Who knows. Maybe someone in the theater really dislikes clowns.
[ also it's kind of weird to just be halfway through the door, so she steps out to join him. (she'd invite him inside but it would probably be salt in the wound, etc. also, it's kind of crowded as is.) ]
...I'm not sure I'd call it 'work'—I'm not employed by anyone. [ nobody is the boss of her!!!! ] But I'm something of a traveler. A peacekeeper, you could say. I go wherever there's trouble.
[ me waiting 30 comments for his tragic(?) backstory... i can't believe i have to backtag this pc forever until i die, YUUL! (u can drop wheneva be free)
she sees the moment his expression shifts into something a little more vulnerable, and goes very quiet. ]
...I'm so sorry.
[ and it's a very natural instinct to want to reach out to him, but her hand stops just shy of his arm, fingers curling in on themselves. if it's a deep wound, she probably shouldn't touch it. ]
[ He catches her outstretched hand, gives it a small, appreciative squeeze, then lets go. ]
I guess you could say that after that fiasco, I became something of a commodity. [ There are so many key details missing here, but he does not elaborate. ] It was a long time ago. A lot has changed since then.
[ she'll probably be around the pharmacy (that has ice cream) the next morning when she spots aventurine. the effect hasn't worn off just yet and there will probably be an uncomfortable, annoying ache for him, but it's not nearly as bad as yesterday at least... she is hopped up on pain meds, wao
but anyway they can find a seat somewhere outside to chat ]
...I can't believe we were here just a few days ago.
[ HE WAS A BAB!! she smiles a little and waits to see if he has any questions or commentary, before she starts probing herself... ]
He leans back against his seat, a small, tired smile on his face as he reminisces about something that happened earlier this week. It's always the end of the weeks that seem to bring on the horrors. ]
[ we really went from cute baby hours to hospital fire to flea bath/party games to cyoa to break-in (with multiple deaths sprinkled here and there, just for funsies,) and now it's Official Die Day/Weekend, ]
...Mhm. It was an unexpected change of pace.
[ a pause, before she GOES FOR THE PROBE ] Will you tell me more about your sister?
[ He looks taken aback by that, even if it makes sense with how much he'd spoken about her during his time as a child. There's some hesitation as he regards Aqua, like he's thinking of what to say. ]
I'm happy to listen to whatever you're willing to share. She seemed important to you.
[ remembering doesn't always ease the aches of the heart, but... forgetting is so much worse, she thinks. love may cause grief, but love eases it, too. it warms the space carved out by absence. ]
Yes. But we're allowed to wish for a better set of cards, too.
[ she smiles a little. ]
...We're not related by blood, but the three of us grew up together. We didn't know our parents, either, but we did have Eraqus—the master we trained under.
[ It's okay, he's been given some memshares outside of memshare week so this isn't too shocking, except yes it is, because he has no idea what he's just seen. ]
Miss Aqua...? What just happened?
[ SOMEONE NAMED TERRA WAS POSSESSED? SHE SACRIFICED HERSELF TO THE DARKNESS? ]
[ Maybe it's all the drinks he's had, but he chooses to be honest in this moment. ]
I didn't share in everyone's excitement over the mail room changing. The thought of sending letters to the other side... All I've been able to think about is the cult discovering our existence.
[ WELL... He'll stare at his filled cup for a moment, and then immediately knock it back. ]
I was on my own for a time, up until I was captured and sold into slavery.
[ He puts the cup back down, tapping on the table with a finger as he loses himself to the memories. ]
A man bought me. You see, I had made something of a name for myself back then because of my luck. The day he bought me, he decided to test out my luck.
her own drink remains untouched, as she regards him quietly. there's an obvious, distinct sadness in her expression, if not a little recognition, but again she keeps her thoughts to herself instead of interrupting. ]
'luck'... what a twisted definition of the word. ]
...I'm so sorry for what you were put through.
[ every time she thinks she's seen the worse, she's proven wrong. the idea of two days of slaughter wiping out so many lives—impossibly worse than even two weeks, here.
she'll take that drink now, and wait once more for him to continue. ]
The IPC is made up of many departments. The Marketing Development Department is who he's specifically targeting. They also happen to be... something of a rival to my department.
[ And before his thoughts can outpace him, ]
They played a part in the massacre of my clan as well.
[ she frowns deeply, hands tracing the edges of her emptied cup.
your family... her expression is genuinely sad for a moment, before it resolves itself into something approaching anger. ]
...Is there any way to take down that department?
[ she's not one for politics, nuance or compromise. she just thinks they should be flat-out eradicated, and would hop over to their world to do it personally if she could. ]
[ THE PROMISED HOSPITAL PC!! WE WILL NEVER HAVE A SINGLE LAUGH THIS GAME
she's been around save for when he has other visitors, just sort of worriedly hovering as you do. she'll have brought him a glass of water and a plate of cut fruit like an asian mom. ]
...Hey.
[ she looks composed but is projecting otherwise ]
[ He's starting to stay awake for longer periods of time, though he still gets tired rather quickly and there's an insanely painful migraine eating away at his skull. Half of his face is covered in bandages, and there are more bandages around his neck and right arm, but he at least has more color to his face now.
