Testing this guy out!

[blindjumps]

 ...

Me?

Well... After everything that's happened, I think—maybe a break would be the best idea. But... Mun, I'm not so sure...

[--why you're bothering. He's just a clerk with a few... problems... Alright, even James can see at this point in his life that he's got a few hideous, irreversible problems. But he's trying--will try--to make them right, if it's even humanly possible. He faced his demons, and he's pushing past them one step at a time.]

A-anyway... I'm glad to be out of Silent Hill, but what about Laura? She's probably all by herself at the cemetery, isn't she? I can't let her get into trouble; Mary would want me to keep her safe. I can't make any more mistakes, not after all that, after everything I've seen and fought against.

That's not me, anymore.

Comments

[notmotherly]

"Glad" to be outta there's gotta be an understatement...

[blindjumps]

[Whoa, now there's news to him. He didn't see very many people there, himself, so others who've been there? He perks up.]

Wait, so... you've been to Silent Hill, too?

[--oh, right--he corrects himself, sheepish.]

Not just in Silent Hill, I mean. But... that part of it?

[notmotherly]

[She gives a sort of small, bitter laugh, not quite meeting his gaze.]

That's a hard question to ask.

...I get the feeling you're not talking about the nice little resort town.

[blindjumps]

No.

[It's firm and sure. Of all the uncertainties he's had, 'nice little resort town' was not a valid title for Silent Hill. He looks down and remembers.]

It used to be. I've been there before—when it was like that. But when I returned... it was...

[it was a lot of things.]

[notmotherly]

Me too. ...Kind of. I, no, that's complicated.

[She shakes her head, then shrugs, uselessly. Wow, they're really great conversationalists.]

Uhm, you-- did you leave someone there? "Laura"?

[blindjumps]

[The best two conversationalists that ever lived.]

No, not... exactly.

Last I remember, we were in the cemetery. Together. You know, the little one just outside of town? [He rubs his forehead, sighing.] That's the last thing I can remember. She's just a little girl, though, so... leaving her alone in a place like that, it's worrying.

But things seemed... safer since then, anyway.

[notmotherly]

Oh... I see. [She frowns, thinking.] I left someone behind, too. He's an old guy, though. Heh. He can probably take care of himself...

Why would you go there, though?

[blindjumps]

Me? I was.... looking for someone important to me. She'd sent me a letter saying I could find her there.

[He was a pathetic mess of things, then. Not even sane enough to realize he'd caused it all himself--and forgot it all, to make it worse. How does one... leave Silent Hill with a more unclouded mind? He's not even sure himself.

It's a weird as hell thing, Heather. Weird as hell.]

[notmotherly]

Oh! [That... sounds like a way better reason than why she'd gone. Revenge. "Destiny"? Uhg, bullshit.]

Did you find her?

1/2

[blindjumps]

[He's quiet for a moment.]

Yeah...

I guess I did. [He just... Couldn't bring her back with him. That was all his fault, anyway, so it was only natural.] It was a little complicated.

[And it's probably a story this girl would probably pass on hearing. Because honestly, he's afraid to admit to people what had happened.]

[blindjumps]

[Aaa, well...]

And it involved a lot more running than I expected.

[notmotherly]

["Complicated" with "a lot of running". Yeah, that's how Heather'd put it too, probably. It's pretty obvious James has had the same - or, close enough to - experience Heather did. She wouldn't wish that on anyone.]

At least you survived. [She tries to smile but realizes what she just said was... pretty pessimistic.] Between the monsters and crazy religious jerks, the cards were kind of stacked against us.

[blindjumps]

Yeah. I guess I can say I got out...

[Huh. He tilts his head, casually stepping forward, relaxed at least with the thought that this person knew what he knew; it was good to know somebody would believe him about all this.]

Crazy... religious jerks, huh? I remember hearing about cults, things like that, but... [he shakes his head] I only ran into people who were same as me.

Is that why Silent Hill turned into... that?

[notmotherly]

[So he had to deal with that town and he wasn't mixed up in the cult? That's just weird. Heather frowns, thinking. What exactly does that mean? She'd figured this guy had be involved somehow, she just hadn't exactly gotten around to asking how. But it seemed like he didn't recognize her, thank... god..., and he was saying he hardly knew anything about it at all?]

I don't-- the reason is kind of hard to understand. Even for me.

[She puts a hand to the side of her head, fingers tangling in her hair. Her eyebrows crease; she's deep in thought, trying to sort through memories that aren't even really hers. Uhg.]

It was a cult. Yeah. You really don't know that much about it? You're lucky, then.

