[003. video]

[freecssofnature]

[He's frowning intently when the video feed starts, but he doesn't hesitate to speak. This has been eating at him for a few days now -- and he can't figure it out himself; so finally he thought he might as well ask...

Maybe someone knows.]

How can you tell what's real?

[That's it; he gives a quick nod and cuts the feed.]

Comments

[Video]

[genkireaper]

I can't say there's a set method or formula. What reasons are given in one world might easily be argued against on the other side.

It seems that most people are dreaming of being imprisoned in some way. Dreams have the advantage of knowing how to work against the doubts in your mind. Here... I don't think anyone could imagine details to this degree. Maybe the best way is to judge by one's instincts. It's said that they're more right initially than not.

[Video]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

But even when I tried really hard, I couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Or anything here.

I guess I believe this one is real just because everybody's seeing weird stuff at the same time, but I can't tell.

[impertinenti]

This is real. If it wasn't, we wouldn't all be stuck here for as long as some of us have been.

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

I think you're right...

But the other feels like it's real too. That's not just me, right? Everybody seems confused.

[impertinenti]

'shishishi, they believe they're right because they're too scared to accept the truth that this place is real.

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

But this place isn't scary!

[Genuinely confused by that one. Especially compared to the dreams... he doesn't believe them, but thinking that might be the truth, and whatever the doctors won't tell him about really happened--

They're much more frightening than this city.]

[impertinenti]

It's not home. To think of being trapped here for the rest of your life- how would you like it?

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't. But people go home all the time, right?

[impertinenti]

There are those who have been here for years, too.

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know.

But nobody ages, and when you go home it's the same time as you left... right?

[impertinenti]

The prince wouldn't know.

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

That's what everybody said.

[offline]

[kill-joo-ded.livejournal.com]

[Killua looks down at the PCD, frowning at Gon's question before moving out to find him.]

...yo.

[offline]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

[Gon's sitting cross-legged outside on a lump of crumbling concrete, watching his own device intently. He glances up at Killua and smiles immediately.]

Hi!

[Video]

[genkireaper]

Well... As I said, the closest way you could tell is by the feel, or your instincts. The more you think on it, the harder it'll be to make a decision.

[Video]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

[Quiet for a minute.]

... Thank you!

[He doesn't look convinced, but he gives her a little smile anyway.]

[Video]

[genkireaper]

[She's thinking on a more concrete way to help.]

Back in your home world, before having shown up here, would you know the difference between the real Killua or Kurapica compared to a copy? Like, could you look at them and usually know that it was them?

Because if you could, I'd say to use that as a way to know as well.

[Video]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

I tried, but the other place looked real no matter what I did, too...

I know one's a fake, and I think it's the other place, but I can't tell.

[Video]

[genkireaper]

Does the other world seem to react in ways you'd expect, offering mostly things you knew? The trick might be found in the details.

If you think that the one in the other place is a fake, then you're most likely correct. Given the nature of this event, definitive proof will be much more difficult to come by.

[Smiles a bit.]

I have a friend back in my world. If he were here, he'd be handling this event rather well. Yusuke never thinks enough to get caught up in that sort of problem, and always follows his gut. He'd get pissed off, but I don't think he'd have any doubts about which side is real.

[Video]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

[Gon laughs.] Really? I'd like to meet him if he ever comes here!

... Um - I'm not sure! I've never been in a hospital for a long time before...

But I guess it's weird that nobody's visited yet. [That's a better tack; he's brightening as he thinks it over.]

[Video]

[genkireaper]

I can definitely see you two getting along.

[Well, in a way. She doesn't know how Gon is with fighting, so she's not positive.]

Bingo! There you go- It'd be hard to imagine that you're in a hospital and no one's visited you so far. Especially if you've just started waking up, like they seem to be claiming for a lot of people.

[offline]

[kill-joo-ded.livejournal.com]

[He stops short of the concrete, poking it with a finger as if to test its sturdiness.]

What're you thinking, asking weird things like that? It's not like you at all.

[Video]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

He sounds a little like one of my friends back home.

[He nods, definitely smiling now.] Yeah! I'll ask them about that tonight.

[offline]

[freecssofnature.livejournal.com]

Oh, on the network?

[He sets the PCD down, speaking slowly at first, his gaze distant.] I've been trying to find something wrong with the other place all week, but so far, it looks just as real as here.

I still think this one is real, but I wanted to know! Because maybe next time it'll be harder to tell....

[offline]

[kill-joo-ded.livejournal.com]

Well, am I there?

[Just a little petulant. Just a little.]