There's a quick, small smile in thanks for the water and fruit, though he doesn't touch either one for now. ]
[ the spirit of filial piety is strong in this hospital chilis... she hopes the eyes are just cosmetic, aventurine really has enough else to deal with. ]
...Thank you. I am curious, though it seems no matter how much we know, the outcome is the same. [ varying degrees of Bad. ]
[ but even so... ] ...Who else did you see in there?
[ i want you to know i had to go copy paste this list it was so long ]
Well, there was Aerith, Yuffie, Lavi, Laudna, Pickles, two women I didn't recognize, a man I didn't recognize, a coworker of mine, Nehan, and... my sister.
[ He looks especially troubled by that last one. ]
[ she's glad he knew the difference, but she isn't glad for anything else. ]
...That's still so cruel.
[ not a week can go by where she doesn't hold his (uninjured) hand for one reason or another, and she's now taking a moment to do exactly that. just a brief squeeze before she lets go. ]
[ Every time he thinks he's grown numb from the constant experience of losing people, he's reminded that he's still very capable of still feeling the emptiness and grief that follows. ]
Thank you. She was designed to hurt me, as were the others to the rest of our team.
[ It gets a little easier to tell the story each time. Because that's all it is, a story. No part of it had been real except for the physical and mental injuries. The people... none of them were real. ]
We fought in that tournament for two rounds. I was killed in the second, and I'm not sure how the others managed to fare, but it looks like we were all able to return.
[ IT'S EMOSHARE WEEK: everyone gets the same, steady baseline emotions of warm fondness and care, the feeling of being wrapped up in sunlight, or perhaps the brightness of the stars on a clear night.
i'm totally ignoring murder from last week they are in the amusement park. not a single sad or serious thought will occur. ]
[ Yeah, this is overwhelming, but not in a bad way. Aventurine's own emotionshare betrays how excited he feels to be here. He's all about flashing lights and thrills, so he's right at home at this boardwalk. ]
How about some games? I bet I could win a couple of grand prizes.
[ They'd just have to walk around with giant, human-sized plushies after. ]
Sounds good to me. I won't leave you to do all the heavy lifting, either.
[ YEAH THEIR ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE PLUSHIES!! anyway there's ring toss, hoops, shooting, ball-rolling or whatever it's called, whac-a-mole, high striker... etc. etc. ]
We can work our way through. Are you feeling up for a test of strength, reflexes, or skill?
[ YOUR CYOA TRAUMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she just. laughs when she sees that abomination. HOW DID YOU EVEN FIND THIS YUUL. ]
Let's get to work, then.
[ ring toss!!! 18, 15, 6. she gets progressively worse but that's fine. i'm not rolling for every round they will just ring toss to their hearts' content because who will stop them. GHOSTS?
she points out an equally ugly plush next to his pink one. it can be a bear or something... sorry kanda. ]
she's trying not to laugh again but these are truly SO ABSURD. ]
Aww, they can be friends... Are you going to name yours?
[ she's actually joking, but also curious how he'll answer. also thinking about... how these will take up 1/3 of their respective studio spaces... they are now walking around with massive stuff animals.
...they should get funnel cakes since we talked about them. ]
[ joking. weekends are for TRIAL and EXECUTION. but man i want the fabled funnel cake, too... ]
...You know, from your profile it seemed like you might be someone less serious. [ she doesn't mean this as an insult btw this is a neutral observation. ] But I feel like I've only seen you hard at work around here.
[ OTHER THAN THEIR ROUTINE DRINKING THAT SOMEHOW HAPPENS EACH PARTY. expectations subverted... ]
Well... I guess you could say someone had to. Maybe I felt responsible as one of the first people to arrive here, and getting asked the same questions over and over again became dull after a time.
[ Hence, the notebook. But... yeah, he can't deny he's been hard at work with other things. ]
I'll have my fun once we're out of this place.
[ The priority is finding a way back. Also, their funnel cake is done and he's going to accept it after the boardwalk ghosts sprinkle some powdered sugar on top. ]
[ It must be a late start to Aventurine's day, because he's only just now leaving the apartments. He's made his way down the stairs and is about to cross the lobby when he runs into... Aqua!
He stops for a moment, initial surprise quickly turning into a greeting smile instead. ]
[ HELP! YOUR TRUE HEIGHT AVENTURINE!!!!!!!!!!!! that gets her to laugh, too. she passes him hers: her name spelled AWKWA and her age reads F*CK IF I KNOW
[ she doesn't mind it that much! it's just harmless nonsense to her. ]
I was worried we might actually need them to get somewhere new. [ she wouldn't put it past one of these buildings to card them, if another is handing them out. ] And I'd hate to be trapped there all over again to get another one...
WHERE IS AQUA is she at the hospital or her room or floating face down in the spring, well. Wherever she is, Aventurine is also right there beside her and watching her with a strained look on his face. ]
her injuries aren't entirely mended but they're definitely less drastic than before. she has bandages over her left forearm, right upper arm, her chest and her abdomen (though those aren't immediately apparent under her hospital gown).
