PC - Nozomi

[maladied]

Comments

[rescuebullet]

You don't have to be tortured.

[But if he's into that, she really shouldn't get in the way.

She nods.]

I... didn't know how to approach you. I'm sorry we didn't get to talk earlier. How long have you been here?

[vivisexual]

No no, I insist.
[He's just looking for an excuse... Anyway.]

I think we sort of lost track of time. A couple weeks? Maybe a month? Just long enough to perfectly throw us off when you all showed up, I suppose. I didn't really know how to approach you either. There were a lot of other things to be preoccupied with for us both, too.

[rescuebullet]

[She really should've expected that.]

I can understand that. [Between the research and the business.] There's a lot to be busy with.

This disease... what do you mean the version of me you know got infected? What about everyone else?

[vivisexual]

[Ah jeez. Yugamu goes stonefaced.]

It's... It spread so quickly, and then by the time I fully understood what was happening, some of the others were already dead.

[He takes a deep breath and admits;]

And it was all my fault. When you got sick too... I knew it would break Takumi if you died, and I didn't think our group could hold it together without him. So when I was offered a way to find a cure, I jumped at it without a second thought.

[rescuebullet]

How could it have been your fault...?

[It's not like they knew everything about the planet they were on.

But... she supposes that is true. The group does not hold together without Takumi.]

Who made the offer to find a cure?

[vivisexual]

I can't.... really remember. I just know I was offered the chance and agreed. Then I was here.

[Yugamu doesn't answer the first question. Hm.]

[rescuebullet]

[ There are plenty of things she hasn't told him, so she can't blame him for not saying more. ]

Missing memories like that seems a little strange. Is there anything else you can't remember?

[vivisexual]

Just that. In a way it's not completely different from how all of you came here, is it?

[It is what it is.]

Anyway... Have you been doing alright here, Nozomi? Is there any way I can help? Anyone in the group that's been bothering you and could use some gentle persuasion?

[rescuebullet]

I didn't remember agreeing to anything.

[She was dead, so maybe she just got swept in.]

I've been okay, and everybody's been treating me kindly. I promise everything is fine. [Please do not employ "gentle" "persuasion".]

[vivisexual]

[He doesn't want to ask what she does remember because it probably involves mostly being killed by their friends. So.]

You're sure? No one's been taking advantage of your kind and permissive nature? I won't leave any lasting marks.

[rescuebullet]

[ There's a few other reveals, but the murder is definitely on her mind. ]

I'm sure. There's nothing to worry about, okay?

[vivisexual]

[Well, he won't press further. He'll just have to keep an eye on her.]

Okaaaay.

[He thinks for a moment, and a thought occurs to him;]

You weren't affected by the drug? The one the other me gave Takumi.

[rescuebullet]

No, I wasn't.

Sirei and Nigou weren't under its effects either.

[Those two are robots, so of course it wouldn't.]

[vivisexual]

[Hmmmmmmm]

It must have harnessed the power of hemonanima in some way.
[Irrelevant to anything, he's just curious.]

Seems a bit like a monkeys paw since you're the one he's actually sweet on.

[rescuebullet]

Mine is weaker than everyone else's. So that would make sense.

[ The second thing she doesn't know how to comment on, so she doesn't say anything about it! ]

[vivisexual]

[Seems about right in his experience.]

Nozomi... If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?

[rescuebullet]

I thought we were trying to avoid that word.

[ ...

Since he asked, ]

I want humanity to be able to live on Earth again. The real Earth, not Futurum.

[vivisexual]

Mmm... Wishes are tricky things, aren't they? When you read about them in stories, so often it comes down to particular wording, doesn't it?

[The monkeys paw.]

For example, someone could argue you've just left all your friends behind with that wish. Since we're not really human.

[Me looking at Mira: :)]

[rescuebullet]

[ WHAT. ]

Huh? What do you mean? Of course you are.

[vivisexual]

It's alright, Nozomi. We found out a while ago, from how I experienced things. I don't blame you. We were made to fight that war, but frankly, that isn't really all that different from the life I remember having.

[He'd never had much issue with the seemingforced conscription for that reason.]

That's all in the past now, anyway, for better or worse. I just wanted you to know I know so you don't have to worry about keeping it secret.

[rescuebullet]

[ She knew the humans were lying about Earth and Futurum, but what else have they done? ]

... Humanity has really treated you terribly, haven't they? [ Forced to fight in a war, forced to commit atrocities. ] I'm sorry. I didn't know. [ Not knowing doesn't erase the crimes they've committed. Ignorance is not some get out of jail free card. ]

[vivisexual]

[It was a while ago this all shook out for him, he wasn't lying when he told someone else he was 18 now. So he really can't remember what all Nozomi did and didn't know. What did she think they were all in pods for? Ah well, it doesn't really matter now.]

It's alright. I know you wouldn't have meant it that way even if you did know. It was just a convenient example! Be careful what you wish for, and all that.

[rescuebullet]

[ She doesn't really remember the pods very clearly either, but if that's to do with memory tampering or just lingering trauma from death- who knows.

Going quiet for a bit. If humanity never had to find another world to inhabit, then really... none of her friends would exist. However, they seem to exist specifically to fight in a war that humanity has lied to them about. So what's worse? Not existing or existing as a weapon of war.

There are so many cruelties the SDU was subjected to.

How unfair that their lives are like this. ]

... You're right.

[vivisexual]

[He doesn't regret clearing things up with her... But also dang he forgot Nozomi is so good at agonizing over things that frankly don't need her specifically to agonize over them.]

Do you want cake or lizards?

[Normal either or scenario.]

[rescuebullet]

[ Don't worry, the agonizing will be happening at all times. ]

Huh? [ This feels like a completely different aside, but it's so odd that it pulls her out of her overthinking for a moment. ] Lizards?