[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

[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.

[meatitfeedson]

Mm, like you said, I only know half of it, or not even. But it sounds like you've been through a lot...so to make it, I'm sure you must have learned a lot, and come up with your own ideas too. That's pretty amazing, you know.

[damedana]

... not really. A lot of it was retreading things I... should have already known.

[meatitfeedson]

That's just how life always is, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with that.

[damedana]

I mean... there is if it has to too late for some things.

... anyway, yeah, I still learned a lot of new things, too.

[meatitfeedson]

I don't like these circumstances, but otherwise, I can tell that I would really enjoy debating with you like this. You would make a good opponent.

[damedana]

You say that but I think even you'd start getting my case about my "small bombs".

[meatitfeedson]

Small bombs? It sounds a bit silly, but I don't know, there's no reason that can't be an argument. You might sound more credible if you just call them "explosives", though.

[damedana]

[this should not be funny but in fact, he's snerk-laughing because yeah.]

I don't know how "they ate an explosive small enough that their stomachs exploded" sounds any more reasonable than "the candy had small bombs inside them", but probably.

[meatitfeedson]

[Wow Battler. It's cute though? She laughs, anyway!]

Using even slightly more technical phrasing immediately improves the perception of anything you say. Although there's not much helping that, I admit.

[damedana]

Sometimes finding an argument that works means going with an option too ridiculous to discount.

[meatitfeedson]

"Throw things at the wall and see what sticks", right? Or negotiating by starting with an absurd demand, knowing it's going to be rejected. It's not a bad tactic at all.

[damedana]

Kinda fun to play cards by losing a bunch of hands before pulling out a winning move when everyone's got their guard down.

[but okay. ... okay. he's. calmer now. just.

gestures back to the table and chairs. there are three chairs now, anyway.]

Ange should be here soon. How about a game while we wait?

[meatitfeedson]

[man. Yep that's definitely a Kyrie trait there. Quit being so her kid.]

That sounds like fun.