And about the whole time frame stuff--yeah it's been a couple of months here, but I was meaning even before that. Do I gotta go over how timelines weirdness works? 'Cause there's a lot of that going on.
[Battler being unusually quiet but it's mostly because he's deadeyeing that taboo of his and debating how to phrase things]
... I wasn't killed with everyone else on the island. [said a bit slowly, hesitant.] And the culprit wasn't Aunt Eva.
[pauses and kind of looks down at his wet clothes and the wonky reed basket he still has.]
Some things have happened and I've seen a lot of different ways what happened on Rokkenjima could happen, including what you remember. But it's a little hard to talk about what happened with me, specifically, because of a taboo.
[Battler ALMOST gets a forehead flick, but Jessica mercifully pulls back, deciding that she's inflicted enough violence on Battler.
FOR NOW]
Speaking of stupid things you did when you were young: be more careful with your words, dumbass!
Even I could tell that Sayo was a bit torn up over that "prince on a white horse" thing, sheesh...
Now that you're married to Beatrice, I've got to step up as her best friend! [Jessica puffs out her chest and gives Battler her best half-serious glare.] If you ever do anything to hurt her like that again, then I'll do worse than suplex you into the pond!
["Yeah, I'll be sure to go back in time and tell my mom to die at a more convenient time, not to mention dad and his adulterous affair"--no, he slams a lid down on that thought, why's he even having that thought? ugh. obviously, she's right????
mostly lips just twisting a bit into something that would be a smile but there's too much Tired and Pain behind it to really make it work.]
Yeah, we're clear.
Don't worry, Beatrice made it very clear the amount of damage that caused.
[anyway, he's gonna check on the fish trap because. he does need to do that.]
[Jessica flinches when she sees that pain-filled smile, then squats down next to him, picking up a stick and idly stirring it through the river's water.]
So... what now?
I spent so long ignoring her, that I... I don't want to do that anymore. Not now.
But you're- well-
[Gestures vaguely.]
Married!
[Gestures less vaguely.]
...I guess if it helps... I'm not really interested in Beatrice. Like I said, it'd be too much like kissing that portrait for my taste.
[collecting fish and fixing up the trap for its next batch. wow when did Battler get survival fishing knowledge! well, it has been 2 months in this place.
one thing probably noticeable is, in fact, his left hand does not have a ring.]
I'd like to kiss all of them, but I try to respect boundaries, also. And I know you and George are important.
As it is, Beatrice and I have been in an open relationship since we got to this place. She's actually got a boyfriend on Chipmunk. He looks a little creepy, but he's actually pretty interesting once you get to know him.
Mostly, if it makes her happy, whatever the circumstances, then it's fine.
Pretty sure most people made to watch their family die over and over again with different culprits would be different.
[super casual like because he did mentioned that, right? but then he looks over to Jessica with an attempt at a grin.]
Nah, mostly there's been a lot going on here recently. What with the games and the forest getting burned down and some corruption that had to be rooted out from people by having other people enter their psyche or whatever... so I'm just pretty distracted.
[SIGHS but fiddling with reed baskets to make sure trap is secured.]
Anyway, explaining it sounds a little crazy and I don't really feel comfortable telling her side of it, but the long and short of it is that Beatrice and I managed to escape Rokkenjima and ended up in a magic realm of some kind, but some things happened along the way and I didn't remember anything about what actually happened on the island or who Beatrice even was.
She tried a lot of different ways to try to get me to remember, but there were some really powerful witches who stipulated some things, so... she ended up showing me a lot of different fragments--timelines--with different things, different deaths, different culprits, and told me to solve it. Prove it wasn't a witch that did it, but a human person.
Solve her riddle, basically.
[mystery nerd got thrown into a real mystery and actually it was not always so fun. the smile's painful again.]
... it was really hard. There were times I really thought she was just a witch deliberately torturing me and I hated her for it. But, y'know. Figured it out, eventually.
Woah... you got trapped in another world? It sounds like something out of a manga...
[if only]
But yeah, that sounds like her. She wouldn't have played such an elaborate game for three years if it was easy for her to just come out and say things.
Don't blame yourself for it. If you want to agonize over not coming back, it's more my fault for never trying to really talk to her, even though I could tell there was something wrong.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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And about the whole time frame stuff--yeah it's been a couple of months here, but I was meaning even before that. Do I gotta go over how timelines weirdness works? 'Cause there's a lot of that going on.
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[There's hope glimmering in Jessica's voice.
rip]
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... I wasn't killed with everyone else on the island. [said a bit slowly, hesitant.] And the culprit wasn't Aunt Eva.
[pauses and kind of looks down at his wet clothes and the wonky reed basket he still has.]
