Ghost PCs feat. Himeko Inaba

[relentlesslyonwards]

he read your letter tho, that counts as an apology for eating someone right

Comments

[relentlesslyonwards]

[He nods as he picks up a package of wound dressing and a roll of bandages. They may or may not be Schrodinger's medical supplies.]

Alright, we can probably start off on how to handle more severe cuts, then. How about we do this as a demonstration though, and I'll talk through the steps as we go through them?

[dereban]

I think that would work. [ She nods in response, hand resting under her chin deep in thought. ] It shouldn't be too much of a problem for me to memorize it, though.

[relentlesslyonwards]

I don't doubt you can. I mean, you were pretty studious with all the cat books too. [Good times... that ended up being kind of awkward but hm. ....Okay, maybe it's better not to dwell on that.] But alright, let's take a seat and get started. Can you lend me your arm?

[He puts a hand out in front of him, palm up.]

[dereban]

Ah-

That's because. . .

[ She quietly trails off a little bit before taking a seat on one of the chairs before putting her left (nondominant) arm out for him. ]

That should be fine, right?

[relentlesslyonwards]

Atsushi... right? I get why it was a secret now, but I was pretty confused back then, even if it did seem like something serious.

[There's a nod at the arm and he takes it in his left, using his right hand to press a wad of dressing firmly against her forearm. As he goes through the motions of securing the dressing with bandages, he narrates through the steps. When he's done, there's a fairly neat, if bulky bundle around her arm, held in place with a safety pin.]

There. I didn't make it too tight, did I?

[dereban]

Yeah. I didn't want to get you- [...] To get the Jorogumo involved, since I didn't want to somehow out you to the rest of the others.

[ She does manage to get that out rather calmly, though and listens to Reans instructions, nodding every now and again to make sure that she's got it. ]

No, it's fine. It's not that tight at all.

[relentlesslyonwards]

[He was just about ready to remove the bandages and dressing from Inaba's arm when he hears that. His eyes go directly from the wrappings to Inaba's face, with a clear expression of surprise.]

...Oh. I... didn't realize you were looking out for me like that.

[dereban]

Ah, well. . . [ She finds herself flushing, looking a little embarrassed as her gaze drops a little to hide that, keeping her voice even. ] It's not as if that changed the outcome for anything.

[relentlesslyonwards]

[He lets out a sheepish laugh.]

That was because of my own carelessness though. I'm glad you didn't try to step in, too. It was dangerous enough as is.

[dereban]

. . .

[ She's quiet; almost contemplative for a second or two, as if trying to figure out what she could say, flashes of guilt tracing across her features for a second there. ]

I should have been able to do something to interfere. But I was-- am weak. I could only watch. I could only do the bare minimum of things. [ And she sighs. ] By the way, was what you did back then. . . that 'trump card' of yours that you were talking about?

[relentlesslyonwards]

[There's a sympathetic look directed her way as he sees the emotions flicker through her face. Being completely helpless to do anything but watch is a feeling that's all too familiar to him by now and as he opens his mouth a little to interject, but he falters the instant that question comes up. His expression shifts to something more troubled, averting his eyes to look at her bandaged arm.]

You saw that too, huh. ...Yeah, it was.

[dereban]

I was there the entire time.

[ There's no emotion in her tone and her expression seems to falter for a moment before she tries to force herself to steel her emotions. ]

Do you want to talk about it?

[relentlesslyonwards]

...Right. [There was that message from Inaba that Cinque had relayed, after all. And given that he explicitly stated it at the meeting, along with regaining the memories that they'd lost, it probably shouldn't be that hard to talk it. Still, he hesitates.]

I... [...] You remember when we were playing Never Have I Ever, right?

[dereban]

[ The hesitation is noted, but she doesn't say anything about it before she nods at his question, her expression serious. ]

I do. What about it?

[relentlesslyonwards]

I don't think I really need to tell you, but this was what I was referring to back when you were asking about supernatural powers.

[He sighs a little and places a hand on his chest, right over his heart.]

...It's something I've had since I was a kid. I don't know where it came from or why I have it, but using it gives me strength and speed beyond that of a normal person -- likened to the 'power of an ogre'. You... can probably guess why that's a bad combination when I mentioned that I can't fully control it.

[dereban]

I see.

[ She does listen to him throughout the entirety of this conversation, however, definitely a little contemplative as she hums a little bit to herself. ]

It's possible that if you had it since you were that young, you might have been born with it? But you said you had it since you were younger, and I hate asking this, but. Did you kill someone with it before--?

[ "Before all of this", she seems to imply, but not say aloud. ]

[relentlesslyonwards]

[He freezes up at that, closing his eyes as the faces of his family, friends and acquaintances flash through his mind. ...He wonders what they would think of him now.]

...Yeah, although not until I started working for the Foundation. [...] It was my squad commander at the time. Things were only getting worse, so I used it. And by the time I came back to my senses, it was already too late.

[dereban]

[ That sounds. . . bad? She listens to him carefully as she shuts her eyes closed and lets out a heavy breath before opening them once again, her gaze steely and serious. ]

I see. You must carry a lot of guilt about that. I'm sorry.

[relentlesslyonwards]

Haha... [The laughter is weak and self-derisive.] I appreciate the thought, but you really don't need to say that. He's the one who paid the price, all because I was too weak to do anything about it.

[dereban]

No, I think I do. Because nobody else will. [ She says those words rather calmly, letting out a heavy breath. ] I can't say much, just that if you think that you're weak. . . you just have to get stronger, right? To find a way to control yourself.

[relentlesslyonwards]

Inaba... [...] Yeah, you're right. That's the only thing I can do.

Thanks. And sorry for just... dumping all this on you.

[dereban]

Huh? There's no reason to apologize when I was pretty much asking for it... and besides, it's better than keeping it all in, isn't it?

[ what a hypocrite ]

[relentlesslyonwards]

Well... I guess that's true, but you have your own concerns to deal with too, right? So it's not really fair of me to heap my troubles on top of yours.

[dereban]

Not really.

[ TROUBLES, WHAT TROUBLES, SHE HAS NONE. . . or at least is trying to convince herself that she doesn't right now ]

My only troubles are liking too many people.

[relentlesslyonwards]

Really? [Um, he's not the best at picking up on how other people feel but this still sounds like bullshit??]

Look, I'm not going to pry if you don't want to talk, but... [...] just remember that people care about you. That means we want you to lean on us if you're ever down or you feel like you need to talk or... anything. You're always there to prop us up when we need it, and I want to be able to do the same for you.