⬣//A BRIEF REPRIEVE

[cccorp]

>>Look at me.

⬣//BREATHE. EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.

This is your Official™ catch-all log for the month of November. While the boss battles rage on, those of you who are looking to disengage from combat and kick your feet up for a spell can do so here.

Post your open prompts in this post. Closed starters may also be posted here or on @Altimit, but all open posts belong here in this log. Lawbreakers will be bent over the modly knee and paddled into compliance. Thank you.

>>Navigation

Comments

[rebelles]

Hani took us to a safe place Zelkova prepared called the netslum. There are advanced AI nurses there. We can arrange to have them check on you.

[ It's a long shot, but maybe the AI will know something about Hien's condition they don't. ]

Do you remember what we spoke about last time?

[selfconcept]

[ Hien slightly tilts his head, but when Haru mentions possible relocation, he shakes his head no. ]

Who are you...? I don't want to leave.

[rebelles]

[ Oh no. ]

I'm Haru. You knew me as Noir. And you're Hien, the admin of our game. I said I would help you remember, so if you have questions, maybe I can fill in the gaps.

[selfconcept]

Game...? Admin?

[ She said that maybe she can fill in the gaps, but there's really only one thing he wants to know: ]

... Why is Makoto a Phase?

[rebelles]

We're in a virtual reality game developed by CC Corp. You were employed by them.

[ As for 0koto, she only knows what she's seen on the network and from Sinclair's notes. ]

I'm not sure when 0koto made contact with Lily, but...I hear he made some sort of business deal with him.

[selfconcept]

... I'm not sure what you're talking about.

[ As far as Hien knows, he's lived here as a guardian of Fragment all this time, who could manipulate data. A game? This wasn't a game. ]

He always makes deals though. And he always came back.

[rebelles]

[ ... ]

Do you remember Lily? He did something to you so you began to lose your memories. Lily must have done something to 0koto, too. I'm afraid he won't be able to come back this time, not on his own.

[ But she goes on to add quickly, hopefully. ]

We can bring him back though, just like we've brought back Mithrun and Mr. Misteaks and Winter.

[selfconcept]

... But not Uta.

[ This is the most important part he's gathered from what Haru talked about. ]

She died with a broadsword through her throat, when she was a singer. They silenced her.

[rebelles]

No, not Uta...but it was Corbenik they silenced. They freed Uta.

[ A distinction she feels is important after all that Punisher and Memoir took upon themselves to try and save their friend. ]

0koto's situation is different. It might not be too late.

[selfconcept]

... Then I'll go see to him myself.

[ Hien slowly stands, but doesn't walk away. His gaze slowly moves to Haru. ]

I don't think it's very freeing if the person didn't want to die. She didn't seem like she wanted to.

[rebelles]

Ah, wait—

[ She also straightens up upon seeing him stand, but at least he doesn't take off. ]

I don't think she would have wanted to remain Corbenik, either, hurting the people she wished to bring happiness to. But maybe it's my own wishful thinking.

[selfconcept]

... Perhaps. We will never know now.

[ There's a quiet sigh. The eye at the center of the halo glances at Haru and fades. ]

Noir, right? I'll assume that you were one of the people who looked after me for whatever reason. There seems to have been people like that...

[ He cannot fathom why in his current situation, but it's happening so he can't argue. ]

I don't remember if I told you this, but even if you "rescue" me from defeating Skeith, you might be getting a husk of a human being with no personality. Would you still fight for that chance?

[rebelles]

You did warn me. You told me hope was a double-edged sword and that I should give up, but I'm afraid I can't do that. We have to defeat Skeith to stop the Wave and take the chance to bring you back as you were.

[ Mithrun and the others had their memories returned. After Uta, she knows there might not be a happy ending, but worse is doing nothing and accepting Hien was lost to them for good. ]

We can return to the real world together. There's someone waiting for you there, you know.

[selfconcept]

... Is it a man and a dog?

[ He's read something like that, but he sounds so detached from it because it no longer means anything to him. ]

[rebelles]

Yes. His name is Renatus. And your dog, I think it's the same breed as the one you have here.

[ She searches his expression. Any spark of recognition in those eyes? ]

[selfconcept]

[ Unfortunately, there are no sparks of recognition in his eyes. ]

Makoto told me once that I would do anything for that person.

[ He looks down, and Rem the pomchi looks back up at him with a small blep and a head tilt. ]

... I don't feel anything towards the name or the concept of that person and the dog.

[rebelles]

I'm sure he's waiting for you to return. That's something Lily can't take from you. I won't forget you either, no matter what.

[ She'll hold on for him, because to Hien those memories are everything. Hien had been resisting, leaving records of himself. She won't let Lily erase the proof of his existence. ]

We'll probably face you soon, won't we?

[selfconcept]

[ Hien wonders what he did to make himself endeared to so many people... or at least, that's what it seems like. ]

... When I can no longer hold onto myself. That's when.