...her hair is lighter than usual, and when she opens her eyes, they're yellow. she blinks a few times and looks around, but her gaze doesn't land on aventurine.
she probably doesn't realize just yet he's in the room with her. ]
[ i think we should blow up the hospital that means no one gets injured
As soon as she stirs, Aventurine reaches for her, lightly placing the tips of his fingers against her arm where there are no bandages. He doesn't apply any pressure to the touch, just a moment of contact as he calls out to her. ]
Aqua...?
[ He looks into those unfamiliar yellow eyes, the tone of his voice obviously concerned. ]
Thank you. I didn't think we'd end up trading places... But I'm grateful you're here.
[ THE TIMING IS. SO FUKKEN FUNNY. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE HAS TOLD HER 4 PEOPLE DIED. ]
I don't mind talking, if you're curious what happened. [ it's much better for her to fill the empty space with company than with silence. ] Though I'd like to know what's been on your mind, too.
It's fine—I know it wasn't real. ...It was a part of someone else's memory, I believe, though I don't think it was an exact recreation.
[ but okay none of this will make sense because aventurine wouldn't have gotten any memshares from the jjks, but: she'll begin to recount to him that they (aqua, gale, hawke) were students of Tokyo Jujutsu High, sent on a mission to escort a young girl who would become the new vessel for Tengen, an immortal sorcerer that maintains the barriers protecting the Jujutsu High locations...
...that mission obviously goes south. the girl ends up losing her life, and turning into a cursed spirit. ]
Aventurine's quiet as he listens, a small frown as some of the details become lost on him, but in the end, it's the same traumatizing conclusion as most others. ]
I don't think you ever told me exactly what happened to you before you arrived here. Something about wading through a river...?
[ that was 923847329874894 years ago i had a hernia pulling up that thread to check. anyway i must shake out the lore from you before the game ends, we can do a stupid thread tomorrow for pardi, hypothetically, ]
[ Then they are chilling at the hot springs!! Dipping their feetsies into the warm water and occasionally getting jumpscared by a ghostly hand grabbing onto an ankle. ]
Apprehensive, I suppose.
[ But aren't they all? There's a stretch of silence as Aventurine debates what to say and how much to say. Though now that they're in the final stretch, he doesn't see much of a point in keeping secrets or being vague. His emotionshare remains steady. ]
anyway have some immediate feelings that are just Don't Like That At All. it's affection week so i have an excuse for her to put an arm around him!!!! ]
...Then we'll have to figure out a way to help you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w0, monday.
He's got his back to anyone approaching, but even that back tells a story... of envy. ]
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—Oh. Aventurine.
[ she tries not to smile at his expense, but doesn't entirely succeed. ]
...Dare I guess where you're staying?
[ does he want to make a game of this too? (i'll spare you yuul.) ]
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Hello, Miss Aqua. I don't think you'll have to guess very hard.
[ Anguish... He's going to smell like barn until who knows when. ]
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...
[ yeah. yeah he does smell like barn. ]
...Maybe you can ask someone for a trade?
[ NOT HER. ]
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Doubt anyone will want to take that trade, and I can't exactly sweeten the deal when I have nothing to offer.
[ He is so POOR here. ]
It's fine. I'm just complaining.
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Who knows. Maybe someone in the theater really dislikes clowns.
[ also it's kind of weird to just be halfway through the door, so she steps out to join him. (she'd invite him inside but it would probably be salt in the wound, etc. also, it's kind of crowded as is.) ]
Does the company make up for it, at least?
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He still manages a smile, though. ]
Have you met the man called Boothill yet?
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I do. What about him?
[ booturine is going to be the next charthur but with a way worse name ]
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You don't think he's difficult to get along with?
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...He does have a pretty strong personality.
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[ Because Aventurine is sooooooo easy to get along with. ]
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[ takes out the get-along-glock. ]
And if not, maybe you'll have to find some. [ MAKE SOME. ] I just mean, it doesn't seem like we'll be leaving this place anytime soon.
[ they'd be doing themselves a favor, along with the rest of their roomies... yeah... this is 100% unsolicited advice. ]
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Does that mean you've been getting along with everyone here?
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...I'm surprised. I wouldn't have thought you'd have this sort of trouble.
[ she actually does get the impression that aventurine is sooooooo easy to get along with. because. they have been getting along just fine. ]
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[ OKAY BUDDY. ]
I've never personally dealt with him, but he's got some sort of a grudge against me because of where I work.
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You won't try to change his mind? Where do you work...?
[ nosy. ]
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It's called the IPC. The Interastral Peace Corporation.
[ Sounds nice right... ]
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[ unfortunately that sounds really nice yeah ]
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Who knows? He's chaotic enough that it may be as simple as not aligning with his lifestyle.
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[ smiles ]
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Smiles back? ]
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...What brought you to join the IPC?
[ she's like wow... this guy is a philanthropist? ]
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[ A PHILANTHROPIST... ]
What do you do for work, Miss Aqua?
