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trash bin PART TWO
| the pygmalion. . . ???  OPENING PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . _PROGRAM CRASHED _PROGRAM REBOOT? >N >SCAN PROGRAM . . . _PROGRAM CRASHED . . . >EMERGENCY LEVEL . . . >EMERGENCY LEVEL . . . _EMERGENCY LEVEL LOADING LOADING. . . LOADING. . . LOADING TEXTURE-NIGHT-SKY, TEXTURE-FULL-MOON, TEXTURE-DIRT-PATH, TEXTURE-CAMPFIRE LOADING SOUND-CRICKETS, SOUND-GRAVEL, SOUND-WIND, SOUND-FIRE-CRACKLING UPLOADING USER UPLOADING USER UPLOADING USER UPLOAD SUCCESSFUL TRASH BIN It feels more like an electrical zap than dying. Dying might feel a little bit more like falling asleep, but this is harder, more painful. If you've ever been electrocuted, the feeling might seem familiar; the discovery you make when you open your eyes, too, is likely very familiar. It's the night sky. Stars twinkle, a fire cracks warmly. You sit up and observe the surrounding area, and it's like you've woken up in some sort of canyon. The fire burns brightly, the moon shines beautifully, the crickets sing, and it is ... peaceful. Mostly. You know you're dead. This must be, then, the after life? Or something like it, at least. The horizon stretches on forever, the dirt and gravel seemingly endless. The moon is so big and bright, it's like you could reach out and touch her. There's a shed not too far from the fire, only but a stone's throw away, as if someone else might have made it, and then went inside it. Approaching it, you can see the light glowing inside it through the dusty windows that are littered with fingerprints. A computer screen, so large and wide that it's baffling, sits, waiting. Turning knob reveals that the shed is unlocked, and stepping inside... it doesn't feel any different from the outside. A chair sits in the center of the room, a strange contraption strapped to the head of it. It looks like it would lower itself upon the head of whoever dares to sit on it, and wires from it's bottom curl up towards the machines attached to the screen. Several smaller desktop screens sit beneath the giant monitor. They, too, are hooked up to the machines scattered around the room, to the ominous one perched on top of the medical chair, and they blink, as if fighting to stay alive without use. Pressing the giant monitor on, it lights up, and displays, strangely enough... a security camera feed. You push the button. It switches to another room. Again, another room. Again, another room. So on and forth. You peeping tom! But no one can blame you, in the end. You might as well digitally haunt the rest of the ship until the game ends, and AL-2955 can clean out the trash bin. ...Right? rule book taken characters information cards |
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[ It's a good thing Allen had stepped in right then, because that absolutely would have knocked him back and knocked him right the fuck out. With a thanks directed to Allen, he'll turn his attention back to his orbment, his finger tracing a series of embedded gems before he raises his gun up. ]
While we're screwing around here, the clock's ticking down for everyone else we care about - both on the Pygmalion and the Nuwa! [ He certainly hasn't forgotten Dr. Lin's words, anyway. But maybe we could use that, too. ] If we waste too much time, we won't be able to do anything for them!
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"I'll always be here for you, you're very important to me, so please call on me whenever you're confused or just want to talk. Let's go out for tea again, without everyone else this time, I'd like that. Please take care of yours-"
The rest of it is ripped off, but the handwriting is the same as the other notes.]
I'm not freakin real huh? [ Well, Allen would be right...normally. Thing is, is that this room connects to the Boundary, where spirits and a whole lot of things reside. Essentially it means that even though Terumi in his spirit form, he's basically as real as anyone else in this room.
And Terumi like Kazuma, does not take very well to being ignored. There's no more verbal taunts but rather something akin to a spell casting, and black energy shoots out from Terumi's hands: shaped like gigantic snakes. If Allen is going to block for Machias that's fine, except there's more than enough snakes for the both of them. Hopefully whatever spell you're casting works against shadow snakes, Machias.]
Ahhh should I have just asked you to leave first? Sorry, but you should listen to the loud guy over there, [ A very quick point at Machias:] as it would be better for us if you would all just die~. [ But with Arumat pressing his advantage, Kazuma doesn't really have the chance to retaliate at all, though he is jumping all over the place.]
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...this may be a stupid move if it ends enraging Kazuma instead of calming him down, but it should at least provide one heck of a distraction. Shelley memorizes the note, puts on the coat, tries to hold the metallic arm from the inside of the sleeve, and gets ready]
Kazuma! Stop!
[Come on, Arumat, Machias, Allen, keep fighting! Shelley is actually very worried, she fully expects Kazuma to get pissed off, maybe he would even attack her. Looks like she'll have to rely on the rest to keep her safe. Better start reciting before she forgets how the note goes, it's already kinda hazy]
"Kazuma, you...you're very important to me. Call me whenever you want to talk or you just want to hang out. Let's go out for tea! And uh, boiled eggs...because I'd like that"
[At least she managed to say it without much hesitation]
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Shelley catches his attention immediately, even though Arumat is probably still swinging his scythe. He stops quite abruptly, though he will try to throw out a barrier if Arumat keeps attacking, but he's apparently done evading for now.]
W-What are you... why are you talking like her? Why do you have her clothes? She's not here, she tried to stop me and I-- [ Kazuma stops talking abruptly, burying his face in his hands. He's not pissed at least, but it looks like this actually quite painful for him.]
[ And then somewhere from within all the fighting because he can't keep his mouth shut:]
The hell do you have that dolls arm for? [ ...maybe that arm isn't important after all.]
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[ Oh, it's not a spell. He's aiming his shotgun at Terumi and pulls the trigger. With a loud crack, the shell discharges and the spread of pellets rapidly rush towards the intended target.
