War Rooms: WILD CITY

[idolpro]

[This room might be a nice, slightly whimsical surrounds to talk things over in, if it weren't for the collars and countdowns on your phones. ]

Comments

[hitorikiri]

Nervous?

[iamverybadass]

[ There's a long hesitation, and then he nods. ]

It...does not seem that we are guaranteed to be saved.

[hitorikiri]

We are unpopular.

[ pretty bluntly ]

[iamverybadass]

...I received the sense that most people I have met have liked me. I do not understand why, but it is...

[ trails off, not sure where he was going with that ]

I suppose it does not matter now. They all have stronger bonds to consider.

[hitorikiri]

A pure and honest heart is one that is easily liked.

[ with a pause, moving to pet his hair ]

Did you make friends?

[iamverybadass]

[ leans into the touch, taking a few deep breaths to calm his nerves ]

...I do not understand when someone becomes a friend. But I believe I met people who would say that I am one now.

Still, I...I doubt it will have any bearing on their decisions.

[hitorikiri]

. . . These games are difficult. For everyone.

[ continuing to pet him, his expression hardly any less scary but somehow trying to offer comfort ]

[iamverybadass]

[ it is helping in that he's not crying so far ]

...Do you think the other units will be alright?

[hitorikiri]

Whatever happens in this game will pass - even death. But, such experiences will change people.

[ quietly ]

Beyond physical pain, there is surely the emotional struggle this will create. I can say that physically, they will recover. Emotionally - I do not know.

[iamverybadass]

...I still do not understand how death can simply pass. It seems to me that the emotions should be more easily recovered from. Everyone I have spoken to since arriving seems...okay.

[ More or less. ]

[hitorikiri]

They will reanimate our bodies to defy death. Such is the nature of this place.

But the experience remains. Even when the pain has disappeared, the memory of the wound will endure.

It is not just the emotions of this trial that one must recover from. One must consider, too - that this will happen again. One can recover if the end is in sight, but when there is no light at the end of the tunnel, that is when the heart suffers.

[iamverybadass]

...Ah. I had not... I did not give much thought to the true extent of what it is like...

[ starting to look more rattled now, leaning into Silver's side ]

[hitorikiri]

[ i fucked it up i FUCKED IT ALL UP ]

Talon. Hold fast to your heart.

[iamverybadass]

I will—... How do I do that?

[hitorikiri]

. . . One game at a time. Do not become overwhelmed.

The future can wait for when it happens. Right now, think of now - think of what you will do after this game. Think of that which lightens your heart - the good that you know.

[iamverybadass]

I don't... There's just Wild City. Maybe my sketchbook, but that is not... It cannot compare to this.

[hitorikiri]

I can turn into a wolf.

[ a beat ]

Silver seems to like that. Do you like animals?

[iamverybadass]

I...yes. I believe so.

[hitorikiri]

Then I can show you after this game.

[ he's trying , ]

[iamverybadass]

... [ time for some more deep breathing, slowly getting less shaky ]

Alright.

[hitorikiri]

[ hair pet ]

[iamverybadass]

[ this is the only good thing now ]

...Thank you, Matcha.

[hitorikiri]

Mmm.

[ quiet, comfortably silent as he keeps petting him. he doesn't know how to help kids but at least he dialed it back from fucking it up. thank god ]