a thing

[heroinhisowntime]

[In the tradition of Aather games, the setting is a stone room with no windows... or doors. There is a simple table with two chairs set with some basic food - meats, cheeses, fruit, etc. There is also a piece of paper on the table with instructions, but it just reads Take this chance how you will.

There is nothing else in the room except for its two inhabitants, who both appear in it suddenly.]

Comments

[heroinhisowntime]

Right...

Have you been doing alright? After all that. You said you hadn't seen me in a while, so I wouldn't know that even with my memories.

[verypointed]

I've been travelling. Soul-searching, some may call it that. Most days it's been pleasant... a good distraction, you know?

But shouldn't we be talking about you right now? You're the one that's all jumbled up and everything.

And you look like you've lost some weight.

[heroinhisowntime]

I haven't lost weight. Sterling knights get all the pre-prepared food they want, you know.

[verypointed]

Then you lost muscle mass.

[heroinhisowntime]

Mmh... well, maybe. We lose all our abilities when we come here, too. Well, except knights, we keep one. I've only gotten a few of them back, and not fighting or anything like that.

[verypointed]

But how are you doing?

[heroinhisowntime]

I'm doing fine.

[verypointed]

[frowns in his direction]

Don't you think I'd know you well enough when you're lying about things?

[heroinhisowntime]

I'm really doing fine! I mean, things are a little rough sometimes, obviously, but...

[verypointed]

. . .

Fine, don't talk about what's troubling you. It's not like you said you trusted me or anything like that.

[heroinhisowntime]

Gah! It's not like that! I'm doing as well as you could expect, there's just no point in worrying you with the little stuff. Besides, it's complicated to explain!

[verypointed]

So you're saying I shouldn't be worried despite the fact that the last time you kept something from me, you almost died.

[heroinhisowntime]

...I don't... remember that...

[verypointed]

Well I do.

[Hmph.]

[heroinhisowntime]

S-Sorry. Again. It really is complicated though. There are a lot of people here who have things a lot worse than me, and a lot of stuff going on that I don't really understand.

[verypointed]

[He's visibly upset, and looked like he was going to yell at Kotetsu, but whatever words that were supposed to come out were swallowed in and he instead just looks away.]

It's your call.

[heroinhisowntime]

Bunny... [looks away himself before speaking again]

...It's hard. Even if my power lasted its full time... the things people here need to be protected from aren't that simple. It's all magic and stories and monsters. Sometimes there are bad games, and people die and there's nothing anyone can do about it... but it's not the end, because they get revived. People who were dead before are alive again here too. But at least it means people can still keep trying.

[verypointed]

[is completely silent on this end]

[heroinhisowntime]

...And I want my memories back, but like I said, I need to help people first, even in games. And even when that's not an issue, sometimes I'm just not very good at them. Sometimes people share and talk about stuff with people they know from home, but...

[verypointed]

... I'm here right now, aren't I?

[He says it softly, sniffling at the end]

[heroinhisowntime]

...Yeah, you are.

[verypointed]

. . . It's just not fair.

[His voice cracks in the middle of that sentence.]

[heroinhisowntime]

It is how it is.

[his voice isn't exactly even either, though]

[verypointed]

No! You've already had so much to deal with in tour life. I thought you'd retire and live peacefully for once, not end up here! Here, without your memories in some weird magical place and I can't be there for you to help you and support you!

[heroinhisowntime]

Mm. There is work to be done, though. If we don't succeed here, everything could be in danger.