ⓕⓛⓐⓖ ❷ - baby you are an rpg girl

[falleng0d]

There is a box on the front doorstep of 754 Partridge Drive. It’s labeled to Keima, and when he sees it he lets out an exuberant cry. He opens the box right then and there carefully, delighted to find one handheld portable video game system plus accessories in its original packaging. There are even a few video games to go with the PFP! Seriously

Comments

2 b/c i have no self control. Either/both characters is fine!

[perfektsymmetry]

[Just staring at your booth. What, really?]

Keima & Crowe only~

[falleng0d]

[ Keima is staring back. You want to play staring games? ]

[perfektsymmetry]

.... IS this serious?

[falleng0d]

[ Keima is still glaring. Guess you lost, Crowe. ]

Don't be childish. I'm always serious.

[ Unsettling almost ethereal stare, go. ]

You have a question, right? There's no other reason for you to be standing in front of this booth otherwise.

[perfektsymmetry]

Oh. N-No, none that I can think of.

[Keima's glare is effective against a nervous sort like Crowe.]

[falleng0d]

I find that hard to believe. You are at the age where your head is full of ideas of romanticism.

[ Keima slides the tip jar in front of Crowe. He's glaring. Suddenly this doesn't feel like a love booth so much as it feels like extortion. ]

Penny for my thoughts.

[perfektsymmetry]

[Well that's certainly true with this kid. He reluctantly walks over to the booth, and drops a quarter in the jar.]

U-Um, I wouldn't know what to ask.

[falleng0d]

Parameters. Let me know what your parameters are, first.

[perfektsymmetry]

I haven't a clue. I'm single, a-and dating in Mayfield is a bad idea. Bad things happen all the time, people get droned... So I-I've decided not to do it. I have nothing to ask, then.

[He knows from experience already. But this isn't the complete truth; he might try again if the opportunity arose, he just assumes it won't.]

[falleng0d]

[ Keima seizes the moment and gives Crowe a bored look. ]

So your girlfriend might turn into an NPC for a few days. Wouldn't you feel the same for her if she were in a hospital covered in a body cast? You wouldn't be able to do anything for her but your feelings would still be genuine. Right?

[perfektsymmetry]

[Crowe sighs, and shake his head sadly.] If you must know, there was someone. He has been droned since February, and every day I have to wonder if he's still in there, helplessly trapped, as if he really were in a body cast. It;s been four months, and I worry myself sick times over the thought. Not just about him, but about anyone who's droned too. A-And I know he wouldn't want me to worry, but how could I not.

[He looks guilty now. This has been building up for a long time, and he had to get it out, even if it was to a stranger.]

[falleng0d]

[ That angst that Crowe dished out to Keima? He doesn't flinch. Keima just watches and perceives Crowe's story unfold out before the brown-haired kid. ]

This setup is so ridiculous it's like a video game.

[ He sighs and closes his eyes. ]

The rules of the real don't exactly apply here. Dead people come back to life the next morning. People turn into or turn from NPCs. And we're trapped in this sandbox of a game.

It's painful to say, but you should move on.

[perfektsymmetry]

I know that. I've also had friends who've undroned, only to not remember ever even being here. The same could happen with him. Knowing this doesn't make it easier, though.

A long time ago, someone told me not to get too close to people here for this very reason. S-Sometimes I think he was right. [And he's been droned for 10 months.]

[falleng0d]

[ Keima rubs his head, wondering when he could be so adept at answering such problems with individuals. ]

No matter. For a premise like this, it's best to cherish and tightly hold the good memories and not to linger on the bad memories. It would be a fine way to cope. Grief if you must, but cherish the events from the route to his heart regardless of the ending.

[ He pauses. ]

If he does come to, and if he doesn't remember, just think of it as a sequel and an opportunity to capture his heart again. Come to think of it, I've played a game with this similar set up.

[perfektsymmetry]

I-It's not a game, though. Even though it seems that way sometimes, with how Mayfield treats us. I-I think it would too difficult to face him if he came to and didn't know me. But you're right. I-I just have to hold onto those memories, no matter what Mayfield does.

[falleng0d]

[ Keima sighs. ]

Yes. It sounds horrible to call this situation a game.At least when the terms of this game are shockingly frightening. But it is what it is; a game. It's not a game I endorse nor a game I am happy to be a player in, but it's still a game. Until our captors give us a reason why this isn't a game.

[ With that settled... ]

It's not foolish to cling to hope. Certainly in this difficult game. I doubt he would want to see you depressed on his sake. There's nothing wrong with knowing outside information. Capturing his heart would be easier the next time, then.