Only they're not a direct hit. It's not aimed at Terumi himself, but his legs. If the hit connects and the effect activates, Terumi might find himself unable to move at all with his body gradually petrifying from the legs upwards. It's a temporary effect, but it might still be alarming to any onlookers. There's an intense smell of smoke coming from the remaining spread that will leave anyone close enough feeling rather drowsy if they keep breathing it in, but it can be mitigated by covering the nose with something. Machias made sure to aim carefully so the others wouldn't get caught up, but he'll still shout out a warning to them just in case. ]
Don't get too close or you'll be caught up in it too!
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I'm here, Kazuma. I want to help you, I want... [I want your help? Uh, would that even work? How does one deal with Kazuma, really? Shelley is screaming internally] ...I want to spend time with you again.
[She really feels like she's getting in a world of trouble]
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[ He waves his sword at the swirling blue vortex.
Machias seems fine dealing with Terumi, so Allen leaves him at it. If it looks like he needs help, Allen will jump in -- but at the moment, he's more interested in Kazuma's reactions. ]
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...Exactly.
{ ... That looks similar to the blue orb thing. The "Azure"... was it the same? He doesn't know, and kinda doesn't care. He'll just be trying his best. }
We wouldn't want to leave you behind.
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What the fuck are you talking about four eyes? [ Terumi has heard of none of these things, and he's quickly growing more pissed off than plain annoyed. And then Machias' spell fires and well-- the time spell from before is still in effect, so he can't dodge properly. And he just...laughs.]
The hell did I tell you about using magic against me. [ Good news: Machias has Terumi's complete attention. Bad news: he's decided he needs to actually take this fight somewhat seriously. The petrification begins to spread but Terumi holds out a palm and a crest appears in the air briefly. Whatever the spell is, it breaks the status ailments immediately, which means Terumi's free to move. And he does just that, running at Machias, butterfly knives in both hands.]
[ On the diplomacy battlefield...]
You're a liar...you and her are both liars. If she-if you wanted to help me then why- [ And then he hears Allen's and Arumat's words.] You'll help me get the Azure? You won't tell Nine that she was right about me all along? I just want to know who I am, that's all. The rest doesn't really matter to me...[ Kazuma's voice is trembling, yet there's some hope to it. Like he wants to believe but can't quite bring himself to.]
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I do want to help you, Kazuma.
[Shelley looks at Arumat and Allen. She's kind of leaving the decision up to them]
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[ Azure, schmazure. If Kazuma wants it, he can get that on his own. That's not important right now. ]
We're trying to help you with something else. Anyway, I already said you don't need the Azure. You've already started to figure out who you are. You've forgotten at the moment, but you do know. [ He smiles warmly, sword resting casually at his side. ] Remember? I'm like you. I told you about Nea. About our link.
[ He tilts his head at Terumi. ]
And you told me about Terumi. I -- we need you to listen to us, so we can help him, too.
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You don't need the Azure to figure out who you are. It is as Allen says --
...
{ He takes a breath -- and a sigh comes forth from him. He doesn't know what to say, but he doesn't want to leave Kazuma alone. Yet, he's had a talk before seriously concerning his issues, and he was hard at him because he couldn't take Kazuma's acceptance or try to ease him into it.
He doesn't know how to be gentle, it's not in his nature. Yet, he's finally compelled to, because he cares about Kazuma, even if there's somewhere in his heart that will always remain a touch bitter for what he's done.
The thought of leaving this lad to dance in ignorant, forgotten dreams for all of eternity is too painful for him to bare on his conscience. }
Even if you are the only one that can walk that path, towards your own self-discovery-- and succeed to discover what your "purpose" is, you don't need to do it alone. I'll admit, I don't have some sort of story about our shared experiences. Yet, if I thought you were worthless, not worth the effort, or if I were lying, I wouldn't be standing here talking alongside the rest of our comrades here.
As that's what it takes, I have readily lay down my weapon to do so...as I'm not in this to shed your blood.
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... Oh wait, he has a shotgun. Lock and load, baby! Because getting out of the way isn't going to do jack for him, but maybe firing a round at Terumi will?! ]
WHILE YOU'RE ALL HAVING YOUR LITTLE HEART-TO-HEART, I'M ABOUT TO HAVE MINE RIPPED OUT. A LITTLE HELP?!
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If the shotgun doesn't do anything, then Allen intercepts the charge, flat side of his sword up to defend. A quick mutter under his breath ("Clown Belt.") and Crown Clown's cowl releases itself and shoots at Terumi, white ribbons of webbing flying in at varying angles. They're meant to stop Terumi in his tacks and nothing more. Should they make contact, they'll bind and hold him in place. ]
Didn't you hear me the first time? I said we're trying to help you, too.
[ God knows why!! ]
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[It's good that Allen moved to intercept, because that shotgun round wouldn't have done much at all. And now Terumi's tangled in...whatever the hell this is, but that sure doesn't stop him from bitching.]
You're all trying to help me? Then leave my damn vessel the fuck alone, he's stupid enough as is!!!! [ Good luck trying to reason with Terumi, but at least he seems to be restrained for now.]
[ Truthfully, Kazuma doesn't know where to start. Maybe he could dismiss their words individually, but when three people were all offering their support it was overwhelming. He's silent for a while looking between all of them.]
S-so what are you telling me to do?
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Hey, you. Shut up. Don't talk about him like that.
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[Shelley makes grand gestures]
...is see beyond the illusion of this place. If there's anyone who can do it it's you. Renounce to this paradise, and step towards the truth!
[...she got too much into this, apparently. Oops]
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{ ... }
It's as Shelley says-- break through this illusionary world and leave it behind!
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Terumi, I'll be back. I promise.
[ Despite everything, Kazuma feels the need to say that. Because he made his real choice a while ago, and there really was no going back. But right now, he had something else to do first.]
CRADLE: COMPLETE