[ Sara, much less prepared for Midori encounters as always, does wince at the mention of strangling. It's hard to keep the guilt away, when she can imagine Sou glaring at her from where he stands by her side. It's almost like Midori knew...but Ranger wouldn't tell. Sara has to trust that. ]
Not very interesting. [ She echoes. Short and sweet. No better way to give the hint to drop this plot thread. Unlike Midori, Sara and Sou can let their annoying plotlines die in ditches! ] You know, you get separated. You meet. You both die. You end up here. Pretty typical.
[ She is actually pretty flattered to be assumed to be in her twenties. Twins... She must seem mature! Even if its a compliment from Midori, she'll take it. ]
Well Midori probably takes the practicum every year so he doesn't need to study. [ Nods nods. ] I don't know if people grow here...I don't think so! Did you know Seiya is like 800 years old? He's like a scary old guy in a grumpy teen body.
It has nothing to do with the subject, it's because this place has a time discrepancy. I wasn't aware you two had a gap in age, but there's a childish charm to you both.
[ cannot believe shin has the nerve to make midori look dumb, so we're going to fix it. it's with a gentle smile that he places the wet napkins into drier ones, so they can be sat towards the side.
the idea isn't insane, which it could be possible, ah... what happened to his shin that had imagination and creativity? ]
But my condolences if you're having trouble with math.
[ just going to throw that in there, considering he used "anyone here". shin really let himself go, but he's content as he will be about anything else as he sits back down to watch them both.
his gaze unnerving, until he blinks, like its set on a timer. ]
We can talk about it over tea, you should sit with us, niichan. [ there's a little gasp, eyes widening at someone so old though, he focuses on sara. ] Finding older men interesting? I learn something new about you every day.
[If he doesn't have this much nerve how else can you get on it? The part of Shin that is now an adrenalin junkie is going 'hey this is kind of fun' and the rest of him is hissing 'what are you doing???' at it but actually getting a hit on Midori feels amazing. There's a small quirk to the corner of his mouth at Midori's comeback because even with that accidental opening knowing he got that mark kind of undermines it, turning his head towards Sara.]
Hm. The practicum does suit him, huh?
[He's not going to push his luck too much, but he doesn't need to prove his math scores here. Childish charm, ugh. That gets so much worse, knowing everything... his eyes narrow at the last sentence. Don't fall for it Sara, it's flattery but it's a trap!]
...Guess I have a little time before I need to get back to the office.
[Which sets up a way out for him in advance. He sits on the couch's armrest, legs crossed, hands around the mug and spine curved. His eyes are sharp, looking sidelong. That gaze... just let it roll off like oil on water... you've seen scarier, come on.]
So which highschool were you going to when you died? Maybe I know it.
[There's vicious jabs and then there's pointing a harpoon at someone.]
[ She wants to be mature, not childish...and shes not into Seiya! The older guys Sara finds somewhat interesting have white hair and...nevermind.
There is something about lording all the yogen lore they know over Midori like so much bait on fishhooks. Gonna ask what the practicum is? No? Good! Bet he doesn't know not to take books out of the library...maybe they can get Haruka to steal his hands. ]
Well...he'd cheat either way.
[ It's been a while since she's felt this kind of solidarity. Taking on Midori alone had been....fine...but Sara's shoulders loosen when Sou does his terrible little sit on the couch near her. She'll sip her own tea forgetfully, then make a face when she tastes the dust. ]
Bleh...highschool? [ ??????????????????????????????? Why is Sou asking...oh. ]
[ ranger spent three days telling him everything, it should be suspicious he's NOT asking! he docks one mark off the kids because they're just as bad at this as they've ever been. ]
Oh... you died going to high school? You even appear to look over twenty... No wonder you're so worried about math...
[ he gasps, finally making sense of it in his mind. shin looks to be on the older side considering him saying that he's older than her. or that's the narration he places onto shin because of his inquiry.
he looks to sara like he can't look this man in the face for his failures, especially because people don't age too... damn. ]
But I didn't die in the same way that you did. I'm a successful medical practitioner, the last thing I remember is looking into something for the company, and then I fell asleep. Oh, did you know that scientific researches shows that 1 out of 8 people die in their sleep which is also mostly nearby 4 AM?
[ there's something about paranormal activity that happens around then. ]
[Ugh, why is it always like trying to catch smoke with him!]
