[mandricardo: death to otomes and i don't mean our otome she is very sweet]
An entire life...goodness.
[He frowns.]
This place really likes to play with our memories, huh? I mean...pretty much everyone I've talked to that comes back from those places has their minds messed up.
[It's...horrifying, is what it is.]
I'm sorry you had to find out about stuff like that. [A squeeze of the hand.] This place really is just one thing after another, in the worst way.
[SAVE OUR OTOME death to the others though yeah including sakyou.]
I don't mind it. Rather, it's not the worst that could happen. [Some of the others had to deal with much worse memory fuckery, and he looked at it and was just like (sweaty) BAD.]
But it does seem that it's a theme we can't ignore... Rewriting, manipulating and erasing one's memories. Who or whatever is responsible for this seems to have quite fine control over such things.
[He gives Mandricardo's hand a little reflexive squeeze in return, pausing to push the door open with his free hand once they reach the SUB.]
[And time to walk in! Purikura machine is still standing.]
That's a whole theme, right? And you saw that script thing, too, didn't ya? Like...as if someone is writin' a story, and forcing us all to play along by, like, inserting it into our heads. Its nuts.
I did, yes. It's very possible that something like that is manipulating our killers, like Rupert and Byleth-dono... But it's also possible that they're acting on information we simply do not have yet.
[A little sigh. It's hard to tell - and he doesn't particularly want to spend a long time considering it right now, when they're supposed to be taking it back 50 notches. Anyway!! Purikura, that's fun! Maybe this will also be cursed like Maya's and they will both perish.
He reaches out with his free hand once they're near the booth, gently touching the panel on the outer portion and looking a little melancholy.]
[What can he say to that? That's right. There's so much going on beneath the surface, here. Like staring into dark waters, and trying to parse if there's a shark there or not.]
[He notices the melancholy look on the other's face, though, and nudges his shoulder.]
Hey. You alright? Sorry for the gloomy talk, again...
[At the mention of reliving the past, he just sort of drops into a brief silence before sighing. Just a little huff of a sound, and he moves on without saying anything, simply focusing on the screen to watch as Mandricardo taps it.]
Memorial photographs, I suppose. The people we've lost... What it means to be remembered.
[That's right. Sakyou not wanting connections...as if to erase himself from the lives of people. And yet photographs are lasting. A precious artifact, capturing a moment in time.]
[He pauses to look over at him.]
Those memorials for the dead...did you have a hand in making them?
Their last picture will be a very adorable one in which Sakyou looks mildly surprised, but like, in a pleasant way. It's a sweet gesture, and one he doesn't dislike, considering he's huffing out a soft little laugh as that surprise fades. The outside of the booth gets to whirring work, printing their photos. Are they still holding hands?? Were they holding hands this whole time, very funny.
Anyway, Sakyou is a terrible tease in his punkass heart, so he just leans into Mandricardo's side a little.]
[A little bit of the teasing edge leaves his tone at that, and he's quiet for a second.]
...It's strange, and perhaps an unkind thing to say, given how many tears this place has wrung from other so far... But I think I've had more reason to smile here than I have in years.
[He feels guilty about it! Guilty as hell! But it's also not... entirely bad.
Very sad though perhaps considering how few and far between and very very tiny his smiles are even now.]
[Sometimes you are just two lads who don't smile a lot!
Thank god it's not emoshare week yet though because he'd be a hotass mess in this moment. A big ol' conflicting ball of emotions, some positive and most negative just because that's the type of creature he is.
His free hand raises, and he gently rests it against the side of Mandricardo's face for just a second.]
...Then I'm glad that I could at least do this much for you.
[It feels nice, knowing that you've brought something positive to the world. That you've made even one person smile.]
[Because he always feels like he doesn't do enough. That he's never good enough. There Sakyou stands, and he wants to move the world with all of his might to make it okay.]
[He stares at Sakyou for a long moment, lips trembling.]
You're so beautiful, you know? [He always has been. Even from the very beginning.] I really just...I really just...I want to make you feel good.
[Even if its with a third-rate like him. He leans against that hand, voice wavering. It's easy to get emotional, his eyes glistening with tears.]
I want to kiss away all of your sorrow, and make you feel safe in my arms. I want to be strong enough for that.
[If just accepting a friend who refuses to let go is difficult for him, this is an even greater challenge. Once again, good thing it isn't emotion bleed week yet! Because boy, his feelings are just a giant tangled mess in this moment. Even without that being something he can share, his expression is briefly stricken, like each sweet word has fallen on him like a fist.
It's a terrible thing, for someone to want to treat you well when you believe yourself to deserve not a single scrap of good or comfort. It's awful to feel guilty for wanting to be selfish and enjoy it, and to feel selfish for wanting to turn it away. But what can he do?
What can he do, when every option and every action and every decision he makes seems to end the same way? With the people he's come to care for, upset and hurting?
It's hard to pick out a specific emotion after that stricken look passes. The hand against his face has stilled; after a moment, he gently pulls the other away from where it holds Mandricardo's, so that he can hold his face in both hands, like a careful cradle. I want to kiss away all of your sorrow. Could something like that be done? He doesn't think so.
But he leans forward anyway, driven by his selfishness and his own hurt, and - presses his lips just below one of Mandricardo's eyes, against the ridge of his cheekbone. Featherlight. He closes his own and sighs.]
...Please don't make a face like that for someone like me. It's too much.
