?

[Yes, yes, he knows you're irritated, but this is fascinating stuff!]

And what do you care? It's not like this is ever going to be your damn job.

[He falls into sullen silence for a moment after that's out there, continuing to pet Memine; whether this is going to be Archer's job or not, dealing with Archer is apparently part of his for the time being.

His tone hasn't softened any next time he speaks, but at the very least it's something.]

...Maybe ask Nona about it next time she comes down here. She'd know more about that than I would, anyway.

Edited 2015-03-22 21:38 (UTC)

[It won't? That's a shame. Why is he here if he's not being taught how to do the job? He decides to keep that question to himself. His expression hasn't altered any, but Archer's suddenly found something on the wall over there really fascinating.

He glances over at Ginti when his boss speaks up again. It's an interesting statement and he can only assume that there are two reasons for the words. The first is that Ginti simply doesn't know how long most people work this job and the second is that he doesn't want to say, or possibly isn't allowed to say. Archer isn't sure which is the more plausible idea, so he'll simply let it go with a nod.]

Perhaps I will.

[He's silent for a moment before trying to brute force a topic change.]

...You haven't received the memories yet, have you?

Are you that eager to get going?

[...]

You really like watching these things, don't you.

I find them fascinating.

[Yes, of course he really likes watching them. For some reason, he's not sure he should admit to that though, so he settles for the safer statement. There's an edge to his voice, though his expression is still carefully composed. Archer isn't sure why this is putting him on edge.]

"Fascinating."

[Ohhh, no, asshole. You wanted conversation, you're getting conversation.]

We've got time to kill - what about it fascinates you?

[Oh come on...!]

The reactions. There are similar responses, but for the most part no two people react in the exact same way. The more... extreme responses are interesting to watch, but I can't help but be curious why people react the way they do. Is it that people are inherently good or evil or is it their experiences and memories shaping them?

[That sounds okay, right? It definitely doesn't sound like he's a sadistic asshole who just really likes watching people suffer, nope.]

...See, this is why you're not going to have to worry about getting my job.

[That said, though, he's certainly paying attention now, the look in his eyes attentive as opposed to the usual vague, bored stare that he tends to offer Archer.]

Here's a question for you. Say you get someone's memories - you can see everything they've done, over the course of their entire life. And they've done some things that most human beings wouldn't appreciate - say they've murdered some people. Kind of a lot of people, actually.

Those memories are also telling you that they've always been like that. Maybe they were wired wrong before they were born, maybe they're inherently evil. Whatever phrasing helps you sleep at night, that's what's wrong with them.

In my position, if you got someone like that and you had to make an initial assessment - not necessarily one that's going to stick, just go with the first thing that comes to mind. Where do you send them? Do you give them the void, or do you think they deserve another go? Dealing with a killer, remember, who does things just because.

[You know, he's not sure he's ever seen his boss look this interested in anything he's said. Hell, Ginti never looks this interested outside of games. It's an oddly nice feeling to know he's said something interesting, but Ginti's question is bothering him for some reason.

Should his first thought be to send them to the void? If they've always been like that or they're inherently evil or whatever, then what would be the point in allowing them to be reincarnated? Can there even be any good in a person like that? His initial thought is no, there can't. There would be no reason to allow them to be reincarnated.

For some reason that answer doesn't sit well with him though. The part about being "wired wrong" is what he's hung up on and he's really not sure why.

But dwelling on it isn't going to do him any good and the boss is waiting for an answer.]

My initial assessment would be to send them to the void. Of course I'm not entirely aware of how things work here, but it's possible that it was just that person who was wired wrong - maybe that wouldn't be the case if they were reincarnated. But if they've done awful things and they show no remorse or regret for their actions... I suppose I'd rather play it safe and send them to the void.

Ha. So you'd do that even after admitting yourself that maybe they had no choice in the matter, and maybe they would be fixable if you gave them another chance, and maybe their circumstances ensured they didn't actually know any better.

[He straightens up then, folding his arms across his chest; Memine looks a bit confused as to why he's moving all of a sudden, in that self-centered sort of way cats have when they're not sure where their headrest is going, but clearly she's just going to have to get over herself because this is interesting.]

That's cold, Archer.

Ah, no - "they had no choice in the matter"...

[He frowns for a moment before he manages to get his thoughts into words.]

No, they had a choice. They chose to carry out their actions. There's a difference between someone being forced to do something wrong and knowing it's wrong and disliking it, but doing it anyway and someone who does what they want with no outside pressure. If we're assuming that they're capable of telling right from wrong - whether they feel anything about it isn't important - then they should be judged the same as anyone else. If they were fully aware that their actions were wrong, but continued to commit them, then I would consider that behavior unworthy of reincarnation. Yes, there are other factors at play here, but that would be my initial assessment.

[...]

Of course if they genuinely didn't know any better, that's a different situation entirely.

Right, and that makes your entire "inherent evil" debate pointless. What matters is what they chose to do - why does it matter if they did it because they were wired wrong, or because Mommy didn't hug them enough, or because they were spurned by a boyfriend they loved more than life itself? They did what they did and they'll get what they deserve for it.

For that last bit, though...working out whether they knew any better would be the point of the game. Memories tell you what happened, and a whole lot of "not much else" - if I were to pass you my memories of what's going on right now, half a second after it happens, you'd see yourself standing there, and you'd hear me talking to you, but you couldn't tell what I'm thinking about you or what I think of the conversation we're having.

Probably for the better, most of the time. Just saying.

[Thanks, Ginti.]

So if our fictional terrible human being really didn't know any better, it'll come out if you put them in an extreme situation. If they know but don't care, same thing - the reaction tells us where we're supposed to put them.

So you're right in finding the reactions interesting. You're wrong as hell in trying to put any sort of deeper meaning to it.

[...]

The shorter answer that doesn't require you to actually use your head at all is "Of course no one's inherently good or evil, because then I wouldn't need to be here." Why judge people if they're all inherently shitty and deserve to be kicked into oblivion? And if you'd used your head in the first place, you'd have known that from the start.

[You're an asshole.

Archer is silent while he thinks about that. This is complicated, but somehow Ginti's response relaxes him. He can't figure out why since the response was kind of irritating, but there's some relief in what Ginti has said. It doesn't make any sense to him.]

I see.

...I suppose if the process would be that simple there would be no need for you. I hadn't thought of it like that.

[He normally isn't left lost for words, but something about this has nearly rendered him speechless.]

[He can tell that something has shifted, anyway, though he seems pretty content to keep whatever he thinks of all that to himself for the time being.]

And yet here I am, warming up the place with my sparkling presence and spectacular barside manner.

[Sarcasm aside, he doesn't seem too bothered; just let him scoop up the cat before he looks back at Archer.]

Any more of life's great mysteries I can clear up for you?

LOCKED TO nullorvoid

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