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[ haha... jk... ]
...I'm not sure I'd call it 'work'—I'm not employed by anyone. [ nobody is the boss of her!!!! ] But I'm something of a traveler. A peacekeeper, you could say. I go wherever there's trouble.
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[ He'll answer that much! ]
And is that so? Our paths might have crossed had we shared the same cosmos.
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[ would she have tho ]
Perhaps they'll cross again in the future, once we get out of here.
[ the ink on her sleeves doesn't seem to agree: There's no way back. ]
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Sorry, I didn't mean to look.
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It's fine. Just about everyone's seen it by now.
[ it's w0 monday but in our souls it is friday ]
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No secrets among new friends. This village has made sure of that.
exhales deeply
[ she's kidding, but she's not seeing any ink on him. ]
Or if you do, I hope you can continue to keep them close to your chest.
[ not everyone needs to have their ugliest feelings divulged. ]
c:
Well, Aventurine will pull up his sleeve to show his forearm. It has the number "34" written in ink there. ]
A trade. To be honest, I haven't been bothering to keep mine too hidden, so they stay under my clothes every now and again.
>:(
she blinks curiously at the number. ]
What does it mean?
[ just asks him. nbd! ]
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The smile fades from his face as something melancholic takes its place. ]
It's the number of people who were placed inside of an arena with me.
[ He stares down at the number for a while. ]
... I was the only one to come out of that arena alive.
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she sees the moment his expression shifts into something a little more vulnerable, and goes very quiet. ]
...I'm so sorry.
[ and it's a very natural instinct to want to reach out to him, but her hand stops just shy of his arm, fingers curling in on themselves. if it's a deep wound, she probably shouldn't touch it. ]
...Were you alone for a very long time?
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Yes... and no?
[ He catches her outstretched hand, gives it a small, appreciative squeeze, then lets go. ]
I guess you could say that after that fiasco, I became something of a commodity. [ There are so many key details missing here, but he does not elaborate. ] It was a long time ago. A lot has changed since then.
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she blinks, a little surprised by that, but it quickly fades into a quiet smile.
she's not going to pry much further if he isn't comfortable sharing. and it's unfortunate how some things still linger, despite all that's changed.
they're not tattoos for nothing. ]
I see. ...I hope it's been for the better, present circumstances aside.
[ hahahahahahahahaha tacks on that disclaimer to every early convo like an :amen: ]
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Also, please. He hasn't washed in hands with soap in days. ]
While this has all been a surprise, I have to admit, the company has been quite enjoyable.
[ Everyone here (eh almost everyone here) has been so nice the fuck. ]
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...Except for Boothill.
[ joking. (unless?) ]
Good luck out there. You're always welcome to stop by.
[ daan has already been letting him into the cabin actually. ]
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Thank you. I'll have more of a reason to visit now.
[ Smiles at her! Damn, he even curfews in the cabin w0 and she's not even there... OKAY GOOD BYE NOW OMO I LOVE YOU MWAH ]
W3 FRIDAY
but anyway they can find a seat somewhere outside to chat ]
...I can't believe we were here just a few days ago.
[ HE WAS A BAB!! she smiles a little and waits to see if he has any questions or commentary, before she starts probing herself... ]
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He leans back against his seat, a small, tired smile on his face as he reminisces about something that happened earlier this week. It's always the end of the weeks that seem to bring on the horrors. ]
A good memory... So much has happened since then.
[ Go for the probe, Aqua. ]
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...Mhm. It was an unexpected change of pace.
[ a pause, before she GOES FOR THE PROBE ] Will you tell me more about your sister?
[ they seemed inseparable... ]
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... My sister?
[ He looks taken aback by that, even if it makes sense with how much he'd spoken about her during his time as a child. There's some hesitation as he regards Aqua, like he's thinking of what to say. ]
What would you like to know about her?
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You just seemed very close with her. Is she someone waiting for you back home...?
[ blindly steps on land mines, but also she just saw lucas go absolutely insane over nadia, who is still alive as far as she knows, so, ]
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No. She passed away.
[ He stares down at his hands, a complicated look on his face. ]
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...I'm sorry to hear that.
[ ...she watches him closely, trying to read the expression on his face. ]
Would you rather discuss something else?
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I guess that would depend on if there's anything more you would like to know about her.
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[ remembering doesn't always ease the aches of the heart, but... forgetting is so much worse, she thinks. love may cause grief, but love eases it, too. it warms the space carved out by absence. ]
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[ A small smile. There's some awkwardness in his voice, like he's not used to talking about her. ]
I wasn't an easy child to look after, but she managed.
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...She must have loved you very much, too. You may not have been an easy child, perhaps, but you seemed like a happy one.
I'm sorry you were both put through that much hardship from an early age.
[ she remembers him telling her how they mostly ate flowers. ]
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[ And while time has not buried the grief or the pain, he's at least made up his mind about certain things. How he'll move forward from now on. ]
You mentioned your own brothers.
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[ she smiles a little. ]
...We're not related by blood, but the three of us grew up together. We didn't know our parents, either, but we did have Eraqus—the master we trained under.
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And did they cause you much trouble? Or were you the troublemaker out of the three?
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You could say I had to pick up after them more often than not.
