he'd be more startled if he didn't already know, but seeing Nimona like that, somehow, it's easier to cry around someone younger than him than around adults. He doesn't speak, but his lips move and maybe Nimona can catch the words:
[I CAN'T STAND YOU I HAVE TOO MUCH HAPPENING AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
she just stares at him, and the lights in her eyes go out. she's breathing like, really hard.]
I'm going to be the last one standing. I'm always the last one standing. I have to watch - I have to watch him, I have to watch him die, do you understand? I have to watch him die.
[ He grits his teeth, wanting to tell Nimona that she doesn't have to, to say something comforting, but he can't. doesn't know how. doesn't know why he goes every week himself.
... no, he knows why. ]
...You're not always the last one standing. Not while I'm here. [ and, despite everything, he's still here ]
[ Ngh... There's really no chance of somebody sitting back and letting Ace win, is there? like he'd been hoping Temenos would do during w0 execution. ]
Of course I do. "The ones with the most power are those who don't know when to give up."... right?
[ his stupid hero profile quote. he'd only ever said it to someone once, but more and more these past few weeks it's been true. try everything. push the boundaries. do what no one else will.
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he'd be more startled if he didn't already know, but seeing Nimona like that, somehow, it's easier to cry around someone younger than him than around adults. He doesn't speak, but his lips move and maybe Nimona can catch the words:
I'm sorry. ]
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Sorry about what? [she murmurs, voice placid.]
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...I killed him.
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well. she goes very, very still.]
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kill him ]
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long pause, and she pulls away from him, and then just fucking grabs his face in her tiny mitts.]
Don't you fucking lie to me, Hanako.
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I'm not! I had to do it... I promised you...!
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[ kill him
do it
please ]
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1/
2/
[ his words are choked off by a sob, but he swallows that down and takes a deep breath ]
I promised you that wouldn't be the alone! That you wouldn't be the last one standing!
3/3
[ voted for Ace and killed him ): ]
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she just stares at him, and the lights in her eyes go out. she's breathing like, really hard.]
I'm going to be the last one standing. I'm always the last one standing. I have to watch - I have to watch him, I have to watch him die, do you understand? I have to watch him die.
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... no, he knows why. ]
...You're not always the last one standing. Not while I'm here. [ and, despite everything, he's still here ]
And maybe... maybe it won't be him.
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[she says, exhausted, slumping down.] It will be him. I'm going to have to lose him all over again.
[hanako is here, and she cares, she cares about that, she does. she's just so tired.]
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"Again"?
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And then I watched him die. In the thing I went to on Thursday.
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but... ah. first and most importantly he gives Nimona a tight hug. then he takes her hands if she lets him ]
It was Tama, Adlet, Hung, and... and Reigen, on ours. [ and some other people, but they're not important rn ] It wasn't real, but...
I don't know how to make you not hurt.
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I don't think there's a way to stop it. [she says, finally.] But I like that you want to try.
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[ his stupid hero profile quote. he'd only ever said it to someone once, but more and more these past few weeks it's been true. try everything. push the boundaries. do what no one else will.
and then maybe he can grant a miracle ]
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Sure.
[a long pause, and then:] I care about you, Hanako.
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And I care about you. So don't give up either, okay?
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