[ maple is a construct of his own design, everything he loves, will love, and has always placed his attention on weaved into her skeleton, and a body crafted to stick it inside of. it's when his things start to show wear that he grows concerned, thinking of how to fix it, or if he needs to get rid of it in order to focus in a version that's much more durable for the change in setting. at this point, it's who broke his toy, who tugged too hard, and where can he stick the needle in her skin so that no more of her fluffy goodness falls out, it's like white cotton candy, and if too much goes then he'll have to replace with all sorts of goodies.
there's all sorts of sweets he can put in place, maybe a cream, or a jelly filling. a sort of fondue that fills her to the brim, and every action and words she makes offers just a little bit of sugar upon sugar, sweeter and sweeter, and she becomes so addicting that there's no one who would reject such a pleasant and tasteful conversation with her. that's how she draws them in with doe eyes, a confection based off innocence and purity. ]
Then we have to warm you up, just like your favorite tea.
[ touching her does register to him that she's cold, colder than she should be, and to hear that her temperature has been suspended worries him even more.
with one hand, he raises it to settle against her hip on the opposite side so that she can scoot against him. it shouldn't matter if she's cold, but that's probably the gimmick of appearing here because it's his first time even coming into contact with her. the last time he did, she was an abomination of various ais, but there's no edit to her body that claims that as so.
though, this could be her chance in attacking him when he isn't paying attention. ]
What's the last thing you remember?
[ as if that constitutes to the reason why she's freezing. ]
( hiyori pulls her closer, and she can feel as his warmth slowly begins to spread through her. the warmth of his body, and of his kindness too. it's true that maybe others didn't quite understand him, but maple does. she knows that this is the real hiyori, who holds her so gently even as she recovers from the confusing state she'd been in. memories... he wants to know what she remembers? )
Before I came here, I was chatting with Sara and Ranmaru. Their friends were waiting outside, so I...
( so she... what did she do? where was the point a from whence she got here, to point b? frowning slightly, she tucks her head under hiyori's chin. he's warm, as always, and sweet, as always, allowing her to do something like this. she wants to do better for him for that reason, but it's as if the memories continuity is cut off. pause. skip. play. there's nothing to fill in the gap. )
Mm... I guess I must have come here after that...
( that's strange. didn't her diagnostics indicate nothing should be wrong with her memory? but the way they layer over top of one another, folding into each other, she furrows her brows. her fingers clasp a little tighter around hiyori's for the effort, but it doesn't seem to be paying off. the memories mix and blend, and she hopes that he won't be angry with her for the fact. )
Then I was in a room with mirrors. When I left, it was so cold. Then I found you, Hiyori, and now I feel better.
[ ah, that holds benefits for him, even though her design explains where she came from, the fact that it's so early in means he's been spared from a lot. how he remembers maple was much more terrifying, she really did almost kill him due to his behavior, but he had fixed her, he had given all his love! made her the most beautiful princess that he could ever imagine, someone crafted under his work to push the participants with their love. maple didn't see it that way, she didn't enjoy the chainsaws he connected either. ]
Shhh... shhh...
[ he places a hand onto her back now, patting softly to ease her nerves. with her snuggly settled under his chin, it's settled within her hair, and he inhales the sweet scent that wafts off of her. a chocolatey aroma, one modified into her sweet scheme, so pure, and he'd give her a sticky personality that would fit the design. there's a small kiss he settles against her temple too, it'll keep her content for now. ]
It's going to be okay, Maple. We're together now.
[ that room was told to him by ranger, so he knows the location, and he understands the mirrors only so much, but that's where his creation came from. he'll guide her along until she feels tired— but to hear that she's feeling better, he wonders if this was one of her little fits to get something out of him. though, it wouldn't explain why she was so, so cold? ]
( he smooths his hand against her back, presses his lips to her head, and it's as if her mind empties out. hiyori... hiyori... hiyori... there's no room in her thoughts for anything but him in that moment, a shy smile creeping onto her expression as she tucks her head down to hide the excitement. it's true though, he's right—they're together. she's together with hiyori. hiyori is together with her. there's no way that things wouldn't be alright, so long as they're with one another.
so when he does put the question to her, she's finally ready to look up, meeting his eyes with a warm pink to her cheeks as her lips begin to curve in a smile. she's practically beaming up at him before she offers up her small nod. it does bring up a small question though. )
Where are we?
( this doesn't look like anywhere in the facility that she had seen. while she's happy to be anywhere as long as it's by hiyori's side, she is curious. )
Your dream of wanting to see outside the facility, well... this is just that!
