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...My best, I guess.
[He shrugs.]
If I get to go back and pick up where I left off, just try try again. We did have it on its last legs, I think. Maybe Bill and I can make the last blows stick.
If I die again, then...pfft. Fuck it. Better to go out giving it my all rather than live with my tail between my legs.
[And now that he knows some form of afterlife awaits them, maybe death is a touch more palatable.]
[He shrugs.]
If I get to go back and pick up where I left off, just try try again. We did have it on its last legs, I think. Maybe Bill and I can make the last blows stick.
If I die again, then...pfft. Fuck it. Better to go out giving it my all rather than live with my tail between my legs.
[And now that he knows some form of afterlife awaits them, maybe death is a touch more palatable.]
I will if you will.
[And he means it. Strange how this surly one-eyed samurai with a validated distaste for white men has wedged her way into his heart. But she has.
And he'd be just as furious to find her corpse on their doorstep as he had Claude's. Maybe even moreso, if he were honest.
Richie claps her on the shoulder lightly and gives a grim smile.]
I'm gonna see about an invitation to sleep elsewhere tonight. If you want my cold tea you're welcome to it.
[He's not much in the mood to finish it. Richie rises with a sigh, a wipe of his eyes.]
See you tomorrow, hotshot.
[And he means it. Strange how this surly one-eyed samurai with a validated distaste for white men has wedged her way into his heart. But she has.
And he'd be just as furious to find her corpse on their doorstep as he had Claude's. Maybe even moreso, if he were honest.
Richie claps her on the shoulder lightly and gives a grim smile.]
I'm gonna see about an invitation to sleep elsewhere tonight. If you want my cold tea you're welcome to it.
[He's not much in the mood to finish it. Richie rises with a sigh, a wipe of his eyes.]
See you tomorrow, hotshot.
[they do. Weh.
Richie's face is presumably bandaged, glasses returned to him. His foot must also be in a cast and we assume his ass is bandaged, hope del and maomao had fun with that one.
There's a distinct reluctance to look Mizu in the eyes at the moment. And for a moment the dreamscape bleeds through — smoke on the air. Fire flickers somewhere out of sight, the sound prickling at their ears.
Richie flinches and shakes his head.]
It wasn't too different from last time. New life, new me. All of a night, though, no centuries beyond our years.
Richie's face is presumably bandaged, glasses returned to him. His foot must also be in a cast and we assume his ass is bandaged, hope del and maomao had fun with that one.
There's a distinct reluctance to look Mizu in the eyes at the moment. And for a moment the dreamscape bleeds through — smoke on the air. Fire flickers somewhere out of sight, the sound prickling at their ears.
Richie flinches and shakes his head.]
It wasn't too different from last time. New life, new me. All of a night, though, no centuries beyond our years.
[nods. please do something about yourself, buddy. but also... hm.]
No. Though I don't make a secret of it.
[mizu may be secretive about a lot of things, but this is not one of them, at least. though the way she just says it is probably a bit too casual, considering...]
There was a fire. One that burned hot enough to consume an entire castle. [and it was kind of her own fault, but she refrains from saying this.] The building collapsed under its own weight while I was still inside.
No. Though I don't make a secret of it.
[mizu may be secretive about a lot of things, but this is not one of them, at least. though the way she just says it is probably a bit too casual, considering...]
There was a fire. One that burned hot enough to consume an entire castle. [and it was kind of her own fault, but she refrains from saying this.] The building collapsed under its own weight while I was still inside.
[oh, that's hateful.
mizu startles a little when the smoke starts rolling in, though it doesn't last long enough for her to actually do anything about it. dreamscape jumpscares are her new enemy, after this week.]
... I see. It must have been one hell of a night. [slowly. and then, wondering how to breach the topic.] Was that all? You and Taair both kept — apologizing.
mizu startles a little when the smoke starts rolling in, though it doesn't last long enough for her to actually do anything about it. dreamscape jumpscares are her new enemy, after this week.]
... I see. It must have been one hell of a night. [slowly. and then, wondering how to breach the topic.] Was that all? You and Taair both kept — apologizing.
[Richie goes quiet. Not quite avoiding her gaze, but clearly fighting the urge to.]
