[He's out at the bonfire! Easy peasy. The fresh air feels nice and he's finally outta the booty shorts. It looks more like he's just casually observing as people come and go from the cabins, content to watch with his arms propped against his knees.
...
That smile gets him to shudder a little, but it's fine. Old habits die hard.]
Yeah, that's me. Just Guy is fine, if you don't mind.
Sounds like someone's been studying up on the profiles, huh?
Smart move. I assume you mean "island" as in your previous place of residence, right?
[He seems just fine now! Weird.]
Either way, I'd have to agree. We had something that served a similar purpose where I ended up, but it was a courtyard of statues rather than a bunch of documents. Having it all condensed into one space is way easier on the eyes.
Mmm. Well, considering you're about the sixth person to refer to me as "Guy-san", I'll take a wild guess and say you might be another from Japan? [There are. So many of you. It's uncanny.]
Yeah, that's right. I'd say it was kind of a mixed bag in regards to the statues. They were more of a way to expose the character of a person, just how honest they might be, how much experience they might have... pretty similar to the set up we have here.
I think in the case of our trials, the information was only used in a very strict sense for the sake of determining where evidence might have come from, if not from somewhere else in the temple. Since we had it publicly recorded what we had with us, we couldn't exactly pretend otherwise.
There's a disproportionate amount of us here, isn't there? I've noticed, too. I can't say I know why.
[ Can't imagine why there'd be so many Japanese people here. A true mystery.
She looks thoughtful as she considers that. ]
If that's how you used them, I hope we won't have to use them like that here, but I know the chances are low despite what our hosts have said. That is also assuming everything on those passes is truthful.
[ Shinobu wants to believe in the best, but she's also realistic and still waiting for the other shoe to drop. ]
The best I can figure is that whatever is true will come forward at some point. I'm not sure how much I would trust anything right now, especially with tensions so high.
We could always try asking the Directors what their purposes are, but given all their other answers? I could probably guess what they'd say. Sometime along the lines of getting to know one another, of being better teammates and finding common ground.
Something like that.
[Something corny and full of friendship, like a slap in the face compared to what they'd likely all been through already.]
[ She seats herself in front of the cell. It's both apologetic and respectful. Even if her feelings aren't what they should be, she still feels enough.
Her words are quiet, careful. ]
I know it won't be any consolation, but I didn't think it was you at any point. I don't know if what happened to you in the temple is still hanging over you, and I don't know the story of that, either, but I don't think you deserve this.
Thanks. I'm sorry there wasn't more I could do to get things turned around in the right direction. Once we got to a certain point with the trial, I figured I was in trouble without someone finding missing evidence.
Guess that never really came, though. All I could do was be honest.
I doubt Asch likes me enough for that. I went to him for explanations about something he did in his previous location, and he didn't take kindly to that.
[ She doesn't sound too bothered by that, and she won't be too bothered by it in a few days either. ]
Being honest is the best anyone can do in that situation, if they can. [ Didn't they see how Evan couldn't even though he wanted to be? ] It's hard to turn the tide once it starts coming in. I was waiting for something that could, too.
[ But yeah, it never came. ]
I don't know how many have come to say sorry, and I am sorry as well, but more than that, I wanted to hear anything you wanted to say.
[ They aren't close, but sometimes, that works better for people. She doesn't know if that's the case for Guy. ]
[ That almost makes her smile. In normal circumstances, she wouldn't need to be told to stay angry because she always is. Anger is what she feels constantly when she's feeling like herself.
Her tone is even, placid. ]
That isn't what I meant. The majority has voted wrong twice, and we are all— most of us are feeling the ramifications of it now. [ After all, the state that Asch is in is. It's well. Not great. ] But most of all, you will be facing the worst because of our collective mistakes.
I know there is more you must be feeling, but I also understand if it's nothing you want to share with me. I wanted to lend an ear, is all.
[It's literally impossible to miss Guy's little makeshift bachelor pad over in the electronics department, a mismatching camp of items from the outdoor section, the bedroom, more tools than one person should probably need and a small collection of personal care items. It's here that Guy can be found on Sunday evening before the lights dim, decked out in denim and a casual button-down, buried in a notepad full of illegible writing.