[ she is obviously dd ]
...It's a long story, but we've been separated for quite some time now.
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Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Were you separated by choice, or...?
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Not by choice.
[ well well well if it isn't the convenient memshare effect: (2:42:23 - 2:46:25)!
...she's quiet for a moment, then sighs and gives him an apologetic smile. ]
...Sorry. I thought those were supposed to be over with.
[ me in tears in the bg there is so much going on in kh all of the time ]
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Miss Aqua...? What just happened?
[ SOMEONE NAMED TERRA WAS POSSESSED? SHE SACRIFICED HERSELF TO THE DARKNESS? ]
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...That was one of the childhood friends I was talking about.
[ bro #1. the other is, uh. well some things happened with him, too. ]
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What happened to you?
[ WHERE DID AQUA GO ]
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[ uhhh kh hell don't worry about it ]
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[ Things that feel IC of Aqua to do. ]
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[ abnormal sibling circumstances but the sentiment remains. it already sounds like aventurine has experienced his fair share of misfortune, too. ]
We play the hand we're dealt, right?
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[ For both of them. ]
And your other brother?
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...He was badly injured during the last battle we fought. He's been asleep for a very long time, now.
I was supposed to be back to wake him, but...
[ well he just saw how that turned out. ]
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[ It's a bit of a foreign thought to him, to have someone waiting outside of this place. ]
We'll find a way out. You must know this too.
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It's all right. I want to help get everyone out of this mess, first.
[ obviously she won't be doing it by herself, but her focus is on her friends here. ]
...What're you planning to do, when you return?
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To be honest, Miss Aqua, I didn't think I had anything to return to. I was cut down by a sword before arriving in the village.
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...Then perhaps a new start elsewhere, if that's possible. The Astral Express can take you to another planet, yes?
[ she's heard bits and pieces of hsr lore here and there. ]
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You know about them, do you?
[ A small laugh. ]
Well, no. I'm part of a different faction in that cosmos, you see. It wouldn't be so simple to abandon my position.
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[ ...hmm. ]
...Where would you want to go then, if you had a say in the matter? You may have been cut down, but... that isn't the end for you, either.
[ since he wouldn't be here otherwise. ]
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... I don't know. I guess I've never really thought about it.
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...Then I hope you will. Wherever you go next, I hope it'll be a place you're happy to call home, and that you won't be alone.
[ THIS ENTIRE CONVO IS SO DEPRESSING ]
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Thank you, Miss Aqua.
[ It's a difficult thing to imagine. He's been alone for so long, with no place to call home. ]
I share the same hope that you'll be reunited with your brothers.
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...Thank you.
[ WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING SO STUPID FOR THE NEW WEEK, OR ELSE ]
W4 TUESDAY
[ WHY ARE ALL OF OUR THREADS SO SERIOUS!!!!!!! GOD!!!!! anyway, she can see his expression fall a bit. ]
...What's on your mind?
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[ He's smiling but the reaction is
... I was just thinking... that it's a little different for me here.
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[ you seem to always hide a lot behind your smiles. ]
How so...?
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[ He takes another drink of his sake. ]
I've been here the longest. And these days, I'm wondering if I've become complacent.
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...It's not easy being trapped in one place for very long. It wears on the heart.
What do you think you should be doing differently?
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[ Maybe it's all the drinks he's had, but he chooses to be honest in this moment. ]
I didn't share in everyone's excitement over the mail room changing. The thought of sending letters to the other side... All I've been able to think about is the cult discovering our existence.
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[ with the notebooks, with first aid, making sure nehan is in one piece, etc. ]
...I don't think it's wrong to be cautious, when we're still in no uncertain danger. If anything it's probably a good thing that someone remembers.
[ but... it seems to be more than that, maybe. she's also had plenty to drink, so she's being more direct than usual. ]
...Are you afraid to hope for something better...?
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... It's funny, you know. We're trapped in this town and forced to live out our nightmares, but I've never been this free before.
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...Tell me, what happened to you? After your sister. And that tattoo you had...
[ 34. she knows fragments of details from his past, and the overall whole does not seem to tell a happy story. ]
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It's a difficult story to hear.
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[ she tops off his cup of sake, in case it helps. ]
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I was on my own for a time, up until I was captured and sold into slavery.
[ He puts the cup back down, tapping on the table with a finger as he loses himself to the memories. ]
A man bought me. You see, I had made something of a name for myself back then because of my luck. The day he bought me, he decided to test out my luck.
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her own drink remains untouched, as she regards him quietly. there's an obvious, distinct sadness in her expression, if not a little recognition, but again she keeps her thoughts to herself instead of interrupting. ]
What did he do?
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[ He sounds detached as he describes it. He's not here. ]
I was the only one to come out alive, proving my luck to him.
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'luck'... what a twisted definition of the word. ]
...I'm so sorry for what you were put through.
[ every time she thinks she's seen the worse, she's proven wrong. the idea of two days of slaughter wiping out so many lives—impossibly worse than even two weeks, here.
she'll take that drink now, and wait once more for him to continue. ]
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He put me to work after that. I generated a small fortune for him.
