[UMINEKO SPOILERS] Heart (Scored) - Kyrie, Rika, Ange

[damedana]

The story ends as such:
"when the seagulls cried, none were left alive"...

But this isn't such a sad story.

This is a story about love.

Comments

[meatitfeedson]

...I see. Then it does seem as if I have little choice. I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind it too much. ...And that Ange is still safe.

[damedana]

Ange will be safe.

But even with as little as you know, she can't know it.

Final answer, then. Since you kept going back and forth.

Which is the lie?

[meatitfeedson]

...Fine, you're trying to tell me to stop thinking so hard, to just be emotional instead, right? Then I hate the second, so that's the lie. I think it makes the most logical sense to be the third, or after that the first, but the second is the only one that's making me want to scream! I hate that anything uninvolved people have to say about it could affect how you think of yourself, they don't have any say in who you are - even though I'm playing this game, I don't either.

[damedana]

[injured Battler makes a terrible noise almost immediately after she finishes, but closer inspection shows that it's because a terrible thorn just pulled itself out of his heart.

meanwhile, the uninjured Battler... seems to actually settle a little, a tight coil unwinding just slightly.]

[meatitfeedson]

[She's terrified of what that noise means for a moment, searching him to see what damage she's done - but, oh. Oh she's so glad.]

Ahh, I think I get it, Battler-kun. I'm sorry, hang in there a little longer.

[She's still crouched beside the injured one, but looks between them when she says that.]

[damedana]

[uninjured Battler looks away.]

The corruption is starting to affect memories of what occurred on Rokkenjima in 1986.
There is no true way for someone like Ange to know how Ushiromiya Battler was actually like without something like this occurring.
My only regret is that I couldn't help more with making Rokkenjima the reality it was.
I took full advantage of my own weakened state because I was bored and needed people to engage with the truths distorted by the corruption.

Which is a lie?

[meatitfeedson]

I don't think it's your only regret, but I have much more of a problem with the second one again. Are you calling my cute daughter stubborn?

You're just frustrated by her stubbornness. But Ange loves you, so she would understand sooner or later. Rather, aren't you not giving her enough credit? If you're giving up on her, then you don't have any room to talk, and purposefully showing her lies isn't going to help. Understanding each other can be tough, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it.

[damedana]

[injured Battler makes another pained noise, this time gripping onto Kyrie white-knuckled because it's a few thorns pulling out from his heart this time. but when that's over, he just kind of wheezes a laugh and says a quiet ow... coping things, y'know. he HAS been through worse.

uninjured Battler is less relaxed but more openly showing the truth to the "anger" that's been everything--a confusion, a fear, a hurt. but he shakes his head and closes his eyes tightly, not disagreeing with what's said but it's painful, it hurts.]

... this is the last one, as it's the most relevant.

I will not love anyone else the way I love Beatrice.
Love is despair.
I will continue to love in spite of despair.
I've tried to hate you but can't.

[meatitfeedson]

[She takes the injured one's hand and squeezes it between both of hers, but looks up at the other.]

Come on, you put them in the wrong order, they just got easier. I know at least the last two for fact. But "love is despair"? Even I know that's not true, love isn't despair, loving someone hurts more than anything, but it's not because there's anything bad about love. It's being vulnerable that's painful. Loving someone means giving them the ability to hurt you because you've offered that trust. It's awful if they make a mistake, or even purposefully trample it. But that's not what love is. It's just love, it's a good thing, it will always be much more happy than sad, that's why the next point is true - you'll keep feeling it anyway, no matter what.

[damedana]

[probably a little alarming, but the Battler with the heart problems just kind of reaches into his chest to pull at the thorns--no longer that purple color, going black and withering. but thankfully it's fine. they snap, brittle, under his fingers and he gives the biggest sigh of relief.

similarly, the vines and thorns among the flowers seem to be steadily going the same way, dark and withering.]

I really wish... they'd stop targetting that...

[meatitfeedson]

It's a favourite theme, huh? Maybe you should do a better job of remembering it.

[She laughs a little, teasing.]

[damedana]

[injured Battler seems ready to laugh along with the teasing

but uninjured Battler slams a fist down on the table pretty firmly before getting up from his seat and just walking over to a flower bed.

the look on injured Battler's face is definitely an "oops" one.]

[meatitfeedson]

[Oh -

She pats his arm and gives an apologetic smile before getting up to go join uninjured Battler.]

Sorry, Battler-kun. That was an inappropriate joke. ...You seem like you feel a bit better though?

[damedana]

[he doesn't look to her, shoulders defensively up and tense but it looks still even less like actual anger and more...]

I'm fine now. Thank you.

[uncharacteristically polite but also voice still coming out a little strangled, like there's a weight to it.]

[meatitfeedson]

Battler-kun... Don't you know you don't have to be so polite with me? I know it's not that easy, so if there's still something wrong, I hope you know you can ask for my help, if you want it.

...Or that we can just sit here and talk, or quietly have tea, since I doubt I can just leave.

[damedana]

... I can't--I can't say anything. There's no "talking about it" because of... stupid taboos or just because it-- [hurts too damn much.]

I won't lie, it's scary. Someone like you knowing even a little of it. I couldn't feel it at the time, but... you're really scary, you know that?

[now he looks over to her and actually, mad boy is a sad boi, actually.]

But even then, you still only have half of it. Not even, maybe. What I can say and what I can't--both are the truth. And Ange can't know, I have to confuse the issue with her, but I'm not... giving up on her. She just won't have the full picture...

[trails off, clearly unable to finish the sentence. oh no, this is actually the thing he's saddest about right now]

1/2

[meatitfeedson]

[Oh, that hurts a lot. She knows he's afraid of her, but still, hearing it really sucks?]

I know I am. Although I didn't think I managed to do anything to be frightening this time...

[meatitfeedson]

[She puts a hand on his arm though, a bit tentative so he can easily reject it.]

I know you're not giving up on her, Battler-kun. And that it's not easy to navigate all this. But I do think it will work out, because you both care, you're both going to try. That's what really matters, isn't it? Even if she's frustrating.

[damedana]

[when communication occurs but there are still errors in translation and you can't correct because taboos and aaaaaaa so just. a very brittle smile.]

... I can have Virgilia bring Ange here. And Ronove can bring some tea.

[also since when was this Battler the one with the chest wound? well, it's fine. it's all Battler anyway.]

[meatitfeedson]

If you'd like --

[She looks back when she notices his chest, to see if the other one is even still there??]

[damedana]

[he sure ain't! one Battler now.

and he just waits.]

[meatitfeedson]

[Well she can at least accept this easily, sighing.]

Oh good, now I don't have to feel like I'm always neglecting one of you.

...How does it feel? It's not like I can fix it, but still, maybe we can wrap something around it?

[damedana]

It'll heal, with enough time. Really, I could probably heal it now, but I figure Ange wouldn't like me acting like nothing was wrong, so...

[and yet he's more tired than traumatized but probably that's the Used To A Lot Of Trauma thing.]

[meatitfeedson]

[God you're really her kid. Stop that.]

Ah, good point. ...That reminds me, she said you used things I taught you during those games - that was nice to hear, I hope they helped and didn't just get in the way like they did for me just now.

[damedana]

[make him.]

Oh. Yeah. Actually... I did struggle with it for a bit, but... there were a lot of factors in that. But in the end, yeah. It. Really helped. I just wish I could have gotten the hang of it sooner.