Black shuts the door with nary a greeting, kneeling down to unhook Benny's leash from her collar and watch her scamper ahead; he follows shortly after, hands in his hoodie pockets as he watches their dog sits by his sister's feet, panting happily.
[ He'll keep standing instead of sitting like he would usually. Not making any moves to hide the fact they're about to have a sort of important talk here. ]
I met Junko Enoshima today--she hit me with a snowball to get my attention and we chatted for a little while. [ A beat while he kneels down to take his shoes off. ] She mentioned something... that I was doing a great job of avoiding her, while you were going out of your way to talk to her. She found it pretty amusing.
[The lack of sitting down alerts her to the importance of this talk, just like how it'd been so many months ago. The more Black talks -- about Junko, about what Junko said -- the colder their apartment becomes, her eyes back to her book and barely reading it.
It's a direct question. He wants her to answer it truthfully. No matter what, it'll probably come out, and it's not like it's that guy's business so she should be able to answer him right out.]
We met during the trip to Shaarnath and she was having trouble with dunamis like me. I didn't realize who she was at the time, and we ended up talking quite a bit then even after I learned she was the one you warned me against.
[That's not all, obviously, but she's not saying anything.]
[White bites back every word she wants to say, how similar she and Junko are especially, and shuts her book, setting it aside as she shifts her arm into her lap. What can she say to that? Nothing that wouldn't get her into more trouble. Nothing that wouldn't alert Black to her agreement with that guy, to the feelings she has about herself, to how much of a mistake his sister is.
So she simply stares at the ground, unsure what to say as darkness seems to deepen around her.]
[ A bright light cuts through that darkness, Black stepping closer with it--he kneels in front of her, carefully taking the hand not in a cast. A pleading look. ]
White, please tell me? [ His tone's changed too, gentle and a little strained. ] I won't be mad as long as you're being honest.
[ (He told Junko White'd tell him, and he's certain she will.) ]
[That's a lie. He doesn't realize it but it's a lie.]
... After that, I found out it her birthday was the same as Silver's, so I bought her and her sister presents and invited her along t the party. And the last time we talked was when her sister had disappeared completely.
[It's not an answer to why, but it's to how many times she's talked.]
All I could think about was how I'd feel if I didn't have you here anymore, Black. [Her hand tightens and she leans in against him, voice going softer.] So I wanted to take her mind off of it by inviting her out. Even if she's a truly terrible person with no remorse for her actions, in the end, there's a lot she's done that she is sad about, you know? Even if she might play things off and use other's sympathies to her advantage, there's feelings in her that are real.
[As weird as it is to say, remembering how excited Junko had been talking about what she'd done.]
Junko's still human. I won't deny that's she dangerous and that most people should stay away from her, but... she's still just a kid.
Most people includes you, White. Especially you. [ His little sister, being manipulated by someone so filled with despair-- who finds joy in causing it-- who could hurt her just because it'd be a good laugh--
Black gently pushes her back into her chair and stands, keeping their hands linked. ]
Anything she says to you or shares with you isn't-- I mean, it's how she really feels, sure, but she jut uses it to throw an endless pity party and revels in the despair it brings her, she doesn't actually care that it hurts or anything like that. So--
You're not allowed to talk to her anymore. If you see her, you turn the other way. If she tries to strike up a conversation, you give her pleasantries and leave. Am I making myself clear, White?
[How harsh. White presses her lips tight together, annoyed at how she can't say a word against it and why would she want to, anyway, Black's right, and she knows that.
But she still can't help but see the similarities between her and Junko. The only difference is just that: Junko revels in it all, while White wants it to go away. They're resigned in different ways. Junko takes it as it comes and makes it her own while White's stuck.]
Why especially me? It's not like I haven't accepted things you can't.
And that keeps throwing herself into more angst on purpose, White.
[ That's the important part. Who cares if someone's mega negative! If they're not doing it on purpose, that's whatever.
A deep breath, and Black shakes his head. ] ...I'm not locking you away or anything, you know. I couldn't do that here even if I wanted to.
