/simu/ - Simulacrum

>>2571
>Magister gives a courteous nod to his counterpart as his cloak flutters in the wind.

"I'd be remiss to not ask for permission to enter."

>Before Magister can continue, Aiden then sighs.

"It's fine. You can enter."

>Magister then nods as he lowers himself to the ground, hands in his pockets as he then slowly walks through the glass door of the balcony, and into Aiden's office.

"Very similar to my own. I've never actually been inside of your office before."

>Magister looks over his back, at his counterpart.

"Right from the same cloth, as I always knew you'd be."

>Aiden gives a look of slight confusion as Magister clarifies.

"You act exactly as I did, or rather as I still do."

>Magister falls silent once more as he then exhales. He then surprises Aiden by slowly moving his gloved hand towards his spectacles - taking them off.

"….I feel as though the responsibility falls on me to say this to you."

>Aiden then sees Magister's ruby red irises, a sharp contrast with his own sapphire blue.

"Please heed this warning very carefully Aiden. I don't want you repeating all of my mistakes."

>The CEO then arches his back and looks off wistfully to the side of the office - staring at the skyline outside of his window.

"You're scared for me? Why?"

>The Sorcerer Supreme then walks over to Aiden and looks him directly in the eyes.

"…..Because I made a mistake, Aiden. I made a mistake in assuming that you had to go down my path as directly as you did."

>Aiden is somewhat confused at Magister's statement - as the latter raises up a gloved hand in response.

"Not here."

>He then points his gloved hand out over the city.

"There."

>>2572
>Location: Sanctuary City - Downtown
>Time: 12:00 PM

>Two figures in black quickly streak across the skies of Sanctuary City - completely immune to all conventional forms of detection. No equipment, psionic abilities or experimental equipment can perceive the forms of the two figures flying across the city.

>Aiden keeps his hands in his jacket pockets - as Magister crosses his sleeved arms underneath his cloak.

"It's much smaller than my city. Millennium City that is."

>Aiden gives a soft laugh of amusement.

"Was this supposed to be a comparison?"

"No, just a moment worth reminiscing."

>Aiden then falls silent in appreciation of the statement for a second.

"…..Yeah, I guess it's easier to manage."

"Which keeps people safer."

>Aiden and Magister then continue flying, making their way out of Sanctuary City - as they start rapidly picking up speed.

>>2573
>As they continue flying over the large atmosphere above the continental United States - Magister continues to talk to his counterpart.

"Do you have any second thoughts about how far you've come in your journey?"

>Aiden raises an eyebrow behind his sunglasses - looking over at his counterpart.

"Sounds ominous. I'm not sure how I should answer."

>Magister then gives an amused scoff.

"Sincerity is a virtue, Aiden."

>Exhaling in slight annoyance, Aiden acknowledges the statement.

"I have a few, yeah. For starters, I wish I wasn't as hostile and irritable to people. I know I've definitely pushed a lot of people away because of that."

>The two figures then begin flying over mountain ranges, before quickly entering the vast plains of the midwest.

"Anything else?"

"I do wish I was more open with people. Not as secretive, or preemptively judgmental. Paranoia's gotten me nowhere in my life."

>Magister still has his arms crossed as he and his counterpart then make their way over the dry, arid valleys of the Southwestern deserts.

"And? There's one more, I'd say."

>Aiden closes his eyes for a moment and then breathes in deep. Exhaling, he then faces the statement head on.

"…..I wish I wasn't such an asshole. What good's all this power if I convince myself that it makes me better than everyone else?"

>Magister then takes an inquisitive stance with his gloved hand - scratching the bottom of his chin.

"Hmmm. What good is that, indeed."

>After a few more seconds - both of them have crossed the entirety of the continental United States - from east to west.

>Now, hovering in the skies above San Francisco - Aiden sighs once more. The air flutters around his white hair - as he looks up at the clouds above him.

"…..It's nice to get away from it all for once. Just….sitting back and letting it all sink in."

>Magister hovers up next to his counterpart, and also looks in the sky.

"That I will agree with. Speaking of which."

>Magister then suddenly holds up a tray of food, seemingly appearing out of nowhere instantly.

"Shouldn't you be getting some food?"

>>2574
>Time: 12:30 PM

>Aiden stifles a laugh as Magister then finishes his statement.

"Then I told Jonah that I wasn't going to bail him out of his little 'experiment' with the toothpaste. He spent the next three days trying to get me back with cake icing."

>Easing up on the laughter, Aiden then reflects on the story.

"Your version of Jonah sounds really different from my own. He's far more abrasive…."

>Magister's face darkens behind his sunglasses and cloak collar.

