[she corrects, deciding to make herself far more comfortable by slouching only slightly in her chair, legs still crossed, of course.]
My life always been on the fast lane. Being a superhero does that to ya. — You're off fixin' to head out to the store to buy yourself some supper, and then the next? You've got some fool in a headlock 'cuz they thought attackin' the city would be a picnic.
[the mutant takes a moment to fling a loose stand of hair behind her ear as she continues, her tone dipping in an unusual fatigue pitch.]
Once you think that's all there is to it, somethin' buck wild happens, and now you're teleported in space, fightin' a bigger thing than some fella who's havin' a bad day. You gotta be quick on your heels, or else you'll be dealin' with nasty aches in the mornin'.
[ His hand squeezes hers a little tighter, reflexively, betraying an otherwise nonanimated response with that hint of surprise. ]
I was trying not to think about it.
[ Though let's be honest, she is making it incredibly hard not to even without directly pointing it out. The forced expedition in this tunnel is making it incredibly hard not to think about. Best not to dwell on something that he can't do. It's the same as the lofty desire to make coming and leaving this place a choice. One has to live without holding that thought too closely or they'll go insane.
Miller keeps walking, looking into the darkness in case they might spot something else. ]
[A2 takes in this reaction in thoughtful silence for a moment. Then:] Oh. This is one of those human things.
[She sits up properly, pulling herself in a cross-legged position, tilted forward to watch Aloy open her mystery gift.] It's not like that. It's the other way around. She's... [Another thoughtful pause. Finally, with a frown:] annoying.
[A journey. She could not call anything she'd experienced as a journey, not really. But she's been reading a lot these days. Nothing else to do. Humans wrote countless stories about adventures. She and Pod discussed their findings in the evenings as they would return to the forest, which often dissolved into bickering.
More to the point: her eyes rove over the board with subdued interest.]
Could be. [She says. There's an excuse that almost comes, about it being "recon" or "research" or "intel," but dismisses it. Anytime she used that excuse, the humans saw through it anyway.]
[In response, an incoherent, but conceding grumble.
She crouches down beside Beta, in part to make this whole handholding thing less uncomfortable. Like the moss and fungi in this place, her own eyes are backlit by an eerie glow.]
[As Rogue speaks, the look in his eye turns from playful to thoughtful, sympathetic, but the spark of interest remains and his smile doesn't fade. He lets out a low hum to acknowledge her explanation, then pauses for the space of half a breath before continuing.]
That sort of life would make it all the more important to take the time to breathe and appreciate the quiet and slow moments when you can, I think. I understand wanting to prepare for whatever might be coming around the next corner, but you'll burn out if you're running at full throttle twenty-four-seven, my dear.
[ She doesn't even seem to hesitate, despite the fact that the attendant is clearly paying attention to them now - able to see and hear everything that's going on between the two of them. ]
I'm going to, so you better get lost. [ Despite the fact Ange says it relatively calmly - the pout aside, anyway - she is raising her hand, and that does make some sort of demonic circle of magic start to appear on the floor..
Apparently the attendant wants none of that, because they're quickly moving away from the spot the two of them are sitting at, as far across the place as they can. ]
.. there. They're gone now. [ She almost sounds proud, but something about Ange turns more serious when she turns towards Yu. ] So that means you can tell me how you're actually feeling without them butting in.
[ Though the girl seems to need a second to think about it, she then just nods.
Look, Ange is well aware the implication is rather alarming. But since Yuta just looks like he's calmly thinking about it, Ange really doesn't mean being very straightforward about the facts of their situation. It doesn't look like he's going to freak out about it the way some people might have in the face of this information. ]
It's a possibility. Although we've established at this point that we are stuck in some sort of simulation, I don't think anyone knows that much about its true nature. [ Certainly not Ange, considering she isn't the most technologically gifted person..
But she still doesn't mind handing over the knowledge she does have to Yuta. ]
Which means all the cards are still on the table in that regard.
[An amused snort. Deciding someone is annoying is entirely fair.]
Is there...anything like that among androids?
[Listen. CYAN was so eager to have a connection with someone. Isolation, Aloy thinks, is probably a terrible experience for anyone. Just don't ask her to turn that reflection on herself, the hunter would prefer not to do any self-reflection right now.
She passes a finger along the starting points on the game board.]
Looks like you could get up to four people on this. [She twists her lips for a moment, and mumbles an observation to herself.] Could be a lot of people to crowd around one board.
