altimit | [Closed] misteaks' mistakes

[She'll stroll inside properly, shutting the door behind her.]

Yeah, I'll bet.

How much have you eaten so far today?

...

[The long silence probably speaks for itself.]

It'd be fine if I could go out for a run or something.

Guess we'll just have to find something else for you to do instead.

[Moving to perch on the arm of one of the couches.]

Talk to me?

[but he wants to go do 100 pushups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Mn.

...Are you feeling okay? I hit you really hard during that fight, didn't I?

Nothing some healing items couldn't fix.

[She'll even stretch out all her limbs, wiggling her fingers, still maintaining her balance on the arm of the couch. All good here.]

You're sure?

[It's at least good to see her mobile and not in visible pain, so that does relax him a little. But it doesn't lift the guilt from his eyes entirely.]

I remember the whole fight, you know? You were getting really tired.

[...Sighing a little and hopping off the arm of the couch so she can circle over to him, placing her hands on his shoulders.]

Barrett, listen to me.

You weren't in control. Cubia was manipulating you. You can't keep taking the blame for everything.

It's fine if you're worried about people who are hurt. I mean, I am too? But you can't keep thinking about it like it's all your fault.

[Her gaze drops, hesitant. But then:]

...The more you keep taking the blame, the easier it is for someone to come along and take advantage of you over it.

...I don't wanna see that happen to you again.

[It's something that renders him obediently quiet. Shoka's ability to be frank has always been a strength, something he's admired, and now isn't an exception. It's hard to hold her gaze when his own guilt demands he look away as well, demands that he insist how wrong she is.

But her truth settles in deep, aching in the shadow of what had just happened.

His posture droops slightly under her touch, a hand weakly coming up to rest against one of her wrists as the silence stretches.

...]

...No. You're right. That's... what got me into this in the first place.

...

Thank you. For watching over me. I know you didn't have to.

But I'm really glad I have a friend like you.

...Yeah, well. We said we'd help each other out, didn't we?

[Her smile isn't as bright as it could be, but - after everything they've gone through, it can't be helped if it's a little worn, even if it's genuine.]

So rest up! Focus on healing up so you can get me back for it someday.

Heh. When I can get next to an arcade machine again, maybe I'll actually win this time.

[He doesn't judge her, nor does he look on her with pity. It's understandable, he thinks... and it's nice, to see her not try to be anything more than what she is right now. There's something...

Something beautifully human about it all.]

Hey. Do you remember anything about Berkeley? Where we used to live, outside of this place.

You're welcome to try.

[Confident as usual. ...And then a blink of confusion.]

Is that where we lived...? Wait, hang on, you remember it?

Yeah. I remember everything. Everything from before the game, up until now. Everything Lily tried to erase.

I think the only thing I can't remember... is something I only knew as Tarvos. I knew who was like me once. But it's not coming back to me anymore.

[Surprise... that's really good news, actually? Maybe there's hope for them after all.

Though she puffs out her cheek in annoyance when he gets to the end of all that.]

Can't have you spoiling the surprise, I guess.

...Actually, do you remember when you got a core from Cubia? Did it have a letter attached to it or anything?

[A pause, hesitant.]

It did. But...

You said yours were Strange Cores. Right?

Yeah... why? What was yours?

[He takes a second, as though pulling something out of his inventory in his hand to look at it. Shoka will see nothing.]

...Virus Core.

C is the letter on mine.

...Virus cores?

[She tries peering at it from a few different angles before giving up.]

That can't be good. And you just... keep it in your inventory?

It's a key item. I can't take it out. It's not really in my inventory. It's more... it's just a part of me, now.

He gave one to Levi, too. I was there for that. I think it's what lets us use our bracelets, just like what Zelkova gave you.

Do you know what letter he got? And- wait, Macha used data drain. Did he have one too?

No. I never got to see the item information. I didn't think they were any different.

Morgan told Hector on the forums that he never got one. It sounds like he got something after, though - I did, too. The things you guys were using to blind me and stuff. But not a Virus Core.

Oh... yeah. Those.

They're from Zelkova.

...

He's still missing, isn't he? Did anyone ever find out what happened?

[A beat.]

Ah. You don't have to tell me if it's not safe. I don't... know what having this core means now. I still have my teleportation, too. So...

...

I'll tell you after all this is over. How about that?

Mn. When it's all over. We can do that.

[...

He pauses to brace his arms on either side of him, lifting himself up off the couch just slightly to adjust his seat and fight off the soreness that was quickly developing. It doesn't come without pain, immediately evident by how his face contorts with a shaking inhale. But he's quick to mutter an "I'm okay, I'll be okay." as he settles back down, slightly paler from the shock up his leg.]

I'm sorry. For being a bad friend to you lately.

When we get out of here, and I start feeling a little better... you could always come over to our house. Levi's got a ton of video games, there's a lot of space. We've got a big kitchen. Maybe make a lot of popcorn and watch a movie or something.

Whoa- careful.

[Putting her own hands up, looking for a way to support him, like there's any possible way she can do that at a whopping 5'2" and scrawny.]

...Again, not your fault. Buuuuut... I mean, I'm probably out of a job anyway, plus who knows how long it's going to take to recover.

Besides, I went through the trouble of memorizing all your brothers' names, so... seems like a waste not to use it.

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cw: ed discussion (just to be safe)

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Re: cw: ed discussion (just to be safe)

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