"….That's because of what I wanted to warn you about, Aiden."

>Aiden then feels his body tense up - despite the litany of food hovering perfectly around them.

"….My warning is this."

>Magister looks Aiden directly in the eyes.

"Don't take your family for granted. I almost lost mine because of it. My friends as well."

>Aiden lowers his head, as his own eyes narrow behind his sunglasses.

"…..You're starting to see the same behavior from me then."

>Magister then nods at Aiden.

"As I said - 'cut from the same cloth'."

>Aiden then looks up and interjects.

"You've mentioned that phrase before. That phrase specifically. Why?"

>Magister then dashes a bit of pepper onto his french fries, before he picks one up with his gloved fingers - magically avoiding dirt smudges while doing so.

"It's because that phrase is the most accurate way to describe us."

>Magister then eats his set of picked fries and waits for a moment before grabbing the glass of water hovering beside him. Then, he drops what Aiden can only describe as a bombshell.

"We're so close in design - because we specifically are two parts of the same core essence."

>Aiden then almost spits out his drink - reeling from the candidness of such a statement.

"I'm sorry, what?"

>Magister then smiles satisfactorily behind his cloak collar - as it now covers his mouth once more, hiding his expression.

"We're far more alike, and for a good reason. We're two halves of a greater whole, so to speak."

>Taking another fry and gesturing at Aiden for a moment, Magister elaborates.

"It's why you're taking so closely after me. We're the point of similarity. Conformity and non-deviation between the universes."

>Looking at the french fry in his gloved hands, Magister then continues to explain.

"Also, it's why you seem to be repeating most of my same mistakes. I don't know if your Astral nature has fully awakened. Isaac would have to check-"

>Aiden then looks at Magister in astonishment.

"….I'm sorry. Did you just say that I'm an abstract being?"

>As he says this, Aiden watches as Magister conjures a large tome from seemingly nowhere. Recognizing it as the Tome of Thoth, he then asks:

"Oh right, the all knowing book. I forgot you had that."

>>2575
>Magister looks at Aiden once more before reiterating the core point.

"Remember what I just said, Aiden. We specifically are echoes of each other. I don't know how, and I don't know why - but we're inexorably bound to the same core experiences."

>As he continues looking through the tome, with the food hovering all around them, Magister elaborates.

"We share the same Archetype. Or, if you're a fan of tarot cards - we share the same arcana."

>Taking a card out of his tome, Magister tosses it at Aiden - who catches it effortlessly in one hand.

"What is this….."

>As he looks at the card, he then sees the image of a man with white hair - along with a giant Roman Numeral "I" at the bottom of the card's image.

>After recognizing the card, Aiden then begins slowly laughing as he realizes the metaphorical weight of the card.

"…The Magician."

>Magister nods.

"The first of the Major Arcana. Represents the strength of one's potential - as well as their willingness to reach said potential."

>Aiden continues to stare at the card as Magister speaks.

"When used for good, it allows for quick thinking and improvisation. It demonstrates the power of resourcefulness."

>He then flips over the card, instinctively - almost dreading what lies hidden.

"….However when reversed, it manifests ill-intent, treachery and self-treason - the betrayal of one's own sense of self."

>Sighing, Aiden then flips the tarot card back on its front side and stares at the magician with white hair.

"…..Is this supposed to be us?"

>Magister shakes his head.

"No. It's merely a representational image. Whatever it shows you, is what you choose to see in yourself. Look again."

>Aiden narrows his eyes at the card - and is then met with the image of a well dressed man with long white hair and almost regal clothing.

>Narrowing his eyes at the man in the picture, the man then winks and waves back before disappearing into a transparent image of nothingness.

"…..Was that….me?"

>>2576
>Aiden looks back at Magister and states:

"…..I have a feeling that I'm indirectly creating my own future by doing this."

>Magister then dissipates the food, the tome and the tarot card with a single snap of his gloved fingers. He then remarks.

"That's what you've been doing this entire time - constantly changing the shape of your destiny, at least with respect to your own actions. Time does not account for us specifically - and I cannot ascertain why."

>Raising an eyebrow, Aiden then asks the obvious question.

"….How is that possible? I thought you said that time can't be changed."

>Magister nods as he then looks at his counterpart intently.

"That's correct. It can't be changed. It does not seem to directly affect you - nor the select few that are similar to you. I don't know how that's possible, or why either. However, I do suspect that it may involve higher circumstances at play. Higher than most could possibly imagine. For whatever reason, you, and the few of those like you in this reality - are seemingly immune to the casual nature of time."

>After a few moments, Magister then slowly stands up - now assuming a standing position as he hovers in the air.

"Well then, are you ready to head back?"