...Well. We weren't put there to party, I'll tell you that much. [He swallows thickly. Partly to steel himself but also to soothe his raw throat. The seawater was unkind to him.] We were...paid to slay a demon.
[Money. All for money, no questions asked. It makes his belly roll like the barrel of a laundry machine, a constant and queasy tumble.]
...Well. We weren't put there to party, I'll tell you that much. [He swallows thickly. Partly to steel himself but also to soothe his raw throat. The seawater was unkind to him.] We were...paid to slay a demon.
[Money. All for money, no questions asked. It makes his belly roll like the barrel of a laundry machine, a constant and queasy tumble.]
[what a trial!! richie was totally here for all nine hours of it.
mizu is so fucking tired, squinting and pinching the bridge of her nose to relieve a headache. but she looks up when they happen to cross paths. hello.
sighs.]
One last execution if all goes well. And then we're done.
mizu is so fucking tired, squinting and pinching the bridge of her nose to relieve a headache. but she looks up when they happen to cross paths. hello.
sighs.]
One last execution if all goes well. And then we're done.
Yeah.
[HE HELPED SO MUCH. YES.]
I don't care to think about what state Marcoh will be in tomorrow. I can't imagine it would be anyone else in the ring.
[Imagine it's Koharu for real this time.]
[HE HELPED SO MUCH. YES.]
I don't care to think about what state Marcoh will be in tomorrow. I can't imagine it would be anyone else in the ring.
[Imagine it's Koharu for real this time.]
Mhm.
[Hilarious casting all around. I feel like we should have been rolling with disadvantage the whole time honestly.
He holds even with her, miraculously. Doesn't flinch away yet, slowly shakes his head.]
We didn't get details off the top. Just that it was on the sixth floor of a castle. Had to go through hell first to find out.
[There's another flash of dreamscape. A tunnel with skeletons, big and small. Swept up in water. Slaying a guard, the Indiana Jones run in a trap-laden hall, the kitchens with old faces, the grenade. Richie flinches as the visions go haywire as their minds do. Psychoactive drugs taking them on a gorey ride, watching Claude die a second time in a surreal, bloody haze.
A woman rushing the door, Richie striking out on instinct. Her deadly tumble down the stairs.
It's that part that gets his head bowing. Shame pushes him down and out from whatever seat of dignity he could claim.]
...It was you. As a baby.
[Hilarious casting all around. I feel like we should have been rolling with disadvantage the whole time honestly.
He holds even with her, miraculously. Doesn't flinch away yet, slowly shakes his head.]
We didn't get details off the top. Just that it was on the sixth floor of a castle. Had to go through hell first to find out.
[There's another flash of dreamscape. A tunnel with skeletons, big and small. Swept up in water. Slaying a guard, the Indiana Jones run in a trap-laden hall, the kitchens with old faces, the grenade. Richie flinches as the visions go haywire as their minds do. Psychoactive drugs taking them on a gorey ride, watching Claude die a second time in a surreal, bloody haze.
A woman rushing the door, Richie striking out on instinct. Her deadly tumble down the stairs.
It's that part that gets his head bowing. Shame pushes him down and out from whatever seat of dignity he could claim.]
...It was you. As a baby.
[He's been training ever since his defeat at Majima's hands.
The thought is such an ugly one. Especially considering how low the man had already been brought. And with Siffrin as the culprit...well. Richie shakes his head.]
You'd think, if the Entity was under wraps, we might not have to deal with a coliseum brawl. Wasn't the original plan for explusion something a titch more peaceable?
[WHO CAN SAY]
The thought is such an ugly one. Especially considering how low the man had already been brought. And with Siffrin as the culprit...well. Richie shakes his head.]
You'd think, if the Entity was under wraps, we might not have to deal with a coliseum brawl. Wasn't the original plan for explusion something a titch more peaceable?
[WHO CAN SAY]
Jesus.
[Mizu.....]
I'm sorry. Christ almighty, that's a hellish way to go. How did that happen? You think you can hightail it out of there before the blaze kicks up?
[Unless she was a literal prisoner in there. Knowing her that's extremely likely, sorry to say.]
[Mizu.....]