He'll turn his attention away only when he hears her approaching.]
Hey, Shinobu.
They're probably going to be switching the lights off in a little while here. Have you taken a look through that bedroom section that they had set up?
[ Shinobu hasn't given into getting a new outfit yet. None of it really fits her aesthetic, but she knows eventually, beggars can't be choosers. ]
Good evening, Guy-san. [ It's nice to have clocks here? That's one singular benefit of being dead. ]
I glanced at it briefly before I caused a commotion upon arrival. [ She's self-aware, at least. ] I'm used to working at night, so I don't think it'll be too hard to adjust to the darkness.
[He'll nod, adding a line to his notes. Sorry about his language.]
That means either Percy or Jason might remember something, if we're lucky. I'd like to confirm it, if we can round up either of them. As much as some people want to strangle information out of Nie Huaisang, I think ties are stressed enough as it stands. We need to be working together.
[Even with the numerous murderers that are possibly walking around and all.]
Is defending your people what you mostly focus on back home, then?
[ His language is unique and pretty to look at even if she can't read one character of it. ]
I think that's a good working theory. [ ... ] I can put aside how much I don't care for someone, if it'll help save everyone, but I'll accept it if it's not reciprocated.
[ Her smile is faint. ]
As a demon slayer, I spend my nights keeping the area I'm in charge of as safe as possible. I can't reach everywhere, but I try.
[Yeah, that first part's fair. Fake it till you make it, except instead of self esteem, it's bottling up all your negative feelings somewhere dark and cold to make pretending easier. A small price for peace.]
Someone has to. That's the responsibility you hold when you're charged with the protection of another, after all.
I think that's admirable of you. To make sure someone else lives to see another day is--
[Familiar.
"--then I have no regrets."]
well i guess it's just 2 because i don't want to use another icon
You're young. A child, happy, surrounded by loved ones. Family and friends. Servants and nobles. The house is extravagant. You're called on by your first name, your full name, Gailardia. It's your birthday. You are five years old today, and you are delighted. There's a Scorer, here to read your good fortune for the upcoming year.
What happens next is a blur. The sounds of shouting, of metal against metal, of what was a happy moment quickly turning to chaos. Shouts turn to screams, people start to run. You're scared.
You're scared.
A teenage girl, your elder sister, takes you up in her arms. She runs further into the house, even as the scent of smoke starts to drift and the sounds of armor and crashing glass echo through the corridors. Where is your father? Your mother? What's happening?
The maids follow behind, a flanking of protection as you bar yourselves into a small study. You are shoved past the grate of a fireplace despite your tears.
Listen, Gailardia. You must survive to carry on House Gardios. Hide. Don't make a sound.
You protest. You're so scared. Your sister has never spoken so seriously, so firmly in this way. She shushes you urgently. The Kimlascan army is here, swarming the house. You can hear the general, his words firm and loud and mocking in your ears.
"Any fonist is a threat! Women, children, anyone! Show no mercy!"
A soldier bashes down the door. You watch as your sister, your servants, all move to keep them from advancing. She refuses to budge. You panic. You leave your hiding spot. She's going to die, isn't she? No, she can't. She can't.
She spots you, yells for you. Runs for you. And the soldier behind her takes a swing with a flash of blood.
You can't move. Her arms wrap around you, landing on top of you with your stomach to the floor. You're pinned. You can't move. You can't move.
If I was able to protect the heir to House Gardios... then I... have no regrets...
You've gone completely silent, the scent of blood growing strong. You hear the maids screaming, the swinging of blades, as the weight upon your body only increases. You're scared, you're scared you're scared you're scared you're scared you can't breath you can't move all you can taste is blood and smoke you're going to die--
The memory stops with a snap, Guy's face going pale as he crawls backwards on reflex.]
[It takes him a moment to pull his composure back together, his face turned downward as he takes in a long breath. It's not a new wound anymore, not since what happened to firmly settle what he wasn't able to remember in regards to the loss of his loved ones. But to recall in vivid detail still brought up all the same ugly, nauseating feelings as always - the cold grip of fear, of guilt and anger, haunted still despite the time that had passed.