>Aiden nods as he slowly rises to his feet.

"…..It's a lot to take in, honestly. I'm an abstract being like Isaac. My entire identity is seemingly outlined in an archetypal tarot card - and I may have been altering my own future without even thinking about it?"

>Magister nods as he then responds to Aiden's last query.

"You said that before when Isaac talked to you about your identity crisis - you saw an image of yourself? A version of you with long, black hair."

>Aiden nods in response to the question.

"Now you've seen a version of yourself with even more regal clothing - and even longer white hair."

>Nodding again in response, Aiden then says:

"I've changed my future then, haven't I?"

>Magister thinks for a moment - before replying.

"I wouldn't say 'changed', insofar as rather 'defied' the path set for yourself before. Your actions and your awareness continue to elude the natural flow of causality. You may be entering a state where such principles no longer hold sway over you."

>Aiden looks at Magister with a somewhat surprised expression.

"You don't sound surprised by that."

>Magister gives Aiden a smile as he turns around and responds.

"That is because I am not, for we are, once again - cut from the same cloth, Aiden. Inexorably bound to our fundamental traits."

>Magister then snaps his fingers, as the world peels away around them - placing them back in Aiden's CEO office at Archeon Incorporated.

>>2577
>Aiden finds himself back at the seat of his desk - standing beside his chair.

"……"

>As he places his hand on his chair, he sees Magister standing on the other side of the desk, arms crossed like before.

"Heed the warning, Aiden. Don't lose sight of yourself, or your positive traits. It's OK to make mistakes - and it's OK to be human."

>Aiden then reminisces on the tarot card as he then speaks to his counterpart.

"How are you so sure that we're The Magician again?"

>Magister responds with an amused smile on his face.

"Because I've seen the events embodied by the arcana in myself - and repeated thoroughly in you as well. I can't change your past for you - but I can help to ensure that you reach a better future."

>Smiling back warmly, Aiden then sighs once more - only this time in a more hopeful manner.

"So if I'm The Magician - then who's The Fool? Who's the 'protagonist' of this little story?"

>Magister gives an amused laugh before he then replies.

"There is no one person who fits the description - everyone is the protagonist of their own story. You know this."

>Magister then gestures at Aiden once more with his head, reminding him all the while.

"Yours just happens to resonate the most strongly with The Magician. How fitting of a title, is it not?"

>The Sorcerer Supreme then gestures to his arcane attire, emphasizing his black-and-white two tone hair along with his sunglasses.

>Now gesturing back to Aiden with his snow white hair and nearly identical round sunglasses, Magister then makes his point.

"So keep moving forward. Don't worry so much about fixing the past. All you can do is move forward, and live the most fulfilling life that you can."

>Magister then appears to the side of Aiden, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder as he speaks.

"After all, we are still-"

>Aiden then interjects, finishing his statement for him.

"Cut from the same cloth. I know. At this point, I know."

>Giving Aiden one last smile, Magister then responds.

"I could lighten up a little myself - and seeing you and your progression all this time has helped me realize that. So for that realization, I thank you, Aiden. Genuinely."

>Aiden then nods at Mosaic.

"Anytime, Aiden. It's been nice having you around for guidance."

>Magister nods and then seemingly disappears from the area immediately - leaving Aiden entirely alone in his office once more.

>Looking at the time, Aiden realizes that it's 12:50 PM - with ten minutes left until lunch is over.

"….Well, I should probably get started on that. Living my life to the fullest."

>>2578
>Aiden then takes out his phone - from inside of his jacket pocket. As he adjusts the cuffs of his long sleeve shirt and his jacket, he then dials a number and brings it up to his face.

"Hey there, Orion. It's Aiden. I'm going to engineering to get ready for another meeting. Meet me at the lobby right past five, later today. There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

>Aiden then neatly puts away most of the items in his office, as he gets ready to walk to the door leading out of his office.

"How's your billiards arm? Isaac and I are having a game at his house, here in the city. Do you want to come along or are you busy?"

>He then opens the door leading out of his office as he speaks.

"Oh no it's fine. It's still lunch, so let me know if you're up for it at the end of the day."

>Closing the door behind him and locking it remotely, Aiden then gives a soft laugh as he speaks.

"What's got me so active today? Well, I think I've got more life in me than I thought. It helps when you know that you're not alone, and you've got people around you. People like my Chief Operating Officer, no?"

>Now walking down the hallway, Aiden gives another soft laugh.

"Yeah, I know. I'm working on it. See you soon then."

>Aiden then continues to the entrance to the elevator - but instead decides to take the stairs as he hangs up the call and puts the phone back in his jacket pocket.

[The End]