[Week 3, Saturday: Ren]

[fallbymyhands]

[she gives him time, as she had silently promised. some hours after they've finished poking at Red's cell phone. it's late. too late. they should be sleeping. but some Dark Hour habits die hard, and Mitsuru is wide awake]

[she seeks Ren out wherever he may be, totally expecting him to. . . well. expect her]

There's another matter we should discuss.

[straight to business]

Comments

[le_mat]

[Oh, he certainly does]

I know. But... I'm going to be honest with you Kirijo-san. There are somethings I can't tell you.

[fallbymyhands]

[. . . frowns!! deeply!!]

And why not?

[le_mat]

Red asked me not to. Not you specifically, but... everyone.

[fallbymyhands]

[folds her arms tightly, gaze flickering down. she understands Red's restrictions, but. . .]

If she didn't erase your memory, then it must not have been something sensitive. Did she. . . tell you why?

[le_mat]

Because if everyone knew, it could.... set certain people off. They'd lose hope and panic. We'd all go down in flames, probably.

[fallbymyhands]

[. . . ah. that. . . does not inspire confidence at all]

[there's a deliberate pause, as Mitsuru chooses her next question carefully]

Did it make you lose hope?

[le_mat]

No. As long as I can keep fighting, I'm going to. But it's... sour in my guts. If that makes sense.

[fallbymyhands]

[she seems. . . extremely satisfied with that response]

Tres bien. That's how I feel.

[she straightens her shoulders, standing firm, chin tilted up]

If I was capable of staring death in the face and fighting it with all of my might, then whatever secrets Red may have told you. . . I can weather those, as well.

If you can't tell me, that's acceptable. But I'll only go ask her myself afterwards.

[le_mat]

That's fine. I'm pretty sure if she'd tell anyone, it's you.

[He reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone.]

If... anything happens. Everything I learn, even things Red says I can't repeat, will be in here. I want you to hold onto it. If... that happens. Plus you and Tatsumi are the only ones I know can handle the Metaverse app for sure.

[fallbymyhands]

The Metaverse app. . .?

[she only just learned what phone apps were today!! but. well. if he's trusting her with this, then. . .]

. . . of course. Although ideally, nothing would would happen to you.

{then again, this camp is anything but ideal]

You'll have to show me how to use the. . . app, though.

[le_mat]

I will. I plan to try and go there again soon. This time I won't go alone.

[fallbymyhands]

Good.

[gives him a stern look like, you'd better not, mister.]

Even if there are things you can't say, I'd still like to ask you a question.

What did Red mean when she said the time out shack would. . . scream?

[le_mat]

...I didn't know it would when I attacked it. And I'm not sure but... I think... the rocks are in more than just our heads.

You wouldn't like your home being attacked, would you?

[fallbymyhands]

I wouldn't, no. But I don't believe anyone or anything would.

[hmmm. she takes a moment to parse his answer]

If the rocks are in more than just our heads, then perhaps. . . do you mean to say that there's a possibility this planet is alive?

[le_mat]

I don't know- and that's not me being slick about my secret. But... Kirijo-san, I heared it cry. It was like... like I was burning a child.

I don't know if it was the voice in our heads using a sound it knew humans would avoid hurting, or if it was really in pain or what. But did you see how all the dead turned and watched me like that? All at the same time? It's like... like they knew what I did.

[fallbymyhands]

[. . .]

[she shivers. she can't help it; it's like a chill just ran up and down her spine]

Like. . . the pain felt by whatever that child was resonated with them.

[le_mat]

...exactly. If they are in there... god, what might they have felt? What might I have done to them - to Talcott.

[fallbymyhands]

You didn't know.

[she points out quickly]

Whatever Red may have told you, it wasn't enough to tell you that burning the time out shack might harm. . . something.

[the planet? the rock zombies? she doesn't know]

[le_mat]

...

[She's not wrong, but he can't make himself acknowledge it either.]

I can tell you... Red and Stan are infected too. It's just, slower, in adults.

[fallbymyhands]

[. . .]

But Red is resistant to the mind effects the rest of us experience.

[le_mat]

I don't know if it's because she's an adult or something her employers help her with. But she said, eventually, she'll be just like the rest of us.

[fallbymyhands]

I wonder, then, if that's why that unusual scientist wished to experiment on her?

[le_mat]

Maybe... god, I hope not. I mean, I should be glad for a possible cure but I wouldn't want that guy close to even my worse enemy.

[fallbymyhands]

[. . . HM]

Do you think he's actively searching for a cure?

[le_mat]

I can't think of what else scientists would be in contact with Red for- that or a way to make the rocks worse.

[fallbymyhands]

Or to satiate their own curiosity. The unusual scientist did strike me as that type.

[le_mat]

Ugh, yeah he kinda did. He's from Ichigo's world... so it's pretty clear they're just grab-bagging anyone that will keep their little system running just like it is.

With how Ichigo reacted though... I wonder if they realize what kind of sicko they have on staff?

[fallbymyhands]

Based on how Red's boss reacted when we attempted to circumvent the camp rules with our vote, I'm assuming they do.

And I am assuming they hardly care.