Jeez... your listening comprehension is as bad as your math. They'll let anyone through medical school, huh?
[But he's gotten annoyed, and that's basically the same as a loss... He's kind of stuck in this fencing match now. Thanks for the new fact that's going to camp unwanted in his brain, he'll put it with the others.]
That's kind of a rude question, isn't it?
[He can't help but think of Sara's reaction to his own speculation on the matter.]
[ She doesn't think to question the lack of queries. That damn trust acting up again... She didn't think Ranger would be this attached to the guy who's only goal in life seemed to be betraying everyone he ever met. Learn something from poor Hinako. ]
You died alone, huh?
[ She puts her tea down on the dented table with a click. Midori's eyes always make it hard to focus, like he blinks out of sync just to distract Sara, so she fiddles with her hand, staring off at a wall before she turns back to him. ]
That's sad. I'd feel sorry for you. [ Alone in a coffin with no way out...how terrible. Nicer to imagine dying at 4am... If Midori gets to pretend, why can't she? Not the death Sou had suggested, but something a little more pleasant. ]
Maybe I died in a blaze of glory...and rescued three people. Then nobody ever saw me again after that, and nobody felt sad.
Ahaha! It's rude for you to talk to someone you're unfamiliar with like that, isn't it?
[ which means, he doesn't understand the way shin's speaking with him. normally people try to act nice, but it seems the other has been itching to catch hands. luckily, he's not showing off that ability at this time, and only giving his concerns as he looks at shin finally.
he knows it still gets under his skin, oh my.
playing around, he'll pass it off as bad manners. ]
Isn't better to die alone, one shot, one kill. I wouldn't want to take four people with me...
[ but it's the opposite, always has been. he managed to take some, but not all, he didn't get the one that he wanted to die, he didn't get to see sara in her glory. they're all incomplete, and if only there was a way to fix them. he leans back in his seat, his true death isn't one he's fond either, but thinking about it would do no good. he must remain composed, and he shows no worry on his face.
he wants tea again... ]
Dying alone, dying and no one grieving you... we're quite the same, aren't we? At least niichan had a whole school to die with.
That, coming from Sara... Shin shifts on the couch a little, getting a better position, looking away. That's... more honest than you should be, with Midori. That's giving him too much... you should lie like you're a rug or you want to mess with Youtube surveys by pretending you come from outer space. In Shin's mind, at least. There's no way to signal it's a bad move that Midori won't also pick up on... He's already capitalizing on it.
Speaking of... he's going to ignore those and drink more tea. Midori knows full well what he meant, so it doesn't matter.]
At least it wasn't painful... Didn't know it was coming, either.
[His tone is conversational. He can't imagine getting shredded is very pleasant. Nor the anticipation, trapped in a box, knowing it's certain death... He knows the size of those coffins, and he knows certainty closing around your neck. He sees what angle Sara is going for, and if nothing else trusts her nose for weakness.]
[ And when...pray tell has she been good at lying? Anyway, it's been almost a year since she last saw Midori and he interrogated her true nature. Enough time to do some things she wasn't proud of and think...well...that other Sou probably was right. It does make it easier to remember all the things Midori said and did if she just accepts them. Less scary to look at him. She's trying to be better, thats what should really matter...
She still doesn't look very happy saying it. Ugh...where did the tea go. She doesn't want to stand up and make more. ]
Dying is pointless anyway. There isn't a good way to die. It's more about...regret. [ She does chance a look at Shin at that. He hadn't wanted to die, but saving Kanna and trying to escape would have made Sara feel content that she had at least tried. ]
It would be pretty annoying to die pointlessly for someone who didn't deserve it.
[ Joe or Midori's feelings...she wonders who she's talking about. ]
[ she looked at him while saying it, so he can connect two and two without even needing the background story. honestly, he knows what happened to shin in his timeline, which was... so unfortunate. to think he'd get himself killed by a risky move, and then he couldn't even come up to see good ol' midori again. this is how they meet when he's an utter embarrassment, and he's hiding behind sara to lead the conversation.
midori doesn't hate it, he does wish they could play together like normal.
that said, he wants tea, there's no tea because shin ruined it!! luckily, midori looks around for a moment in the room that they're in, before coming to his conclusion. ]
Or do you not regret killing him yourself?