I'm sorry. Christ almighty, that's a hellish way to go. How did that happen? You think you can hightail it out of there before the blaze kicks up?
[Unless she was a literal prisoner in there. Knowing her that's extremely likely, sorry to say.]
[she doesn't seem to be at all surprised when the first set of images flash through the dreamscape. this is all familiar territory. it's mostly just frustrating that the entity took those experiences and used them to hurt the people she's come to care about.
and then there's that woman, and mizu freezes.]
What? [Why would I be—? baffled.] I recognize that castle. But it's one I fought my way through as I am now.
[as an adult. frowns, thinking...]
... I suppose the specifics don't matter. In the end, they took my experiences and used them to hurt you. And for that I am sorry, Rich.
and then there's that woman, and mizu freezes.]
What? [Why would I be—? baffled.] I recognize that castle. But it's one I fought my way through as I am now.
[as an adult. frowns, thinking...]
... I suppose the specifics don't matter. In the end, they took my experiences and used them to hurt you. And for that I am sorry, Rich.
It's more complicated than that. I could go back to minutes before I died, when the fire was set. Avoid it all together.
[and it should be an easy choice. it really should! but mizu looks down at her hand, slowly clenching it into a fist and then relaxing it like she's recalling her grip around something in particular.]
But I had one of the men I am sworn to kill right where I wanted him. He was at my complete mercy. Regardless of what I do to save my life, I must not let him escape with his.
[there's a reason why mizu was less "oh no i'm dead" and more "is that fucker also dead" right on w0. this fucking dumbass.]
[and it should be an easy choice. it really should! but mizu looks down at her hand, slowly clenching it into a fist and then relaxing it like she's recalling her grip around something in particular.]
But I had one of the men I am sworn to kill right where I wanted him. He was at my complete mercy. Regardless of what I do to save my life, I must not let him escape with his.
[there's a reason why mizu was less "oh no i'm dead" and more "is that fucker also dead" right on w0. this fucking dumbass.]
[Nvmd if you want to surprise me with effects i will accept whatever you throw at me.
They can be coming back from their slime adventure. Taair is off being tended to by sweet Del. If I say it here it has to be canon.]
Nothing but the academy was in great shape. And still we got slimed up. Didn't realize you could just stab a blob and it would back off.
[much less...well anyway. Faint hint of embarrassment.]
They can be coming back from their slime adventure. Taair is off being tended to by sweet Del. If I say it here it has to be canon.]
Nothing but the academy was in great shape. And still we got slimed up. Didn't realize you could just stab a blob and it would back off.
[much less...well anyway. Faint hint of embarrassment.]
[i'm good with anything! picks up all of the weekly effects and runs!! also yeah, taair is being tended by sweet del... they were kiss 31 i saw it with my own eyes.]
You'll find that you can stab many things to great effect.
[though... the goop is so gross. she's taking care to wipe down her katana in case any of that shit damages the metal. ugh. still, she pauses in the middle of this to glance at him.]
Despite having heard it before, your Lucas impression is... eerily spot on. And effective. Unexpectedly so.
[wdym the power of ~*~imagination~*~ works on more than just clowns. damn.]
You'll find that you can stab many things to great effect.
[though... the goop is so gross. she's taking care to wipe down her katana in case any of that shit damages the metal. ugh. still, she pauses in the middle of this to glance at him.]
Despite having heard it before, your Lucas impression is... eerily spot on. And effective. Unexpectedly so.
[wdym the power of ~*~imagination~*~ works on more than just clowns. damn.]
...I see.
[Fuck. It's not like he can convince her to just let this one go, huh?]
Do you have any idea of where he might have been before he got to where you had him? Maybe you can rewind things enough to corner him in a less flammable locale.
[Fuck. It's not like he can convince her to just let this one go, huh?]
Do you have any idea of where he might have been before he got to where you had him? Maybe you can rewind things enough to corner him in a less flammable locale.
[There is some small relief. Just a flash. Knowing it hadn't been exactly true to reality doesn't change that it's all echoes of her real past.]
...Is that where you passed away?
