[As you touch the baseball bat, you remember part of another game. Apart from the intense, nearly unbearable pain, you’re humiliated. Terrified, too, of course. As it goes on, you’re more and more sure he’s going to kill you - he isn’t stopping, he’s going to beat you to death. Regardless of what he says, you’re sure he’s lying. He’s going to kill you, you’re going to die here with nobody to help you…
A question seems to linger in the air: how can I trust anyone when they can be used against me?
No matter how much she hits the wall, nothing happens. In fact, it seems to make it close in faster.]
The lab coat reveals this memory. The entire thing is colored with anxiety and worry even before the doctor appears. You know this is a horrible idea, but Aoko doesn’t want to leave anyone behind and you don’t really want that, either, even if you’re fairly certain this is a trick or a trap of some kind. When Aoko is killed, that fear doubles. She’s dead, she’s dead, you fucked up, you got her killed and you’re going to die, he’s going to kill both of you, no no no no no no--
And you’re right. The poison is extremely painful as it courses through your body, and the panic is nothing less than overwhelming until everything finally goes black.
A question seems to linger in the air: what do I do if she hates me for this someday?]
[but okay, after those two memories Kaito is just gasping and stumbling back against the wall and burying his face into his hands as he tries to regain his composure.]
O-Opal. . .
[he breathes in and out slowly, trying not to cough on the smoke of the fire]
I-it's hard, to overcome obstacles like this! But you're not doing it alone--!
[his eyes sting and his chest feels heavy, but he still glances frantically around the room, in the fire itself, looking for something-- anything-- that could help]
[Tama grunts as the memory from the bat hits him right where he fucking lives. The panic, the betrayal, the fear, the conflicting and exacerbating feeling of seeing his own teammate as the perpetrator.]
Natalie...
Dammit...I'm sorry...!
[He can't afford to slow down now though, so he grabs at the lab coat next.]
[He grabs for it at the same moment as Kaito, both touching it at once.
The lab coat reveals this memory. The entire thing is colored with anxiety and worry even before the doctor appears. You know this is a horrible idea, but Aoko doesn’t want to leave anyone behind and you don’t really want that, either, even if you’re fairly certain this is a trick or a trap of some kind. When Aoko is killed, that fear doubles. She’s dead, she’s dead, you fucked up, you got her killed and you’re going to die, he’s going to kill both of you, no no no no no no--
And you’re right. The poison is extremely painful as it courses through your body, and the panic is nothing less than overwhelming until everything finally goes black.
A question seems to linger in the air: what do I do if she hates me for this someday?]
[ w-welp. she bursts into tears. in part because of the agony, and the betrayal--but also because... that's her hero. HIYORI LOEV PANTHER and having to experience him hurting people like this, and having abuse upon abuse piled upon him, combined with everything else happening in this room. it's too much. ]
If you want to cry, cry. You can cry on me as much as you need to when this is all over.
....but right now, I need you to look around. I need you to see the state Natalie's heart is in...and I need you to remember what you asked me at the start.
[he's stiff and can feel his eyes stinging and his chest tightening himself, but even amidst all of the chaos, he finds time to reach out and place his hand quietly on her arm]
[ she doesn't actually remember gm game but--she remembers discussing things about it with panther afterward. so she sort of knew some of this happened, but-- ]
But he must have hated himself so much because of this. No wonder he asked me....
[ no wonder he asked her to kill him if it ever became like that again. :( that's what really tears her up; his suffering and helplessness, natalie's suffering and helplessness--so much needless suffering and helplessness... ]
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A question seems to linger in the air: how can I trust anyone when they can be used against me?
No matter how much she hits the wall, nothing happens. In fact, it seems to make it close in faster.]