[Her eyes dim. A slight shake of her head. In a mumble...] ... I wouldn't know much. I think that the Resistance androids have games like this. Haven't been around other androids in a while.
[Isolation was indeed a terrible experience.
Better to focus on the game.]
I think that's the point — a group crowding around.
Hypothesis: the game's purpose appears to be for socialization.
Oh, did Kotone-chan say that? [Ryoji wonders, head tilting.] I suppose that is true.
[It’s quite astonishing really, now that he thinks about it — he’s been around here for so long, after living a life that he always thought was too fleeting. What was originally a month of existence turned into a full year. A lot has happened since then.]
It’s strange — I’m sure a lot of people would think of this place as a prison. But for me, it really is my chance to live as someone who isn’t just a Shadow, or as a god of death. I can’t help but feel guilty, to be honest.
[He has a pained smile to accompany that sentiment.]
I’m glad that this place exists, at the very least.
[ Ragna's eyebrows rise slightly at that unasked question, though he can't quite tell what it was that she wanted to ask or why it seemed to make her so frustrated. But in the end, she didn't voice the thought, so he decides not to get too hung up on that. It's entirely possible it's just the whole thing that's pissing her off, which is something he definitely understands.
Her response gives him a pause, however; technically he doesn't disagree with that, but something about the way she responds doesn't sit right with him. Which is why he comments on it, unnecessary though it may be. ]
Not by itself, but anyone's free to pursue happiness. Kinda the whole point of being alive, or so they say.
[ His voice is ever so slightly softer when he says that, and almost wistful in a way. People should be able to at least try and find happiness, whatever that means to them... though truth to be told, he would not extend that courtesy to himself, but that's neither here nor there. ]
I know I'm doing what I consider to be the right thing. I don't give a shit what others think.
[ There is no hesitation in his response, just steely determination. Who the fuck gets to decide what is "right"? Who has that power and privilege? Some kind of omnipotent force, or the world itself? Either way, Ragna's answer wouldn't change; it's fine if everyone, including the world itself, think he's in the wrong, it won't stop him regardless. ]
"What is your most secret wish─" [ As soon as the words leave his mouth and the gravity of the sentence finally register, Ragna shakes his head. ] Forget it, you don't have to answer this one.
[ All of these questions are way too intrusive, but this one in particular feels like a step too far. He'd rather give her an easy way out than make her more uncomfortable by expecting her to answer. ]
[ Of course Root isn't interested in standard stories; if it's less than five layers of symbolism and allegory, she's bored. And although usually she plays coy about her real feelings, now they just fall out of her mouth unbidden like stones from a tired hand. ]
When I was ten, my best friend took that book out of the library and walked out with it. I never saw her again.
[ A moment's pause before her face spasms in suppressed emotion. ]
... I've never told anyone that before, [ she says in a measured, even tone. Root does not appreciate this particular affect of the holiday. ]
Well, from what I read, stories made wolves out to be these...loners. Cool and mysterious. But once someone took the time to learn about them, they're actually very caring and friendly among their pack.
[ she gives A2 a gentle, experimental shoulder bump. ]
[Yu doesn't make a move to let go. Maybe he should; it feels a little pitiful, being so grateful just for this small contact. But he's been so alone, and he's so tired of it, and he won't admit to it; knows he needs to be able to be used to it... Knowing that doesn't make it feel any less bad, though.
He wishes Yosuke and Mikey were here. He wishes Scott were here. And yet, that wish makes him feel his own weakness in a way that stings.]
Work, mostly. Not a lot else, [he admits with a small, mirthless huff of a laugh. Feels pretty meager, when he's used to having so much to keep himself busy.] You?
Being nosy is definitely not the worst thing you could be! And divulging basic information about his circle, which he does agree is a lucky break by the large, isn't drastic or anything. Urameshi's loud and brash enough to get notice, Kurama's pragmatic and communicative, and Hiei's... Something else.
"I think they all got here around the same time. Maybe last summer? Yusuke Urameshi, Kurama, and Hiei."
"Yeah, well, you're probably right," he responds, though he's half-sure you'd have to trade Hiei something to see him do it, not out of fear but out of probable inability to see the point. Though they'd both do it under the threat of 'bet-you-can't,' and, hell, he might fall for the same trick.
"We can start you out smaller. We can do a theme park over summer break or something, get you on a roller coaster. That's not a total freefall, at least."
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