...
With a swallow, he'll look back up towards her, brow knitting when he sees how wide her eyes have gotten.]
H-hey, it's not like it was your fault. Don't worry about it.
[This wasn't a great topic to discuss even if it WERE intentionally addressed. As it is... it feels better to just brush it aside for right now. To see that look of borderline pity on anyone's face was always a mixed bag to deal with, even more so with a woman. So he lets out a shaking breath, fixing his posture and carefully fumbling for the notebook that had been discarded in his panic.]
Yeah. I'll be fine. It's an old memory at this point.
Thanks, though.
[And now it's time to brush that whole topic IMMEDIATELY under a rug in an attempt to get it off both their minds. Wow haha what lovely weather we're having here in campsco.]
Anyway. Is there any reason demons are a particular problem? That's a pretty specific creature to have to be dealing with.
[ She will let him brush it off this just this once, as a treat. Or indefinitely, considering what she's going to reveal to him eventually.
That kind of loss is something she understands on a visceral level. She knows what it's like to witness your family brutally murdered in front of you. ]
Yes. The demon progenitor wants to become an immortal being and turns enough people into demons to help him achieve that goal. Demons becomes stronger the more humans they kill and consume, so it just leads to more and more demon attacks.
Mmm. Yeah, I know. Not really the time or place to go discussing it, though. [Hard stop, do not past Go. Really, it's a very similar attitude he took up in the cell right before his death, when she had reached out with compassion and he'd only found various reasons to shrug it away after a certain point. He knows it's likely to annoy her. But better for it right now.
... Still. It's an interesting thing to save for later.
He'll let that settle for just a moment, before continuing as normal, digesting her description.]
So almost like an energy source of sorts...
Other than defending against the creatures that pursue you, have your people found anything else they can do to combat what's happening?
As long as you can talk about it with someone else.
[ It doesn't have to be with her, later or never, but it'd be better if he did talk about it with someone. For all her smiles, Shinobu is honest enough about her emotions if people ask directly.
Usually, anyway. ]
I was working on a concoction that would turn them back into humans. I don't know the results of it.
[ For a change of scenery, Shinobu finds Guy looking through books.
She makes her footsteps heavier than usual, making sure her approach is heard. She wants to make herself as obvious as possible, and if he looks up, her usual and customary smile isn't anywhere to be seen.
Her expression is serious and intent. ]
Guy-san. There's something I want to tell you before I tell the others.
Thank god he hears her coming from a mile away, because that completely firm expression gets his skin to crawl just a little bit. He's thumbing through some sort of travel book, carefully lowering it when she speaks up.]
Well, that gets him to tense up pretty much instantly.
The book is put down as he straightens up, jaw tightened. Her?]
...
[There's the sound of metal against leather, as though he might be drawing his sword. But the touch of a blade doesn't come, Guy detaching the Jewel from his hip to put it to the side.
No. This wasn't the place for even more pointless shedding of blood.]
[ She lifts her head, not because she thinks she deserves to, but because it's more fair that she should face whatever judgment he wants to give her.
Her voice is quiet but clear. She won't let it tremble because that would be a disservice to everyone. She is responsible no matter what.
Which why does he mean? ]
He ran into me right before everyone would fall asleep, and he thought that I was going to take his life and accepted it. I— It wasn't supposed to be him. It wasn't going to be him, but he accepted it.
[ She keeps her hands flat on her sides. She doesn't move, and she doesn't look away. ]
He was disappointed. He had every right to be more than that. He should've been angry like you are now, but— he told me to stay safe, be strong, and I was hoping to see him here, not to ask for his forgiveness but to accept whatever he wanted of me.
[That sounds exactly like what he would expect of Yu, and that alone just makes his fists tighten at his sides.]
That's not what I meant.
You said it wasn't going to be him. Why were you even out, and if it was a misunderstanding, then why in the hell did you choose a kid like him instead of whoever it was you thought deserved to be dead?
Could you not say anything? Or did you just choose to play dumb?