[ they're talking about death and she looked at him, what is he supposed to say? ]
[He's not hiding behind Sara, he's trying to back her up... he's not liking the undercurrents already forming beneath this conversation, though.
The return look Sara gets is a little needlelike - who's she referring to as someone who didn't deserve it? - but flicks away with it's own regret. He's eating his own words here, isn't he? But they can't afford to present anything other than a united front, or it's cracks a crowbar could be fit into. There's nothing stopping them from discussing things later, outside of the awkwardness of it.
...He's made sure he can't be strangled again. He finishes his long sip while this has been going on and then holds his cup upside-down and shakes it.]
Well, looks like there's no more tea... It's about time we headed out. Let's go, Sara.
[He leans over to put the cup on the table, and then hops down from his perch, grabbing Sara's wrist and tugging towards the door. Not tightly or even effectively (he can't), but enough that it's clear he's pressing the eject button on this conversation, and for the sake of everything just play along and come with.
The way things are going, they're going to lose more than they gain staying here... best to cut their losses. And... also quit while they're ahead, because Midori just revealed something.]
[ Regretting his death...but she didn't kill him. It was not killing him that had been the problem. The way he says it, so self assured that Sara had to have a hand in Sou Hiyori's passing could only mean...he must be from that same time. A time where she must have faced Midori down with very difficult thoughts in her mind. She's desperate and fearful to know the difference but here really is something Midori doesn't know, so she keeps it to herself.
She didn't think it was bad to keep Sou alive. The cost might have been to great, her reasoning flawed but at its heart he'd deserved to be alive as much as anyone else. The fact he'd died and ended up here was a tragedy. But if she had killed him, with a vote or just with her own hands...could she have avoided causing him so much pain? ]
I don't know which is better...huh?
[ Sou is tugging on her wrist. Not enough to move Sara, but she looks over at him. Go...but they promised to watch Midori. Every second they don't have eyes on him is seconds he could be using to murder Joe. ]
Do you want more? I can- [ It's hard to communicate with a look, but Sara tries. She's torn...do they really need to leave right now? ]
Is that an uncomfortable question? We're all dead here. I would have asked you the same.
[ he looks towards shin as he seems ready to leave the conversation, which seems a little odd for him. perhaps they've found an inch in his words and are taking a mile. that's probably it, needing to regroup, talk over the information, and come to a conclusion about him.
truly understandable. ]
Do you regret her death... if you wanted to kill her? You said you two were long lost siblings, and met here. Normally, family wouldn't want anyone to hurt their loved one. They'd want to make sure they'd have a painless death.
[ it's simple, it's normally how things go when people care about each other. they'd rather kill them themselves than let someone else do it. ]
After she was done, you were next.
[ insane, they're his desperate, little participants though. ]
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no subject
Not very interesting. [ She echoes. Short and sweet. No better way to give the hint to drop this plot thread. Unlike Midori, Sara and Sou can let their annoying plotlines die in ditches! ] You know, you get separated. You meet. You both die. You end up here. Pretty typical.
[ She is actually pretty flattered to be assumed to be in her twenties. Twins... She must seem mature! Even if its a compliment from Midori, she'll take it. ]
Well Midori probably takes the practicum every year so he doesn't need to study. [ Nods nods. ] I don't know if people grow here...I don't think so! Did you know Seiya is like 800 years old? He's like a scary old guy in a grumpy teen body.
no subject
[ cannot believe shin has the nerve to make midori look dumb, so we're going to fix it. it's with a gentle smile that he places the wet napkins into drier ones, so they can be sat towards the side.
the idea isn't insane, which it could be possible, ah... what happened to his shin that had imagination and creativity? ]
But my condolences if you're having trouble with math.
[ just going to throw that in there, considering he used "anyone here". shin really let himself go, but he's content as he will be about anything else as he sits back down to watch them both.
his gaze unnerving, until he blinks, like its set on a timer. ]
We can talk about it over tea, you should sit with us, niichan. [ there's a little gasp, eyes widening at someone so old though, he focuses on sara. ] Finding older men interesting? I learn something new about you every day.
[ ... ]
no subject
Hm. The practicum does suit him, huh?
[He's not going to push his luck too much, but he doesn't need to prove his math scores here. Childish charm, ugh. That gets so much worse, knowing everything... his eyes narrow at the last sentence. Don't fall for it Sara, it's flattery but it's a trap!]