Some things have happened and I've seen a lot of different ways what happened on Rokkenjima could happen, including what you remember. But it's a little hard to talk about what happened with me, specifically, because of a taboo.
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squints]
...jeez, I knew the cultists were sadistic, but that's more than a little unfair.
Would it be okay if I talked, um... [Jessica casts her gaze back and forth, making sure they're alone.] Honestly?
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[Battler ALMOST gets a forehead flick, but Jessica mercifully pulls back, deciding that she's inflicted enough violence on Battler.
FOR NOW]
Speaking of stupid things you did when you were young: be more careful with your words, dumbass!
Even I could tell that Sayo was a bit torn up over that "prince on a white horse" thing, sheesh...
Now that you're married to Beatrice, I've got to step up as her best friend! [Jessica puffs out her chest and gives Battler her best half-serious glare.] If you ever do anything to hurt her like that again, then I'll do worse than suplex you into the pond!
Are we clear, buster?
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mostly lips just twisting a bit into something that would be a smile but there's too much Tired and Pain behind it to really make it work.]
Yeah, we're clear.
Don't worry, Beatrice made it very clear the amount of damage that caused.
[anyway, he's gonna check on the fish trap because. he does need to do that.]
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So... what now?
I spent so long ignoring her, that I... I don't want to do that anymore. Not now.
But you're- well-
[Gestures vaguely.]
Married!
[Gestures less vaguely.]
...I guess if it helps... I'm not really interested in Beatrice. Like I said, it'd be too much like kissing that portrait for my taste.
But... Yoshiya and Sayo...
[She trails off.]
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one thing probably noticeable is, in fact, his left hand does not have a ring.]
I'd like to kiss all of them, but I try to respect boundaries, also. And I know you and George are important.
As it is, Beatrice and I have been in an open relationship since we got to this place. She's actually got a boyfriend on Chipmunk. He looks a little creepy, but he's actually pretty interesting once you get to know him.
Mostly, if it makes her happy, whatever the circumstances, then it's fine.
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She deserves it, after... [Jessica doesn't want to give voice to what she went through.]
So...
What's up with you, then?
You seem different.
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[super casual like because he did mentioned that, right? but then he looks over to Jessica with an attempt at a grin.]
Nah, mostly there's been a lot going on here recently. What with the games and the forest getting burned down and some corruption that had to be rooted out from people by having other people enter their psyche or whatever... so I'm just pretty distracted.
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[HUFF] I'M the expert in playing dumb around here, don't muscle in on my turf!
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[wait]
HEY STOP AVOIDING THE QUESTION OR I'M GONNA PUSH YOU IN THE RIVER
AND TAKE ALL YOUR FISH BACK TO MINNOW
oh wait we forgot to tag for Umineko spoilers... oops
[SIGHS but fiddling with reed baskets to make sure trap is secured.]
Anyway, explaining it sounds a little crazy and I don't really feel comfortable telling her side of it, but the long and short of it is that Beatrice and I managed to escape Rokkenjima and ended up in a magic realm of some kind, but some things happened along the way and I didn't remember anything about what actually happened on the island or who Beatrice even was.
She tried a lot of different ways to try to get me to remember, but there were some really powerful witches who stipulated some things, so... she ended up showing me a lot of different fragments--timelines--with different things, different deaths, different culprits, and told me to solve it. Prove it wasn't a witch that did it, but a human person.
Solve her riddle, basically.
[mystery nerd got thrown into a real mystery and actually it was not always so fun. the smile's painful again.]
... it was really hard. There were times I really thought she was just a witch deliberately torturing me and I hated her for it. But, y'know. Figured it out, eventually.
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[if only]
But yeah, that sounds like her. She wouldn't have played such an elaborate game for three years if it was easy for her to just come out and say things.
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Even the whole set up with "solve the epitaph, or I will reclaim everything the Ushiromiyas inherited" had a reason behind it.
She really wanted me to figure it out then, even though I'd been away six years.
Actually... it's entirely possible that none of it would have happened that way--any way--if I hadn't gone back. Or came sooner, or later.
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[Now THAT earns him a forehead flick.]
Don't blame yourself for it. If you want to agonize over not coming back, it's more my fault for never trying to really talk to her, even though I could tell there was something wrong.
We're all at fault here. You, me, and her.
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I'm not saying we didn't all contribute to mental state or feelings or... that.
Just that. The whole "solve my riddle or everyone dies" thing she's made clear more than once was because I was kind of the final straw, I guess.
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You might as well blame yourself for not thinking to toss all the guns in the ocean or something.
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You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking, Battler...
[Frustration is clear on Jessica's face.]
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