And now a cryptic message from the hermit.

[ibarakasen]

Stop. Now, please, Mundane, before this gets worse.

I don't want anything going the way you want it to go; I don't want to repeat anything, nor do I want to utterly ruin anything. I just want things... normal. Before I get so tired I can't respond to even the most violent of your prodding. I'm fine where damage is already done with no chance of being repaired, that's at least stable. But don't blast anything more to pieces.


You have worse destructive tendencies than any oni I've ever met.

Comments

[always5oclock]

[ Have a stare, overlooking her sake dish. Both eyebrows are raised. ]

[ibarakasen]

[Kasen is the most long-suffering.] ... Yes, Yuugi?

[always5oclock]

I'm... wonderin' if I should clap.

[ibarakasen]

Clap for what?

[always5oclock]

That whole rant? I can't tell if that was you doin' that flowery poetry thing or... you just bein' dramatic.

[ibarakasen]

... What, I can't speak that way naturally?

[always5oclock]

It just sounded like you were in pain, is all... Where it counts, too.

[ibarakasen]

[Another sigh.] I'm getting over it.

[always5oclock]

Ya sure?

[ibarakasen]

I am. What worries me is that I might be heading right back down the same road from a new starting point, this time.

[always5oclock]

Oi, isn't that good? You might be able to catch your mistakes this time.

[ But unlike in EV where Yuugi's at, HH doesn't allow memory transfers from previous games. Not that Yuugi knows. ]

[ibarakasen]

... No that is not good. And no I doubt there will be any 'mistakes' to catch.

The only solace is no one gets an advantage this time due to the circumstances. I might be able to snarl my way out of it this time.

... And I still have to deal with the crumbling remains of the other same path in the other place. [She groans.] ... This is so exhausting.

[always5oclock]

Look, I don't get it but-- just because somethin' bad happened one time in one place doesn't mean it'll happen again in another. You've got no pattern to go off of, bein' worried like that.

[ibarakasen]

Oh I do when in this place and I can spy on the quiet snickerings behind my back of this puppetmaster that's tormenting me.

Strategy is about reading all the signs and following them to a logical conclusion.

Right now, it's all pointing to the same place. The only variable factor is the 'leaving it up to them' one that has been adopted behind my back.

[always5oclock]

Okay, so... it still sounds like you're worried over somethin' that's too soon to tell if it'll be bad.

[ibarakasen]

Yuugi.


Shut up.

[always5oclock]

That wasn't very poetic...

[ibarakasen]

It wasn't meant to be.

[always5oclock]

Well... whatever it is you're bent over backwards, it's nothin' a few drinks with friends can't help.

[ibarakasen]

Already tried that in one place. With you even.

[always5oclock]

Well what d'ya know-- how did that work out, aa?

[ibarakasen]

Very naked.

At least one of the times.

[always5oclock]

Oi, oi, what's with that tone? If you've been with me, then I'd want you to think of it fondly when talkin' about it.

[ibarakasen]

... It also was far from the first time. [Sigh. Again.] Excuse me if I'm used to it by now.

[always5oclock]

Come on, you're gonna hurt my feelings, talkin' like that.

[ So she says, but she's laughing. ]

[ibarakasen]

Shut up Yuugi. [Annnd again.]

[always5oclock]

[ She stops laughing. ] ...Not until you tell me exactly what's going on.

[ibarakasen]

Denied. Go bug someone else.

[always5oclock]

You're the only one I see 'round here.

[ibarakasen]

You REALLY wanna know?

[always5oclock]

Aa. [ A nod. ]

[ibarakasen]

I ended up in love with someone I could never rightfully have.

Again.

[always5oclock]

Heeeh... 'S that so...?

Ya know, I've been meanin' to ask-- how can you be [ wait. ] why are you a hermit if you grow that much close to others? I mean, I needed to know what would be the inspiration of your next greatest work of broody texts [ such as this drama. or the person she fell in love with specifically. ] but this is... [ Cunterproductive against what Kasen's trying to be. Sure she's sane. But she's moody as hell and falls for something she can't have. ]

[ibarakasen]

Simple. Or perhaps not so much: where that happened, I have given up. Why do you think I'm willing to talk to someone like you? Here or there. Really, I had to start giving it up when I first started to progress that way. But, to be with that person, even if I could never really have them, I was willing to make that sacrifice, that change. The stability of it, in a place where physical intimacy is only a choice until the collar gets tight enough to make you panic, was very appealing.

And though they were the first to come out with a confession of feelings, what got me into the worst of the mess to begin with, it turned out they didn't understand and couldn't fulfill my needs. Right before they left, everything started to fall apart. And so I was left in a place where I couldn't be a hermit, and I couldn't be oni either. Not really.

If I could stay away from people the way I have managed for so many years back home, I would. I would more than anything else.

But, and especially one place, I'm not given that option.

[always5oclock]

[ Listening quietly! ] If ya ask me, it sounds like this person is just not worth the trouble. I bet you could move on-- even use some of those hermit-y teachings to help you do so-- if you really wanted to.

[ibarakasen]

I have no choice. But there's a difficulty in it being...

[She sighs]

I am trying to do as such. But it's harder than it seems.

[always5oclock]

Not sayin' that it isn't... But I bet you've gotten over things like this before, aa? Unless I'm overestimating you.

[ibarakasen]

One time.

But then I never got to really experience what it would be like if things could work out with the other person. [Issue: She tripped her oni mated instinct.]

[always5oclock]

See...? Get over it once, and the next time will be easier.

Although it sounds like this person's got a commitment issue.

[ibarakasen]

Wrong. It's harder this time.

[Sigh] No, more, an idiot who severely lacks interpersonal skills.

[always5oclock]

Hehhh, if you say so...

That makes me wonder how you fell in love with them in the first place.

[ibarakasen]

Circumstances as they were, it was almost an inevitability - sex tends to change all but the oldest and firmest friendships, after all.

Among many, many other things. It started out great.

[always5oclock]

Is sex somethin' that has to happen in this new place, too?

[ibarakasen]

No, thank god.

... At least I hope not. The faceless puppet master of that world isn't into it, I don't think.

[always5oclock]

Then... I think you're safe for the most part. [ ... ] Unless-- don't tell me you've fallen for this person already there.

[ Because lololololololololol if you did, sucker! ]

[ibarakasen]

Gods no.

No.

If I can help it, they'll continue to be as stupid as they have been and I can have an excuse to never talk to them again.

[always5oclock]

'Atta girl.

[ibarakasen]

The friendship is nice, but it's really not worth anything more than that, so long as I can help it.