Third Vote (OTA)

[gatetohell]

who: Joe and You!!!
what: Joe accidentally gets poisoned, only fun things happen :)
when: 2/4~ (Date’s flexible at this point as needed for investigation/event things)
where: Hallway, Nurse’s office, Bathroom, Dorm Common Room
warnings: YTTD Chp 1 spoilers, accidental drugging, hallucinations related to trauma & guilt (prompts will have more specific tags)

I. Morning

( Hallway / Nurse’s Office | CW’s: minor hallucinations (voices only) | Hallucination Level 0% - 20% )

[ It really starts like a normal day: wake up early for a jog, shower eat breakfast, then head to class to clean before the bell. It’s the routine he’s had even before he came to this Hell School, and he tries to maintain it even now. But he doesn’t realize something additional was accidentally added to his meal today.

One thing Joe isn’t used to is getting sick. He doesn’t think much of it at first, just feeling a little unwell and sweaty. But as the school day goes on, he starts to feel worse and worse within only a few hours of class. To the point where he asks to go to the nurse’s office finally with the help of their kind, new president.

When passing him in the hall, he’ll try to laugh it off, minimizing the situation as much as he can. ]

Everyone has an off day, r-right?

[ Joe will try to sleep it off in the Nurse’s office then for a few hours, but it’s anything but restful. He seems in pain even in sleep, his face drenched in sweat and panting loudly. Whatever he’s dreaming about, his face shows how much he clearly

His eyes snap open suddenly, and Joe gasps out loud as he wakes with a start. They dart around the room, trying to remember where he is, and after a moment, he calms down a little before he runs his hand down his face. Not any better health wise, but at least it was just a dream, right? ]

”Is that what you really think? When are you gonna accept what’s happening?”

[ Joe’s head snaps in the direction he swears he hears a voice room, wide eyed in shock. But… it’s just another transfer student in the nurse’s office for one reason or another. He blinks slowly and tries to find his own voice again. ]

Sorry… did you say somethin’...?

II. Midday

( Bathroom | CW’s: minor YTTD Chp 2 spoilers, Unreality, Blood/Hemophobia, Emetophobia (no puking), Body Horror/Uncanny face in linked image | Hallucination Level 60% )

[ Eventually Joe’s sent back to the dorms from the nurse’s office when it’s clear he needs some serious rest. He’s dragging, and it’s taking a ton of effort to get back to his room. It seems no matter how far he moves, the hallway keeps going and going. And going… and going… and going-

Joe blinks and suddenly the whole hallway is red. It’s swirling, and it’s such a bright red. The walls are closing in around him and it’s so red, so red-

He blinks again, and it’s back to normal. His breath is ragged again, and instead of trying to push himself down the hall again, Joe ducks into the bathroom rathly loudly from slamming the door open.

He thinks he’s going to be sick at first as his stomach churns but manages to stumble over to the sink. He turns on the cold water with shaking hands then splashes his face with it. It seems to snap out of it for a moment, but when he looks up at the mirror, it’s no longer his own reflection. A scream traps in his throat from how dry his mouth goes suddenly. ]

“Hey, Joe. Ya ain’t looking too good.”

[ Joe has to take another moment to find his voice again. ]

I-I know…

“Haven’t you had enough of this already? How long are ya going to keep pushin’?”

People… are depending on me…

“You’re kiddin’ right? Who the hell needs a worthless guy like you? Stop wasting everyone’s time and just stay dead this time, would ya?”

[ His eyes flick down to the running water over his hand. It’s a deep, dark red; no longer water but blood now. It runs over his hands, over the sink, onto the floor up his ankles. It’s so much. It’s everywhere. He’ll drown in it soon he thinks. ]

Aah… aaaah….

III. Evening

( Dorm Common Room | CW’s: Blood/Hemophobia, gore imagery, body horror description, violence, death mention | Hallucination Level 110% )

[ Somehow despite it all, Joe makes it back to his room. He tries very hard to sleep again, hoping when he’ll wake up it’ll be over. But it doesn’t. It gets worse.