[They very much did set it on fire. And Mizu may have been fighting through it to find a different demon altogether. Could have swam through the tunnel with the tiny bones (brothers and sisters?), dodged the pitfalls and took poisoned soup in a silent kitchen. Whether she had as hard a hallucination as they did, he can't say. These trips tend to drip nightmares into a grounded, if false, reality. It happened last time. It happened this time. A Clown, a Spider. Eddie, twice.
Doesn't change that she was still treated like a goddamn pariah. Maybe there was a price on her head.]
Don't be. [Raspy, earnest. Ashamed.] I'm sorry. Those are...it's the kind of thing I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. To put a cliche to it.
But I mean it. They way they... [That maid. Callous as a crooked rock, didn't care what happened to the kid. That "thing." He didn't let Adolphe kill her, but he can't say he feels too sorry for leaving behind. He sighs, ragged.]
It's one thing to know, another thing to see. You deserved better.
...Is that where you passed away?
[They very much did set it on fire. And Mizu may have been fighting through it to find a different demon altogether. Could have swam through the tunnel with the tiny bones (brothers and sisters?), dodged the pitfalls and took poisoned soup in a silent kitchen. Whether she had as hard a hallucination as they did, he can't say. These trips tend to drip nightmares into a grounded, if false, reality. It happened last time. It happened this time. A Clown, a Spider. Eddie, twice.
Doesn't change that she was still treated like a goddamn pariah. Maybe there was a price on her head.]
Don't be. [Raspy, earnest. Ashamed.] I'm sorry. Those are...it's the kind of thing I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. To put a cliche to it.
But I mean it. They way they... [That maid. Callous as a crooked rock, didn't care what happened to the kid. That "thing." He didn't let Adolphe kill her, but he can't say he feels too sorry for leaving behind. He sighs, ragged.]
It's one thing to know, another thing to see. You deserved better.
[If they weren't 31 then I hope they were 32-35. Also hateful how my phone ate this tag.]
Fair enough. I just hope that gunk doesn't eat at steel or something. You never know with mystery goo.
[If the only casualty today is Mizu's sword we have to restart the game.
But ah. Grits teeth.]
To my credit, it's only ever worked like that about three times my whole life. Not Lucas specifically, but. Well. [It's as much a surprise to him as it was to her and Taair :')] I don't even do it on purpose, really? I wouldn't count on me.
But luckily, neither of you have to, clearly.
Fair enough. I just hope that gunk doesn't eat at steel or something. You never know with mystery goo.
[If the only casualty today is Mizu's sword we have to restart the game.
But ah. Grits teeth.]
To my credit, it's only ever worked like that about three times my whole life. Not Lucas specifically, but. Well. [It's as much a surprise to him as it was to her and Taair :')] I don't even do it on purpose, really? I wouldn't count on me.
But luckily, neither of you have to, clearly.
[i guess... this can be at some unspecified time on friday...........
richie can find mizu in the mansion lobby, blearily drinking coffee and perhaps looking a little bit like she overslept. it's fine? she's scrolling through chipper, pausing only when she notices him — and then there's a quick flash of embarrassment before she immediately turns her attention back to her phone. so, anyway,]
No announcements today.
[no die day! wahoo.]
richie can find mizu in the mansion lobby, blearily drinking coffee and perhaps looking a little bit like she overslept. it's fine? she's scrolling through chipper, pausing only when she notices him — and then there's a quick flash of embarrassment before she immediately turns her attention back to her phone. so, anyway,]
No announcements today.
[no die day! wahoo.]
[grits teeth.
It is an unspecified time on a friday sure. Richie is also nursing a to-go coffee, already having had breakfast and a first cup there. He catches Mizu's eye in the lobby and feels much the same. Flash of embarrassment, though underscored by a thin guilt. It smooths away soon enough, with her casual greeting.]
Puh-raise the lord! Miracles do happen.
Now what do we do with ourselves?
It is an unspecified time on a friday sure. Richie is also nursing a to-go coffee, already having had breakfast and a first cup there. He catches Mizu's eye in the lobby and feels much the same. Flash of embarrassment, though underscored by a thin guilt. It smooths away soon enough, with her casual greeting.]
Puh-raise the lord! Miracles do happen.
Now what do we do with ourselves?
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