psychedelica | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ The main reason they're all together is because they have to figure out some sort of plan. Time is clearly running out, and, to be honest, so is Hikage's sanity. Feeling himself slowly chipped away is a chillingly familiar sensation, and he almost welcomes it for the escape from reality it offers.

But he doesn't, because he wants to be with them. And that's the other reason they're here in his and Steph's room. He's afraid that if he's away from them, he'll forget the way he felt when they first confided in him - the happiness he's trying so hard to preserve now.

That said, he looks considerably haggard, and he doesn't say anything right away; he simply looks between the two of them, waiting for someone to say something, anything that might give him a little bit of hope to hang onto. ]

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[belph just

sits on the floor. god, he's so tired. (also, ignore his bandaged hands.) with that said, he just launches right into it.]

Cardia will be announcing all the info I have tomorrow: that each faction has achieved enough objectives, it doesn't matter if we're imbalanced, and what everyone's faction is. And, for those thinking about switching, to wait—I've already warned Souji, who was one of them.

[...]

Ideally, the Editors won't be an issue. The only concern is if the Crafters try to screw up the agreement I've got with them, but we'll see. We can't know for sure until Tuesday, anyway.

... Anyway, the important part is that tomorrow, we've all got to be on the same page. No matter what, we have to make sure we don't screw up the numbers.

It's not over yet.

Edited 2018-07-22 04:00 (UTC)

[ she glances at the bandages and then looks away.

anyway, steph looks fine? kind of like what you'd expect someone to look like after finding out one of her favorite people here helped murder another one of her favorite people here. it's cool. ]

Uh huh.

[ she'll say something helpful in a second, i promise. she's mainly just digesting everything belph just said. ]

[ Hikage is sitting not right next to Steph, but near her. They're both not doing great. He wants to comfort her, but he doesn't know how - not while he's like this. ]

... What's your agreement?

[ he almost doesn't want to know. He also notices those bandages?? What the fuck.

But he has too much on his mind to ask about those, too. He's afraid of what Belph might be trading for this. But if this is their only hope, he has to.

... Chances are, Tiger will be the one giving them their next order, and she'll want to screw up our chances of getting Dragon's ending.

If that happens, then they'll let me know. I'll make sure they die instead.

[ she lets out a breath that she hadn't even been aware she was holding. ]

When did you come up with this?

[ he sighs, too - he was afraid that this "agreement" involved trading his own life away, with how cavalier he's been about it. He sits up a little bit. It's too early to say Hikage has hope again - but, at the very least, he sees an opportunity to do something. A goal to work towards. ]

Let me help you. [ to Belph. ] I've killed people dozens of times. I don't miss.

[ he's had a lot of time to hone his sharpshooting. ]

Today, not long after the trial.

[he waves a hand at hikage. calm down, bro!!]

Whoa, whoa, hold on. We don't know if it'll come down to that, and if it does and they're willing, I doubt it means I'll have to fight them or anything.

Oh my god can we all not immediately gun for the murder route please?!

[ SHE'S VERY DONE. ]

[ he gives her a bit of a flat look. ]

Look at the situation we're in. Killing is all we can do to survive. I wouldn't bet on people being so willing to give up their own lives, either.

Still, man, chill!

And I'm not too sure about that. I think there's people who are willing to let someone else be in the final nine besides them.

[ he'd also be one of those, but he, also, thinks he probably shouldn't say that in front of them, no matter how appealing the idea of ending this right now might sound to him at the moment. ]

How can you -- ...

[ the beginning of an angry and defiant complaint dies on his lips - he's silent for another second, then sighs, shoulders slumping, his hands slowly crawling up over his face. ]

... I'm afraid.

[ he doesn't want to admit it. but he is. it's probably okay to tell someone, if it's them. ]

[he gives steph a meaningful look. comfort him!! belph's on the floor here and emotionally constipated, he can't do anything.]

That's a good thing.

[ binch get off your ass

steph scoots over so that she's a little closer to hikage, and she reaches out to put a hand on his knee. ]

Everyone gets scared. But... we're together. We'll be fine.

[ why is it steph's job to babysit these emotionally constipated losers

in any case, Hikage lets her touch him; he just sighs, shaking his head. It's embarrassing to admit it. But, for once, they don't make fun of him. He supposes that's what friends are supposed to do: support each other when things get serious. ]

... I hope you're right. No, I want you to be right.

[ he glances up at Belph, then to Steph, and looks uncertain. ]

S... I'm sorry.

[ that he's like this. that he put belph in danger during this trial because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. that he's so unstable that they always have to take care of him, in public and in private. he's a terrible friend - but all three of them knew that beforehand. ]

[he smiles, a tad wry.]

What are you apologizing for, idiot?

[it's okay, belph and steph are probably both used to questionable friendships.]

Besides announcing that you're boyfriends, I guess.

[ it's mumbled.

still, she looks at hikage with a fond expression despite the teasing. they really have gone a long way since that first week. ]

[ he's feeling too low to get properly flustered about that; all he does is elbow her half-heartedly. ]

For the way that I am.

[ they're both hurting, too, but they're stepping aside to look after him. As tired and dejected as he is, that fact alone lifts his spirits just a little bit. He needs to remember the reason he wants this to work in the first place. ]

... Don't do anything risky by yourselves.

It would be nice if you didn't villain speech in public...

[he mock gasps.]

Me? Risky? I don't know what you mean. [a beat.] Though Steph is a point of concern...

[ if belph was close enough she'd probably hit him right now. ]

Mm. I haven't done anything risky in weeks.

[ villain speeches just come out of him?? he can't stop it?? ]

She's right. [ as... far as Hikage knows, anyway. ] For once.

[maybe work on that, hikage.]

... You know, I think that's a record.

[ i mean ignoring how throughout week 4 she kept trying to poison herself with natsuo but that's not important . no one caught that ]

You're just jealous that I had a lot of cool adventures.

... I didn't say that.

[ maybe he is, though. why didn't he get to go!! he wants to go on cool adventures with her. ]

Take us next time.

[ he feels a little more normal again, talking to them like this... it's strange. ]

Um, how about no one here have any more cool-but-also-probably-deadly adventures?

[ she looks like she's about to respond, but then she stops. when she thinks about it, the two people she even went on those adventures with are fane and varian; one died this week and the other will tomorrow.

steph shakes her head to snap out of it. ]

They're not that bad.

[ ... Belph is right, really. Hikage's expression sombers somewhat - if it's possible for it to get more somber. ]

If they weren't that bad, I wouldn't have to nag you so much. [ just saying. ] ... Take your own advice, Belph. Don't put yourself in danger with this plan.

[things belph will not say out loud: if they can get someone to switch to the villain faction, it sure won't matter if he dies!!]

Don't worry. I intend to win this.

[ if he says that then she'd murder him!!! ]

We're going to win this.

[ she knows it might not have been a deliberate choice of words, but she also knows belph. ]

[ hikage would also murder him BELPH!!!

Hikage just silently nods in agreement, staring at him seriously. How many times does he have to offer his help to Belph before he'll accept it? ]

If you die in the process, we're not winning.

[he just smiles. ye of little faith, you two! gosh.]

... Belph, please don't do anything without telling me first.

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