[ as long as she's content with what's happening, he's able to keep her calm. no rants, no complaints, and no need for her to kick up a fuss that'll cause problems in the future. he doesn't want to start her game mode off, especially when people don't know it exists, and having him play it means that he'll have to do it correctly. she's much cuter when her defense mechanism goes off, and her weaponry second. ]
Yogen High School, an entirely new place for you to enjoy yourself, Maple.
[ it sounds nice, sweet, because she's never been to school, but midori has told her about his time attention both high school and college. he kept high grades, he was top of the class, and he worked hard to remain that way with all the degrees he obtained. now it's her turn.
they walk side by side. ]
Ahaha... it seems we've died together. This is what purgatory looks like.
( they walk side by side, and maple's eyes continue to sparkle as he explains. she hadn't held anything against the facility, of course, for it was where midori was—but she'd learned much of the world outside as well. the idea of a date with midori, after the death game was concluded, wouldn't that just be a dream? and perhaps this could be the occasion during which it came true. except... he continues a little past that, and the words bring her feet to an immediate stop.
they've died...
it's framed in such a kind way, but there's no helping the fact that it's bad news all the same. maple all but freezes in place, looking up at him, while the calculations continue to run behind her eyes. simulations and potential explanations, and she doesn't like a single one of them. it's a long moment that she's quiet for as she tries to process what emotion is supposed to rise up in light of this news, but ultimately, it's really a question that she's left with in the end. )
[ the question has an easy answer, no, they did not win because they had other plans in store— ranmaru attempting to install joe ai inside of him, and sara choosing to sacrifice keiji in order to kill him. they won, but they also lose considering how many midori managed to kill during it... in the end, nothing went like it should have, which is a shame when the banquet could have given them so much; sara was meant to break, and ranmaru was to help her do so; but their emotions held them back.
it's a saddening affair, but she doesn't know that. she would be heated, enraged, and proceed to break down if she knew the truth of the matter; because midori did love; and gave his love when he altered her body. she wouldn't understand it that way, and that would be the bridge he has to cross when he gets to it... well, if she hadn't opened it at this very moment. ]
...
[ he's silent, eyes downcast as if he's trying to figure out what to say. he's playing the part actually as he walks by her side, a little disappointed as a sigh breaks past his lips, and it's heavy. his shoulders slump, a shake of his head as he turns his head slowly to meet with maple's eyes as she looks to him; and she can see that in midori's eyes, the way his mouth frowns shows the pain he's trying to hide. ]
You said the last thing you remember are them? That sounds about right... after what happened.
[ a moment, another. ]
They didn't win, they did worse. [ ... ] They cheated, Maple.
( doe eyes watch him with all of maple's expectations reflected in them. that must be the case, mustn't it? she had shown them the way—a happy ending, in which all four of them could survive, in which they could all continue down their respective paths side by side, together. and yet... and yet... something in that silence of hiyori's... a sense of unease settles itself comfortably inside of her. )
Cheated? But... how?
( there should have been no way for them to do something like that. no way for them to surpass hiyori and his meticulous, careful planning. because hiyori could do anything, right? what is there that they could have done, that he wouldn't have expected? her lips purse into a pout, brows drawn together, and eyes glassy as she awaits an answer. )
[ maple has always been sincere in her expressions, it's soothing to visibly see when she's listening. with all her attention towards towards hiyori, he's able to take advantage of every sweet drop of her concern. like nectar on his lips, and the growth of the red dahlia on his tongue— he likes it, wraps this specific flower in a bow as they converse.
he covers his tracks, takes her skills to build the narrative no matter how ugly it'll become. she loves him after all, she's trust him before anyone else, and as long as long as he does good in her view, then she won't believe any yellow daffodils that spills past their lips, falling on the ground, and he knows maple won't believe it because she won't see them. invisible petals stepped on as she departs past them, because that's her love, and not loyalty.
softly, without an ounce of deception because it's easy to slot him into any role. they're victims to the lies he makes, a tired sigh the next. ]
They betrayed us... [ his eyes close while patching holes, any that might question the authenticity of his words. ] Even your kindness by [ his arms pull her into an embrace, and she can feel his fingers brush against her card slot where he feels something familiar— his ID. he doesn't try to remove it, but he's explaining. ] ...inserting an infected card that led to a virus, your corruption...