The walls are red. The floor is red. The bed he lies in is covered in red. It soaks into his hair, clings to his skin, stains his clothing. And it smells of rust so badly it burns his nose. It’s an unbearable scene to the point where he forces himself back out of bed.

He stumbles out of his room, the blood trailing behind him. He doesn’t make it far however as he trips on his feet and falls over. Joe groans in pain, and it takes his remaining strength to turn himself over. His chest unsteadily rises and falls from his ragged breaths, and suddenly his chest starts to sharply hurt. He can’t stop a cry from escaping him when he touches his chest.

Blood pours from the open wound right over his heart, and he doesn’t know how to stop it. Joe doesn’t think it’s possible anymore. A miserable laugh bubbles out of him, and tears roll down his face. ]

“What’s so funny, Joe?”

[ Joe’s eyes widen in horror as a familiar face hovers over him. Long black hair spills around her smiling face, but it’s only within moments that Ryoko’s pretty face distorts. She’s covered in red from head to toe, and her eyes blacken into deep holes. Even her smile that he loved so much unsettles him now. ]

“Are you having that much fun, Joe? Making the most of your circumstances?” [ She leans in to whisper in his ear. ] “You replaced me so fast. You’re just awful.”

[ Joe chokes back a sob, trying to shake his head in response. ]

Th-that’s not it… it’s not like that-

”LIAR!”

[ Ryoko slams her foot down on Joe’s wound, and he cries out loudly in pain. He reaches to push it away but can’t actually bring himself to do it. Whether from the lack of strength… or maybe he thinks he deserves it. He’s not ever sure of himself anymore. ]

Ryoko… I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...

[ The hallucination laughs in response, shaking her head and digging her foot deeper in. To the point Joe can’t even breathe anymore. ]

“You think what you did is forgivable? Not just replacing me! You really thought you could come crawling back from that game, and it’d just be fine? What you tried to do, I’ll never forgive you for it! You aren’t worthy of being my boyfriend! You aren’t worthy of being Sara’s friend! Do us a favor and drop dead!”

[ Joe wheezes for air but can’t catch his breath. All the red in the room starts to turn black, and he recognizes this feeling. It’s the feeling of dying. It’s cold and painful, and Joe closes his eyes in hopes it’ll end soon. ]

S… orry…

IV. Wildcard

(( If none of these are working for you or you want to do a variation of one, feel free to contact me at sekoshi or on the discord server! ))

Comments

3

[waitingforplayer2]

[ There's screaming in the common room. Nanami doesn't know who's doing it or why, but even as she drops her homework and hurries to see who it is, she can hear the screams getting louder. ]

Tazuna-kun?!

[ He's writhing on the floor, yelling in terror at something above him that isn't there. Something's really wrong.

She's at his side in moments, trying hard to remember what helped her before. ] Hey... Tazuna-kun... c-can you hear me?

[gatetohell]

[ In reality, Joe's lying on his back wheezing for air, and the fever on his face is obvious. But in his mind, he's being crushed by his girlfriend and bleeding out in the process. It's agony... but the sound of Nanami's voice snaps him out of it for a moment. His darkening vision clears when he looks up toward her. ]

Nan- AUGH!

[ Ryoko presses her foot into his wound further when he tries to shift his focus, a heavy reminder she's still here. ]

"What kind of boyfriend looks at another girl? You're so cruel."

R-Ryoko... st-stop!

[waitingforplayer2]

Take my hand.

[ She gently takes his hand, an attempt to anchor him. He's wildly screaming at nothing, above him. He's not in this reality.

She knows painfully well what that's like. ]

It's just you and me. It's just us. We're in the hallway in the dorms at Yogen High. Do you remember?

It's okay. I promise it's going to be okay.

[gatetohell]

[ Joe can feel Nanami's hand take his, and while he can't look at her, he tries to hold it. It's so small he's scared to hold it too tightly; he might break it too. He might hurt someone else. He can't stand the thought of it...

