I did. [quietly. somber.] ... The lost souls had been hinting at it in their letters. I intended to tell you in the new week, when he could no longer perceive your emotions.
[but instead he had to watch claude die in front of god and everyone, without any sort of warning. and that she regrets.]
[There's a flicker of anger. Quickly smothered, loathing turning inward, swallowed up numb again. It makes sense, doesn't it?]
Unless I was supposed to decipher a third rate alphabet code, I don't believe anyone saw fit to warn me. Can't say I blame them — it is a bad week to have a hot-head in the loop.
[It was the right thing to do. He's not equipped to handle the truth. Not to deal with it, in the way it needs to be dealt with, and certainly not to smooth out his mind and quell suspicion.
Still. It grates on him, sharply.]
Did you know about what Uruha and Saber were planning?
[well. the reason he's describing is exactly why she held off telling him, so she can't say he's wrong. but she hates feeling how quickly he internalizes it. sucks.]
Rich... [god. she lets out a sharp exhale, shaking her head.] That I didn't know about. It sounds like they made a move as soon as they narrowed it down to him.
[which she's gotta respect, honestly. you do not hesitate with this shit. though she now regrets not giving him a heads up, or even poor koharu.]
[His mouth makes a thin line and his eyes are on his tea. He flicks the handle, spinning it a little on the saucer. Nothing spilled.]
Fair. Especially since they came at him with the whistle. No hiding after that, is there?
[There's a drop. Anger is still there, but it's wrangled at the neck by a plummeting resignation.]
...I know it was better to...take care of it. Before it got worse. [He almost says more. You know that Claude hid his infection on our own trip, right? Bites it back. The kid had trouble trusting enough already, there's no point spilling old secrets now. Even if they're playing parallel to the thing that got him axed.] Just was a shock is all.
... Quite. Just as much as a shock for him, I suppose.
[too bad for him that the dead came after his ass.
watching your roommate get stabbed as the final touch on an already terrible weekend cannot be good, though. especially as someone who comes from a relatively normal life, murder clowns aside. man. the regret is here to stay.]
If it brings you any comfort, he was already dead to begin with. Now he's with the rest of our lost souls... Who are not so lost anymore, as of last week.
Oh, I know. It's a shame that it still looks like a final blow. And feels like one.
[He looks to her, mouth twisted to one side. Maybe he feels like he lost three rounds with a Jeep Cherokee, but the blunt words do help. Small things.]
at least she knew claude was a dead man before uruha and saber killed him right in front of their doorstep, so it's fine. anticipated loss and all that.]
You'll see him again. [said like it's a guaranteed.] ... But first, we have three more weeks of this program to get through. Do try to stay all right until then.
[or else. she will fucking throttle him if he dies, thank you.]
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[but instead he had to watch claude die in front of god and everyone, without any sort of warning. and that she regrets.]
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[There's a flicker of anger. Quickly smothered, loathing turning inward, swallowed up numb again. It makes sense, doesn't it?]
Unless I was supposed to decipher a third rate alphabet code, I don't believe anyone saw fit to warn me. Can't say I blame them — it is a bad week to have a hot-head in the loop.
[It was the right thing to do. He's not equipped to handle the truth. Not to deal with it, in the way it needs to be dealt with, and certainly not to smooth out his mind and quell suspicion.
Still. It grates on him, sharply.]
Did you know about what Uruha and Saber were planning?
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Rich... [god. she lets out a sharp exhale, shaking her head.] That I didn't know about. It sounds like they made a move as soon as they narrowed it down to him.
[which she's gotta respect, honestly. you do not hesitate with this shit. though she now regrets not giving him a heads up, or even poor koharu.]
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Fair. Especially since they came at him with the whistle. No hiding after that, is there?
[There's a drop. Anger is still there, but it's wrangled at the neck by a plummeting resignation.]
...I know it was better to...take care of it. Before it got worse. [He almost says more. You know that Claude hid his infection on our own trip, right? Bites it back. The kid had trouble trusting enough already, there's no point spilling old secrets now. Even if they're playing parallel to the thing that got him axed.] Just was a shock is all.
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[too bad for him that the dead came after his ass.
watching your roommate get stabbed as the final touch on an already terrible weekend cannot be good, though. especially as someone who comes from a relatively normal life, murder clowns aside. man. the regret is here to stay.]
If it brings you any comfort, he was already dead to begin with. Now he's with the rest of our lost souls... Who are not so lost anymore, as of last week.
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Oh, I know. It's a shame that it still looks like a final blow. And feels like one.
[He looks to her, mouth twisted to one side. Maybe he feels like he lost three rounds with a Jeep Cherokee, but the blunt words do help. Small things.]
...Thank you, though, Mizu. I'll be all right.
[Will you?]
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at least she knew claude was a dead man before uruha and saber killed him right in front of their doorstep, so it's fine. anticipated loss and all that.]
You'll see him again. [said like it's a guaranteed.] ... But first, we have three more weeks of this program to get through. Do try to stay all right until then.
[or else. she will fucking throttle him if he dies, thank you.]
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[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.