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[painlessfighter]

[VIDEO. Natsuo can be seen lounging on his couch in his townhome (see icon). He yawns, stretches, rests his hands behind his head...]

Lame. If I actually lived here, I wouldn't just be some kid in town. I would be much better than that.

Hey, was that supposed to scare us or something? Even the zombies were scarier than that, and they weren't even scary.

[... He does narrow his eyes a bit at that thought, and his ear twitches... but he shakes his head and banishes those sorts of thoughts.]

Where is everyone? Are we closer to going home yet?

Comments

[terezi_pyrope]

1TS 4 PROM1S3

MY BLOOD COLOR 1S T34L
TYP1C4LLY ON MY WORLD TH4T WOULD M34N TH4T 1 W4S 4 H1GHBLOOD, BUT TH3 LOW3ST TH3R3 COULD B3
4ND TH3R3 W4S 4 WHOL3 LOT OF P3RSUCUT1ON BULLSH1T TH4T H4D TO DO W1TH BLOOD COLOR
1F YOU W3R3 4 LOWBLOOD, TH3 L4W D1D NOT PROT3CT YOU

[painlessfighter]

Why would they do the same thing twice? That's boring and stupid, and we'd see it coming.

[Of course, that's got a very "Duhhh~" tone behind it.]

[painlessfighter]

[Neither is Natsuo. They'll get there, and they'll make whoever's behind this suffer. Greatly.] Yes. Exactly! See? It's a good plan. So let's work together, okay?

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk smiles, one side lifting higher than the other.] Yeah.

Should we think about plans now, or see what they want to throw at us next? I think some general ideas might be best.

[fortune_sought]

[she can't help a faint smile at that tone. she moves to rejoin him] The stew should be just about done.

But... [she sighs, her worry--and her hopeless feelings--obvious in her expression] I don't see how knowing in advance would help us. We couldn't exactly stop it, could we? And Natsuo, did you... [she pauses, considering how to ask this] Have you spoken to the person who answers Nathan's CAT?

[painlessfighter]

I don't usually think of plans. Other people are better at that than I am. [Headtilt!] What kind of general ideas?

[painlessfighter]

Okay. [He gives her a nod, then tries to peeeeeer into the pot while he answers her questions:]

No. But I still don't think they'll do it again. Have they done anything twice yet? And what person? On the CAT? No, I didn't know we could talk to someone else! Who is it?

[desertdaggers]

I see… well, that should give us room to adapt. For handling whatever they throw at us.

Personally, I'm in favour of hitting back at it.

[fortune_sought]

[she takes the spoon and pulls out a bit to test. she smacks her lips and turns off the fire] Yes, that should do.

[thoughtfully] Well...it isn't the first time they've changed our memories, though they were very different circumstances. But I suppose most people in town weren't here yet the first time.

I've no idea. This person only speaks to us through text. But... [she pauses, feeling slightly ashamed to say this. she mentally chides herself, though, because she knows there's no reason to feel that way--but she still does] Natsuo, that person told me that would happen before it did. In fact...I believe some of what happened was because of our conversation.

[painlessfighter]

Hitting back is good. [Smile!] We should definitely do that, no matter what. And if we hit back hard enough, maybe we can make them stop!

[painlessfighter]

Yay! [He moves to stand out of her way, taking his glass of water with him. He's seen what happens when Youji tries to pester Soubi when Soubi's dealing with soup - namely Youji ends up covered in it, after which yelling ensues. While it's greatly amusing to watch, he has no desire to suffer the same fate. ♥]

But you said they were different circumstances. So it still isn't doing the same thing twice.

Huh? ... So... what did you say? [It's not at all accusatory. It's actually just 100% curiosity.]

[desertdaggers]

Yeah. [Hawk's expression settles into determination, eyebrows set.] I'm fed up with being at someone else's whims.

So it's not 'maybe'. It's 'definitely'.

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie brings the pot over the table, where she already has a potholder set] Have a seat.

And hasn't it occurred to you that they could do something similar that's not quite the same?

[Sophie sighs, sitting down at the table and dishing up a bowl for Natsuo] The other person said that we were already home and just hadn't realised it yet. So I said, naturally, that my home is with my husband and son. [she stops, taking a moment to swallow the lump in her throat. she sets the bowl down in front of him, but she keeps her eyes on it. she can't bring herself to look at him] Natsuo, it made me believe I had a husband and family here.

[painlessfighter]

[He thinks about that while he takes his seat.] … I guess, but it’s still not the same.

So... you think that since you said that, they made it happen? [He tilts his head.] That just makes them even more rude. Hey, all the more reason to find them!

[fortune_sought]

[she sits down, focusing on dishing out a bowl for herself. but she turns to him in surprise at that comment] Yes. Yes, of course! I wouldn't suggest anything else.

[in fact, she feels like she should be protesting, but she can't think of any protests to give. after a moment, she simply says:] Thank you, Natsuo.

[painlessfighter]

Right!

[He blinks.] Huh? Why? What did I do?

[fortune_sought]

[she reddens a bit] For--for joining me for dinner, of course. Eat up.

[painlessfighter]

[He’s none the wiser. He just sighs as he spoons some of the stew into his bowl.] You’re so sappy, Sophie. [But clearly that doesn't matter, in the face of:] This stew looks really good!

[fortune_sought]

[she gives him an indignant look--but decides to let that pass, considering his comment about the stew mollifies her] Let me know how it tastes.

[painlessfighter]

[He tries it even though it's probably still reallyreallyhot aaaand...]

It's good! I wish someone back home could cook like you. Maybe living with Soubi would be easier that way.

[fortune_sought]

[she smiles at that answer, though she just blows on her own for now] I could always teach you if you'd like.

[painlessfighter]

Okay! [waaait.] ... But then I'd have to cook for all of them. Because I'd be the best. Boo.

You didn't see that misfire!

[fortune_sought]

[she snorts] You could always teach them.

[worldsapart]

Yeah. I actually... kind of liked it. Having a family.

[painlessfighter]

Mm. Me too. But I think we could be like that anyway, you know.