[ He twirls his cup for a moment, thoughtful, before stopping its motion. ]
It didn't take me very long to kill him, [ he says this quietly, casually. ] After that, I joined the IPC. I told you about them, right?
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...You did, briefly.
[ he'd mentioned the word "preservation" ]
...So did Boothill, though. I know that's why you were at odds with each other at first.
[ but there are no stray thoughts or questions here. if he has an explanation, she'll hear that out, too. ]
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Mm, yes. I didn't understand his animosity toward me for a time. But we spoke.
[
What has he told you?
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And that the IPC was responsible for razing down his planet.
[ he lost everything.
...but so did aventurine. it's her guess that's where they found common ground. ]
...I didn't quite make the connection back to you until it was too late.
[ boothill had already killed him. (read: i waited too long to pc you about it and then you MCDIED) ]
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[ WHOOPS ]
The IPC is made up of many departments. The Marketing Development Department is who he's specifically targeting. They also happen to be... something of a rival to my department.
[ And before his thoughts can outpace him, ]
They played a part in the massacre of my clan as well.
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your family... her expression is genuinely sad for a moment, before it resolves itself into something approaching anger. ]
...Is there any way to take down that department?
[ she's not one for politics, nuance or compromise. she just thinks they should be flat-out eradicated, and would hop over to their world to do it personally if she could.
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Please don't worry about it, Aqua. Boothill and I... We'll take care of things.
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I trust that you will. But best of luck, anyway.
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[ WHERES MY HOSPITAL THREAD OMO ]
W4 FRIDAY!!!!!!
she's been around save for when he has other visitors, just sort of worriedly hovering as you do. she'll have brought him a glass of water and a plate of cut fruit like an asian mom. ]
...Hey.
[ she looks composed but is projecting otherwise
How're you feeling...? [ injury report pls ]
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There's a quick, small smile in thanks for the water and fruit, though he doesn't touch either one for now. ]
Better... I'm sorry to have worried everyone.
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she shakes her head. ]
You don't need to apologize for anything.
[ just glad you're still here. she'd ask what happened but... it seems more important to let him get rest. ]
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... At the end of it all, Kanda and Mr. Daan took two items back with them. A heart and a spine. I think they're important.
[ He has to think this because all their suffering couldn't have been for nothing. ]
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[ are they related to the tomes we've retrieved? she doesn't want to think their suffering has been for nothing, either. ]
...We haven't found anything on our side this week, but hopefully we'll have better luck the next.
...Kanda and Daan... Were you and Cloud able to communicate with them at all...?
[ i'm worried about them, too. ]
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[ Oh, don't mind the random eye suddenly appearing on Aventurine's hand. It blinks open, then shuts itself back closed. ]
We spoke to them, but mostly about the tournament. While we were there, it's like we couldn't think about anything else.
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[ but nevermind that. ]
—Your hand.
[ ???? definitely some obvious alarm here THAT'S NOT RIGHT. WTF IS GOING ON YUUL. ]
A curse...?
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Ah. [ Zero alarm. ] They started appearing on my body. I think they have to do with the healing pool.
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...I see. I was hoping there wouldn't be any troublesome effects this time...
...Does it hurt at all?
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[ He is going to start picking at the fruit Asian mom Aqua brought him. ]
... It's okay to ask me more about what happened, if you'd like to know. If you... want to be prepared, should it happen to you.
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...Thank you. I am curious, though it seems no matter how much we know, the outcome is the same. [ varying degrees of Bad. ]
[ but even so... ] ...Who else did you see in there?
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Well, there was Aerith, Yuffie, Lavi, Laudna, Pickles, two women I didn't recognize, a man I didn't recognize, a coworker of mine, Nehan, and... my sister.
[ He looks especially troubled by that last one. ]
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Your sister. [ she looks stricken to hear it. SHE JUST GOT HIS BACKSTORY 3 DAYS AGO. ] So they made you...
[ ...he'd called it a tournament. and given the grievous injuries his group had emerged with... ]
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It wasn't her. They tried to make me believe it was her, but I knew it wasn't.
[ It didn't make it any easier when I had to kill her. ]
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...That's still so cruel.
[ not a week can go by where she doesn't hold his (uninjured) hand for one reason or another, and she's now taking a moment to do exactly that. just a brief squeeze before she lets go. ]
I'm sorry. I know she meant the world to you.
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Thank you. She was designed to hurt me, as were the others to the rest of our team.
[ It gets a little easier to tell the story each time. Because that's all it is, a story. No part of it had been real except for the physical and mental injuries. The people... none of them were real. ]
We fought in that tournament for two rounds. I was killed in the second, and I'm not sure how the others managed to fare, but it looks like we were all able to return.
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...Nehan as well. He's important to you, isn't he.
[ also sorry still laughing that this cyoa is presumably gonna tpk after daan's execution. just so funny. ]
I wish you could've been spared the pain. But I'm thankful to have you back. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
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... Yes. He and I have been here the longest, so we've gotten to know each other in that time.
[ MY COMPLETELY DEAD CYOA ]
Thank you, Aqua. As kind as ever, and I'm glad to be back.