Don't avoid the question. [Another snap, one that he has to firmly exhale and let roll off his shoulders before his temper works up any further. Deep down, a part of him is ashamed for being this visibly enraged. It takes a lot, and to lose his composure is something he never, ever tries to do outside of brief moments. But being stuck in this place, losing Luke, losing Yu, being fed so little information as to be left like he was grasping for straws, all while trying to ignore the very vibrant memory of being killed like it had only been a bad dream...
He can feel his composure grating away into a fine powder, leaving a raw edge that only screams when exposed.
Another breath, his voice careful and slow, a visible effort to keep his tone even. It's upsetting. But he has a goddamn job to do, anger or not.]
You don't just decide to walk outside and take the life of the first person you come across. I don't care what the reason was - letting off steam, or following the threats of the rules, or trying to whittle down a threat only to choose him as a more willing target - anything.
Just give me a reason instead of an apology, Shinobu. What Yu can or can't do, what he promised you might have been able to talk about - that doesn't change that he's not here.
You are. And if you're determined to take responsibility, then don't use him as an excuse.
He offered. You chose to say yes. And I need to know if that was you making a choice that you thought was best for yourself or someone you cared about, or if this was something forcing your hand.
I don't take a life for nothing! I am not using him as an excuse!
[ Her emotions rise, and her voice finally breaks.
She takes a deep breath and falls silent. ]
But you can think that, if you want. Any reason I can give you won't be good enough. Yes, I made a choice. It was what I thought best at the moment, and I hated every moment of it.
[guess who's FINALLY looking for Shinobu, now that he isn't nursing a hangover. He's significantly calmer, though that tail of his is still low, practically wrapped against one of his legs as he pokes around the store in search of her.
Whenever he spots her, his ears perk up immediately.]
[He won't answer right away, instead nodding towards the seasonal section.]
Not here. Sorry.
Would you take a walk with me? The portal's probably going to be disappearing later today. Might as well enjoy another chance at fresh air before things get any heavier around here, right?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 0, sunday
She smiles whenever she sees him. ]
Cecil-san, is it? Did you find your proofs?
no subject
...
That smile gets him to shudder a little, but it's fine. Old habits die hard.]
Yeah, that's me. Just Guy is fine, if you don't mind.
Sounds like someone's been studying up on the profiles, huh?
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[ She notices that shudder. How curious since it's not like she did anything threatening. ]
Yes. There wasn't anything like that on the island, so I thought it was prudent.
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[He seems just fine now! Weird.]
Either way, I'd have to agree. We had something that served a similar purpose where I ended up, but it was a courtyard of statues rather than a bunch of documents. Having it all condensed into one space is way easier on the eyes.
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[ She has to make this distinction between murder island and Japan. ]
You were in a... temple, right? [ She's pretty sure she remembers hearing that. ] Were the statues helpful in your trials?
[ Did people read them when it was most important? ]
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Yeah, that's right. I'd say it was kind of a mixed bag in regards to the statues. They were more of a way to expose the character of a person, just how honest they might be, how much experience they might have... pretty similar to the set up we have here.
I think in the case of our trials, the information was only used in a very strict sense for the sake of determining where evidence might have come from, if not from somewhere else in the temple. Since we had it publicly recorded what we had with us, we couldn't exactly pretend otherwise.
no subject
[ Can't imagine why there'd be so many Japanese people here. A true mystery.
She looks thoughtful as she considers that. ]
If that's how you used them, I hope we won't have to use them like that here, but I know the chances are low despite what our hosts have said. That is also assuming everything on those passes is truthful.
[ Shinobu wants to believe in the best, but she's also realistic and still waiting for the other shoe to drop. ]
no subject
We could always try asking the Directors what their purposes are, but given all their other answers? I could probably guess what they'd say. Sometime along the lines of getting to know one another, of being better teammates and finding common ground.
Something like that.
[Something corny and full of friendship, like a slap in the face compared to what they'd likely all been through already.]
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[ Competitions are breeding grounds for discontent if people aren't on the same page. ]
Trust is earned, and after everything we've all experienced, I wonder how much harder that will be.
week 2, saturday (post-trial)
He's laid out on the bottom bunk. Whether he's asleep or not is hard to tell, but haha, ah, sleeping after what just happened... funny joke...