...Guess I have a little time before I need to get back to the office.
[Which sets up a way out for him in advance. He sits on the couch's armrest, legs crossed, hands around the mug and spine curved. His eyes are sharp, looking sidelong. That gaze... just let it roll off like oil on water... you've seen scarier, come on.]
So which highschool were you going to when you died? Maybe I know it.
[There's vicious jabs and then there's pointing a harpoon at someone.]
no subject
[ She wants to be mature, not childish...and shes not into Seiya! The older guys Sara finds somewhat interesting have white hair and...nevermind.
There is something about lording all the yogen lore they know over Midori like so much bait on fishhooks. Gonna ask what the practicum is? No? Good! Bet he doesn't know not to take books out of the library...maybe they can get Haruka to steal his hands. ]
Well...he'd cheat either way.
[ It's been a while since she's felt this kind of solidarity. Taking on Midori alone had been....fine...but Sara's shoulders loosen when Sou does his terrible little sit on the couch near her. She'll sip her own tea forgetfully, then make a face when she tastes the dust. ]
Bleh...highschool? [ ??????????????????????????????? Why is Sou asking...oh. ]
no subject
Oh... you died going to high school? You even appear to look over twenty... No wonder you're so worried about math...
[ he gasps, finally making sense of it in his mind. shin looks to be on the older side considering him saying that he's older than her. or that's the narration he places onto shin because of his inquiry.
he looks to sara like he can't look this man in the face for his failures, especially because people don't age too... damn. ]
But I didn't die in the same way that you did. I'm a successful medical practitioner, the last thing I remember is looking into something for the company, and then I fell asleep. Oh, did you know that scientific researches shows that 1 out of 8 people die in their sleep which is also mostly nearby 4 AM?
[ there's something about paranormal activity that happens around then. ]
How did you die?
[ that's you sara. ]
no subject
Jeez... your listening comprehension is as bad as your math. They'll let anyone through medical school, huh?
[But he's gotten annoyed, and that's basically the same as a loss... He's kind of stuck in this fencing match now. Thanks for the new fact that's going to camp unwanted in his brain, he'll put it with the others.]
That's kind of a rude question, isn't it?
[He can't help but think of Sara's reaction to his own speculation on the matter.]
no subject
You died alone, huh?
[ She puts her tea down on the dented table with a click. Midori's eyes always make it hard to focus, like he blinks out of sync just to distract Sara, so she fiddles with her hand, staring off at a wall before she turns back to him. ]
That's sad. I'd feel sorry for you. [ Alone in a coffin with no way out...how terrible. Nicer to imagine dying at 4am... If Midori gets to pretend, why can't she? Not the death Sou had suggested, but something a little more pleasant. ]
Maybe I died in a blaze of glory...and rescued three people. Then nobody ever saw me again after that, and nobody felt sad.
no subject
[ which means, he doesn't understand the way shin's speaking with him. normally people try to act nice, but it seems the other has been itching to catch hands. luckily, he's not showing off that ability at this time, and only giving his concerns as he looks at shin finally.
he knows it still gets under his skin, oh my.
playing around, he'll pass it off as bad manners. ]
Isn't better to die alone, one shot, one kill. I wouldn't want to take four people with me...
[ but it's the opposite, always has been. he managed to take some, but not all, he didn't get the one that he wanted to die, he didn't get to see sara in her glory. they're all incomplete, and if only there was a way to fix them. he leans back in his seat, his true death isn't one he's fond either, but thinking about it would do no good. he must remain composed, and he shows no worry on his face.
he wants tea again... ]
Dying alone, dying and no one grieving you... we're quite the same, aren't we? At least niichan had a whole school to die with.
[ ... ]
no subject
That, coming from Sara... Shin shifts on the couch a little, getting a better position, looking away. That's... more honest than you should be, with Midori. That's giving him too much... you should lie like you're a rug or you want to mess with Youtube surveys by pretending you come from outer space. In Shin's mind, at least. There's no way to signal it's a bad move that Midori won't also pick up on... He's already capitalizing on it.
Speaking of... he's going to ignore those and drink more tea. Midori knows full well what he meant, so it doesn't matter.]
At least it wasn't painful... Didn't know it was coming, either.
