WEEK 3

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 3

[It has begun. With the death of the Spinner and the execution of the Indulgent, they remaining Titled will be plagued once more by vivid dreams. And just as last week, they are awoken by the sounds of doors creaking open.

Just like last week. But no one had died last week. Right? No one had been subjected to that...thing.

And yet the strange, cold feeling of foreboding remains. And it is certainly most worrisome to those living in rooms 3, 4, 6, and 15. Those who pass by room 7 and 8 will feel that same, worrisome feeling of foreboding as well.

What will they wake up to find? Who knows, now. If dragons are real, anything is possible.

There are thirteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[socialhacktivist]

[It makes her happy to see him a little more expressive. It makes it feel like maybe he's opening up to them a little. Still. He deserved that one... even if her punch is pretty weak and probably didn't even phase him.

She's mad, but then... she's mad at herself too for assuming the worst. More than anything she's glad it's just...


...wait what even was it?]

What the heck were you doing anyway?

[It says something that she doesn't think he did anything terrible at least.]

[carries_war]

I...remembered something bad.

[His hands grip the back of her borrowed jacket and the tentative hug gets a bit tighter.]

I was really pissed, and since I'm a weapon, I can be dangerous when I'm angry. So I got an animal carcass in the kitchen and attacked it, so I wouldn't hurt anyone here.

[socialhacktivist]

[After seeing her first memory, she understands how it could feel. Even now she felt a little blindsided by the stuff she doesn't know. But she doesn't have the heart to think about stuff like that too hard right now. It wouldn't help anyway. But the fact that someone else is going through that too right now...

Futaba's arms tighten around him.]

I'm sorry...

[But she doesn't know what she can do to help him, if there even is anything. Instead she tries putting on a quirky smile and laughs softly.]

...well at least we won't have to worry about cutting meat for a while.

[carries_war]

If you like stew or hamburgers, anyway.

[There's a weak smile in his voice, albeit a forced one.]

[socialhacktivist]

[Futaba lets go, but she stays close, sitting on her knees in front of him.]

Beggars can't be choosers anyway.

[...]

Do you feel a little better?

[carries_war]

[This close, it's evident that his eyes are red and puffy.]

Yeah, I'm... [His voice wavers and trails off as he remembers his talk with Maglor after the Inquisition. It's okay to let other people help him, too...] I'm not really okay, but...I think I'm a bit better.

[socialhacktivist]

[Him too, huh... Well she's the last person who can judge. Her eyes are still red, even though they've been painfully dry for a while now.

...now might be a good time to say what she wanted to say too.]

I'm sorry... about before. It's not like I didn't want to go to your meeting I just... just didn't want to make anyone worry more. But that was pretty selfish of me. I didn't know what to do so I just... didn't.

[As much sense as that makes. She just... wanted him to know it wasn't his fault.]

[carries_war]

I was more worried 'cause you didn't show up...you were the one I definitely didn't think should've been alone. But, uh...

[He squirms around awkwardly, not meeting her eyes.]

You aren't mad at me? I mean, I was the first one to accuse Yusuke...

[socialhacktivist]

Sorry that's... not what I meant to do.

[But she hadn't really thought it through that well honestly. Still-- she quickly shakes her head.]

I'm not mad at you. [...Futaba hangs her head.] Even though I know it was the right thing to do, I never could have had the courage to do it. The group we're a part of... we punish people who hurt society with their corrupt desires. So it's not like I don't know what it's like to have to punish someone... but nothing like this. This wasn't just or fair or... anything...

[carries_war]

I...didn't want to do it. Even when I saw how the shirt lined up with that bandage, I didn't want him to be the one who'd have to die. But I've always been the leader, and a leader has to do things even if they don't want to. So, it's better for me to do it than to make someone who isn't used to that kind of thing try...

[socialhacktivist]

I know you didn't.

[She could see many people who didn't really want to believe it. It wasn't just her.]

If our weird group really had a leader, I'd say it's probably you. Maybe it's just experience, but there's really something about you that makes people believe in you. [...] At least... that's how I feel.

[carries_war]

R-really? I thought...people might not be able to believe in me after I couldn't even try to save him.

[socialhacktivist]

There's... something I remembered that I never told Yusuke. I didn't want to worry him more. It seemed like he remembered a lot less than me so...

But... the group we're a part of... we take on corrupt individuals who's views have become distorted and hurt others. We've done it successfully a number of times-- made them confess without hurting them. However-- the memory I had was of one of our targets having a mental breakdown. It shouldn't have happened! I don't know why... but there's a possibility we messed up.

[Without the proper memories, she'll never know what happened either. If she wants to know, she'll have to keep surviving. But what she meant to say with all that was...]

Sometimes... things don't go right and you can't save everyone. But... I still believe in the Phantom Thieves. And I still believe in you.

[carries_war]

He already told me a bit about your group. I...think he trusted me, too. So...if people still believe in me, I can't let them down.

[The edges of his mouth turn up into a warm, if faint, smile.]

Thanks.

[socialhacktivist]

Of course we believe in you.

[Or, well, at least she does.]

Don't mention it. I'm just... trying to do what I can.

[She doesn't know if she can do much, but...]