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]

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.

[verypointed]

It's not work that you should be doing.

[Gosh it's a good thing we're not looking at each other cause Barnaby is a little teary.]

[heroinhisowntime]

Of course it is. I'm a hero, right? And better me than you. You don't need your memories messed with any more.

[verypointed]

The only reason you know of that is because I told you, you can't use that.

[heroinhisowntime]

What, so I'm only allowed to use stuff I remember myself in this argument? That's a little unfair, don't you think?

[verypointed]

Not if it works to my advantage.

And since when did this become an argument?

[heroinhisowntime]

We're disagreeing, anyway.

[verypointed]

That's cause you are an idiot.

[heroinhisowntime]

Oh, right, of course. How could I have forgotten that part.

[verypointed]

Pretty sure that's ingrained in you anyway.

[heroinhisowntime]

...

...

[laughs, genuinely]

Some things don't change.

[verypointed]

[cracks a small smile]

... I'm glad you can still laugh.

[heroinhisowntime]

Of course I can. I know what I said, but it really isn't all terrible. Mostly I am doing alright, I promise.

[verypointed]

Still...


Like I said before, I'm here. So... what little I can give you during the time here, make the most out of it.

[heroinhisowntime]

You've already given me a lot.