[IC] Myriad Reality

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

It is literally taking you more effort to do that than it would take you to press the button.

@The World

...
*The rate remains consistent*

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...
*The rate remains consistent*

@Etcetera

...

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

...

@The World

...

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...

@Etcetera

...

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

...

@The World

...

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...

@Etcetera

...

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

...

@The World

...

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...

@Etcetera

...

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

...

@The World

...

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...

@Etcetera

*Several more years pass*
It occurs to me after much reflection that perhaps I pressed upon a sore spot. Let me just lay out why you want to do this. First, this is going to fix a lot of time related... let's say "situations," such as your boyfriend's current existence. Since you and I will remember this, and not have our memories corrected alongside Existence, it'll be easy to ferry his essence into a scenario where he can simply be conceived again. As opposed to what will happen otherwise, which is the eventual destruction of the concept of his existence. Secondly, more important to you, your history will change to one in which you never interacted with certain actors, namely in your case, Dark. Your current history will become a second set of memories, and you will slowly adapt to having your new history and your current memories. Third, we will be able to leave this space, something we won't be able to do unless you press it.

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

*Several more years pass*
It occurs to me after much reflection that perhaps I pressed upon a sore spot. Let me just lay out why you want to do this. First, this is going to fix a lot of time related... let's say "situations," such as your boyfriend's current existence. Since you and I will remember this, and not have our memories corrected alongside Existence, it'll be easy to ferry his essence into a scenario where he can simply be conceived again. As opposed to what will happen otherwise, which is the eventual destruction of the concept of his existence. Secondly, more important to you, your history will change to one in which you never interacted with certain actors, namely in your case, Dark. Your current history will become a second set of memories, and you will slowly adapt to having your new history and your current memories. Third, we will be able to leave this space, something we won't be able to do unless you press it.

@The World

*The sands trickle down ever so slowly and dematerialize into nothing*

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

*The sands trickle down ever so slowly and dematerialize into nothing*

@Etcetera

Fine, I'll press it, I should have absorbed enough of your culture to be able to do it... Then it's just a matter of sequence, which was... Top-right, top-left, bottom-right, bottom-left, right? Yeah.
*Turns to you* You just sit there and don't get in the way. Messing this up will kill us, so wish me luck.

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

Fine, I'll press it, I should have absorbed enough of your culture to be able to do it... Then it's just a matter of sequence, which was... Top-right, top-left, bottom-right, bottom-left, right? Yeah.
*Turns to you* You just sit there and don't get in the way. Messing this up will kill us, so wish me luck.

@The World

...

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...

@Etcetera

*Presses the button and four more pop up on each side of the machine*

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

*Presses the button and four more pop up on each side of the machine*

@The World

*Remains motionless*

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

*Remains motionless*

@Etcetera

*Presses one button and another appears several yards away in the direction it faced*

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

*Presses one button and another appears several yards away in the direction it faced*

@The World

...

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

...

@Etcetera

*Goes to press it*

[Etcetera]

<Snipped quote by Etcetera>

*Goes to press it*

@The World

*Doesn't react*

[The World]

<Snipped quote by The World>

*Does't react*

@Etcetera

*Presses the button, causing time to reverse to when we first entered*
Well, there goes the endurance test... Looks like her culture can't outlive her determination.
*A siren begins blaring as the machine goes into the floor and a button labelled "MM" takes its place*
Shit. I'll be right back, stay away from the testing equipment. Unsupervised tests are not allowed.
*You find that you still can't leave*