further zero world thoughts: this is really a character study.
wato no longer has the resolve for endless waits and struggles against impossible odds and 100 days of nothing. she constantly gets scared when the world starts to look like the end barrens, or starts to seem not impossible, only very very difficult. they swing wildly between thickheaded stubbornness and defeat, because he desperately wants to get to the end but can no longer stomach the tedium.
when ken says that this is not the zero world, wato insists. when ken says that there is no end portal, wato insists. when ken gets sidetracked making trees grow, wato tears them down.
BUT. when ken suggests checking the entire inner ring, wato runs. when ken suggests checking the SECOND ring, wato argues with them, choosing the way more dangerous (but instant) option. when ken proposes a way to travel the end forever, wato sees the counter tick over to 100 days and disconnects. it's the juxtaposition between desire and fear. they are no longer the kind of person who could have finished the end barrens. he is still the kind of person that wants to see the end.
ken, on the other hand, is here for the journey. they nitpick game mechanics, they try and figure stuff out, she chases after the only other player. sure, maximum probably won't just hand them the end portal. but they're interesting! they're alive! they're moving! wato can't stand another pointless task, but ken thinks wato's task is not only equally pointless, but boring. it's only when he starts to believe, when wato's motivation begins to flag, when wato starts to fall apart, they push forward. this is a world full of good luck. this was never a prison to escape. you're trapped? okay, then I'll break us out of here. come with me, watch my screenshare. i'll search, i'll sink hours into it, i'll do whatever it takes. join on an alt. stay with me. give me one more chance.
and then they get to the end. and there's no endermen. this isn't the end barrens, this has never been the end barrens. wato can see the end of the tunnel and they're not quite as scared as they used to be. how can she, when ken is running around with a single arrow and handing them a bucket of water and saying don't worry, i've got a boat!
there's no endermen. maybe everything really is alright. maybe-
and then they hit the outer end. oh, sure, the biome might not say it. there's no endermen, there's no grass, there's no water, there's no blazing sun beating down. but it's empty, and it's infinite, and their goal is nowhere to be found. the counter is ticking up, almost at 100. 96. 97. 98. she can't do another 100 days. ken can, though. ken knows they want to succeed, knows he wants what's at the end of all of this. ken never cared about the goal, they just wanted to be together. to explore with her friend.
and if he can't drag them along, then she's going to make it for the both of them.
annaxmalina
2087
izzy806