He wants to believe Nanami, but how can that be true when Ryoko is here, standing over him? It becomes even more difficult when she sniffles loudly at the sight of them holding hands. Even through her warped face, Joe can tell she's crying. Tears fall from Ryoko's hallowed eyes and pound down on his chest like lead. ]

"Why... why... Why do you hate me Joe? Why are you doing this to me? Why did you leave me behind?"

[ Joe can feel his own tears falling. His chest hurts too much to sob, so it comes out weakly through a wheeze instead. He squeezes his eyes shut in pain. ]

I d-didn't... mean to...

[waitingforplayer2]

I know you didn't. I know.

[ Quietly, soothingly, stroking his hand. Heart hammering because she doesn't know for sure how to get him out of this, but...

Small steps. Ground him. Bring him back home. ... for a certain definition of it. ]

I know how hard you're trying. And I know how hard it is. And we'll get through this one day at a time, okay?

[gatetohell]

N-Nanami......

[ Joe wheezes her name, trying to look at her again. He wants to focus on her. He wants this nightmare to end. It's so painful... he hates it. This is not how he remembers Ryoko. This can't be his Ryoko-

But as if to make a point, Ryoko slams her foot down on him again, making him cry out again. Her voice is shrill in response, and it's what keeps him from passing out. ]

"Don't you dare thing you can get away with this! She's only helping you because she doesn't know what you did! And once she does, she's going to leave you like you left everyone behind too! So tell her..."

N-No...

"Tell her!"

I c-can't....

"TELL HER-"

[ Joe groans loudly in pain from the pressure on his chest, and he clutches Nanami's hand too tightly as he desperately looks up at her. ]

I-I tried to kill everyone! I tried to kill them so I could live! I j-just wanted to go home!

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She nearly cries out - either from the pain, or the revelation, she isn't sure -

But she holds firm. Because no way is she going to let him push her away. Not after what he did for her. ]

I wanted to go home too. [ Her eyes water. ] More than anything. I just wanted to be safe. I wanted it to be over.

And I miss them. I miss them every day! And I know you do too! I... I-I'd be a fool not to see that! Anybody would be!

So... if somebody really believes that you still don't care about them... well, they've got that wrong!!

[gatetohell]

[ Joe's eyes widen when she says that so strongly, and after a moment of holding his breath, he wheezes out a small sob. The grip on her hand loosens, but he doesn't let go. ]

Na...nami...

[ He tries; he tries very hard to stop crying. But he can't. It keep flowing out, and it hurts so much. Even still, he tries to explain himself despite how scrambled his brain feel right now. No matter how much it hurts. ]

It's n-not forgivable... it's just not! What happened to me... it's what I deserved! I deserved to be killed for wh-what I tried to do! I c-can't... face Ryoko now... or Sara... anyone! I'm just... despicable...

[ Ryoko just stands there, also still crying. But she's watching them for now, waiting. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

It's okay. I promise it's okay.

[ Her own eyes are watering, now. He's hurting so much.

She doesn't know all the details, but she can pick up a few clues. Joe isn't proud of whatever happened. He's tortured by it - literally, right now.

She doesn't know, but... what if he was forced into it? ]

I... I've met Sara... and I know she cares about you. [ She's seen the two around together a lot. ] I don't think she thinks you're despicable. You're just not that kind of person, Tazuna-kun.

[ She squeezes his hand again, gently, and rests her other hand on his shoulder. ] It's okay. Whatever happened, it's over. And it's not even goodbye for all of them - she's still here, isn't she? So...

[ A hesitation, but another little smile. ] Maybe you can be forgiven by them, after all. It can't hurt to ask, right?

[gatetohell]

[ Joe's lips press together for a moment before he shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut. ]

S-Sara... she doesn't remember... and if she did... [ He's not totally sure, but he can't help but worry. ] I don't want to lose her... I don't... want to lose anyone else. I'm scared to know...