[ She's had too much freedom and she has too many people who know her. Home was different. ]
And I don't want to, I just... I don't want to lose you. Not again. [ He hunches his shoulders, watching the ground. ] I couldn't bear it if something happened to you and I was in a position to prevent it--I couldn't bear it even if I wasn't. I'm not even sure I could go on without you.
[As passing as any of her other comments, though she doesn't hesitate in pulling Black into the chair with her, squished as it is now. Physical contact was always a comfort for the two.]
Nothing ends just because one person dies, William. [It's actually nicer to call him that now that she can, now that no one knows them here.] It doesn't work like that. And besides, I'll be fine, promise. Don't you trust me?
[ It doesn't matter if he trusts her or not; his feelings remain the same. ]
I'm glad to hear you'll be perfectly fine without me. [ It's a mean barb, and he knows it; he buries his face into her shoulder and sighs, too long and too loud. ] I don't trust you to be able to know when too far is too far, I'll admit that much. You've always gone overboard.
[ (says the one who jumped off a bridge for a camera) ]
And I definitely don't trust Junko, who's already hurt dozens of people, or the Arehtei, who are so vague and frustrating even people who've supported them in the past are getting tired of them, or... pretty much anyone else. [ A few heartbeats spent breathing, ears trained on her pulse beside his ear. ] I might trust Silver.
[It's a mean enough barb that she almost flinches away, but grips tighter as he moves onto other topics.]
You're the one who threw himself off a bridge for some dumb camera [and sacrificed his body in some effort to protect her by accepting a demon into it.] Don't talk to me about going overboard.
[Just so you know. She shakes her head though, sighing softly in contrast to his frustration before, and pets his head.]
I know Daimonia's at least a good Arehtei. I feel like I can trust her. Maybe it's just because I'm aligned to her, but... she really does want to help us, even if there's things she's not certain about. I promise. [It's the feeling she got being close to the dinosaur. White giggles lightly.] Silver's definitely someone you can trust though. Jude is too, by the way, even outside of his doctoring. They're both good people.
[ That was legitimate, okay, you don't use your powers selfishly, you use them for others...! Aaaaaand it didn't occur to him that he could. ]
I'll take your word for it. [ He can't totally trust it, but... he'll take it. Into consideration. ] On Daimonia, at least. I'm aware Silver and Jude are good people.
[ ...maybe now isn't really the time for heavy questions, so he shifts gears. ]
Silver... mentioned you make flowers like I do. With your emotions, I mean, but I've never seen it. What kind are they? [ ...maybe White knows who else does plants too. ]
White cannot stop herself from visibly being relieved, sinking into the seat more.]
Wildflowers, I guess. I haven't really looked. They usually pop up when, um, I'm around someone I really like. [Eck. Embarrassing enough that she's using her hair as cover.] Happiness flowers, I guess? But it's a weird kind of happiness.
[ That's cute. That's really cute. ...that does not help with his at all. ]
...flowers grow no matter what I feel--well, er, mostly. [ There's thorny vines for some of them, but... otherwise... ] Do you know anyone else who gets flowers? He said there were other people, but I've never noticed anything like it before.
[it's not cute it is the worst thing the day she learns to stop growing them is the day they disappear forever]
Silver does the same thing I do, and his flowers are really pretty. [Silver might know the name of his own.
... Though the memory of how she found that out gives rise to a cozy sort of warmth, hand lingering near her ear as she smiles. It'd been oddly sweet of him to hear her out in the first place, but putting flowers in her hair was so unnecessary.] It's probably people he's friends with that he's talking about. Tsukiyama always has a flower on him, but I don't know if that's because of his feelings or an out of season fashion accessory. Maybe Cilan? Or one of his housemates.
[Who else was close to Silver?]
Komaeda, maybe? I bet he'd have cute flowers. But I don't think I've caught anyone else doing it myself. There's mostly temperature changes.
[It is a wonder there isn't more weather warnings because of it.]
I guess you might just not notice it because they happen to be on the ground.
I always assumed it was just an accessory. [ ...but making flowers would fit Tsukiyama, seeing as he's pretty and elegant and, going by White's pictures, doesn't have a bad side.
