No Regrets

Altered

"What should I do?"

Raymond Leon desperately asks Philippe, not because he actually trusted such an aloof figure, even if they did shares some past experiences. No, he did not believe in the changes that our lovely couple made.

He just loses his "point-of-view". He is altered because suddenly have all the time in the world to think and to reflect on his own actions.

Philippe, suddenly, feels the urge to laugh on the not so stoic ex-Timekeeper. Just because of the whimsical reason to change that both of them shared. They were forced to get out of their comfort shell, so Philippe's almost laugh turn into a shake of his head.

"You should ask what should we do." Philippe pressed on the word "we". "Not just me and you, of course. It should be what each people here, and all over the globe, should do, and would be able to do."

"So, you do have a plan, for you. Not just staying inside this place. And probably that plan extends to others as you were walking around underground."

Philippe laughs thinking about Leon's proposal. Thinking on Raymond's perspective and experience, how the hell that Philippe could got food without leaving this complex? Of course, Philippe has his "magic" device, a token of the good old time that nobody remember about, that could turn air into food. But, nobody remembers anything as the one who knows, already death.

"My face is covering the whole city. I don't dare to stay if it is just for my own safety. Actually, I already left and just happen to come back here." Philippe looks at Leon directly in the eyes.

"I planned to become Miss Weis and Mr. Salas's accomplice, as you would say."

This time, is it Leon who scowls:

"We just make our agreement that their revolution are dumb."

"Isn't it? Us so intelligent that we got flipped by their actions, and turn restless." And Philippe smirks his retort back. " We changed already. Next step would be adapt, then overcome, isn't it?"

Seemingly, Leon did not recognized his rare usage of meme from 21st century. Well, after all of the hardship, remembering has been oh-so-hard, anyway.

"It did not have to end... with most people die due to "out-of-time" after their stupidity." Philippe sighs. "It would and it would always be the poor and the helpless and the vulnerable who suffers. People like me, they always have choices" Philippe looks at his own 13-Zeros." to be prepared" he thinks of all the time and resources and planning that he made, "to have a safe place to run to" yes, 20 years to plan for that secret place and make sure that people would forget 'to not have to face any danger." Speaking for all of his spoiled circle of vain acquaintances, that suddenly seems so hard to separate their faces in his mind.

Of course, it is not his words. It is not his ideas, Philippe darkly thought, but the borrowed words came out naturally from his mouth. Not sure if it is what he inherited from her, he winced because of the sudden pain when remembering her, not sure if has been suppressed by himself. Not sure, if he actually believes that now.

"The question still stands." Leon regains his stoic side as he envied and despite the difference between them: One who was forced to lay low after "doing right" for his whole life, one who could just flip the table and turn his back even as the "main villain".

"We unite the world and force more people to be in our situation of course!" Philippe cheerfully speaks in his high voice.

Leon just slaps his forehead.

"Really?"

"Yes." Philippe whispers, even if the plan did not complete yet, with so many unknowns, unlike the artsy, precisely that he preferred to make. "They want to lock us down. So we need to spread the disease of doubt what they already known and trust to the system. After all, billions people have died because of it. We force or help others places to, soon, have to make the same decision to go against the system. You see how fast we turned to vengeance after being left alone to think."

"Didn't you rich people is always about sacrificing everyone? Even on your best scenario, why would they not kill everyone?"

Raymond Leon is such a good seed, always asking the right question. Philippe should have known better and got him under his palm... No, the past is not that important anymore.

"We happen to be extremely arrogance, enough to never care about the ants building bridges until they crossed the river. If our small revolution goes fast enough, they would not even register the problem until they have to choose. On the other hand, our utmost leader..." just thinking about the One makes his body shivers. "Our incredibly careful and capable leader, doesn't want people to die too fast."

Which is just Philippe's "educational guess" from the One "past-actions" 80 years ago. But, Leon did not need to know. And, hope, is always a cheap yet important solution.

"He would let us clown entertains him, and we would do all that we could to keep him in his high above throne."