A̷F̴T̵E̶R̴M̴A̷T̶H̷

[champion_link]

[It's Link who's in the dining room this time, the wall leading to it perfectly clear so he can be seen. He's sitting with a large plate of sandwiches, though the triangles are perfectly cut with no crust and with no dripping peanut butter or jelly.]

[In contrast to his usual pleasant look, he looks... somber. His shoulders are hunched and his hair is starting to pull out of its neat ponytail. He's breathing slowly, and just gestures towards the sandwiches.]

Comments

[poorlovefool]

[Eventually once he gets off his ass Eric will pass by the dining room, although the gesture toward the sandwich just makes him take a nervous step back. Is he going to get a lighter sentence if he eats it? Probably not.

WILL HE THOUGH.]

H-Hey, you don't... look so good... is it really going to be that bad?

[he's pretty sure it's going to be bad. Since when do the hosts worry about them]

[champion_link]

... Yes. It will.

If you're not made to join after what's going to happen... it's going to hurt more than anything you can imagine.

[poorlovefool]

I know IT can make people join but it isn't doing that with us....

[This is. Concerning]

[champion_link]

[He just smiles bitterly .]

[poorlovefool]

You want to tell me to join so bad now, don't you. Cause you're trying to help.

[Eric hugs himself.]

I can't. I don't want everyone to turn on me like they do with you and Hiyori. I'm selfish and stubborn... that's why I accused King and why I backed out of it. I can't be helped.

[Why is he telling him this, he really must be terrified. Everyone else seems to have a genuine hope inside of them. He's just holding on to threads.]

B-But still... Help is coming. N-No matter what happens... I just have to survive with everyone else... I have to stay on the right side... so I can see Mira smiling at me... that's all.

[He sounds pretty unsure.]

[champion_link]

... I don't know... why you keep fighting. IT's going to come whether you like it or not. I just don't want you to be in pain. Please...

[Tears start to roll down his face, and he wipes his cheeks with his sleeve.]

There's nothing that can help you. No one is coming. 'Right' or 'wrong' side doesn't matter when you're dealing with something like this.

[poorlovefool]

[He's crying for him. Crying for him. This is the worst.]

You and Hiyori are in the worst pain of all! Y-You don't even realize it! Whatever happens, I'll always be ten times more afraid of that!

If we all fall... join IT... this is just going to continue, forever!

[champion_link]

There's no choice! It's going to get into you. It's just a matter of how fast.

[There's something terrified in his eyes, and Link can't help but see a flash of purple lighting, just for a brief moment.]

It doesn't hurt when it's done. As long as you follow the rules... please don't put yourself through more pain.

[poorlovefool]

[Eric groans a bit at that. He'd better not believe it, for his sake. It's so hard being brave now.

...Well while they're on that topic, he'd love to weasel out of this in the future.]

I don't even know what rule I broke. I didn't set one foot into the restricted area.

[champion_link]

[Link just stares at him for a moment before Eric's wrist computer flashes and displays text.]

3. Do not destroy property, or you will be punished. Whatever destructive tool you’ve found, you know we have stronger ones and aren’t afraid to use them, right?

[poorlovefool]

What? Gaaaah- don't do that!

[Eric really hates that he can control something on his body... but he'll read this now, surprised.]

I-I think it's a stretch to call anything I destroyed 'property', you know!

[They didn't damage the mechanism of the force field and the Noise are living monsters! All he did was disperse a bunch of energy!!]

Damn IT... such a fucking cheater...

[champion_link]

They belong to IT. And you destroyed them.

[It's that simple.]