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also drops the f-bomb before we end this thread. ]
No need to thank me. You're my friend.
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... Hm. I suppose I am.
[ He'll have to get used to that. ]
W5 MONDAY
i'm totally ignoring murder from last week they are in the amusement park. not a single sad or serious thought will occur. ]
...Where do we even start?
[ they're just bombarded by rides and games. ]
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How about some games? I bet I could win a couple of grand prizes.
[ They'd just have to walk around with giant, human-sized plushies after. ]
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Sounds good to me. I won't leave you to do all the heavy lifting, either.
[ YEAH THEIR ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE PLUSHIES!! anyway there's ring toss, hoops, shooting, ball-rolling or whatever it's called, whac-a-mole, high striker... etc. etc. ]
We can work our way through. Are you feeling up for a test of strength, reflexes, or skill?
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Ring toss? That big prize has my name all over it.
[ Points to THIS HORRID THING... ]
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Let's get to work, then.
[ ring toss!!! 18, 15, 6. she gets progressively worse but that's fine. i'm not rolling for every round they will just ring toss to their hearts' content because who will stop them. GHOSTS?
she points out an equally ugly plush next to his pink one. it can be a bear or something... sorry kanda. ]
That one's mine.
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He takes his prize into his hands and stares at it, then looks over at Aqua. ]
Whoa, it's even uglier up close.
[ NOW THEY HAVE MATCHING UGLIES ]
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she's trying not to laugh again but these are truly SO ABSURD. ]
Aww, they can be friends... Are you going to name yours?
[ she's actually joking, but also curious how he'll answer. also thinking about... how these will take up 1/3 of their respective studio spaces... they are now walking around with massive stuff animals.
...they should get funnel cakes since we talked about them. ]
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I think I'll call him Brutus. Something strong and fierce.
[ And just as unpleasant to hear as it is to look at. They can start wandering over to the food now... All while lugging their ginormous prizes. ]
What are you going to name yours?
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I'll name mine Regulus. He'll be a magnanimous king, loved by his subjects despite his... unique appearance.
[ she's carrying the ugly bear in both her arms, at a diagonal so she can see behind it. its arms and legs flop with each step. ]
...It's nice we can just play around here for a bit.
[ they've had lowkey excursions and parties but an amusement park is different...!! they can now watch as dough gets drizzled into frying oil... ]
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Regulus and Brutus. We'll have to schedule playdates.
[ He will also watch this funnel cake get made damb i want funnel cake so bad right now. ]
Yes, something to take the mind off of more serious matters. We've been working hard.
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This weekend, after brunch.
[ joking. weekends are for TRIAL and EXECUTION. but man i want the fabled funnel cake, too... ]
...You know, from your profile it seemed like you might be someone less serious. [ she doesn't mean this as an insult btw this is a neutral observation. ] But I feel like I've only seen you hard at work around here.
[ OTHER THAN THEIR ROUTINE DRINKING THAT SOMEHOW HAPPENS EACH PARTY. expectations subverted... ]
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[ Hence, the notebook. But... yeah, he can't deny he's been hard at work with other things. ]
I'll have my fun once we're out of this place.
[ The priority is finding a way back. Also, their funnel cake is done and he's going to accept it after the boardwalk ghosts sprinkle some powdered sugar on top. ]
w6, tuesday.
He stops for a moment, initial surprise quickly turning into a greeting smile instead. ]
Hello, Aqua.
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Hi, Aventurine. I'm so sorry about yesterday...
[ it's AWKWARD and she FEELS BAD! ]
I hope you know I didn't mean any of it.
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Don't fret over it, really. I know how awful those curses can be.
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[ IS THERE TROUBLE IN PARADISE? ]
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[ His gaze drifts off to the side like when are things ever okay for him. ]
Just a bit of a disagreement.
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And you haven't made up yet...?
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... It's a bit more complicated than that, I'm afraid.
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...Is there anything in your life that's simple...?
[ NOT A ROAST! AN HONEST, CARING QUESTION! ]
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Wouldn't that be a nice break for once?
[ Scoffs... sadly... He hates it out here. ]
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...Okay, what do we have to do to get you to stop moping?
You can't say tequila shots.
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[ He is only kidding... mostly. ]
I'll be fine. What were you up to just before I found you?
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she looks so beleaguered answering this question. ]
...Getting a driver's license with Lucas. I don't recommend it.
[ do NOT step into the jolli-v. ]
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[ SO IT'S TOO LATE FOR HIM ]
Starting to think we should stop wandering into anything with bee themes.
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[ a beat. ]
I'll show you mine if you show me yours?
[ HOW BAD IS THAT LICENSE! (bad, leave me alone.) ]
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[ But he'll laugh and dig his out of his pocket to hand it to her. The photo looks okay, but his height absolutely says he's 5'4"...
And that he's blonde? Um, he's more of a sandy blonde thanks. ]
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[ HELP! YOUR TRUE HEIGHT AVENTURINE!!!!!!!!!!!! that gets her to laugh, too. she passes him hers: her name spelled AWKWA and her age reads F*CK IF I KNOW
her eyes are closed in her photo. ]
...I'm glad we weren't the only ones.
