catchall; valerie

[ohthehumanities]

this one is more for you lisa than for val tbh

Comments

[huntressinred]

No, just...the people.

[ohthehumanities]

Can I ask who?

[Though he says it gently, since he remembers being traumatized on his first CYOA about this.]

[huntressinred]

Well, obviously Mizuki and Nahri and Jonas...

[ but then wraps her arms around herself, small, like a futile attempt at self-soothing ]

...but then also Fei Du, and--and Alex, and...someone I knew from home.

[ohthehumanities]

[Aww, Valerie. Kaveh's gaze softens, and he reaches out, putting a gentle hand on her arm.]

That happened on mine as well. It took a long time to believe they weren't really there with us.

[huntressinred]

[ she allows it, because she is distraught with other things right now ]

I mean, I know they weren't. But that doesn't exactly help when they nearly kill you...and you nearly kill them.

[ohthehumanities]

[Fair and valid.]

Mm. I know. [They're memories that won't go away, unfortunately. He, Alex, and Eiden died so many times--but even knowing that they're safe here, at least for the next few hours, can't erase the memories.] Were they part of that cult? Or was it something else?

[huntressinred]

They were. Not willingly, but...yeah.

[ohthehumanities]

[He sighs.]

These... illusions, or whatever they are--they're so cruel.

[huntressinred]

Is it really an illusion if it hits so close to home?

[ohthehumanities]

[Honestly, that's an excellent question. He's quiet for a while, considering.]

...I think it occupies a dual space. [He says, finally.] It wasn't necessarily real--but the pain it inflicted on you is.

[huntressinred]

The pain inflicted on me isn't what I'm worried about.

[ohthehumanities]

What do you mean?

[huntressinred]

...the person I knew from home. I hurt them really, really bad.

It's...what I thought I wanted. It's what I'd been trying to do, back home. But actually managing to do it... [ she shakes her head ]