[ he acts as if this pains him, deep down into his soul, he actually loves everything that happened. midori infected her with his love, but she only became trash afterwards, her only redeemable quality is that she has use once again. he can start over this time. letting her go, he places his hands on her shoulders, slowly trailing them down to her elbow, and lower to her petite, and thin fingers. ]
Your left arm turned into a saw... your head removed and replaced with monitors... so much work that went into you.
[ his masterpiece that he rushed on, but the way he speaks is to give the illusion that it was all malevolent work done by the opposite party. he's not lying saying it wasn't him. ]
And they made me your target... as her puppet, you listened to Sara's command: "Hurry up and finish him! Maple...!" You don't remember that moment, so the pain is no longer there. [ he lifts one hand, cupping her chin as a thumb caresses gently across her cheek, sure in his actions. ] My final words to you were I... always loved you, Maple.
[ she can understand the gist, as cruel as it is. ]
( it's a difficult situation for her to parse. there's a long moment where maple is still. she's processing, as any number of complex emotions begin to tug at her from every side. love, sadness, anger, happiness—in the end, however, it's one in particular that forces itself past the others as it comes to the surface. it shapes her response, focusing on one aspect of the confession that most embodies it. )
Sara... Used me...?
( there's uncertainty to her tone. she doesn't want to doubt sara and ranmaru. they had chatted so much, learned about one another, but they had still turned on her in the end, hadn't they? even in her memories... her letter... and so the pieces fit into place, one by one. of course sara did. of course she did. maple was an obstructor, after all. she was on their side as participants, after all. it was her role. it was her design. she was meant to be a tool used to kill hiyori.
...
that doesn't mean that she's okay with it.
the tears gather in the corners of her eyes, and she can feel the way they run down the surface of her cheeks every time she blinks. shuts her eyes tight so that maybe they might stop, but even so, they continue to fall and fall and fall. she sniffs, hiccups, there's even a hitch in her breath as she chokes down a sob—each and every one of them is a feature she was given to better express her emotions, and now... knowing that she had killed hiyori... it wasn't even of her own will. this wasn't about her configuration, or her choices to support sara. they turned her into a weapon. they turned her into a monster. they cheated.
she shakes her head. she can't deny the truth of his words; the timing is too uncanny. as sara had slipped behind her, and suddenly, she was in this place. here, where she wraps her arms around him so that she can cling ever closer. the warmth of her body is reassuring. solid, and steady beneath her hands—an anchor that keeps her in place, even as her "heart" weathers a storm of all of this difficult news at once. )
I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Hiyori.
( if they had played by the rules, that would be one thing. if they had been fair, that would be one thing. but the way that they won, had turned maple into a toy—that was unforgivable. as for her... it was her duty to at least ensure that she played her own role as intended, but without making the choice to do so on her own... )
that's what matters and for him to keep this story going for as long as he can. he knows that he'll have to edit out a few pieces of information later, but that's only if it poses him a problem.
patting her back is done gently in an attempt to calm her down as best as he can. he knows that won't always cut it, but he knows that remaining silent will only help the tears flow even more. ]
Don't apologize, it wasn't your fault, now was it?
[ in this story, it's all about sara and ranmaru taking advantage of them. placing them in a situation where they lost everything in which they strived for, that idea of being together alive and enjoying one another's company. that was the goal, but ranmaru ruined it, and sara didnt commit to the turn— the full moon was eclipsed by her emotions, how unfortunate. her body of water, at the surface meant to ripple, and cause waves to crash against the world... and yet it was a slight breeze until the liquid became composed along the surface. ]
Miscalculations, abuse of kindness, lies and everything else... but you can take advantage of that, Maple.
[ slowly, he runs his hand up and down her back, easing the female in as she holds onto his even more. ]
Sara's here in this place too. Whether she won or loss, she died too. Now you have to keep the truth hidden or they'll twist it to change your perception yet again...
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no subject
there's all sorts of sweets he can put in place, maybe a cream, or a jelly filling. a sort of fondue that fills her to the brim, and every action and words she makes offers just a little bit of sugar upon sugar, sweeter and sweeter, and she becomes so addicting that there's no one who would reject such a pleasant and tasteful conversation with her. that's how she draws them in with doe eyes, a confection based off innocence and purity. ]
Then we have to warm you up, just like your favorite tea.
[ touching her does register to him that she's cold, colder than she should be, and to hear that her temperature has been suspended worries him even more.
with one hand, he raises it to settle against her hip on the opposite side so that she can scoot against him. it shouldn't matter if she's cold, but that's probably the gimmick of appearing here because it's his first time even coming into contact with her. the last time he did, she was an abomination of various ais, but there's no edit to her body that claims that as so.
though, this could be her chance in attacking him when he isn't paying attention. ]
What's the last thing you remember?