He'll stir a bit when he hears the door open, but give the other party time to speak before he bothers to look up.]
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Her words are quiet, careful. ]
I know it won't be any consolation, but I didn't think it was you at any point. I don't know if what happened to you in the temple is still hanging over you, and I don't know the story of that, either, but I don't think you deserve this.
no subject
Asch didn't bother explaining it to you, huh.
[A breath of a laugh, bitter.]
Here I thought he might have been all over that.
...
Thanks. I'm sorry there wasn't more I could do to get things turned around in the right direction. Once we got to a certain point with the trial, I figured I was in trouble without someone finding missing evidence.
Guess that never really came, though. All I could do was be honest.
no subject
[ She doesn't sound too bothered by that, and she won't be too bothered by it in a few days either. ]
Being honest is the best anyone can do in that situation, if they can. [ Didn't they see how Evan couldn't even though he wanted to be? ] It's hard to turn the tide once it starts coming in. I was waiting for something that could, too.
[ But yeah, it never came. ]
I don't know how many have come to say sorry, and I am sorry as well, but more than that, I wanted to hear anything you wanted to say.
[ They aren't close, but sometimes, that works better for people. She doesn't know if that's the case for Guy. ]
no subject
I don't know what you expect me to say, Shinobu. I don't really know any more than any of you do.
[Because that's what she meant, clearly.]
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Her tone is even, placid. ]
That isn't what I meant. The majority has voted wrong twice, and we are all— most of us are feeling the ramifications of it now. [ After all, the state that Asch is in is. It's well. Not great. ] But most of all, you will be facing the worst because of our collective mistakes.
I know there is more you must be feeling, but I also understand if it's nothing you want to share with me. I wanted to lend an ear, is all.
[ Because even as she is, she can do this much. ]
WEEK THREE - SUNDAY
He'll turn his attention away only when he hears her approaching.]
Hey, Shinobu.
They're probably going to be switching the lights off in a little while here. Have you taken a look through that bedroom section that they had set up?
no subject
Good evening, Guy-san. [ It's nice to have clocks here? That's one singular benefit of being dead. ]
I glanced at it briefly before I caused a commotion upon arrival. [ She's self-aware, at least. ] I'm used to working at night, so I don't think it'll be too hard to adjust to the darkness.
[ She doesn't plan to sleep just yet. ]
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[Because they're both gremlins who camp out in the shelves like monkeys.
A beat, as he looks over a particular page of notes.]
...Hey. Just so I've got everything sorted... you don't remember what's happened since Thursday, right?
no subject
[ Sometimes, a girl has to adjust her day patterns to do a job.
She nods. She doesn't care about Ogata in the least, and her guess is Tsurumaru only gets tripped over because he wants to be. ]
But yes, I don't remember anything since Thursday.
[ at least, the mods haven't told us different? I'M PRETTY SURE? ]
no subject
That means either Percy or Jason might remember something, if we're lucky. I'd like to confirm it, if we can round up either of them. As much as some people want to strangle information out of Nie Huaisang, I think ties are stressed enough as it stands. We need to be working together.
[Even with the numerous murderers that are possibly walking around and all.]
Is defending your people what you mostly focus on back home, then?
no subject
I think that's a good working theory. [ ... ] I can put aside how much I don't care for someone, if it'll help save everyone, but I'll accept it if it's not reciprocated.
[ Her smile is faint. ]
As a demon slayer, I spend my nights keeping the area I'm in charge of as safe as possible. I can't reach everywhere, but I try.
1/uhhh i'll let you know
Someone has to. That's the responsibility you hold when you're charged with the protection of another, after all.
I think that's admirable of you. To make sure someone else lives to see another day is--
[Familiar.
"--then I have no regrets."]
well i guess it's just 2 because i don't want to use another icon
You're young. A child, happy, surrounded by loved ones. Family and friends. Servants and nobles. The house is extravagant. You're called on by your first name, your full name, Gailardia. It's your birthday. You are five years old today, and you are delighted. There's a Scorer, here to read your good fortune for the upcoming year.
