#errorcode:410

[youvereachedthebadend]

((I watch quietly))

"Are you okay?" Chase asks Error gently.

"I-I... don't... know," Error answers. "I... you guys can't... know."

"Ja—Error, we were there," Marvin emphasizes. "If anyone would know that none of this was your fault, it would be the people you think blame you. Who don't."

"I don't believe you," Error mutters. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

We ARE trying to make you feel better, but that doesn't mean we're wrong, Jameson says. Imagine if it one of us swapped places with you. Would you still think it was our fault?

"...no," Error says quietly.

So the problem here is not the actions or events, Jameson continues. It's your perception, and how much you want to hate yourself.

"I..." Error's protests don't even get past the first word before they die.

"It's easy to hate yourself," Chase says quietly. "Because you're the one stuck with yourself. You're the one in your own head, comparing yourself to... to this ideal version of you that doesn't exist. And it's... it's tempting, to give yourself all the blame, rather than hurt others by giving it to them. Better me than them, right? But... trust me, it doesn't help at all. It's hard to suddenly change, but to start, you need to accept that. It feels like this is how things should be, but your subconscious is lying to you. This isn't how it's supposed to work. A-and we don't want it to work that way. We don't want you to hurt yourself."

[youvereachedthebadend]

((JAY OMG YES!!! LOOK AT THE EVIL BOYS EVERYONE!))

You’d Better Start Running

Thank you @youvereachedthebadend for commissioning me!

This was so much fun to draw and it was a pleasure working with you!

[youvereachedthebadend]

That’s good! What was your favorite part of doing hero stuff?

Error sighs. "I... don't know. I-I think I used to. I think... I used to like seeing the results in the paper, a-and hearing people talk about how much my work did for them. But... I don't know. There never seemed to be much of that. So... what was it? I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie, did I just like getting into fights? Was that all? It feels like forever ago. I can't really remember."

Sam rolls over a bit so They're looking at his face. They place their optic nerve on his shoulder again, a comforting weight.

[youvereachedthebadend]

They say They don’t plan on leaving

"I..." Error's breath gets shaky. "Thank you. Thank you... so much, Sam." There are tears welling in his eyes. He wraps his arms around Them and hugs Them close. Sam says nothing, and cuddles up to his embrace.

[youvereachedthebadend]

He took your door?

"He did?" Error looks surprised, and looks around the room. He slumps. "Oh. He did." Then he looks down at Sam. "H-how'd you get in...?"

I HAVE MY WAYS, Sam says, then speaks to you. HE'S HANGING ON. BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT STOPPED. HE IS STILL ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL HIM.

[youvereachedthebadend]

It would be less staticky for us, but I wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger just so we can see and hear you better

"Danger? There's no danger." Error laughs again, forcing it out. "I-I think static is a big problem with—with this. We definitely need to leave, right? You would say that, right? Because i-it'll be easier for you to talk, right?"

[youvereachedthebadend]

I’m good, they’re good. Marvin cut his hair. How much do you remember about the last time we spoke?

"How much do I remember? How much... do I..." Error shakes his head, pressing his hand against it. "I-I... I..." He loses his balance, stumbling, then regains it. "It's... been a while since I heard from you guys. I-I was starting to worry you wouldn't be back." He laughs a little. The static in his voice has lessened, but not the static across your vision. "M—Cat cut his hair? Interesting. Things are changing. But things here are business as usual. A-Anti wants it to be... like that." He shudders, looking around. "What do you—gah. D-do you guys still want to talk outside of the Place?"

[youvereachedthebadend]

All up to you Error. Doesn’t have to be permanent. What do you want right now?

Error hesitates. He twitches nervously, continuing to glance towards where the door should be. The sound of static lingers in the air. "If... if you don't think there'll be another chance..." He takes a deep breath. "We can try."

Jack's expression is one of pure relief. 'Alright.'

I WILL GO DELAY HIM, Sam says. IT MAY NOT LAST FOR LONG. They shrink down to the size of a normal eye and fly towards the wall. Between one blink and the next, They're gone.

Error shifts in his chair, uneasy now that They're gone. Then he holds out his hand. "Just... do it. I-I'll see you in there."

Jack nods. 'See you in there.' And he reaches out...

░░

░▒░▒▒

[youvereachedthebadend]

Sam says /he’s/ getting close. Do you want to leave?

"Wh-what?!" Error's eyes widen. He glances towards the spot where the bedroom door should be. It's still not there, but that doesn't reassure him. "Is—is that what They've been saying?"

Are you okay, Error? JJ asks, worried. On the screen, Schneep and Marvin glance around the cafe, looking for anything suspicious.

"I-I'm fine, I just—I don't want him to realize I-I've been talking to you," Error says.

"Why?" Chase asks. "You've never had a problem with telling him things before."

"Well... I... He's been..." Error fidgets. More glitches cut into his skin. "You... probably don't want him here. So... I-I don't want him here, either. And he'd probably be upset, anyway. Anything I do makes him upset now."

"So why are you still in there?" Chase asks.

Error laughs. "I-I can't leave anymore, Chase."

"If anyone can get out of there, it is you," Henrik says.

Chase nods in agreement. "Have you tried?"

Error pauses, then shakes his head. "I've been... busy. With stuff up here." He taps the side of his head.

"That's okay," Chase says gently. "Don't beat yourself up over not being able to try. I just... when I asked why you were still there, it was more of a... metaphorical question, I guess. Maybe I'm not that good at metaphors. Just... Why did you stick around?"

"Who else was going to?" Error whispers.

