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[kingsroads]

[ there is absolutely no personalized voicemail here. Go bug this asshole in person! ]

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[kingsroads]

No need to apologize. I know things must have been rough for you recently.

As for your question, I have reached out to someone. Though I must admit, that mess I caused with the darkness has been on my mind the most lately.

[heyboss]

I imagine. What's got you preoccupied the most?

[kingsroads]

[ How he could have hurt people. How he did hurt people. How Fitzjames came to him and said that he had cursed the ship and for a moment, Strange just didn't care. How everything has returned to how it was before and yet Strange feels worse. How just so fucking lonely all of this has made him feel. ]

There's a poem two hundred or so years before my time. "No Man is an Island." I've no idea if it survived to your time or not, but the basic gist of that poem is that humanity is a collective, that even the smallest loss can change the world.

You would think that such an attitude would be prevalent on the Barge. After all, this is a ship where the end goal is to try and reverse one of those small losses. But that attitude seems rarer than most. So many people here are just wrapped up in themselves—and I'm afraid I have to count myself in that number.

[heyboss]

I know that poem.

[He smiles.] We all are allowed selfishness once in a while, and with the way that relationships and friendship blossom around people who have no better coping skills - well, it can only spread.

For what it's worth, the fact that you are recognizing it now is a great step, Jonathan. As your friend, I'm proud of you for saying so.

[kingsroads]

It isn't once in a while, though, [ Strange muses. ] People here seem to bleed selfishness.

[ There's a moment's pause before, ] Huaisang pointed out that no one sought him out when Kiryu left. I'll admit, I had no love for Kiryu, but I quite enjoy Huaisang's company. I should have spoken to him and I'm horrified that nobody else did so. But on the same token, my room has been cursed for months and yet I managed to hide it from everyone.

[heyboss]

Yes. I was one of those. I didn't know Huaisang, but I enjoyed Kiryu.

[But then Arthur had died and shit happened and Sheehan's whole life spun out of control.

No excuse.]

How did you hide it?

[kingsroads]

Easy enough. I simply made certain nobody came to my room. [ Strange shrugs a little before continuing, ]

It really isn't that hard. More people trying to hide a horrific secret should take that into account. All you need to do is offer to meet in a public place or someone else's room. But...still. It feels odd that I was able to hide it so easily.

[heyboss]

It isn't odd. You were one of the first people to see my room. And I don't have a great secret. I just like my privacy.

[kingsroads]

I was? [ Well! Color Strange surprised! He looks a little shocked before lightly teasing, ]

I suppose I should consider that a great honor.

[heyboss]

...don't get carried away.

[kingsroads]

Too late! [ said with a little chuckle. ]