What happens next is a blur. The sounds of shouting, of metal against metal, of what was a happy moment quickly turning to chaos. Shouts turn to screams, people start to run. You're scared.
You're scared.
A teenage girl, your elder sister, takes you up in her arms. She runs further into the house, even as the scent of smoke starts to drift and the sounds of armor and crashing glass echo through the corridors. Where is your father? Your mother? What's happening?
The maids follow behind, a flanking of protection as you bar yourselves into a small study. You are shoved past the grate of a fireplace despite your tears.
Listen, Gailardia. You must survive to carry on House Gardios. Hide. Don't make a sound.
You protest. You're so scared. Your sister has never spoken so seriously, so firmly in this way. She shushes you urgently. The Kimlascan army is here, swarming the house. You can hear the general, his words firm and loud and mocking in your ears.
"Any fonist is a threat! Women, children, anyone! Show no mercy!"
A soldier bashes down the door. You watch as your sister, your servants, all move to keep them from advancing. She refuses to budge. You panic. You leave your hiding spot. She's going to die, isn't she? No, she can't. She can't.
She spots you, yells for you. Runs for you. And the soldier behind her takes a swing with a flash of blood.
You can't move. Her arms wrap around you, landing on top of you with your stomach to the floor. You're pinned. You can't move. You can't move.
If I was able to protect the heir to House Gardios... then I... have no regrets...
You've gone completely silent, the scent of blood growing strong. You hear the maids screaming, the swinging of blades, as the weight upon your body only increases. You're scared, you're scared you're scared you're scared you're scared you can't breath you can't move all you can taste is blood and smoke you're going to die--
The memory stops with a snap, Guy's face going pale as he crawls backwards on reflex.]
no subject
Tears collect in her eyes, and as she sees Guy crawl back, some understanding falls into place. ]
Guy-san.
[ She keeps her voice as soft and as unassuming as possible. ]
It's—
[ It's not all right, and I'm sorry doesn't sound like enough. ]
no subject
[It takes him a moment to pull his composure back together, his face turned downward as he takes in a long breath. It's not a new wound anymore, not since what happened to firmly settle what he wasn't able to remember in regards to the loss of his loved ones. But to recall in vivid detail still brought up all the same ugly, nauseating feelings as always - the cold grip of fear, of guilt and anger, haunted still despite the time that had passed.
...
With a swallow, he'll look back up towards her, brow knitting when he sees how wide her eyes have gotten.]
...Sorry. You shouldn't have had to see that.
Are you alright?
no subject
Yes. I should've been more careful. I'm sorry for intruding on your privacy, especially with something as private as that.
[ That kind of event doesn't deserve to happen to anyone, but it's part of his past and part of who he is, and how much harder must it be for him?
She manages a small smile. ]
Are you alright?
no subject
[This wasn't a great topic to discuss even if it WERE intentionally addressed. As it is... it feels better to just brush it aside for right now. To see that look of borderline pity on anyone's face was always a mixed bag to deal with, even more so with a woman. So he lets out a shaking breath, fixing his posture and carefully fumbling for the notebook that had been discarded in his panic.]
Yeah. I'll be fine. It's an old memory at this point.
Thanks, though.
[And now it's time to brush that whole topic IMMEDIATELY under a rug in an attempt to get it off both their minds. Wow haha what lovely weather we're having here in campsco.]
Anyway. Is there any reason demons are a particular problem? That's a pretty specific creature to have to be dealing with.
no subject
[ She will let him brush it off this just this once, as a treat. Or indefinitely, considering what she's going to reveal to him eventually.
That kind of loss is something she understands on a visceral level. She knows what it's like to witness your family brutally murdered in front of you. ]
Yes. The demon progenitor wants to become an immortal being and turns enough people into demons to help him achieve that goal. Demons becomes stronger the more humans they kill and consume, so it just leads to more and more demon attacks.
no subject
... Still. It's an interesting thing to save for later.
He'll let that settle for just a moment, before continuing as normal, digesting her description.]
So almost like an energy source of sorts...