At least more than it fits him. ...flowers also fit his beautiful, wonderful sister. Not so much Silver? Cilan maybe, he's pretty bright. ...he can't say he can see either of Silver's housemates doing it though.
Or Nagito. ] ...you might be right. I feel like it'd be weird to start staring at the ground waiting for some to pop up though. Wouldn't it?
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Black shuts the door with nary a greeting, kneeling down to unhook Benny's leash from her collar and watch her scamper ahead; he follows shortly after, hands in his hoodie pockets as he watches their dog sits by his sister's feet, panting happily.
...at least one of them had a good time. ]
I'm home. [ Obviously. ]
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Welcome back! Did you make any headway in your case? Meet anyone interesting?
[Look, she's so unaware. And happy.]
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[ He'll keep standing instead of sitting like he would usually. Not making any moves to hide the fact they're about to have a sort of important talk here. ]
I met Junko Enoshima today--she hit me with a snowball to get my attention and we chatted for a little while. [ A beat while he kneels down to take his shoes off. ] She mentioned something... that I was doing a great job of avoiding her, while you were going out of your way to talk to her. She found it pretty amusing.
[ A glance up. White. ]
Was she lying?
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It's a direct question. He wants her to answer it truthfully. No matter what, it'll probably come out, and it's not like it's that guy's business so she should be able to answer him right out.]
We met during the trip to Shaarnath and she was having trouble with dunamis like me. I didn't realize who she was at the time, and we ended up talking quite a bit then even after I learned she was the one you warned me against.
[That's not all, obviously, but she's not saying anything.]
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[ White's smart, she should know better! ]
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So she simply stares at the ground, unsure what to say as darkness seems to deepen around her.]
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White, please tell me? [ His tone's changed too, gentle and a little strained. ] I won't be mad as long as you're being honest.
[ (He told Junko White'd tell him, and he's certain she will.) ]
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... After that, I found out it her birthday was the same as Silver's, so I bought her and her sister presents and invited her along t the party. And the last time we talked was when her sister had disappeared completely.
[It's not an answer to why, but it's to how many times she's talked.]
All I could think about was how I'd feel if I didn't have you here anymore, Black. [Her hand tightens and she leans in against him, voice going softer.] So I wanted to take her mind off of it by inviting her out. Even if she's a truly terrible person with no remorse for her actions, in the end, there's a lot she's done that she is sad about, you know? Even if she might play things off and use other's sympathies to her advantage, there's feelings in her that are real.
[As weird as it is to say, remembering how excited Junko had been talking about what she'd done.]
Junko's still human. I won't deny that's she dangerous and that most people should stay away from her, but... she's still just a kid.
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Black gently pushes her back into her chair and stands, keeping their hands linked. ]
Anything she says to you or shares with you isn't-- I mean, it's how she really feels, sure, but she jut uses it to throw an endless pity party and revels in the despair it brings her, she doesn't actually care that it hurts or anything like that. So--
You're not allowed to talk to her anymore. If you see her, you turn the other way. If she tries to strike up a conversation, you give her pleasantries and leave. Am I making myself clear, White?
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But she still can't help but see the similarities between her and Junko. The only difference is just that: Junko revels in it all, while White wants it to go away. They're resigned in different ways. Junko takes it as it comes and makes it her own while White's stuck.]
Why especially me? It's not like I haven't accepted things you can't.
[Eck. Might been a little harsh there.]
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Because I don't want to see you hurt, White.
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[She bites her lip, pushing out a sigh as she curls up in the chair and focuses on the wall instead.]
It's fine, okay? She's nothing special anyway. Just teenage angst dialed up to eleven in a world that takes it too literally.
[... Who had her friends murder each other for fun, basically, and more or less wishes she could pull something off like that here...]
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[ That's the important part. Who cares if someone's mega negative! If they're not doing it on purpose, that's whatever.
A deep breath, and Black shakes his head. ] ...I'm not locking you away or anything, you know. I couldn't do that here even if I wanted to.