Error, I have a question. You don't need to answer, just think about it. Jameson pauses. You trust our judgement, right? Or at least, our judgement while under corruption. But even while corrupted, we all left. Do you really think that all our judgement on him was wrong or mistaken? If every single one of us did that?

Error doesn't answer.

HE'S CLOSE, Sam says. Indeed, there's a slight sound of static in the air.

[youvereachedthebadend]

You can’t keep torturing yourself, putting your needs and wants last

"It's not... torture," Error says slowly.

"Are you sure about that?" Henrik asks. "Are you hurting yourself just to hurt?"

"I... I don't..." Error takes a shaky breath. "I just don't know." He laughs. "You know, if I knew you guys were going to give me an intervention, I-I would've been more prepared."

"You're never really prepared for an intervention," Chase mutters with a small smile. "That's part of the point of it."

"But don't change the subject," Henrik adds. "We don't want you to be hurt, Error. We would never blame you, because we don't want you to hurt, but you are doing it yourself anyway."

Error says nothing.

HE'S GETTING CLOSE, Sam warns. TRY TO FINISH SOON.

[youvereachedthebadend]

No one blames you for that

"You don't know that, you weren't here!" Error suddenly snaps.

"They're right, though," Chase says quietly. "No one blames you for that."

Error stares at the computer screen, fidgeting unconsciously, a few colorful glitches cutting into his skin.

You always did more than enough, Jameson says. You were so kind to let me stay with you when I first arrived in this time. It wasn't something you needed to do, but you did it anyway.

"And if you're going to say something like 'oh that doesn't count because I mean I was never able to protect you,' that's not true," Chase adds. "All those times that he showed up and lost his temper, hurting us. I know you're probably going to defend him, but the fact is, there was danger. Like that one time my computer exploded. You shielded me. Remember that?"

"...yeah," Error says quietly. "But—but... the corruption." He has a hard time saying it, getting the words out without triggering his other thoughts. "None of you... wanted it. But... I-I made you... do it a-anyway."

"So you feel bad about that?" Henrik asks.

"No. I mean... I... don't know." Error pauses. "But... you guys think it's bad. So... aren't you... mad at me?"

"Used to be," Marvin admits. "But not anymore. It's... it's hard to be mad at you after everything you went through with your corruption. And how much he influenced you. I-I don't think that's really your fault. You thought you were doing good, at the time."

Error goes quiet. There are tears welling in his black eyes, and he looks down, away from the computer screen.

Sam, on his shoulder, swivels, looking around. But not at the room. It's as if They're looking through the walls. The electricity along Their optic nerve picks up a bit.

[youvereachedthebadend]

Is the computer still glitching?

"I don't know." Error looks down at the screen. His eyes widen and he gasps. It's not glitching. It's a perfectly crystal-clear video of the other four. Chase, Henrik, Jameson, and Marvin. They all have earbuds in—except for Jameson, who opted for headphones—and are staring at their own screen intently.

Chase raises his hand and gives a little wave. "H-hey bro." He laughs a bit, nervously.

"You look tired," Henrik remarks. "We heard you were having trouble, but... well, it is evident."

How are you? Jameson asks.

"Are you alone?" Marvin adds, trying to look around Error to the rest of the room.

Error nods silently in response to Marvin's question. He says nothing else, too choked up at the sight of them.

[youvereachedthebadend]

Oh uh, was that part of the plan to be in the place too? Doesn't seem like a good idea considering, you know... -:)

'Yeah, it was part of the plan,' Jack says. 'It's...probably not the best idea, but if, uh... if you want any help, I'm here.'

"Probably—probably more helpful if you weren't," Error says, taking deep breaths. "I'm uh... I-I'm starting to think things I don't want to."

'Oh. Okay. I can leave, then. I'll leave now. Good luck.'

"Thanks," Error mumbles, and turns back to his laptop.

Jack doesn't actually leave.

YOU WANT TO BE ON-SCENE IN CASE THERE'S NEED OF IMMEDIATE UNCORRUPTION, Sam says, looking at him.

Jack nods. He doesn't want to talk now, so that Error thinks he's left and doesn't have any trouble with the mind fuckery Anti's putting him through.

I THINK THAT'S WISE, Sam says. RISKY, BUT WISE.

Still silent, Jack mouths a thank you.

"Sam? Are you talking to me?" Error asks.

Sam flies forward, shrinking down to baseball size. They rest against his shoulder, a comforting weight.

[youvereachedthebadend]

Error, could you open your laptop and turn it on?

“Of course.” Error nods. “That’s how they’re gonna… gonna reach me. I should’ve been able to figure that out. Well… maybe I would’ve. If I wasn’t being… distracted.”

He stands up slowly, resting a hand against the wall for support, and takes a moment to breathe “…tired,” he mutters. Sam flies up into the air and helps brace him. With Their help, Error walks over to his desk and sits down, opening up his laptop and powering it up. “I hope he’s busy right now.”

[youvereachedthebadend]

No need to apologize! This may not be the best time to talk about heavy topics, when you’re tired and your mind is actively being fucked with, though

“God, probably, yeah.” Error laughs, the sound teetering on the edge of hysteria. “I, um… I-I think you should go now. Not because I’m sick of you or anything. Just… I don’t want to take up… too much of your time.”

[youvereachedthebadend]

I had many snarky things to say about the irony but decided now isn’t the time for that. You’re welcome

Did you ever get in trouble for doing your own thing?

“Thanks,” Error says quietly. He clears his throat. “And god yeah. I’ve never been arrested, but vigilante justice is illegal. The police weren’t happy with me. Sometimes we ran into each other and I had to run. Most of the press didn’t like me either. Some did. Mostly independent journalists. Most people didn’t…” He trails off sadly.