[ His eyes open again up at her. Ryoko still lingers over them too, still crying. But she stays quiet as she watches. Like she's waiting for him to say the wrong thing again. It makes Joe nervous, but he tries to be honest with Nanami. ]

How can... you be okay with this? With me?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ A million answers to that question run through her head.

"Because you were kind to me." "Because I know you, and you're not a bad person." "Because this is all of our second chance."

They're all different aspects of a single core, though. A really simple one. She smiles gently. ]

I just am. Because you're my friend. And... friends help each other.

If you're in trouble, I'll help you every time. The same way you helped me.

[gatetohell]

Nanami...

[ Joe wants to believe her so badly. That it'll be okay. That he'll be okay. Maybe there's a way to make things right. At least atone properly for everything that happened.

But Ryoko still stands there crying, shaking her head. ]

"Joe... don't leave me... please..."

[ Even if she's not real, Joe still feels pain from seeing her like this. He wants to comfort her, and tell her it'll be okay too. But even in this state of mind, he knows that's not possible. ]

Ryoko I'm sorry... I can't go back. I wish... I wish more than anything I could. Every day with you and Sara was so much fun. But it's not the same now. And the people here... they need me.

[ He squeezes Nanami's hand a little when he says that. To remind himself she's real and here. ]

So... this is... good bye. Good bye, Ryoko. Please... let me rest in peace.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She sits with him quietly. Listens. When he squeezes her hand, she squeezes his back.

As Joe says his goodbyes, the air seems a bit quieter than before - like a spirit's left this place.

Without really thinking about it, she gathers him into an awkward hug. He's had a long day. But he got through it. He's on the other side now. ]

[gatetohell]

[ Joe blinks slowly when Nanami pulls him close. Once... twice... and then on the third the red is finally gone. Ryoko's gone too. It's a relief, but a pain lingers in his chest. It really is goodbye, one he was denied with his death. He knows even like this now, it doesn't completely make up for it. It never will. But at least the hallucinations are gone...

Very slowly, Joe pushes himself so he can sit up. He's slouching, exhausted from all this, but he reaches out and pulls Nanami into himself. Any of his usual shy reservations are gone as he sits there with her in his arms. ]

Thank you... Nanami...

[ His shoulders shake from trying not to cry, but it spills out anyway. He presses into his shoulder, hoping she doesn't mind. At least for a few minutes. ]

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She's almost in tears herself, but does her best to hold it in. Just holds him tightly and lets him cry. Strokes his hair to help soothe him.

She's held her classmates when they've had a hard day too. It's just like that. He's her classmate, and he's her friend. She meant what she said.

She'll be there for him, every time. ]

You did so well. It's over now. It's okay.

[gatetohell]

[ It feels nice. To be held like this and to be treated so kindly. To be able to let out so many emotions he's tried to keep in. Joe hasn't known her long, but he feels so safe with Nanami. They're kindred spirits after all.

After some time, his sobs calm, and he starts to breathe gently. He doesn't let go just yet, though. Part of him wants to stay like this for a little longer; another part is just too exhausted.

He opens his eyes slowly, looking over her shoulder. The room is still normal. ]

...Ryoko was my girlfriend. I mean, I-I probably shouldn't call her that. We went on date right before... right before I died. But that was it. Even still... she was important to me.

[ His voice sound tired and strained, but the words come out a lot easier than he expected. It's natural, like he's speaking to a long time friend. ]

I wish... I had known that was going to be the last time I'd see her. I can't go back or change that now. Or what I tried to do in the majority game. But... is it okay to move on? From what I did... and from her too?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She keeps holding him. It's comforting, so she doesn't let go. She just holds him and breathes in his scent, and listens.

And she remembers the last time she saw her friends, too. When she led them out into that rainy afternoon on a daring rescue mission. She squeezes her eyes shut. ]

I don't know if I can ever... move on from them. [ She sees their smiling faces in her mind and feels a pang of deep heartache. ]

But I want to move on... with them. We can do that... right?

[ To hold their loved ones in their hearts... not haunting them, but lifting them up. She doesn't ever want to forget her friends, even if she'll never see them again. ]