[ She's had too much freedom and she has too many people who know her. Home was different. ]
And I don't want to, I just... I don't want to lose you. Not again. [ He hunches his shoulders, watching the ground. ] I couldn't bear it if something happened to you and I was in a position to prevent it--I couldn't bear it even if I wasn't. I'm not even sure I could go on without you.
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[As passing as any of her other comments, though she doesn't hesitate in pulling Black into the chair with her, squished as it is now. Physical contact was always a comfort for the two.]
Nothing ends just because one person dies, William. [It's actually nicer to call him that now that she can, now that no one knows them here.] It doesn't work like that. And besides, I'll be fine, promise. Don't you trust me?
[White has a good head on her shoulders.]
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I'm glad to hear you'll be perfectly fine without me. [ It's a mean barb, and he knows it; he buries his face into her shoulder and sighs, too long and too loud. ] I don't trust you to be able to know when too far is too far, I'll admit that much. You've always gone overboard.
[ (says the one who jumped off a bridge for a camera) ]
And I definitely don't trust Junko, who's already hurt dozens of people, or the Arehtei, who are so vague and frustrating even people who've supported them in the past are getting tired of them, or... pretty much anyone else. [ A few heartbeats spent breathing, ears trained on her pulse beside his ear. ] I might trust Silver.
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You're the one who threw himself off a bridge for some dumb camera [and sacrificed his body in some effort to protect her by accepting a demon into it.] Don't talk to me about going overboard.
[Just so you know. She shakes her head though, sighing softly in contrast to his frustration before, and pets his head.]
I know Daimonia's at least a good Arehtei. I feel like I can trust her. Maybe it's just because I'm aligned to her, but... she really does want to help us, even if there's things she's not certain about. I promise. [It's the feeling she got being close to the dinosaur. White giggles lightly.] Silver's definitely someone you can trust though. Jude is too, by the way, even outside of his doctoring. They're both good people.
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I'll take your word for it. [ He can't totally trust it, but... he'll take it. Into consideration. ] On Daimonia, at least. I'm aware Silver and Jude are good people.
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Anything else you'd like to yell at me about?
[It's a weak joke.]
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Not yell, but... there's a few more things I wanted to know.
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At least she's (kind of) good at pretending to be unbothered. When she's not looking at Black.]
Yeah? What is it?
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Silver... mentioned you make flowers like I do. With your emotions, I mean, but I've never seen it. What kind are they? [ ...maybe White knows who else does plants too. ]
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White cannot stop herself from visibly being relieved, sinking into the seat more.]
Wildflowers, I guess. I haven't really looked. They usually pop up when, um, I'm around someone I really like. [Eck. Embarrassing enough that she's using her hair as cover.] Happiness flowers, I guess? But it's a weird kind of happiness.
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...flowers grow no matter what I feel--well, er, mostly. [ There's thorny vines for some of them, but... otherwise... ] Do you know anyone else who gets flowers? He said there were other people, but I've never noticed anything like it before.
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Silver does the same thing I do, and his flowers are really pretty. [Silver might know the name of his own.
... Though the memory of how she found that out gives rise to a cozy sort of warmth, hand lingering near her ear as she smiles. It'd been oddly sweet of him to hear her out in the first place, but putting flowers in her hair was so unnecessary.] It's probably people he's friends with that he's talking about. Tsukiyama always has a flower on him, but I don't know if that's because of his feelings or an out of season fashion accessory. Maybe Cilan? Or one of his housemates.
[Who else was close to Silver?]
Komaeda, maybe? I bet he'd have cute flowers. But I don't think I've caught anyone else doing it myself. There's mostly temperature changes.
[It is a wonder there isn't more weather warnings because of it.]
I guess you might just not notice it because they happen to be on the ground.
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At least more than it fits him. ...flowers also fit his beautiful, wonderful sister. Not so much Silver? Cilan maybe, he's pretty bright. ...he can't say he can see either of Silver's housemates doing it though.
Or Nagito. ] ...you might be right. I feel like it'd be weird to start staring at the ground waiting for some to pop up though. Wouldn't it?
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