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INTERLUDETitan's Call.
[ he may not be able to drink but at least it's away from... everything else. ]
[ he may not be able to drink but at least it's away from... everything else. ]
[Yeah, fuck that.
Once Bradley shows up, he takes note of what Kazuki is drinking and orders the same drink in alcohol form, which he wordlessly slides over to Kazuki.]
Once Bradley shows up, he takes note of what Kazuki is drinking and orders the same drink in alcohol form, which he wordlessly slides over to Kazuki.]
[ ah.
with a humorless laugh, he'll accept that glass and take a swig. the vibes are Not Great, fam. ]
with a humorless laugh, he'll accept that glass and take a swig. the vibes are Not Great, fam. ]
[Good. Enjoy the burn, tiny rockstar.]
I heard what happened, from the bean guy.
I heard what happened, from the bean guy.
[ a queasy feeling settles in, less from the alcohol and more from the memory, as kazuki sinks a little deeper into his seat. ]
It was bad. I - I've never seen anything like that before. Not involving anyone I knew.
It was bad. I - I've never seen anything like that before. Not involving anyone I knew.
...yeah. Death in general is usually bad, but that sounded worse.
[How do you emotionally support a teenager when you are constipated about your own emotions?
...he orders a drink of his own.]
Lemme know if you want more. I'll get 'em for you.
[How do you emotionally support a teenager when you are constipated about your own emotions?
...he orders a drink of his own.]
Lemme know if you want more. I'll get 'em for you.
Thanks. It's probably better not to drink too much, though. Bad habit.
[ ...after a moment's hesitation, he says in a small voice, ] It hurt. Some of the others had it worse, but it hurt a lot.
[ ...after a moment's hesitation, he says in a small voice, ] It hurt. Some of the others had it worse, but it hurt a lot.
Yeah, it is a bad habit.
[He says while drinking his own drink.]
...yeah. You had to feel his emotions while it was happening, didn't you?
[This death was so much more horrific than tutorial deaths usually are.]
[He says while drinking his own drink.]
...yeah. You had to feel his emotions while it was happening, didn't you?
[This death was so much more horrific than tutorial deaths usually are.]
[ there's something akin to an emotional shudder. ]
Yeah. I don't think I'll be able to forget it.
Yeah. I don't think I'll be able to forget it.
[ the second that the verdict snaps him out of the stunned state that scien's breakdown threw him into, kazuki escapes the the conference room. but he's not far, rather - off to the side of a hall, somewhere out of the way. he's clearly trying to gather himself, but this whole thing has left him shaken to the core, drowning in confusion, anger, and frustration - and a little bit of fear, if you know what to look for.
he doesn't seem to notice brad immediately, and doesn't look up. ]
he doesn't seem to notice brad immediately, and doesn't look up. ]
[NOOO KAZUKI
Without a word, Bradley slips his coat off and drapes it around Kazuki's shoulders. Here, have a securityblanket coat.]
Without a word, Bradley slips his coat off and drapes it around Kazuki's shoulders. Here, have a security
[ he stiffens, looking up at bradley with wide eyes. just like the last minutes of trial, he seems to be frozen in place.
but a moment later, it's like his mind restarts and his emotions just flare with anger, none of it directed at bradley. and kazuki finally says, quietly but with feeling, ]
What the fuck.
but a moment later, it's like his mind restarts and his emotions just flare with anger, none of it directed at bradley. and kazuki finally says, quietly but with feeling, ]
What the fuck.
I've been sayin' the same thing since the trial ended.
[He feels you, Kazuki. Shit's fucked.]
[He feels you, Kazuki. Shit's fucked.]
He said he wanted to preserve life. Not... hack someone apart.
Yeah. And going by his last words at the trial, someone forced him to do it.
Or something. That stuff they said about the nanites... [ with a little thread of fear, ] I was thinking the same thing. It's happened before in movies and stuff.
Even if that's not it, something's wrong.
Even if that's not it, something's wrong.
The nanites...?
[He frowns, and he looks down at his hands.]
Is that why we got two different feelings from him? Was one from the nanites?
[He frowns, and he looks down at his hands.]
Is that why we got two different feelings from him? Was one from the nanites?
I don't know... I'm not a scientist. But it's a possibility, I think - not even the senior crew fully understand the things, so who knows?
It's just... something was off. But I don't know him that well, and I don't how to ask him without him being a pain in the ass.
It's just... something was off. But I don't know him that well, and I don't how to ask him without him being a pain in the ass.
Let me tell you something: be that pain in the ass. Don't hold back just because you're worried about steppin' on some toes, if you wanna help then step up and do something to help.
I'm not worried about upsetting him - least of all now. But with someone like him, I think you need to know the way to handle them to get it to work, and I don't.
Ah, yeah. You can be kinda abrasive at times.
You're one to talk.
[ he immediately shoots back but the thing is... he's actually a little hurt? even if he knows it's true. that's a part of himself that kazuki doesn't necessarily like. ]
[ he immediately shoots back but the thing is... he's actually a little hurt? even if he knows it's true. that's a part of himself that kazuki doesn't necessarily like. ]
Ha! You're right, I wouldn't be the right person to talk to him either.
[He tries to offer up some amused vibes to keep the conversation lighter.]
So how about we go grab some snacks from a vending machine for now? We didn't get to eat during that trial, and I'm starving.
[He figured Kazuki might be hungry too but decides to put that on himself instead of calling Kazuki out again.]
[He tries to offer up some amused vibes to keep the conversation lighter.]
So how about we go grab some snacks from a vending machine for now? We didn't get to eat during that trial, and I'm starving.
[He figured Kazuki might be hungry too but decides to put that on himself instead of calling Kazuki out again.]
[ he's really in his feelings after that trial so it takes him a moment to answer with a slow nod. ]
Yeah. Okay. Something to eat is probably a good idea.
Yeah. Okay. Something to eat is probably a good idea.
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