[ the thing is no matter how much you trust a person, it's insanely weird. he knows this. biting can go one of two ways and he's not used to doing it just for potential points and following bullshit rules. but it's setsu, and he figures this is the way to play along. reciprocation. tit for tat. and all that.
he's careful when he takes their hand, and for a second he's just holding on to it to stall a little. ]
Also a good point. Makes it easier to figure out who's being targeted or not by these things, too. [ ...but with that, he just exhales quietly and carefully brings up their hand and arm, carefully clamping teeth around their hand. it's slow and zero pressure, but enough to count. ]
...couldn't really think of a better place to do it. Sorry.
[ for the most part, their emotions fall into a quiet lull. just watching him at this point, since well not much else they can do. when he does hold it for a bit to stall he will feel a light squeeze of their hands. very brief. to reassure this was fine.
except, when it happens, that calm jumps into a light surprise. but they remain still and just offers a sheepish smile afterwards. ]
You don't need to apologize. ..I'm happy to have been able to help you with the task. [ if it could work with using them, that makes it easier, doesn't it? there's a feeling of light fond. ] And with that, we have one rule already covered.
[ his shoulders sort of sag in relief once it's done. ]
One rule covered. Thanks, Setsu. At least this one didn't specify it has to be with someone on another team so that made it easier, too. [ he ponders on the rest though. ] The other rule shouldn't be too hard either.
Hey, gotta stick together, don't we? [ easy to consider, easy to do. at least for them. ] We should...probably at least try for one person we trust on another team, just in case. I don't want us caught off-guard because of some dumb unwritten rule. But it doesn't have to be today.
[ instead, he's moving tf on. ]
Have you thought about any ideas for the second one at all?
[ noooo. no uncertainty. he's not entirely sure what caused it, but there's a little flicker of curiosity that he doesn't address. ]
...not a bad way to do it. It just says to do something to remember the Erased, right? Pretty sure paying respects counts for that. [ ... ] We can go together if you want.
[ it's fine! that feeling is gone, settled in a comforting calm. they blink a little at the offer though before showing them a small smile as that calm shifts into contentment. ]
Why not? I wouldn't say no to your company. [ they weren't getting anywhere with these books anyways. and what better than to get both weekly tasks out of the way quickly? ]
Then let's get going. I...haven't really been back over there since Hikari died anyway, so I probably should, too. [ if only because it doesn't feel that right otherwise to just ignore it. ]
[ a nod, hand settling over their own chest as if in quiet promise. ]
I'm sure they would appreciate the thought of us visiting them. [ they can go! fortunately, the walk from the library to the park shouldn't take too long. though, they aren't in any rush to in the first place. taking the time to walk beside him. ]
[ they walk a little close to him, mostly out of sheer habit, as they listen.]
...I'm not sure. Admittedly, I never really gave the afterlife much thought until here. [ when they were erased, they just moved on to the next loop. it's strange to think that here it's just.. permanent? maybe. ]
It would be nice to think they are somewhere though.
Yeah. It would be. It's weird to think about them just not going anywhere after we've taken the time to try and get to know them, so it's like...a hope, I guess? That even if they aren't still around here somewhere that they were able to pass on somewhere safer and better for them. [ he keep shis hands in his pockets, emotions gently wavering to something thoughtful and melancholy. ]
I don't know. I've thought about it more than I should, probably. [ the afterlife. ]
I would like that for them. It's a nice thing to hope for. [ their words are said quietly, their emotions a distant sorrow. it's something to face anything so permanent as this. but, if they do continue to be around somewhere, even if out of reach, wouldn't that be ideal? ... ]
I think it's a valid thought for anyone to have. For me, it just became a matter of "onto the next loop." But here... anywhere, really, it's possible.
I've thought about asking the reapers for their opinion to hear it myself, but it feels too early and sudden to do it. Not while the game's still barely getting started. [ he thinks maybe they won't have a satisfactory answer, is what it is. ] Like...how do we know you wouldn't just go on to the next loop because that's what happens where you're from? How do we know I wouldn't just go somewhere else because that's what happens where I'm from? It's all a bunch of questions right now.
I agree it's probably too early to ask now. But... maybe later. [ they have the same thought, that they're more likely to be told things like "does that really matter right now." ]
So long as I have the silver key with me, my assumption has always been that even if I do get erased here I'll go back. [ which is why they can afford to be more worried about him, about the rest of the team. anyways, by now, they're entering the park with the sight of crosses coming into view. ] ..It would be nice to even have a little sign, right?
[ that they're okay, rather than just cease to exist. ]
Don't lose the key then. [ a light joke, and an easy dismissal of the reapers topic. instead, he's focused on the park and the little memorials ahead, humming in agreement. ]
I'm not even sure what sign it'd take for most of us to believe they were still somewhere else. Or at least know they were doing okay. It doesn't seem like it'd be as simple as rainbows across the sky or something.
