(Untitled)

[toplay_thefool]

Characters: Souji, and OPEN!
Location: The Infirmary
Time: Saturday (the 25th), evening
Brief Summary: Souji wakes up after all the shenanigans.
Rating: Uhhh. idk. Yosuke might swear. :D There might be mentions of violence and suchlike.

Comments

[heavyheels]

[chie mutters darkly, frowning:] Figures.

[of course adachi wouldn't want to come back. chie didn't even know the full scope of the story with adachi here, or the full extent of the damage he'd caused to the other inhabitants, but she could tell just from talking to him that adachi was crazed enough to think he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it. crazed and overpowered with ... what? he'd mentioned in his broadcast seeing the fae queen. judging by his strength, chie could guess he'd received some sort of power boost.

he was a monster.

but that didn't necessarily mean adachi deserved to die.

he deserved to pay for what he'd done - and perhaps death was a fitting punishment after all.

just not at souji's hands.

chie tries to quash this thought before it even starts - no, it was self-defense, he would've killed souji if he hadn't - but she remembers the blood, and the way adachi's body looked laid out on the ground, and the tiny nagging seed is already planted - there, in her mind.

she shakes her head to pull herself out of those horrible thoughts and back to the reality of the infirmary room.]

I know, Souij-kun. But - he was so strong, and - and ... [and i couldn't stop him, i couldn't protect you] I saw him ... [saw him kill ange, right in front of my eyes, like it was nothing, like it was easy, sliced her completely open while wearing someone else's blood like a damn prize robe, and i couldn't stop him ...

chie's tired, and traumatized, and the images keep coming back to her, keep replaying like clips in the movie theater of her mind. she can't fight them off, no matter how tightly she squeezes her eyes shut and tries to block them out. it just doesn't work.]

Souji-kun, I'm so sorry. About ... [about ange, but she can't bring herself to say the name, so she gestures weakly instead.] I'm sorry.

[toplay_thefool]

Chie.

[Suddenly it clicks into place, and he thinks he should have known this sooner - should have known this immediately. Good job, leader! The venom in that reminds him so much of Adachi that he begins to wonder that maybe he was right, maybe they are similar, and the shame, the uncertainty, and self-directed anger are enough to make him start to panic.

He moves quickly, too quickly. His hand reaches for Chie's as he moves onto his side - his body immediately regrets it, nerves rebelling and limbs screaming at him from the sudden movement. He winces, sucking in a sharp breath, but doesn't lie back down. The rush of it makes his head ache, gives him a sensation of vertigo as he lies there, safe in bed.

He looks up at her.]

This wasn't your fault. None of this was your fault and you have nothing to be sorry for, Chie.

[It was mine, he wants to say, but he doesn't. Because he's still their leader, and they need his support, they need him to hold it together.]

He was far more powerful than we knew him, and he took us by surprise. We had to work together, and we did everything we could.

[Except me, he thinks, sourly, I could have prevented the whole damn thing.] Think of the people you saved.

[heavyheels]

[chie accepts souji's hand, but it's not the same as before, when he lay bloody on the ground in the forest in front of her. now, her grip is weak, merely tolerant of his affection, not exactly returning it. her voice sounds hollow:]

But I didn't save her.

[she looks away.]

He ... he hit me with a Fear spell, and all I could do was watch.

[all that blood, all the cold terror she felt - it all comes rushing back to her for a moment, then it's gone again.]

[toplay_thefool]

[And that worries him, even if he understand. he squeezes gently, looking up at her face even as she turns away. And I was asleep, he thinks, wondering if that's better or worse.]

He'd have killed you too. He'd have killed all of us. We - prevented that, Chie. And me - I needed you. If you hadn't found me...

[heavyheels]

[she exhales a mirthless half-laugh. it's not at all funny, but.]

Thought you said you weren't going anywhere.

[toplay_thefool]

[somehow, he manages a smile.]

Yeah. When you found me.

[heavyheels]

[she laughs again, but it's a little more genuine this time.]

Ha! Fair enough.

[and this is why chie hadn't wanted to debate with souji earlier - he had this uncanny knack for saying the right thing to win her over. she exhales, feeling just the tiniest bit lighter.]

I'm glad I did.

[toplay_thefool]

[That sounds promising. He feels relieved, even if only by a hair. His smile brightens a little, and he settles back down stiffly, managing not to grimace too much.]

[heavyheels]

[chie is comfortable to sit silently with souji for a minute or two before speaking again.]

Do you, um ... need anything? I could get you something, i-if you wanted?

[toplay_thefool]

I think I’ve been fussed over enough. [Too much.] It shouldn’t be long before I’m back on my feet. But thanks, Chie.

[heavyheels]

[she nods.] Of course.

[but what to do now? chie's never been good at just ... sitting around. she shifts slightly in her seat, fidgety.]

Um ... do you want me to go? I don't wanna wear you out. You're supposed to be resting up.

[toplay_thefool]

[And he knows she won't be content, just sitting around. For all he appreciates the company, he smiles again, lop-sided but reassuring.]

Actually, there is something you can do for me. Make sure Yosuke and Nanako are alright? Knowing them, it's her looking after him. but still.

[heavyheels]

[she stands, gently, nodding in acknowledgment, and gives his hand a final squeeze before releasing it back to him.]

You can count on me, Leader.

[quietly, she replaces the chair to the spot where she'd found it, and heads for the door, stopping just short to turn back around to souji.]

Call me if you need anything else, OK? I'll come back and see you again later.

[and with a flash of a slightly sad smile and a small wave, she exits the room.]