[ as if that constitutes to the reason why she's freezing. ]
If it's something good, it'll warm you up!
no subject
Before I came here, I was chatting with Sara and Ranmaru. Their friends were waiting outside, so I...
( so she... what did she do? where was the point a from whence she got here, to point b? frowning slightly, she tucks her head under hiyori's chin. he's warm, as always, and sweet, as always, allowing her to do something like this. she wants to do better for him for that reason, but it's as if the memories continuity is cut off. pause. skip. play. there's nothing to fill in the gap. )
Mm... I guess I must have come here after that...
( that's strange. didn't her diagnostics indicate nothing should be wrong with her memory? but the way they layer over top of one another, folding into each other, she furrows her brows. her fingers clasp a little tighter around hiyori's for the effort, but it doesn't seem to be paying off. the memories mix and blend, and she hopes that he won't be angry with her for the fact. )
Then I was in a room with mirrors. When I left, it was so cold. Then I found you, Hiyori, and now I feel better.
no subject
Shhh... shhh...
[ he places a hand onto her back now, patting softly to ease her nerves. with her snuggly settled under his chin, it's settled within her hair, and he inhales the sweet scent that wafts off of her. a chocolatey aroma, one modified into her sweet scheme, so pure, and he'd give her a sticky personality that would fit the design. there's a small kiss he settles against her temple too, it'll keep her content for now. ]
It's going to be okay, Maple. We're together now.
[ that room was told to him by ranger, so he knows the location, and he understands the mirrors only so much, but that's where his creation came from. he'll guide her along until she feels tired— but to hear that she's feeling better, he wonders if this was one of her little fits to get something out of him. though, it wouldn't explain why she was so, so cold? ]
Let's sit you down, alright?
no subject
so when he does put the question to her, she's finally ready to look up, meeting his eyes with a warm pink to her cheeks as her lips begin to curve in a smile. she's practically beaming up at him before she offers up her small nod. it does bring up a small question though. )
Where are we?
( this doesn't look like anywhere in the facility that she had seen. while she's happy to be anywhere as long as it's by hiyori's side, she is curious. )
no subject
[ as long as she's content with what's happening, he's able to keep her calm. no rants, no complaints, and no need for her to kick up a fuss that'll cause problems in the future. he doesn't want to start her game mode off, especially when people don't know it exists, and having him play it means that he'll have to do it correctly. she's much cuter when her defense mechanism goes off, and her weaponry second. ]
Yogen High School, an entirely new place for you to enjoy yourself, Maple.
[ it sounds nice, sweet, because she's never been to school, but midori has told her about his time attention both high school and college. he kept high grades, he was top of the class, and he worked hard to remain that way with all the degrees he obtained. now it's her turn.
they walk side by side. ]
Ahaha... it seems we've died together. This is what purgatory looks like.
no subject
they've died...
it's framed in such a kind way, but there's no helping the fact that it's bad news all the same. maple all but freezes in place, looking up at him, while the calculations continue to run behind her eyes. simulations and potential explanations, and she doesn't like a single one of them. it's a long moment that she's quiet for as she tries to process what emotion is supposed to rise up in light of this news, but ultimately, it's really a question that she's left with in the end. )
Did Sara and Ranmaru... not win?
no subject
it's a saddening affair, but she doesn't know that. she would be heated, enraged, and proceed to break down if she knew the truth of the matter; because midori did love; and gave his love when he altered her body. she wouldn't understand it that way, and that would be the bridge he has to cross when he gets to it... well, if she hadn't opened it at this very moment. ]
...
[ he's silent, eyes downcast as if he's trying to figure out what to say. he's playing the part actually as he walks by her side, a little disappointed as a sigh breaks past his lips, and it's heavy. his shoulders slump, a shake of his head as he turns his head slowly to meet with maple's eyes as she looks to him; and she can see that in midori's eyes, the way his mouth frowns shows the pain he's trying to hide. ]
You said the last thing you remember are them? That sounds about right... after what happened.
[ a moment, another. ]
They didn't win, they did worse. [ ... ] They cheated, Maple.
no subject
Cheated? But... how?
