altimit | [Closed] misteaks' mistakes

[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.

Some of it was. I still remember a lot of what I said as Tarvos. Things I was thinking. It wasn't all him. I wonder... if I had trusted everyone more with my feelings, maybe I might have been able to fight it back.

[Still, the guilt seems to lessen in his posture. He knows Shoka wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it, and he isn't about to argue. Tarvos did plenty of that, and he's still exhausted from the effort.

A beat, and he nods his head towards his cast, where many names are scrawled.]

You can cheat for now, if you ever forget. All of them are there.

I wonder if Aiden could help you with a job. I mean, you'd probably hate him. A lot. But he knows a lot of people.

Do you like clothes at all?

It's not like Mithrun was a super easy target though, right? It might've been a losing battle no matter who you trusted.

[Pausing, head tilted when he asks her opinion on clothes.]

...Kind of, I guess. [Understatement.] Why?

Easy target? [Parroted, as though he doesn't really understand.] What do you mean?

[His hands fold over his stomach.]

Aiden and his boyfriend work in Los Angeles in the fashion district. Aiden's got his own cosmetics line, and he won't ever shut up about fashion shows. Not really my thing, but he loves it.

Maybe if he met you, and you didn't wring his neck or something, he could put a good word in for you for an internship.

Mithrun's been really on the ball about looking into everything. I can't imagine he was easy to sway to Cubia's side of things - not without totally messing with his mind first, at least.

[That explanation done, she'll listen to the rest and-]

Wait. Hold up. Are you serious?!

Yeah. I mean, I can't promise anything. Aiden's kind of... dramatic. But it could be worth a shot, right?

[As for Mithrun--]

Morgan was always really angry at Lily. I think, the more honest I was with Morgan about what was happening, the angrier he got. But I know he was angry because he cared about me. And he hated that I had to hide things. Kind of like how you were, too. [His smile is genuine, if brief.]

Lily can take apart memories as much as he wants, though. He did the same thing with me, the last time we talked. So I think maybe that you're right, a little. Eventually, it would've been hard.

I just wish I hadn't been so scared to say more when I still had the chance. I know I thought I was protecting everyone, but I guess I feel pretty stupid about it now.

I mean. [Holy shit.] Uh... I guess I wouldn't be opposed to an easy in to some work? [Holy shit!!!!!!!!!!!]

...Yeah, I kinda got that impression. But I mean...

I guess... now you know to let other people in on it so you can protect each other instead?

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