linkingup | GAME OVER (S██'s Palace)

So you're an idiot too, I see.

Only one of us is going to survive this, and I doubt you want him standing by you during whatever final confrontation is to come. He can't even summon our Persona, that's all my doing.

[The way Teal flinches when that is said seems to say that there is some truth to that statement.]

If you want to survive whatever is to come, it's best to have a strong ally, right? I'm the one you'll want for that. Dead weight won't help at all.

Is it truly impossible for you two live as one?

If you don't believe me, why not ask him?

[He approaches Teal.]

I would like to hear your side.

[Teal is still sniffling as he talks.]

He's right...I took the name 'Sou Hiyori' both to hide who I was and to feel stronger. Sou was my friend, and he always seemed to know what he was doing. But I didn't mean for any of this to happen...

[With that 18 that was just rolled though, Atem will be able to tell that something is off about what Teal and Magenta are describing here. Teal is not acting completely like Shin Tsukimi did, even Shin had some mental strength and didn't cry all the time. And Magenta is not acting completely like Sou Hiyori did, Sou was not nearly that aggressive during the death game, even during the moments where it's clear Magenta had the most influence over Sou.]

I once hid in the safety of another name, too.

[His eyes soften as he reaches for Teal's shoulder.]

But look at yourself... Look at him. You both need each to be whole. He denies what you've contributed, but I speak from experience. The courage to keep moving forward comes from recognizing just how precious life is...

And you know that firsthand, don't you..?

Edited 2024-10-18 01:45 (UTC)

[Teal listens to Atem, considering his words. He wishes there were some truth to it. But eventually, he shakes his head.]

I've been trying for weeks, but we still fractured and he still stabbed someone.

[Oh yeah. He looks to Joshua.]

I'm so sorry about that. You didn't do anything wrong.

Why did you not tell anyone here? In your final moments... you say you regretted to tell the truth. Do you realize you're repeating the same mistakes..?

Because it's all I know how to do. I'm not strong, I'm not good with words...Smarts really aren't that useful without the charisma to get people to listen to you. And...I never really trusted any of you with the truth before. I didn't have anyone I felt like I could tell in the first place.

[Mostly because he keeps people at an arm's length anyway.]

I can't speak for others... but I am sorry for letting you down... I should've reached out to you.

Friendship takes more than one person to work. So does communication...

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pointzeropercent - 2024-10-18 02:16 (UTC) - Expand

[ waves off the apology because 1.) eh, it was just another tuesday (friday, actually), 2.) he is not used to apologies, h e l p ]

It's fine. I'm surprised it only took 4 weeks, I think my own partner wanted to stab me on the second day or something~

[ NOT THE POINT BUT OK ]

Joshua.

[JOSHUA]

...Why not? What's stopping you?

[That's to Teal, but obviously Magenta can answer too, she can't stop him.]

[Teal will actually answer!]

...every time I look at the shadows, it reminds me of some of the living dolls we had to deal with. Remember the smiling lady from before? She was a living doll. Everyone working there was.

But it's too much, and I just...can't.

There's nothing wrong with being afraid. There's nothing wrong with wanting to live, either. But there must be a balance, and the two of you are at war.

I don't think I can find balance with him...but at the same time, I don't want to disappear forever.

What caused you two to fracture?

We've always been like this, even from the start. I needed him, but as time has passed we haven't been able to keep it together.

What do you need him for? To be brave for you?

I needed him to survive the death game. After I saw those stats, I knew I wouldn't have survived on my own.

...you know that's a lot to ask of someone as fractured as us, Mafuyu-san.

... Shin, I'm fractured, too. There's six aspects of my heart that have physical forms, all with their own ideas of how to help me.

Six??? How do you keep track of everything?

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