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The lab coat reveals this memory. The entire thing is colored with anxiety and worry even before the doctor appears. You know this is a horrible idea, but Aoko doesn’t want to leave anyone behind and you don’t really want that, either, even if you’re fairly certain this is a trick or a trap of some kind. When Aoko is killed, that fear doubles. She’s dead, she’s dead, you fucked up, you got her killed and you’re going to die, he’s going to kill both of you, no no no no no no--
And you’re right. The poison is extremely painful as it courses through your body, and the panic is nothing less than overwhelming until everything finally goes black.
A question seems to linger in the air: what do I do if she hates me for this someday?]
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[but okay, after those two memories Kaito is just gasping and stumbling back against the wall and burying his face into his hands as he tries to regain his composure.]
O-Opal. . .
[he breathes in and out slowly, trying not to cough on the smoke of the fire]
I-it's hard, to overcome obstacles like this! But you're not doing it alone--!
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[his eyes sting and his chest feels heavy, but he still glances frantically around the room, in the fire itself, looking for something-- anything-- that could help]
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[Tama has his head in his hand.]
What happened wasn't your faults...! And Aoko would never blame you for what happened! You KNOW that, don't you?! She's your friend!
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Natalie...
Dammit...I'm sorry...!
[He can't afford to slow down now though, so he grabs at the lab coat next.]
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The lab coat reveals this memory. The entire thing is colored with anxiety and worry even before the doctor appears. You know this is a horrible idea, but Aoko doesn’t want to leave anyone behind and you don’t really want that, either, even if you’re fairly certain this is a trick or a trap of some kind. When Aoko is killed, that fear doubles. She’s dead, she’s dead, you fucked up, you got her killed and you’re going to die, he’s going to kill both of you, no no no no no no--
And you’re right. The poison is extremely painful as it courses through your body, and the panic is nothing less than overwhelming until everything finally goes black.
A question seems to linger in the air: what do I do if she hates me for this someday?]
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[Tama's having a rough ride of it too, but he puts a hand on her shoulder.
He has noooo idea what to say.]
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THIS WHOLE ROOM IS TERRIBLE AND THIS WHOLE DAY HAS BEEN TERRIBLE AND she may be having a small melt down suddenly I'm so sorry teammates :(
tell her to get it together and she probably will ]
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I know it's hard, Roc, I know.
If you want to cry, cry. You can cry on me as much as you need to when this is all over.
....but right now, I need you to look around. I need you to see the state Natalie's heart is in...and I need you to remember what you asked me at the start.
Do you want to help her?
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this isn't a heart
it's the set of an Indiana Jones movie
we're just missing the freaking rolling boulder
but-- ]
Y-yes...
[ SNIFFLING
and
trying to pull herself the frick together]
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He pulls her close for a second. Then he lets go and leans down, giving her a kiss on the forehead.]
You're so strong, Roc.
I know everybody is really grateful you're here. Including me.
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[he's stiff and can feel his eyes stinging and his chest tightening himself, but even amidst all of the chaos, he finds time to reach out and place his hand quietly on her arm]
[he's here]
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tama's getting her to get her shit together
we can just never talk about this ever again, right??? ]
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[he lets Tama speak first, but he doesn't go far. and when he has the chance chime in, he does]
Oi. . . you okay?
[and he offers her a tired smile]
Just a little further, okay? We can do it. You can do it.
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[ not that she's sure how ]
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[gives her arm a gentle, reassuring squeeze]
We'll figure it out together. That's what we're together for, huh? To solve problems as a team.
You're doing a great job so far.
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[rushing to her side, let's say she touched this one too]
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S-Star?
[ have you been here the whole time and she didn't realize?
trying to. wipe the tears off her face, but they just keep coming ]
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[and hug her]
Hey, come on, it wasn't really him. It was Nyssa. You know that, right?
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[ she doesn't actually remember gm game but--she remembers discussing things about it with panther afterward. so she sort of knew some of this happened, but-- ]
But he must have hated himself so much because of this. No wonder he asked me....
[ no wonder he asked her to kill him if it ever became like that again. :( that's what really tears her up; his suffering and helplessness, natalie's suffering and helplessness--so much needless suffering and helplessness... ]