Won't be a problem. [ unless, you know, maybe someone snatched it off their dead body or something i guess. ]
Hmmm.. maybe not. I think some kind of message would be good and straightforward enough. But it isn't as if we can just message them on our devices or anything. [ imagine. ] Hard to say what we could possibly look out for.
...Admittedly, I haven't tried to send any. [ IT'S SO STUPID IN THEORY AND YET... there's a bit of disbelief, but it's directed at themselves than anything ] I haven't looked either...
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he's careful when he takes their hand, and for a second he's just holding on to it to stall a little. ]
Also a good point. Makes it easier to figure out who's being targeted or not by these things, too. [ ...but with that, he just exhales quietly and carefully brings up their hand and arm, carefully clamping teeth around their hand. it's slow and zero pressure, but enough to count. ]
...couldn't really think of a better place to do it. Sorry.
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except, when it happens, that calm jumps into a light surprise. but they remain still and just offers a sheepish smile afterwards. ]
You don't need to apologize. ..I'm happy to have been able to help you with the task. [ if it could work with using them, that makes it easier, doesn't it? there's a feeling of light fond. ] And with that, we have one rule already covered.
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One rule covered. Thanks, Setsu. At least this one didn't specify it has to be with someone on another team so that made it easier, too. [ he ponders on the rest though. ] The other rule shouldn't be too hard either.
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You helped me out too. [ they nod at that, pondering. ] I don't think I'd be able to manage it so easily if it was someone on another team.
[ but it's fine... ] It leaves a lot to do there with the second one, yes.
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[ instead, he's moving tf on. ]
Have you thought about any ideas for the second one at all?
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Hmmm.. I noticed there were crosses set up for them, in the park. I thought about paying them a visit.
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...not a bad way to do it. It just says to do something to remember the Erased, right? Pretty sure paying respects counts for that. [ ... ] We can go together if you want.
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Why not? I wouldn't say no to your company. [ they weren't getting anywhere with these books anyways. and what better than to get both weekly tasks out of the way quickly? ]
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I'm sure they would appreciate the thought of us visiting them. [ they can go! fortunately, the walk from the library to the park shouldn't take too long. though, they aren't in any rush to in the first place. taking the time to walk beside him. ]
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Where do you think they actually are now anyway? I mean...we don't know they went anywhere or whatever but...what's the afterlife after the afterlife?
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...I'm not sure. Admittedly, I never really gave the afterlife much thought until here. [ when they were erased, they just moved on to the next loop. it's strange to think that here it's just.. permanent? maybe. ]
It would be nice to think they are somewhere though.
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I don't know. I've thought about it more than I should, probably. [ the afterlife. ]
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I would like that for them. It's a nice thing to hope for. [ their words are said quietly, their emotions a distant sorrow. it's something to face anything so permanent as this. but, if they do continue to be around somewhere, even if out of reach, wouldn't that be ideal? ... ]
I think it's a valid thought for anyone to have. For me, it just became a matter of "onto the next loop." But here... anywhere, really, it's possible.
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anyway...it is a nice thing to hope for. ]
I've thought about asking the reapers for their opinion to hear it myself, but it feels too early and sudden to do it. Not while the game's still barely getting started. [ he thinks maybe they won't have a satisfactory answer, is what it is. ] Like...how do we know you wouldn't just go on to the next loop because that's what happens where you're from? How do we know I wouldn't just go somewhere else because that's what happens where I'm from? It's all a bunch of questions right now.
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So long as I have the silver key with me, my assumption has always been that even if I do get erased here I'll go back. [ which is why they can afford to be more worried about him, about the rest of the team. anyways, by now, they're entering the park with the sight of crosses coming into view. ] ..It would be nice to even have a little sign, right?
[ that they're okay, rather than just cease to exist. ]
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I'm not even sure what sign it'd take for most of us to believe they were still somewhere else. Or at least know they were doing okay. It doesn't seem like it'd be as simple as rainbows across the sky or something.
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Hmmm.. maybe not. I think some kind of message would be good and straightforward enough. But it isn't as if we can just message them on our devices or anything. [ imagine. ] Hard to say what we could possibly look out for.
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Has anyone tried to send them messages since they were erased? I haven't even looked if they've been removed from our contacts.
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...Admittedly, I haven't tried to send any. [ IT'S SO STUPID IN THEORY AND YET... there's a bit of disbelief, but it's directed at themselves than anything ] I haven't looked either...
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But, later as you said. For now, let's focus on this. [ they can focus on their friends whom have been erased...
which we can also wrap this thread up hehe.... busy weekend coming up. ]