007- [phone] And now we watch yet another victim slide up to level 5...

[smallestgrave]

[Alice has held out for a long time. But now she has to come clean.]

For me, Mayfield is a second chance. Back home, I'm dead. I gave up my life and my soul to a demon to protect the man I love. It was the only way to free him from the demon's curse.

[All things considered, she expected to end up in Hell because of it. The demon in question wasn't

Comments

[Phone; Stage 4, closer and closer to 5]

[bitemescumbag]

[Yuri's spent most of the week with a destroyed phone, replying to broadcasts when it isn't. It's somewhat lucky he hears this -- for his usual standards it's insanely lucky, even considering the topic at hand.]

You... actually know what a communist is? It's been bugging me all week and there I go trying to use humor to cover up my own insecurity and hesitation again.

[Well, it's not like she doesn't already know that's how he acts, so he just keeps going.] There's no way I could be mad with you. Even for... that.

...I met my dad in the soul's graveyard, a couple months after you were gone. You wanna know what I told him? "I don't have any regrets." Heh, can you believe it? Lied to my own dad... I guess one regret is close enough to none though.

Dunno if you're a communist or not, but you deserve a nicer afterlife than this.

[smallestgrave]

[There is moment of silence as she tries to blink back the tears in her eyes.]

Oh, Yuri...

I didn't have any choice. I was desperate, and I'd have done anything to free you from that curse. I love you.

[She's so relieved that he forgives her, she finally gives up on stopping the tears.]

And getting the chance to see you again, it makes this place a far better afterlife than I could have hoped for.

[bitemescumbag]

[He laughs lightly.] You might be the only person happy 'bout getting stuck with me in the afterlife. Not that I mind that at all.

I just wish I'd been paying attention - that I coulda noticed what was happening. I'd wanted to sock those masks in the face for years, and that would have been the right time to it. If I had, I think it actually would've done something, too...

[smallestgrave]

[She finally wipes away the tears and smiles.]

I would be happy to be anywhere with you.

Don't blame yourself. It was my decision, and I don't regret it in the slightest. There's no point in dwelling on what could have been.

[It's kind of sad though. Because it would have helped. But at least she doesn't know that.]

[bitemescumbag]

I know, I just -- there's just a nagging sensation in the back of my head. It's like if I'd done one or two things different... I don't know.

I guess you're right. In the end we're together again here, so I can't talk too much crap about Mayfield.

[smallestgrave]

[Oh, Shadow hearts, why must the bad ending be canon? Her voice, when she answers, is full of gentle warmth.]

It doesn't matter. Even if this is a strange sort of second chance, most people don't even get this much. We shouldn't waste it.

[bitemescumbag]

[To set up a KICKIN' RAD implied time-loop deal, of course!]

Yeah... Um. Hey. Remind me, when the town's done making us yammer on about stuff, to catch you up on the shenanigans I ran into before coming here. I don't think I ever talked to you about 'em, and if I do I wanna do it without some weird "makes-Yuri-talky" thing going on.

Of course, if you wanna talk now I couldn't argue against it either way! Just, I dunno. I always like talking with you face-to-face more than over the phone.

[smallestgrave]

Right. I can't wait to hear about it.

And... and we should should go out somewhere. We never really got the chance for that kind of thing before. It would be fun.

[bitemescumbag]

[He's smiling to the point it's audible, just about.]

Seriously. It's almost nice not being as busy as we were back then. Just say where n'when, and if ya want me to bring anything.

[smallestgrave]

Then I'll call you when this is all over.

[bitemescumbag]

I'll be waitin' for it. Don't hesitate to give me a ring if ya need something during this... whatever-it-is, too.

Err. Not that my phone's intact most of the time. Maybe I should ease up on that some...