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... I'm mostly surprised you still kept this.
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I was worried we might actually need them to get somewhere new. [ she wouldn't put it past one of these buildings to card them, if another is handing them out. ] And I'd hate to be trapped there all over again to get another one...
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I suppose that's fair thinking. I plan on burning mine.
w6, thursday.
WHERE IS AQUA is she at the hospital or her room or floating face down in the spring, well. Wherever she is, Aventurine is also right there beside her and watching her with a strained look on his face. ]
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her injuries aren't entirely mended but they're definitely less drastic than before. she has bandages over her left forearm, right upper arm, her chest and her abdomen (though those aren't immediately apparent under her hospital gown).
...her hair is lighter than usual, and when she opens her eyes, they're yellow. she blinks a few times and looks around, but her gaze doesn't land on aventurine.
she probably doesn't realize just yet he's in the room with her. ]
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As soon as she stirs, Aventurine reaches for her, lightly placing the tips of his fingers against her arm where there are no bandages. He doesn't apply any pressure to the touch, just a moment of contact as he calls out to her. ]
Aqua...?
[ He looks into those unfamiliar yellow eyes, the tone of his voice obviously concerned. ]
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...Aventurine...?
[ she's pretty sure that is his voice. (it would be so embarrassing if she were wrong... imagine.)
her expression creases. there's a faint note of unease. ]
Do you know how long I was asleep for...? I can't tell if it's dark or light outside...
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... Not for very long. There's still light outside.
[ He's going to pull his hand back for the moment. ]
Do you know where you are?
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That's a relief. It's hard to know how much time's passed like this.
[ ...now she'll reach blindly for his hand. sorry, you just took her by surprise is all. :( ]
...The hospital, right? Karlach and Aerith brought me here, after the spring.
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That's right...
[ Trails off as he studies her for a moment. ]
Your eyesight?
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she holds it!!! her hair color turns a little more normal... bluer now. ]
...It's been gone since I went to the spring.
[ thinking about how she's just stuck like this while some WILD THINGS are happening in the gy ]
It should be fine.
[ but it stresses her out for reasons... ]
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Yeah, they're always temporary. [ He'll give her hand a light squeeze. ] I'll be here if you need anything.
[ Honestly, Aqua, you're so lucky you're stuck here and not watching Lucas massacre a bunch of people. ]
... Or if you just want to talk.
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[ THE TIMING IS. SO FUKKEN FUNNY. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE HAS TOLD HER 4 PEOPLE DIED. ]
I don't mind talking, if you're curious what happened. [ it's much better for her to fill the empty space with company than with silence. ] Though I'd like to know what's been on your mind, too.
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Only if you're comfortable sharing, Aqua.
[ While he'd been able to talk about his own experiences, there had been quite a lot that he'd purposefully left out. ]
And of course, but I'm not sure if I'll have anything interesting to share.
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It's fine—I know it wasn't real. ...It was a part of someone else's memory, I believe, though I don't think it was an exact recreation.
[ but okay none of this will make sense because aventurine wouldn't have gotten any memshares from the jjks, but: she'll begin to recount to him that they (aqua, gale, hawke) were students of Tokyo Jujutsu High, sent on a mission to escort a young girl who would become the new vessel for Tengen, an immortal sorcerer that maintains the barriers protecting the Jujutsu High locations...
...that mission obviously goes south. the girl ends up losing her life, and turning into a cursed spirit. ]
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Aventurine's quiet as he listens, a small frown as some of the details become lost on him, but in the end, it's the same traumatizing conclusion as most others. ]
... I'm sorry you couldn't save her.
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[ not that she was aware of reality while in the cyoa...
but anyway, after a pause, ]
I believe Gale and Hawke were able to retrieve some items, at least. A jar with some sort of worm, and a large swatch of what looked to be snake skin.
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He nods his head. The consistency in finding these items is good. Now all they have to wait for are the results. ]
Good work, all of you, though it pains me that you're in this state.
[ Another squeeze to her hand. ]
Hopefully you won't be in here for very long.
W7 TUESDAY
...How are you feeling about all this?
[ going back home especially... ]
I don't think you ever told me exactly what happened to you before you arrived here. Something about wading through a river...?
[ that was 923847329874894 years ago i had a hernia pulling up that thread to check. anyway i must shake out the lore from you before the game ends, we can do a stupid thread tomorrow for pardi, hypothetically, ]
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Apprehensive, I suppose.
[ But aren't they all? There's a stretch of silence as Aventurine debates what to say and how much to say. Though now that they're in the final stretch, he doesn't see much of a point in keeping secrets or being vague. His emotionshare remains steady. ]
And yes, good memory. In simple terms, I died.
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anyway have some immediate feelings that are just Don't Like That At All. it's affection week so i have an excuse for her to put an arm around him!!!! ]
...Then we'll have to figure out a way to help you.
How did it happen...?
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Cut down by an Emanator's blade. And those are quite powerful, I'll have you know.
[ He'd even came to the village on that very first week with lingering effects. ]
It was meant to happen. I had planned for it.