Voice: UN: brighterdaysforever

[despairing_hope]

Hello?

[Komaeda’s low voice spoke softly, maybe a little unsure. He had sort of left without saying anything. But then, it’s not like anyone would have missed him or even noticed his absence!]

I have to confess I’m at a bit of lost as to what happened. I was just lucky I happened not be far away and could find the crash. But, this is a rather troubling development, isn’t it?

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

It's a demon who designs and constructs torture neighborhoods for humans. Fairly high-ranking, as those things go. But like I said, I don't do that anymore.

[despairing_hope]

I'm glad you don't. I think I've had enough of torture set ups.

Did you ever make anyone have to kill each other...?

[eudaimonikos]

Well, they're already dead by the time they get there, so no.

[It's a valid idea, but wouldn't really work out mechanically.]

Why?

[despairing_hope]

You could always kill them again. I know She would have done that if given the chance.

[Junko would definitely be a perfect agent of torture.]

Well, I was thinking a place for people in hell would have to be worse than the Killing Games I've been part of or witnessed.

[eudaimonikos]

I really couldn't. Well, maybe if I programmed in a whole override...but humans don't generally die again in the afterlife no matter what you do. Otherwise, they'd be dying left and right before the torturers could even get started!

[Very fragile, humans. More to the point, that would've been crazy suspicious to just about everyone.]

Anyway, I was trying to prove a point about psychological torture. I can see how your thing involves that, but it leans way too much on murder.

[despairing_hope]

The only important thing is what the mind thinks happened.

[He just assumes there would be some kind of magical way to do that when demons are involved.]

Oh definitely. Though, I would say the true torture in it is forcing people I to a situation they don't want to participate in. Forcing their hands and taking their agency away. Giving a false choice and showing they really did not have one in the end.

What is psychological torture about neighborhoods?

[eudaimonikos]

What?

[...OH! He sees!]

Oh! No, "neighborhoods" are just what we call the pocket dimensions we divide humans up into. Traditional lava torture, newfangled psychological torture, they're all called that.

[despairing_hope]

Ah, so it's just sectioned into different sorts. A bit like the seven levels of hell I suppose.

Does that mean there are also rooms like Jean Paul Sartre wrote? I think that would be the worst. Customized personal halls. It would make sense to do that.

[eudaimonikos]

That's what I wanted to do! Everyone else thought it would be inefficient...

[Which, sure, they've got a lot of humans. But they also have unlimited time and resources!]

[despairing_hope]

Physical pain and suffering only goes so far. There are people who like that too. I think you had a good idea there. Humans are very good at torturing other humans, and psychological lasts a lot longer than physical.

[eudaimonikos]

You know, I've found a lot of humans here to be really weirdly complimentary of that idea lately!

[It was bad! Torture's bad, actually!]

[despairing_hope]

"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."

Though, I would like to say I do not enjoy torture. Suffering and Despair are not things I enjoy. But I can tolerate them 8f they bring Hope.

[eudaimonikos]

Boy, you would've loved seeing my whole thing. The entire reason it didn't work out was because the humans kept coming together and supporting each other.

[And also figuring out his lies, but nonetheless.]

[despairing_hope]

Oh! Their hope was strong!

I'm not suprised. My class also came together when it mattered most. But then, I beleive deeply, despite everything, people will be guided by Hope to work together in the end.

How wonderful your project could create something so beautiful.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, they're pretty great.

[he sounds sort of smitten, honestly]

A couple of them are here, actually!

[despairing_hope]

How fantastic! I hope I get a chance to meet them.