Week 4

[airlockedmods]

[After everything that this case was, you probably don't want to deal with anything else. But you wake up on Sunday, just like before, with some new memories, and some new stores to check out.

Let's see what this week brings.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Don't forget to check in, and check your memory regains! You can also stop by the gacha machine and Xander's office hours. ))

Comments

[burninglight]

...A little better. Bit tired of shouting, so that's a start. What about you?

[induality]

...honestly, the opposite. I feel like... I wanna scream.

[burninglight]

Well, the benefit of being quite tired of shouting myself is that I can listen if someone else decides they wish to take up the hobby.

[induality]

...I think I'm forgetting something important. But even I can't believe it. It's just... I keep thinking about something stupid... a-and it makes me mad, b-but I don't even have any reason to be mad...

[burninglight]

That again, hm?

[Ardyn frowned slightly, hand coming up to fidget with the pendant mostly hidden under his scarf.]

It seems that kind of feeling's worsening around here quite a bit lately. What is it specifically that you're thinking of?

1/? I'm sorry

[induality]

[Her face goes unusually dark for a moment. But then she takes a deep breath and--]

I-It's...

[induality]

[What follows is very much a rant, very animated and very quick; words rushed together angrily as fast as she can choose them. Rather than thinking, what comes out is pure emotion.]

[induality]

--that idiot Soma--

[induality]

--he just g-goes and kisses someone out of nowhere!!

[induality]

In the courtroom no less. N-no common decency... c-certainly wasn't thinking about all the people that had to watch that embarrassing display--

[induality]

After all that talk about c-caring about me and p-protecting me-- what a flimsy person!

[induality]

B-but why should I care?! I didn't even like him, right? Right?

I'M DONE

[induality]

...so why in the hell do I feel like crying right now...?!

[--she says as she kicks the wall next to her. At last it seems... she's done.]

[burninglight]

[Ardyn just listened to that whole tirade in silence, processing the point and implications when they came up-]

[...Ah. Well, that was a problem that left him very vaguely uncomfortable for reasons Ardyn couldn't put words to, folding his arms.]

If you care, then...obviously there was something to it even if neither of you could fully remember. Your name was in his profile, after all.

[induality]

Th-that's...

[She knows it. Knows it, but doesn't want to accept it. Accepting that she was replaced isn't difficult-- but it's unpleasant all the same.]

Impossible. As long as I have Master Byakuya, I don't need another man.

[...never mind that she knows she hadn't had him there. She's nothing if not dedicated.]

[burninglight]

I'd not write it off so quickly, if I were you. Not that I'm saying to dwell on the idea, but denial might only worsen the matter when next you remember something.

[induality]

...I know you're right, but...

A-anyway, I knew how anything like that would have ended anyway. It's not... any worse than it would have been.

[burninglight]

...What do you mean?

[induality]

Someone like him... n-never would have chosen to stay with me. Sooner or later... I-I know it. Something like that just isn't possible for me. I... accepted that a long time ago.

[burninglight]

. . .

[Fukawa.]

[He's going to reach over and pinch your cheek with the most deadpan expression imaginable.]

Stop that.

[induality]

[? ? ?]

Oww-- h-hey what was th-that about?!

[She doesn't know how to take this loving abuse.]

[burninglight]

Negative reinforcement. In other words, 'you're doing something rather silly and need to stop.'

You're worth far more than that, Touko.

[induality]

...I didn't used to always do that. But I was wrong so many times.

If you don't expect anything from anyone, y-you won't be disappointed.

...i-including yourself.

[burninglight]

....You're far too young to be thinking like that, Touko.

[induality]

...I don't know, I've always been like this. Adults said I was wise beyond my years.

All I saw w-was someone who never fit in. Eventually I came to the conclusion that it was me.

...if a child's own parents don't want it-- there has to be something wrong with it, right? And... if they can't love it then... how could anyone else?