[Well. It makes him laugh, but it's not a pleasant sound. It's very tired, and tinged with despair.]
Please don't make me answer that question. [He's already done it once tonight, and that one wasn't entirely by choice, so much as a hand forced by poor timing.] It's safer this way, that's all.
[ she looks concerned but... doesn't entirely let go ]
For me, or for yourself? [ there's no pressure for him to answer in her voice ] You don't have to be my friend if you don't want to. But... if I worried about the danger, I wouldn't be friends with any of the people I'm friends with. Sora and Riku included.
[He seems pretty certain of that, at least. It's not a matter of want or don't want, really--but he wouldn't know how to start with that kind of thinking even if he wanted to, so it's fortunate that he's distracted by the rest of it?? It's kind of hard to see, as usual, but he's definitely giving her a Look. Please learn a caution and stop adopting shaggy men prone to mental breakdowns over their besties, Kairi.]
Yes, but they wouldn't hurt you, or each other. [lmao]
[ not entirely true, but as she doesn't want to doxx riku, she just frowns at him, pensive. she does not seem scared of this revelation because kairi has never once learned a caution in her life ]
[Ngh... why can't you just listen, he wants to ask, but--that's unfair, he knows. It's asking for a lot of trust with zero explanation. Even though he's still mostly used to people who will take a dismissal for what it is, it isn't like he doesn't understand this situation.
His grip tightens on the sword; he's going to leave fingerprints on its sheath, at this rate. Elliot is going to be so angry with him.
Not on purpose, is the answer to her question--but saying that feels so ridiculously cheap, and he doesn't want to burden anyone else with the full explanation of his concerns, especially when it might not make a difference. Besides, what does intent matter, when the outcome could be death?] I don't know. But I'd rather not take the risk.
... Okay. I'm not going to make you. That wouldn't be fair.
[ she's not afraid, still, and she makes no move to go away anyway, just sits there pensive. ]
I have this friend... we didn't meet under the best circumstances. He kidnapped me, actually. [ she laughs a little, like it's a very funny joke. ] He hurt a lot of people because he wanted to see his friend again. He's very sorry now, and I've forgiven him. He still apologizes about it a lot. But I think he's more than made up for it by trying to do good by everyone.
[ it's not a perfect fit, as far as comparisons go. she looks out the window. it was more about... forgiveness. ]
I think it's good of you, to be afraid of hurting people. But... you can't live your life cutting yourself away just in case. Because then you're just hurting yourself instead.
[If nothing else, he doesn't seem to fear for her safety right this moment. He listens quietly, and tamps down on the urge to ask what kind of a lunatic makes friends with a kidnapper.
It's--he gets the sentiment, the point she's trying to make, but it makes him shift uncomfortably anyway. It's not something he can apply to himself, for more reasons than he cares to explain.]
If that's the best way to keep everyone else safe, then what does it matter? [He's used to solitude. He would've spent the rest of his life in the dusty shadows of an orphanage library, if Elliot hadn't barged in and dragged him into the light.]
Okay. [ she said she wouldn't force him! so she is being good! ] But I still think you shouldn't hang out alone all the time when it's dangerous like this. We don't have to be friends for me not to want you to die, too.
Okay. [ she's brushing herself off and standing back up, appeased, except-- ] I meant to tell you... I went somewhere, yesterday. Away from here. I was in a different place for a few hours, along with Yennefer, Nagiko and... the blue haired man. I don't remember how I ended up there at all. So... be careful, okay? Things around here are unpredictable.
I'm not sure. I thought, maybe... [ she shakes her head ] But it was covered in snow, and we had to help someone there before we could get back. None of us got hurt, and none of it seemed dangerous, but...
[Hunh. Well, that's concerning, and it also kind of, fortunately, pokes a hole in his theories and concerns. (A small one, but it's there.) He straightens up a little, more focused and alert than he's been since she came in.]
