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[nulland]

Sender: Rob
To: All
Subject: The Past

So, is it normal for things to suddenly jump backwards in time here? I see that these books are still some kind of weird email/letter combination with a throwback pen, but other than that this is pretty different from what I saw a few weeks ago.

I'd mostly like to know if it's a good idea to stock up on things that may not be available later. You know, non-perishable food, soap, explosives, that sort of thing.

Comments

[nulland]

So what, it's just random time traveling every few weeks here? Also nothing here could be weirder than anything I've already had to deal with.

Oh. Good to know. Thanks. I thought I should be prepared if I have to be.

Why not explosives?

[hashtagwoof]

Less time traveling, more getting thrown into different dream worlds and having to blend in. It gets really weird.

Also, dude, you can't just have explosives stockpiled with the other stuff. People will think you're sus.

[nulland]

[It takes him a bit to respond as thinks things over.]

Okay fine, that does sound weird. How much are we expected to blend in?

You can't do much about what people think or don't think. Plus I'm not hording them together. For one because apparently I don't need to and I don't think I need food to explode any time soon.

[Has he needed it to explode before? Yes.]

[hashtagwoof]

IDK we only have to blend in while we're in a dreamscape. Here you can just do whatever I guess.

But, like, why do you need exploding stuff in the first place?

[nulland]

Yeah that didn't actually answer my question.

Clearing away stones, destroying your nemesis, starting a fire if you're really desperate. There are reasons!

[hashtagwoof]

[ That question is going unanswered because the "destroying your nemesis" is getting underlined and circled. ]

OK WHAT THE HECK IS THAT???

[ "That" has an arrow drawn to the circled bit. For emphasis. You weirdo. ]

[nulland]

[It's one thing getting stuck as the villain. Being judged for it is a whole 'nother irritation.]

What it says. We don't all get to choose to be the flawed but likeable hero or the adorable sidekick, you know.

[hashtagwoof]

Well yeah, but that doesn't mean you have to be a bomb throwing villain!

[ Look, Hunter's been the villain before. Not a fun time, especially when he found out about a certain someone's true intentions. But here's the thing- Even after going through hell and nearly getting a bunch of dogs and himself killed he still wasn't totally locked into that role in the end. ]

I get having a rival and all, but blowing them up? You realize that KILLS people, right?

[nulland]

[Rob doesn't like it, either. Unfortunately he is locked into it. At least back in Gumball's show and that's what he's used to.]

It'd be nice if it didn't mean that, but not in that amazing world...

[Can you show disdain through handwriting? He tried.]

They don't always. But right, other places aren't all like the one I'm from. I'm just used to     THAT.

[hashtagwoof]

[ ... Wow. This sure is getting dark. Hunter still has next to zero context for wherever the heck Rob's coming from, but... Uh. He's starting to feel some similarities here. ]

Probably a good thing that you're here and not The Amazing World of Murder or whatever! You really don't like being a horrible monster? Then just Don't be a horrible monster I guess

like [ How the hell does he word this. ] No one is gonna judge you for not blowing people up dude.

[nulland]

Horrible monster is a bit harsh.

Look, I'd really like to not be the bad guy. I'm sure this won't make any sense because it never does, but there literally isn't any other role left for me there. And there's no way to change it either. At least, not one that I could stomach. That's why I've never actually destroyed anyone.

[That and the many massive failures.]

[hashtagwoof]

Sorry, first thing that came to mind.

But what I don't get is why you can't do anything about the bad guy thing. Was anyone making you do bad guy stuff? If that's the case, they're probably not here so why bother trying to please them?

[nulland]

The fact that it's Gumball's world means I have to be t

[He was so stuck on his anti-Gumball mindset that the last part of the message doesn't register with him until just now. Rob stops writing for a good while before responding again.]

You're right. This is a completely different world, isn't it?

[hashtagwoof]

[ Whoever this Gumball person is, Hunter's gotten a bad impression already. But let's move on. ]

Yeah! That's what I've been trying to tell you.

[nulland]

[Excellent, keep disliking him.]

Sorry, it's kind of hard to get your head around something like this when that was the only thing you've ever known.

So I can

[And another one of those "didn't think fast enough before he started writing pauses".]

Actually I have no idea who I'm supposed to be now.

[hashtagwoof]

[ This actually takes a while to process. So far, Hunter's been playing things by ear, but he's still not sure what to really do with himself now that his great aunt is out of the picture that doesn't involve embarrassing dog things. So trying to give advice to someone who was the designated villain is harder than it seemed. ]

Well, what do you like to do besides bad guy stuff?

[nulland]

[He wasn't really expecting advice, honestly. He was just commenting on his reality, as it were.]

I don't know, it's been a while. I was mostly in the background before everything happened. I'd just kind of hang out, but that's not actually DOING much.

[hashtagwoof]

[ Hunter thought you wanted advice, dude. ]

So... Uh... I guess you could kinda go out and find a new hobby then? Something you can actually get into that's not some role forced on you. You can always check the dream board for quests, if you dunno where to start looking for stuff to try.

[nulland]

[Not expecting it doesn't mean he didn't want it! Though it does mean he doesn't know what to do with it.]

OK. Right, it's been so long I haven't really gotten to try many new things in the first place. I think I know what you're talking about.

Thanks.

Does anybody need a sidekick or something like that?

[That was the role he wanted!]