( there should have been no way for them to do something like that. no way for them to surpass hiyori and his meticulous, careful planning. because hiyori could do anything, right? what is there that they could have done, that he wouldn't have expected? her lips purse into a pout, brows drawn together, and eyes glassy as she awaits an answer. )
no subject
he covers his tracks, takes her skills to build the narrative no matter how ugly it'll become. she loves him after all, she's trust him before anyone else, and as long as long as he does good in her view, then she won't believe any yellow daffodils that spills past their lips, falling on the ground, and he knows maple won't believe it because she won't see them. invisible petals stepped on as she departs past them, because that's her love, and not loyalty.
softly, without an ounce of deception because it's easy to slot him into any role. they're victims to the lies he makes, a tired sigh the next. ]
They betrayed us... [ his eyes close while patching holes, any that might question the authenticity of his words. ] Even your kindness by [ his arms pull her into an embrace, and she can feel his fingers brush against her card slot where he feels something familiar— his ID. he doesn't try to remove it, but he's explaining. ] ...inserting an infected card that led to a virus, your corruption...
[ he acts as if this pains him, deep down into his soul, he actually loves everything that happened. midori infected her with his love, but she only became trash afterwards, her only redeemable quality is that she has use once again. he can start over this time. letting her go, he places his hands on her shoulders, slowly trailing them down to her elbow, and lower to her petite, and thin fingers. ]
Your left arm turned into a saw... your head removed and replaced with monitors... so much work that went into you.
[ his masterpiece that he rushed on, but the way he speaks is to give the illusion that it was all malevolent work done by the opposite party. he's not lying saying it wasn't him. ]
And they made me your target... as her puppet, you listened to Sara's command: "Hurry up and finish him! Maple...!" You don't remember that moment, so the pain is no longer there. [ he lifts one hand, cupping her chin as a thumb caresses gently across her cheek, sure in his actions. ] My final words to you were I... always loved you, Maple.
[ she can understand the gist, as cruel as it is. ]
no subject
Sara... Used me...?
( there's uncertainty to her tone. she doesn't want to doubt sara and ranmaru. they had chatted so much, learned about one another, but they had still turned on her in the end, hadn't they? even in her memories... her letter... and so the pieces fit into place, one by one. of course sara did. of course she did. maple was an obstructor, after all. she was on their side as participants, after all. it was her role. it was her design. she was meant to be a tool used to kill hiyori.
...
that doesn't mean that she's okay with it.
the tears gather in the corners of her eyes, and she can feel the way they run down the surface of her cheeks every time she blinks. shuts her eyes tight so that maybe they might stop, but even so, they continue to fall and fall and fall. she sniffs, hiccups, there's even a hitch in her breath as she chokes down a sob—each and every one of them is a feature she was given to better express her emotions, and now... knowing that she had killed hiyori... it wasn't even of her own will. this wasn't about her configuration, or her choices to support sara. they turned her into a weapon. they turned her into a monster. they cheated.
she shakes her head. she can't deny the truth of his words; the timing is too uncanny. as sara had slipped behind her, and suddenly, she was in this place. here, where she wraps her arms around him so that she can cling ever closer. the warmth of her body is reassuring. solid, and steady beneath her hands—an anchor that keeps her in place, even as her "heart" weathers a storm of all of this difficult news at once. )
I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Hiyori.
( if they had played by the rules, that would be one thing. if they had been fair, that would be one thing. but the way that they won, had turned maple into a toy—that was unforgivable. as for her... it was her duty to at least ensure that she played her own role as intended, but without making the choice to do so on her own... )
no subject
[ she believes it.
that's what matters and for him to keep this story going for as long as he can. he knows that he'll have to edit out a few pieces of information later, but that's only if it poses him a problem.
patting her back is done gently in an attempt to calm her down as best as he can. he knows that won't always cut it, but he knows that remaining silent will only help the tears flow even more. ]
Don't apologize, it wasn't your fault, now was it?
[ in this story, it's all about sara and ranmaru taking advantage of them. placing them in a situation where they lost everything in which they strived for, that idea of being together alive and enjoying one another's company. that was the goal, but ranmaru ruined it, and sara didnt commit to the turn— the full moon was eclipsed by her emotions, how unfortunate. her body of water, at the surface meant to ripple, and cause waves to crash against the world... and yet it was a slight breeze until the liquid became composed along the surface. ]
Miscalculations, abuse of kindness, lies and everything else... but you can take advantage of that, Maple.
[ slowly, he runs his hand up and down her back, easing the female in as she holds onto his even more. ]
Sara's here in this place too. Whether she won or loss, she died too. Now you have to keep the truth hidden or they'll twist it to change your perception yet again...