[blindjumps]

I really don't. [He's totally fine with admitting that.] To be honest with you, sometimes it was hard to tell where I was to where I'd been, so it was a little disorienting. I didn't really stick around places for longer than I had to.

[And I jumped down holes. Lots and lots of holes. Probably should have broken my bones, but oh well. Silent Hill.]

So... is that part of why you were there? Because of this 'cult' thing?

[notmotherly]

[Heather never had to jump down any holes. There were a lot of ladders, though. Huh.]

Uh... [There's the easy answer or the way more complicated answer. Somehow, Heather figures even though this guy's been to Silent Hill and seen what she's seen, he'd think the crazier stuff she'd have to tell was... er, a bit crazy. Yeah. That made more sense in her head.]

Yeah. Kind of. One of them - the leader, or something, I guess, she... she came to our house, and she-- my dad--

[Heather sucks in a breath, then takes a moment, balancing herself. It hasn't been very long and she never really got a chance to process and... uhg. Shit.] --she killed my dad. So I followed her back to Silent Hill, to... I don't know. I had to do something. You know?

[blindjumps]

Your dad was killed? [Killed--by someone in Silent Hill? He's not entirely surprised.] I'm sorry for your loss... Why was he--?

[Wait, since when was this his business? He shakes his head. He didn't want to talk to anybody--well, he thought he didn't want to talk to anybody. About her. But that was just the delusions talking.]

Sorry, it's probably still difficult.

Didja' find the person who did it?

[walkingalonelymile]

[Have a surprised Harry, who then just kind of gives James a scrutinizing and unsure look.]

You've been to Silent Hill?

[blindjumps]

[Shriiiinks back a little. Why the unsure face, buddy?]

That's, uh—Yeah, that's right. I was looking for someone there.

Are you a resident from there? From when it used to be a resort, I mean.

[walkingalonelymile]

[Don't mind him. :| He's just convinced anyone associated with Silent Hill these days is trying to kill him and take his daughter away. Again.]

No. [Harry doesn't completely relax, but he doesn't like to assume the worst in people and this guy doesn't seem like a cultist, so...] I was looking for someone, too. I found a lot more than I bargained for.

[blindjumps]

[Oh god, taking the words right out of his mouth.]

Monsters and broken doors?

[Honestly the first thing that popped into his head to say. It was overwhelmingly terrifying trying to run away from bloody nurse women when the doors wouldn't open.]

[orosco]

J-James?

[blindjumps]

... Angela?

[It's weird, but he didn't expect to ever speak to her again. Not when she turned and left—but. There she was. He doesn't budge, because it seemed like every time he did, she'd snap at him or panic. Simple-minded as he may be, James could learn over a series of repeat offenses.]

Are you okay? You... walked off up the staircase...

[and I haven't seen you since.]

[orosco]

I can't believe it's you....

-- I don't know.

[blindjumps]

Y-yeah... It's me.

[Surprisingly. He's only met her a few times, so his concern is limited, but... Well. She was there in that place with him--he'd be lying if he said her well-being was starting to become more important to him. She was in the same predicament, and compared to him, she was even more unstable and scared and a lot of things.

So he keeps his voice cautious and gentle.]

Do you feel okay? Are you hurt?

[orosco]

[James' soft voice always worked well with her.]

It is you...

I was hurt when I left that time, I don't think anyone actually cares.

[blindjumps]

[Don't say that, he thinks. He cares, whether it's a little or not, he really does. Perhaps it's nothing more than a survivor wanting to help another survivor, but... she seems so sad and confused.]

I was worried. I tried to walk after you, but... the fire...

[Was actually starting to hurt him, fancy that.]

[orosco]

[Fiddles with her sweater.]

You tried....? I thought you just forgot about me all together.

[frowns.] Did you r-r-really?

[blindjumps]

[A pause. And then he nods.]

I'd been thinking about... things you'd told me. You and Maria... You were absolutely right about me. Then... I was selfish, and I couldn't handle helping other people who needed help--because I was so lost in everything I'd done to myself.

But I want to be different now. I... don't want any of what I was before.

[He smiles, faint.]

Thanks. For... for helping me out, back there.

[orosco]

[For the first time, she is told that her feelings were right about something.]

I-I-I guess, y-your welcome, James. I-I d-didn't mean to be mean, I-I'm sorry I was cold.

I have a lot on my mind.

[blindjumps]

It's okay. [And again, sighing.] It's really okay.

It's hard to be in that town without having a lot on your mind. Being mean is the last thing anyone there needs to worry about.

[orosco]

[She is unable to smile but reaches out to touch him, retracting her hand a second later.]

D-Do you still have a b-bad attitude s-sometimes?