You don't need to explain, [ he says, softly, quiet and understanding and tired all at once. he knows now there were many things he had missed, at the time — and really, truly, what is his illness when compared to everything that had happened? and even through that, he doesn't doubt that jayce cared. but he'd promised to destroy the hexcore, and thus viktor's only chance at survival... and that was as it should be.

he'd be gone, either from the explosion or shortly after it, due to his illness finally being too much for his wasting body to handle. that's just how it is.

but then she speaks of something he very much does want her to explain... only it seems she can't. ]

I see. So the self-correction happens only if someone passes from being alive to being dead, through unnatural causes. It seems whatever is simulating this is capable of constructing a version of us here even after our death in our world of origin. Then it is reasonable to believe... yes, there is no reason why my — hm, condition, wouldn't be identical to how it is outside of this place.

[ he is staring at a spot on the floor with the kind of look that betrays his want for a notebook, for a board, somewhere to jot down his thoughts. ] I haven't felt particularly worse, but I suspect it is because I had already reached the point where I... cannot feel much worse than I already do. [ she had asked, but he doesn't feel great, having to admit this. ] If the goal of this simulation is to make us repent our crimes, it would make sense for it to suspend my illness in a form of stasis, of sorts... but if it is something else, to observe us, to see our reactions to events that happen —

[ well, in that case, letting his condition progress to its inevitable conclusion would be much better for observation than a remission. to let him die, only to bring him back, for the cycle to repeat; cruel, yes, but he's never had cause to believe the simulation to be anything else. ]