Other than defending against the creatures that pursue you, have your people found anything else they can do to combat what's happening?
no subject
[ It doesn't have to be with her, later or never, but it'd be better if he did talk about it with someone. For all her smiles, Shinobu is honest enough about her emotions if people ask directly.
Usually, anyway. ]
I was working on a concoction that would turn them back into humans. I don't know the results of it.
week 4, tuesday
She makes her footsteps heavier than usual, making sure her approach is heard. She wants to make herself as obvious as possible, and if he looks up, her usual and customary smile isn't anywhere to be seen.
Her expression is serious and intent. ]
Guy-san. There's something I want to tell you before I tell the others.
no subject
Thank god he hears her coming from a mile away, because that completely firm expression gets his skin to crawl just a little bit. He's thumbing through some sort of travel book, carefully lowering it when she speaks up.]
Sure, I'm all ears.
You look serious. Did something happen?
no subject
[ She sets her sword down on the ground and then bows from the waist. ]
I was the one who killed Yu Narukami.
no subject
Well, that gets him to tense up pretty much instantly.
The book is put down as he straightens up, jaw tightened. Her?]
...
[There's the sound of metal against leather, as though he might be drawing his sword. But the touch of a blade doesn't come, Guy detaching the Jewel from his hip to put it to the side.
No. This wasn't the place for even more pointless shedding of blood.]
...
Why?
no subject
Her voice is quiet but clear. She won't let it tremble because that would be a disservice to everyone. She is responsible no matter what.
Which why does he mean? ]
He ran into me right before everyone would fall asleep, and he thought that I was going to take his life and accepted it. I— It wasn't supposed to be him. It wasn't going to be him, but he accepted it.
I'm sorry.
no subject
[It's spat back in a controlled, vicious tone, cold and angered.]
What the hell is that supposed to mean? What did you tell him?
no subject
[ She keeps her hands flat on her sides. She doesn't move, and she doesn't look away. ]
He was disappointed. He had every right to be more than that. He should've been angry like you are now, but— he told me to stay safe, be strong, and I was hoping to see him here, not to ask for his forgiveness but to accept whatever he wanted of me.
no subject
That's not what I meant.
You said it wasn't going to be him. Why were you even out, and if it was a misunderstanding, then why in the hell did you choose a kid like him instead of whoever it was you thought deserved to be dead?
Could you not say anything? Or did you just choose to play dumb?
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[ She smiles, but it's devoid of all feeling. ]
He said he would help from this side, if he could, and then he fell unconscious.
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He can feel his composure grating away into a fine powder, leaving a raw edge that only screams when exposed.
Another breath, his voice careful and slow, a visible effort to keep his tone even. It's upsetting. But he has a goddamn job to do, anger or not.]
You don't just decide to walk outside and take the life of the first person you come across. I don't care what the reason was - letting off steam, or following the threats of the rules, or trying to whittle down a threat only to choose him as a more willing target - anything.
Just give me a reason instead of an apology, Shinobu. What Yu can or can't do, what he promised you might have been able to talk about - that doesn't change that he's not here.
You are. And if you're determined to take responsibility, then don't use him as an excuse.
He offered. You chose to say yes. And I need to know if that was you making a choice that you thought was best for yourself or someone you cared about, or if this was something forcing your hand.
I need something, Shinobu.
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[ Her emotions rise, and her voice finally breaks.
She takes a deep breath and falls silent. ]
But you can think that, if you want. Any reason I can give you won't be good enough. Yes, I made a choice. It was what I thought best at the moment, and I hated every moment of it.
WEEK SIX - THURSDAY
Whenever he spots her, his ears perk up immediately.]
...Hey, Shinobu. Is now a good time?
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[ She turns and maneuvers so her lone butterfly wing doesn't brush against anything. ]
Now is no worse or better than any other time. What do you wish to talk about?
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Not here. Sorry.
Would you take a walk with me? The portal's probably going to be disappearing later today. Might as well enjoy another chance at fresh air before things get any heavier around here, right?
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[ She'll walk with him towards the portal. Wherever he wants to talk isn't a problem to her. ]
But I suppose you're right. I am worried about what could happen tomorrow.