When I woke up after...ya know, everything that happened when we got back...[he rubs his temple where the bruised lump Kaine gave him is, brow furrowed as he tries to think back] I was back at the dorm with everyone askin' me stuff and I remember needin' to do it before we all passed out...but it's all fuzzy. Even then I was kinda...losin' myself at times. And I can't remember if I tried before we got trapped in that place or during or anything...
[his expression loosens a bit as he sighs, giving up for the moment]
Sorry about your plan, Rita... [and his frustration and worry does mix with feelings of having let her down]
feels pretty guilty, listening to all this, and she lets go so he can have his phone back.]
It... it's fine. The rejection notice means you tried. And... it's probably better this way, anyway. I mean, you didn't actually hurt anyone. That's good.
That's how I see it, but not everyone feels like that, I guess. [what seemed cut and dry to denji became less so in light of feeling people's negative emotions towards him afterward
he shrugs] Don't really blame anyone who's mad about it, though.
It was pretty alarming... but whatever, they'll get over it. Or not. Their problem.
Point still stands: you don't have anything to feel guilty about. Believe me, if I thought you did something wrong, I'd be first in line to tell you off.
[seems like hand-holding is still happening! there's a small spike of embarrassment, but less-so than the first time it happened, it actually seems to add some degree of comfort to the chaotic teenaged emotions]
Well, you think anyone might try and get revenge against Miss Otome? Someone who'd be all angry about that Wang Lu dude or the other guy she killed?
I don't think it's about revenge. If it happened, it'd be more about... stopping her from killing more people, or... trying to free her from having to kill when she doesn't want to.
...Or it'd just be somebody else lashing out because they felt betrayed.
[she'll give his hand a short squeeze... and then slips hers away, nope, not going to keep doing this. it's too embarrassing and weird.]
There was somethin'...the folks at the dorm were talkin' about it before. I didn't really get all of it, but they were sayin' that there's a pattern or whatever to that "Dean List" that goes up in the cafeteria.
[he lets her take her hand away without a fuss, weird compulsion sated for now]
[it brings me endless joy to explain things through the medium of this dipshit and his complete lack of formal education]
Uh...what was it...
Somethin' about people who're "playin' along"? Then somethin' else about like the ones that get ripped and the dead people tryin' to tell us stuff? They talk a lot about, like, TV and stuff too, and Beau's got this big notebook full of writing.
[there's some embarrassment and frustration from him as he racks his fuzzy and tired brain for more details]
You'd be better askin' Beau or Kon or someone smarter!
Sorry, but I was still in and out when they were talkin' [both in terms of physical consciousness from his injuries and whatever weird effect he was under] but it was just like...whether or not doin' what "the show" wanted got people on the list or somethin' like that.
I talked to them just the other day! Why didn't they mention something this important!? [idk probably all the dead people or something]
--Fine, I'll have to get some answers out of one of those assholes. Or maybe I can figure it out myself... [reaching for her notebook with the hand not holding her phone... then looks up and remembers denji's here, right where she cornered him? oh.] Right, uh. You're free to go.
Don't think they're hidin' anything or whatever, since they always talk about sharin' info with all the other people. Prob'ly just waitin' until they know for sure? [he shrugs]
Or who knows, maybe they think you're doin' stuff.
Ugh... I know! I've seen Kon's notes before, at least.
Anyway, I better go see if I can make something of this.
[she turns to leave, but stops.]
And that coupon... you should keep it. Use it to protect yourself if you get attacked, or... I don't know, next time people show up bloodied and battered on a Thursday evening, that spell could be used to stop the pain. Just a thought.
[he nods, but as she starts to leave he gently but firmly takes her arm and turns her around, drawing up closer to her and standing straighter than normal as he looks down to meet her eyes]
Rita...
[there's a moment, not too long, where he searches her face, emotions fluttering, then lets her go]
Thanks. And be careful.
[rita doesn't get to escape the effects of alpha week!]
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[his expression loosens a bit as he sighs, giving up for the moment]
Sorry about your plan, Rita... [and his frustration and worry does mix with feelings of having let her down]
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feels pretty guilty, listening to all this, and she lets go so he can have his phone back.]
It... it's fine. The rejection notice means you tried. And... it's probably better this way, anyway. I mean, you didn't actually hurt anyone. That's good.
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oh but then it comes back]
I did hurt people, though. Before all that.
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Th, that's different! I mean, you were barely conscious, weren't you? And something screwed with your head.
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he shrugs] Don't really blame anyone who's mad about it, though.
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Point still stands: you don't have anything to feel guilty about. Believe me, if I thought you did something wrong, I'd be first in line to tell you off.
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Well, guess that all means I still can use this thing, if you wanna try your strategy next week, too. You got someone else in mind?
[oh also he reaches out to take her hand??]
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when he takes her hand she just rolls her eyes like WOW, THIS AGAIN.]
I don't know... I think a lot of people from Fall would freak out if I targeted Luxanna again.
Even though I really don't see how it could've been anyone but her.
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Well, you think anyone might try and get revenge against Miss Otome? Someone who'd be all angry about that Wang Lu dude or the other guy she killed?
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...Or it'd just be somebody else lashing out because they felt betrayed.
[she'll give his hand a short squeeze... and then slips hers away, nope, not going to keep doing this. it's too embarrassing and weird.]
But, yeah, I don't know, somebody might try it.
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[he lets her take her hand away without a fuss, weird compulsion sated for now]
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[god this is probably not who she wants to have explain something like that, but here they are, she's hoping he's got something.]
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Uh...what was it...
Somethin' about people who're "playin' along"? Then somethin' else about like the ones that get ripped and the dead people tryin' to tell us stuff? They talk a lot about, like, TV and stuff too, and Beau's got this big notebook full of writing.
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What did they say about people who are "playing along"? It's important.
[she just grabs the front of his shirt, giving off feelings of urgency, hope! maybe a little fear.]
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You'd be better askin' Beau or Kon or someone smarter!
Sorry, but I was still in and out when they were talkin' [both in terms of physical consciousness from his injuries and whatever weird effect he was under] but it was just like...whether or not doin' what "the show" wanted got people on the list or somethin' like that.
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I talked to them just the other day! Why didn't they mention something this important!? [idk probably all the dead people or something]
--Fine, I'll have to get some answers out of one of those assholes. Or maybe I can figure it out myself... [reaching for her notebook with the hand not holding her phone... then looks up and remembers denji's here, right where she cornered him? oh.] Right, uh. You're free to go.
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Or who knows, maybe they think you're doin' stuff.
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Anyway, I better go see if I can make something of this.
[she turns to leave, but stops.]
And that coupon... you should keep it. Use it to protect yourself if you get attacked, or... I don't know, next time people show up bloodied and battered on a Thursday evening, that spell could be used to stop the pain. Just a thought.
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Rita...
[there's a moment, not too long, where he searches her face, emotions fluttering, then lets her go]
Thanks. And be careful.
[rita doesn't get to escape the effects of alpha week!]
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???!? is the emotion. also, her face is red.]
I... I'm always careful!
[she'll leave very quickly!!]