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]

[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?

[burninglight]

. . .

[Ardyn frowned, briefly considering pinching her cheek again to discourage her...]

[...then reached out to put an arm around her shoulders instead.]

I don't think there's anything wrong with you.

[induality]

[She flinched, expecting the pinch, and then-- instead, a warm heavy arm wraps around her shoulders and by instinct alone, relaxes into the gesture meant to offer her comfort.]

...I do try to see it-- you know, wh-what you all seem to see that I don't.

I know... this isn't the worst version of myself. But I'm still... working on it.