Week 7

[airlockedmods]

[Well that weekend sucked. The Champions are down a dad and a bean and shrinking their numbers smaller and smaller, less and less.

There's no sign of life in the spaceport aside from PAL's omnipresent voice and SIS, the helpful asSIStant who has some control over certain heres and theres in the spaceport. She (and PAL) are available at all times and can appear anywhere if called. There is, however, a new floor to explore. Just hop in the elevator and pchoo.]


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Don't forget to check in, check your memory regains! and put in for item regains))

Comments

[serrata]

... how much do you remember? I've been trying to keep up, but I've been losing track of the weeks.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Choro.

[That should say enough.]

[burninglight]

...well that was poorly timed.

[serrata]

... of course. Right. ... sorry.

[ She should know better, considering what she remembers waking up on Sunday with that week. ]

I can try and ask to see if there's any way of confirming for sure if you're still stuck in the VR. I'm not sure how soon we'll be able to get the answer to you, but we'll work something out.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[Yeah, Church's answer says it all.]

...I remember something after that, too. Something I can't exactly place in time, but... I don't know. We were in an Arby's?

[serrata]

An Arby's... and all of us were there, weren't we? That was just after we got out of the mansion. That's... hm...

[ If they remember Choromatsu, then that makes it about six weeks deep into the game, and... ]

That's about three weeks after what your latest memory would've been. Does that help at all?

[misanthropicprinciple]

...I remember your birthday, too. Giving you...

[His hand touches his chest, where the pendant sits.]

[serrata]

... I'm still a crybaby, huh? That hasn't changed. Sorry.

[ Without even thinking, she mirrors him, gripping the front of her shirt where that familiar weight should hang. ]

I'm so glad you have it. I ended up splitting the charms between us, just before everything got so messed up and I said... I said "now you have to make sure you come back to me, so I'm not missing half forever".

You can give it back to me once this is all done. It's an even better good luck charm now you've got both halves together.

[misanthropicprinciple]

[He shakes his head, smiling a little.]

I told Arianna to hold onto your half. It's okay. I don't mind sharing your luck, not when she misses you as bad as I do.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Uh, I think it's your half, anyway. I guess I kind of just assumed. It felt right, for me to have the key?

[serrata]

[ Look. Just look at how much her eyes light up. ]

Yes! Yes, you're right! I gave you the key. It seemed like it suited you better than a lock. Champion Challenger.

[ She gives him a grin. ]

You remember. You might not have all the details, but a little part of you still remembers, doesn't it?

[misanthropicprinciple]

[It's painful, a little, because the strongest proof he has isn't this precious, beautiful thing, but rather the crushing denial he felt after seeing her body. That screaming, cosmic no inside him.]

I couldn't tell you for sure one way or the other, but... yeah. I think so. It's the only thing that makes sense.

[serrata]

... I got embarrassed. When I was giving you chocolates, I mean. I gave them to everyone else, but the only time it seemed like it was really important was when I was giving them to you. And I didn't even know why.

[ She laughs, embarrassed and a little disbelieving. ]

I guess they really were honmei choco in the end. Even if neither of us knew it.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I remembered talking about engagement.

Not with you.

[Nods to Ardyn.] With him.

We were on a roof. Was that whatever house...from the photos?

[burninglight]

Yes, it was. I remember that now, too.

...The blue one is mine. The red one is yours.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah.

I figured that out. After I took your ring.

[burninglight]

Hold on to them for me, would you? I'm going to want both of mine back. ...The answer would have been yes, had you asked. It's still yes, and will always be so no matter when the question's asked.

I was right, by the way. I'm like this now...because of you. You and Junpei did exactly what you promised to, even if it came in a somewhat roundabout manner.

[motherfucking_ghost]

You said maybe, before, but you'd know more than I would.

Did we cure you?

[burninglight]

Not directly. It's a little complicated, you'll remember soon enough.

But you made me want to be human again. You--everyone, but especially you--pushed me to find the resolve I needed to be something better than the monster I was.

This person only exists because I met you. And no amount of words will express how grateful I am for that.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah. Well. I didn't give up on you even when it would've made sense to. And I kissed you. So. Guess something must've stuck. Good.

[burninglight]

It did. I'm sorry it took so long--I'm lucky you're just crazy enough not to know when to quit.

...So don't start now. I'm going to keep fighting until we're back with the rest of you, and I'm relying on all of you to do the same.

[motherfucking_ghost]

No promises.

[burninglight]

I don't need a promise. And I don't need you to be some perfect reflection of health and sanity, either.

All I ask is that you bend, don't break. This is not and shall never be a 'goodbye', and when next I see you I am never letting you go again.