[His tone is conversational. He can't imagine getting shredded is very pleasant. Nor the anticipation, trapped in a box, knowing it's certain death... He knows the size of those coffins, and he knows certainty closing around your neck. He sees what angle Sara is going for, and if nothing else trusts her nose for weakness.]
no subject
[ And when...pray tell has she been good at lying? Anyway, it's been almost a year since she last saw Midori and he interrogated her true nature. Enough time to do some things she wasn't proud of and think...well...that other Sou probably was right. It does make it easier to remember all the things Midori said and did if she just accepts them. Less scary to look at him. She's trying to be better, thats what should really matter...
She still doesn't look very happy saying it. Ugh...where did the tea go. She doesn't want to stand up and make more. ]
Dying is pointless anyway. There isn't a good way to die. It's more about...regret. [ She does chance a look at Shin at that. He hadn't wanted to die, but saving Kanna and trying to escape would have made Sara feel content that she had at least tried. ]
It would be pretty annoying to die pointlessly for someone who didn't deserve it.
[ Joe or Midori's feelings...she wonders who she's talking about. ]
no subject
[ she looked at him while saying it, so he can connect two and two without even needing the background story. honestly, he knows what happened to shin in his timeline, which was... so unfortunate. to think he'd get himself killed by a risky move, and then he couldn't even come up to see good ol' midori again. this is how they meet when he's an utter embarrassment, and he's hiding behind sara to lead the conversation.
midori doesn't hate it, he does wish they could play together like normal.
that said, he wants tea, there's no tea because shin ruined it!! luckily, midori looks around for a moment in the room that they're in, before coming to his conclusion. ]
Or do you not regret killing him yourself?
[ they're talking about death and she looked at him, what is he supposed to say? ]
no subject
The return look Sara gets is a little needlelike - who's she referring to as someone who didn't deserve it? - but flicks away with it's own regret. He's eating his own words here, isn't he? But they can't afford to present anything other than a united front, or it's cracks a crowbar could be fit into. There's nothing stopping them from discussing things later, outside of the awkwardness of it.
...He's made sure he can't be strangled again. He finishes his long sip while this has been going on and then holds his cup upside-down and shakes it.]
Well, looks like there's no more tea... It's about time we headed out. Let's go, Sara.
[He leans over to put the cup on the table, and then hops down from his perch, grabbing Sara's wrist and tugging towards the door. Not tightly or even effectively (he can't), but enough that it's clear he's pressing the eject button on this conversation, and for the sake of everything just play along and come with.
The way things are going, they're going to lose more than they gain staying here... best to cut their losses. And... also quit while they're ahead, because Midori just revealed something.]
There's something I need you to look at.
no subject
[ Regretting his death...but she didn't kill him. It was not killing him that had been the problem. The way he says it, so self assured that Sara had to have a hand in Sou Hiyori's passing could only mean...he must be from that same time. A time where she must have faced Midori down with very difficult thoughts in her mind. She's desperate and fearful to know the difference but here really is something Midori doesn't know, so she keeps it to herself.
She didn't think it was bad to keep Sou alive. The cost might have been to great, her reasoning flawed but at its heart he'd deserved to be alive as much as anyone else. The fact he'd died and ended up here was a tragedy. But if she had killed him, with a vote or just with her own hands...could she have avoided causing him so much pain? ]
I don't know which is better...huh?
[ Sou is tugging on her wrist. Not enough to move Sara, but she looks over at him. Go...but they promised to watch Midori. Every second they don't have eyes on him is seconds he could be using to murder Joe. ]
Do you want more? I can- [ It's hard to communicate with a look, but Sara tries. She's torn...do they really need to leave right now? ]
no subject
[ he looks towards shin as he seems ready to leave the conversation, which seems a little odd for him. perhaps they've found an inch in his words and are taking a mile. that's probably it, needing to regroup, talk over the information, and come to a conclusion about him.
truly understandable. ]
Do you regret her death... if you wanted to kill her? You said you two were long lost siblings, and met here. Normally, family wouldn't want anyone to hurt their loved one. They'd want to make sure they'd have a painless death.
[ it's simple, it's normally how things go when people care about each other. they'd rather kill them themselves than let someone else do it. ]
After she was done, you were next.
[ insane, they're his desperate, little participants though. ]