thefoundation | the truth is, everyone wishes to be saved.

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round 5

the truth is, everyone wishes to be saved.

The execution has come and passed with the death of two more Agents. However time moves on without cease and so must the living. There are no celebrations, only the silence that grows heavier and heavier with every day and the feeling that something is pleased with what it has done.

There are two more days before the new week arrives: what will you do?

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[Sorry buddy. He doesn't stop him from moving- couldn't even if he wanted to. But Sissel is like a little shadow all weekend. Saying nothing. Just... existing to make sure he doesn't do anything reckless while he grieves]

[You can't really do anything reckless if you don't...do anything.

At all.

Though when Sissel comes in front of him, he just...presses his face into the tiny cat's fur, and cries soundlessly.]

It's...my fault....

[He lays down and allows it]

Of course it's not, Battler.

[He shakes his head.]

I promised....I promised her...that I wouldn't let her get...

But...I...I couldn't think...of anyone else to suggest, and then, Aunt Rosa....

Her death....happened, because I....was useless...

You can't control what people do, Battler.

[now he knows for sure he can never tell who those two votes were. that secret will go with him to his grave]

That doesn't...make it any better....

[He starts sobbing, just a little.]

It hurts...it hurts so much...I want...I want to see her again, but I can't....I can't....I'll never....see her again....oooh, uwoooh....

Let it out. You can scream in my side if you want.

....I don't...want to scream anymore...

[Honestly, he probably physically can't right now.]

...I can't....even see her on monday....like the others...

[somehow, he starts smiling.]

I...understand, now. How....Grandfather must have felt....

Maybe that's for the best.

[but when he mentions his grandfather... well he learned enough from Battler's long story to wiggle around and face the human directly]

Understanding is one thing. But you're not like him. You're a good man.

[As if Sissel acknowledging it would make it completely true. That Battler would never do something like Kinzo would- even if he knew he couldn't truly say that with any real certainty.]

...

[He lets Sissel go, taking in a breath at that, but just...covers his eyes with an arm.]

I'm just....so tired, Sissel....

[No kun. Not right now.]

I wanted....to believe that everyone....could see it, too...That even if she was offering, she....didn't actually want to die...

[He grits his teeth.]

....I want....to see her again, if even she curses at me. For...being a coward...and breaking my promise....But I...can't...and everyone else....all of you, can....

I'm so...useless.

She was trying to be pragmatic. That... seems like something she'd do even if she was scared.

But... if there's anything you want to say to her, I can carry that message. I don't think it's a good idea, but I'll do it.

[There's a moment...before he shakes his head.]

N-no...from what everyone's been saying, I...All I'll have to do...is talk out loud to her.

[...]

It's...not a message, that I want. I...

[He just buries his face in a pillow, the sound of muffled sobbing rising up shortly after.

It's just not fair...nor can he articulate it, properly.

All there is...is his despair.]

[Sissel watches him for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

Then swats him in the face- no claws, but he's not exactly gentle either]

-Ah?!

[He can't help but make a surprised yelp when he feels that little paw whap against his face, raising his head and looking over in surprise.]

[He jumps up onto Battler's chest, forcing him to roll over and putting Sissel on the 'high ground' in a way]

Correct me if I'm understanding it wrong. But your battles with the Witch. They were you denying the false 'truth' she tried to make, right?

[Is he fucking getting pinned down by a kitten

He does, staring wide-eyed at Sissel in confusion.]

I - yeah, but....what does that...?

And you've confirmed that what you see outside is different from what we see, right?!

[He's probably never seen Sissel this aggressive, even during trials]

[He sure hasn't, and it's almost kind of frightening.]

Y-Yes, but...Sissel-kun, what -

Hush, listen. So clearly this game isn't over. You don't have all the evidence that proves this unfair fate is the way things are 'going' to happen, right? That there's no more hope?

If that Witch saw you giving up so quickly she would laugh at you. Surely Rin likes the stubborn idiot you the most, right?

[He still looks in shock...though, after a moment - he slowly...ever so slowly, nods.]

...

[For now, he's hushing up and listening - but there's a bit of something a little stronger in those eyes, instead of just pure sorrow and despair.]

As long as there's one single possibility left to us, we have to keep reaching out for it.

[He remembers climbing onto that torpedo with Missile and Yomiel on a madman's quest- to hope for just one possible chance to undo it all. To save everyone.

It should have been impossible. But they did it, somehow]

Tell me, Battler. Are you completely and totally sure that Rin and the others are dead?

[Sissel himself doesn't think they're not- but that doesn't mean they are not savable. So in a way they are 'still alive'- but to ease Battler into that thought process would take a less direct approach. A soft paw, in a way]

[That -

Actually gets him to stop, his eyes widening.

'...That's...right, isn't it?
I've...never witnessed their deaths.
I was always told about it after the fact, and that there was blood or something that 'seemed' like it was a corpse, but...
...

But, no...']

...Then are you telling me everyone else is lying about seeing their ghosts, Sissel-kun? Including you?

[Unfortunately, he's not that dumb. And if they're not dead -

Then, the answer is everyone is lying, isn't it?]

Edited 2020-05-04 04:25 (UTC)

No, because you already accepted that what you see and what we see are different.

We can be telling the truth as we know it and it still can be untrue. We don't have your Witch's Truth to confirm or deny things with, you know.

And... if I'm being honest- I don't think they're actually swapping out fake bodies or anything like that. I do think they're dead. But I won't deny that I can't disprove it either. And I can save my grief for after I know everything for sure.

[He doesn't know the term 'Devil's Proof' but if he did... well]

I'm not asking you to start thinking we're not actually in any danger here. Just... that until we solve this place, until the Curse is gone, that we don't know for sure what is actually happening. If you give up now, and there was something, even something seemingly impossible, that we could have done? Then that's just killing them all over again. That's accepting the fate this place has already decided for you.

.....A Devil's Proof...

[More than that, he's...remembering what Virgillia told him, and the discussion they had.

He's...not sure if he can believe the idea that they're not really dead - but the reminder that they're not lying, That he sees something different than all of them...makes him taking a deep breath.

'...Sissel-kun...is right.
Did I just give up because I decided this isn't a board?
No. I promised, to myself...that I would help them all.

...If I'm being honest...It still hurts.
I think...I'll be hurting for Rin for a long, long time...
...But, if there's even a slight chance....that all of this suffering, for everyone, can be solved...
...Then I can't avert my eyes from that.
Then, I have to get back up again....and face this head on...!'

His eyes sharpen a bit, losing the air of hopelessness in them before he nods again.]

...You're....You're right. I...can't give up.

['I can't let Rin and everyone's deaths be in vain...!']

Hm.

[He can't smile, but the feeling is still there. He finally hops off Battle to curl up against this side instead]

And I'll keep supporting you.

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boardreversal - 2020-05-04 06:47 (UTC) - Expand

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