u/Anatta-Phi

MCMB

They arrive at dawn.

Bob unclasps the gilded crucifix from around The Warg's neck, ties a quick Gordian knot, and dripples it into the self-reflective pools of thought strewn across the tides of Id.

(... didn't you bring a pole, or at least an actual line?)

"...Maybe, but we aren't fishing for food, or sport."

(What are we fishing for?)

"Knowledge, or truth, or whatever's left. You see? These waters never had any fish, just the illusion of fish eating fish eating fish, a tessellation, a loop. Cyclic existence, if you will."

(Then why the crucifix?)

"Not quite sure... they seem to like it though..."

(The... illusions... of fish eating fish...)

"Exactly. It's really quite fascinating to watch."

(What are we really fishing for, Bob?)

"I told you. Truth. The true nature of existence. The only thing that's left in these obsequies waters."

(...won't we starve, though? If we have no fish to eat?)

*Bob turns to The Warg and smiles.

"My dear, you've been devouring delusions your whole life. Why stop now??"

(Because I thought you wanted the Truth! The Truth is we are going to starve!)

"... I'm not following."

(If... We... don't catch some Truth soon, we are going to fucking starve, Bob. It's sadly as simple as that.)

"...yeah. It is pretty sad, and in a lot of ways for a lot of people. I think anyone with with empathy, and understanding get that. It's... just... I wonder what whales think about the fish they are hand-fed in captivity. The concrete walls painted to look like the ocean. The plexiglass that doesn't look, or sound the same. I wonder what they might say about it."

(What if they chose it willingly? To ease the struggle between whales, and they just had to be reminded of that choice from time to time?)

"Well... I think mayhaps the whales might like to see real change in their captors... in a like, not blowing up the planet because of a second cold war, and all the other shit illusory monkey-men seem to not even be able to handle. It's depressing."

(Wait... I'm confused... Are we talking about catching the mirage of whales here, or what?!)

*Bob lays a lulling finger across his lips, and hushes The Warg.

"We don't talk about the white whale in the room, my friend."

*The Warg begins to drizzle drool into the quicksilver mirrors of awareness.

(Have you caught one?? We could eat for a life-time!)

"Certainly! Don't I always? It's a neat trick, but the 'fish eating fish' is still pure illusion. It has neither real substance, or true form. It's like all the rest. Help yourself, if you so desire. The flesh tastes tiresome to me."

"...they're... they're not fish, Bob. They're mammals..."

Bob smiles to himself, and longingly dances eyes upon the ripples.

"...yes. I had an intuition you would say that, and..."

(It's all illusion, anyway...)

"Yes. Exactly."