the truth is, everyone wishes to be saved.

[finalring]

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?

Comments

[boardreversal]

[Is he fucking getting pinned down by a kitten

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

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

[ghostricked]

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]

[boardreversal]

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

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

[ghostricked]

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?

[boardreversal]

[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.]

[ghostricked]

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]

[boardreversal]

[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?]

[ghostricked]

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.

[boardreversal]

.....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...!']

[ghostricked]

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.

[boardreversal]

...Thank you.

[He remains on his back, automatically reaching down to stroke Sissel when he setting against his side.

He has...a lot to think about, still.

But, maybe, just maybe...

...He can get up and try again.]