(Untitled)

[waltzofthewind]

[Hopefully you didn't like that ceiling much, because suddenly breaking through it is a Lenalee. But she's not breaking through it on purpose: she's crashing down, bloody and reeling from a punch. For those who can see it, there are strange dark matter chains wrapped around her, although her Innocence seems to be counteracting its added weight for

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[fallforthesky]

[Oh. Oh. Lenalee barely reacts to the pieces of ceiling falling-- instead rooted to the spot as she stares, clearly distraught, at her past counterpart. Eventually, a shudder seems to pass over her and she runs forward on shaky legs to kneel next to her.]

[waltzofthewind]

[This is no good, she thinks. She has to get to her feet and back to the fight, despite feeling so heavy. So she sits up, coughing from the dust. As soon as she sees the other Lenalee, her eyes narrow and she tenses, preparing to spring away.]

Is this...a new trick? I won't be defeated by something like that.

[fallforthe_sky]

[She reaches out a hand in dismay, but pulls it back just as quickly.] No-- it's not a trick. I won't hurt you, I promise, so please... please believe me.

Are you all right? [She's flicking her eyes from one detail to the next; from the dark matter chains wrapped around her body to the hexagonal markings.]

[waltzofthewind]

[With an expression of utter confusion, she stands up despite her injuries and the chains, and backs away cautiously for now. She's heard about Akuma with the ability to take on any appearance they choose.]

This place, I don't - why you look like me?

[fallforthe_sky]

This is the worst time for you to have come here...

[Clears her throat and forces a small smile.] I look like you because, ah, I'm Lenalee Lee, too.

[waltzofthewind]

...You can't expect me to believe that. [She keeps watching Lenalee intently.] What have you done? The sea's gone, and the ship.

[fallforthesky]

[Flinches.] I didn't do anything, honestly. You were pulled to this place just like I was-- I know it's hard to believe, but it's not the... ship and sea that's disappeared. It's you.

Please, I can explain this, but you have to trust me. [Pleading with herself. It's so awful.] ...You were fighting the Level 3, right?

[waltzofthewind]

Yes. And if I've been taken away somewhere, I have to get back to save the ship. Right away.

[She bites her lip. There's something so very wrong about this situation. And as she speaks, she's sure that her friends could be sinking to their deaths.]

I can't just trust you. How could you be me? It doesn't make any sense.

[fallforthesky]

I-- I know it doesn't. [She's having a bit of an internal panic attack herself, since she understood versions of her from different worlds, but not... ones from apparently the same.] Nothing here makes sense.

But I am you in a way and-- the ship will be fine. It won't sink as long as you're here. Nothing will change.

[waltzofthewind]

Suddenly being taken to a strange place, and meeting someone who says she's me. How can you say that the ship isn't in danger when - wh...what...

[She pauses in surprise, looking down at herself: the chains weighing her down are beginning to fade away.]

[fallforthesky]

[Lenalee gives a little jolt of surprise, too, as the chains disappear. It makes sense, in the twisted way anything in the DR does, but it doesn't stop the heavy feeling she has in her chest.] ...You're too far away from the Level 3 now, I suppose.

[She wants to ask Lenalee to deactivate her Boots now that the dark matter is fading, but figures it's unlikely she actually would.] I know I seem like an enemy to you-- I understand how you feel. I felt the same way when I arrived here, but there isn't anything you can do now. You can't leave and as long as you're in this place, time will have stopped for everyone you left at home.

[waltzofthewind]

Either that, or they defeated the Level 3 somehow. [She wishes so very much that that could be true. Either scenario. She takes a very deep breath, finally hopeful.]

I...Look. Have you got any explanation for why you say you're me? Or where this is?

[Since the chains are gone, she reduces the power level of the Dark Boots. There's no need to be exceeding her sync rate any more, and if this lookalike is an enemy, she doesn't think she could last long against her like that without her body breaking down further.]

[fallforthesky]

[She's silent for a while, wringing her hands.] This is the Dressing Room. I don't know why it has that name, but that's what everyone calls it. It's a place that's removed from space and time and seems to pull people in at random. From-- from different worlds and different times.

That's why I look like you; because I'm Lenalee Lee in my world, just like you are Lenalee Lee in yours. But... your world... [It's a lot like hers. She falters.] I've done what you're going to do.

[waltzofthewind]

[It's so hard to believe. She listens to that, very quietly, her muscles still tense. But there's one thing that she really, really needs to know now.]

That's...

If you're telling the truth, then tell me: what have you done that I was about to do?

[fallforthesky]

If I'm right... Iron Shackles.

[waltzofthewind]

[She stares without replying, just for a moment.]

...I was. That's what I was going to do.