[ well she didn't expect him to get this interested in it because she's a fool, but she's not objecting to him looking less. y'know. despondent. ]
We went to a chalet and met this boy, Ryuunosuke, who was accused of murder. He and everyone else was sure we came there to help him, so... we did. We investigated and found out what really happened to the victim, and then we were sent back here when we were done.
[It might be, but... he finds that hard to believe, given everything.]
I think it's more likely that whoever abducted us might be targeting those we know. [Which means the chances of Elliot being in danger have jumped up significantly, fuck.]
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Why?
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Why not? [ it's a little teasing ]
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Please don't make me answer that question. [He's already done it once tonight, and that one wasn't entirely by choice, so much as a hand forced by poor timing.] It's safer this way, that's all.
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For me, or for yourself? [ there's no pressure for him to answer in her voice ] You don't have to be my friend if you don't want to. But... if I worried about the danger, I wouldn't be friends with any of the people I'm friends with. Sora and Riku included.
[ which says more about her, she is aware, but ]
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[He seems pretty certain of that, at least. It's not a matter of want or don't want, really--but he wouldn't know how to start with that kind of thinking even if he wanted to, so it's fortunate that he's distracted by the rest of it?? It's kind of hard to see, as usual, but he's definitely giving her a Look. Please learn a caution and stop adopting shaggy men prone to mental breakdowns over their besties, Kairi.]
Yes, but they wouldn't hurt you, or each other. [lmao]
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Is that what you think you'd do?
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His grip tightens on the sword; he's going to leave fingerprints on its sheath, at this rate. Elliot is going to be so angry with him.
Not on purpose, is the answer to her question--but saying that feels so ridiculously cheap, and he doesn't want to burden anyone else with the full explanation of his concerns, especially when it might not make a difference. Besides, what does intent matter, when the outcome could be death?] I don't know. But I'd rather not take the risk.
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[ she's not afraid, still, and she makes no move to go away anyway, just sits there pensive. ]
I have this friend... we didn't meet under the best circumstances. He kidnapped me, actually. [ she laughs a little, like it's a very funny joke. ] He hurt a lot of people because he wanted to see his friend again. He's very sorry now, and I've forgiven him. He still apologizes about it a lot. But I think he's more than made up for it by trying to do good by everyone.
[ it's not a perfect fit, as far as comparisons go. she looks out the window. it was more about... forgiveness. ]
I think it's good of you, to be afraid of hurting people. But... you can't live your life cutting yourself away just in case. Because then you're just hurting yourself instead.
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It's--he gets the sentiment, the point she's trying to make, but it makes him shift uncomfortably anyway. It's not something he can apply to himself, for more reasons than he cares to explain.]
If that's the best way to keep everyone else safe, then what does it matter? [He's used to solitude. He would've spent the rest of his life in the dusty shadows of an orphanage library, if Elliot hadn't barged in and dragged him into the light.]
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[ he is giving her such riku angst vibe, she's stubborning by default ]
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...It's not something I should talk about. [Eventually, quietly.] I've said too much about it already.
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Okay. [ she said she wouldn't force him! so she is being good! ] But I still think you shouldn't hang out alone all the time when it's dangerous like this. We don't have to be friends for me not to want you to die, too.
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He dips his head down, sighing again.]
Fine. [He'll... figure something out. He doesn't know what yet, but... he'll try.]
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Away from here? Where?
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[ but no one had died monday yet so ]
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What do you mean, you had to help someone?
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We went to a chalet and met this boy, Ryuunosuke, who was accused of murder. He and everyone else was sure we came there to help him, so... we did. We investigated and found out what really happened to the victim, and then we were sent back here when we were done.
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Ryuunosuke... [He's never heard of any name like that? Hmmm.] Does anyone here know him?
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... Sora thought... he sounded like a friend Iris mentioned. But I didn't get to ask her.
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That's not a good sign.
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I think it's more likely that whoever abducted us might be targeting those we know. [Which means the chances of Elliot being in danger have jumped up significantly, fuck.]
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[ this correction is not better ]
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