Prelude to "Walking My Own Path" (locked to two very specific people)

[srwuga_mods]

[It's the middle of the night on the Chalice, still at Gucun for the moment.  A guest came onboard the vessel today as well, Hana and Mad's grandmother Professor Himesaki.  There hasn't exactly been a heartwarming reunion just yet though... instead the woman's been in discussion with Ayame and Maxene... late into the night even

Comments

[minorbeat]

(Momo is walking through the halls late at night. She yawns and stretches as she continues forward.)

Today has been long. Hopefully Professor Himesaki can make the situation better in someway.

[srwuga_mods]

[Hopefully... although that should be the last thing on your mind. Especially as the figure creeping up on you finally closes the distance. A cane sweeps down from the air, stopping just as it reaches the girl's shoulder.]

Momo.

I see you've regained control of your body.

[minorbeat]

(Momo jumps away and draws a knife only to look on in fear as she sees who it is.)

G-Graf?! W-What are you doing here?! Whatever you are here for, I am not helping you!

[srwuga_mods]

[The man, Graf, is completely unfazed by that knife as it's drawn. In fact, no sooner does Momo brandish it as his cane come swinging down, shattering the blade.]

I see you recognize me, my dear. Though I must admit I'm amused you think I have any use for you.

[noliesnohero]

[Mad was curled up on the floor of her room, the modified RioTrooper belt clutched tightly in her hands as she dozed on in a fitful sleep.]

[When she heard that Professor Himesaki was on board she did everything she could to avoid the old woman, clearly uncomfortable at the prospect of meeting her to the point of exhaustion.]

[srwuga_mods]

[The professor hadn't forced the issue with Mad either. When Madeleine was comfortable with the issue... then they'd be able to talk and hopefully settle the past. But as the professor learned in short order from Ayame, Mad was still plenty wound up.

[However, someone else had every intent to see her now, slipping into the room she worked in before locking the door behind him... a black miasma beginning to emanate from him.]

So much anger in this one... and with good reason.

[Yes, she was perfect for what was to come.]

[noliesnohero]

[Mad twitched in her sleep, clinging to the belt even tighter. Despite her slow recovery and assistance from others... she still had to deal with old and resurrected nightmares.]

[She has not awoken to the presence of the other person in the room, but on some level - she can feel that off-putting presence.]

[srwuga_mods]

[Old and resurrected nightmares indeed. Shapes began to take form inside of those dreams... those of her friends, of people she knew. Of her sister she looked up to so much... of the park that held so many lies...

[Of the carnage that followed and the red-stained Blanc, looming over her.]

She tried to kill you. She had every intent to and everyone just let it happen.

You know this is true.

[The voice echoes in her ears even as the screams begin to fill the air. Those of the dying, those just as they're killed... even those of a little girl crying and begging for it all to stop. And before long those screams are accompanied by the most sadistic of laughs. Laughs that grow ever more gleeful with every life extinguished.]