[Everything is too much. He's still reeling from the revelation about his Master, reeling from every death that comes to their door. Mandricardo thinks he's exhausted his library of emotion every day of every week, and still, this place brings more. It feels like a flood he can't help but drown himself in, and drowning would be a fitting fate, he feels. Just to drown, and not have to worry anymore.]
[He's expecting for the rejection, as always, because what little confidence he has won't allow him some measure of happiness without putting himself down, first. So the touch that comes, the kiss that's placed gently below his eyes, makes him tremble with shock and surprise.]
Then what face do you want me to look at you, with? I won't look at you with disdain, or hatred, if that's what you think.
[His own hand moves, cherishing, between Sakyou's hands to trail a finger down the side of his face. Goodness. He's hopeless, isn't he? His finger moves to press against the bottom of Sakyou's chin, and he closes the distance then, eyes lidded, as he kisses him properly on the lips, a sweet, gentle kiss.]
[He murmurs as he draws back, his cheeks burning, a tear trickling down his face.]
I couldn't. [And a sigh of his own.] I never could. You're...too important to me, y'know?
[Even after Byleth, it's funny. Maybe Sakyou could stab him in the gut, here and now, and...]
[He'd still be happy, even as he dies. What a lovesick fool he is.]
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An entire life...goodness.
[He frowns.]
This place really likes to play with our memories, huh? I mean...pretty much everyone I've talked to that comes back from those places has their minds messed up.
[It's...horrifying, is what it is.]
I'm sorry you had to find out about stuff like that. [A squeeze of the hand.] This place really is just one thing after another, in the worst way.
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I don't mind it. Rather, it's not the worst that could happen. [Some of the others had to deal with much worse memory fuckery, and he looked at it and was just like (sweaty) BAD.]
But it does seem that it's a theme we can't ignore... Rewriting, manipulating and erasing one's memories. Who or whatever is responsible for this seems to have quite fine control over such things.
[He gives Mandricardo's hand a little reflexive squeeze in return, pausing to push the door open with his free hand once they reach the SUB.]
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[And time to walk in! Purikura machine is still standing.]
That's a whole theme, right? And you saw that script thing, too, didn't ya? Like...as if someone is writin' a story, and forcing us all to play along by, like, inserting it into our heads. Its nuts.
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I did, yes. It's very possible that something like that is manipulating our killers, like Rupert and Byleth-dono... But it's also possible that they're acting on information we simply do not have yet.
[A little sigh. It's hard to tell - and he doesn't particularly want to spend a long time considering it right now, when they're supposed to be taking it back 50 notches. Anyway!! Purikura, that's fun! Maybe this will also be cursed like Maya's and they will both perish.
He reaches out with his free hand once they're near the booth, gently touching the panel on the outer portion and looking a little melancholy.]
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...Yeah.
[What can he say to that? That's right. There's so much going on beneath the surface, here. Like staring into dark waters, and trying to parse if there's a shark there or not.]
[He notices the melancholy look on the other's face, though, and nudges his shoulder.]
Hey. You alright? Sorry for the gloomy talk, again...
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Anyway it's fine they're all doing fine here. He blinks and looks up from where his hand is, and after a second, there's a little flicker of a smile.]
No need to apologize - I was just thinking about something. Shall we?
[INTO THE BOOTH. He'll lift up the little flappy thing with his free arm!]
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[He nods as he enters the booth, though now he's the one who looks a little melancholy.]
Were you thinkin' of someone you did this with? [And a pause, as he looks down at the screen.] The only time I did this was...with Byleth, y'know.
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I wasn't. [...] It's a good memory to hold on to, though, even if things can't be the same now as they were when you took the pictures.
[And they won't be, most likely, no matter what Byleth's reason for killing is. That's just the nature of taking a life.]
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[No one can. He'll reach over to tap at the screen.]
What were you thinking about, then?
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Memorial photographs, I suppose. The people we've lost... What it means to be remembered.
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[That's right. Sakyou not wanting connections...as if to erase himself from the lives of people. And yet photographs are lasting. A precious artifact, capturing a moment in time.]
[He pauses to look over at him.]
Those memorials for the dead...did you have a hand in making them?
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I did, yes. Though I only set up the flowers and the funerary rites... Everyone else has added the rest.
[It's touching honestly, even though it also punches him right in his wee heart.]
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[The memorials of the dead...he has found himself returning to them time and time again.]
[He leans in, budging his shoulder against the others.]
Are you ready for the pictures?
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[He'd wanted to bring a little peace to everyone, living and dead, by starting that - and he can only hope it succeeded at least in part.
He leans briefly back against Mandricardo then, nodding. TIME TO GO INTO THE BOOTH.]
I am, yes.
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[And they're in the booth! He'll straighten himself a little - can't be gloomy for these.]
Alright. Time to smile. Timer's countin' down.
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But!! No gloomy vibes here. Sakyou sits and folds his hands politely, though he'll also murmur before smiling:]
I never remember how long we're meant to wait...
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[It's going! And there's a few clicks as the camera goes off. Smiling boys!]
[For the last one, though, he blushes...and he suddenly turns to kiss Sakyou on the cheek.]
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Their last picture will be a very adorable one in which Sakyou looks mildly surprised, but like, in a pleasant way. It's a sweet gesture, and one he doesn't dislike, considering he's huffing out a soft little laugh as that surprise fades. The outside of the booth gets to whirring work, printing their photos. Are they still holding hands?? Were they holding hands this whole time, very funny.
Anyway, Sakyou is a terrible tease in his punkass heart, so he just leans into Mandricardo's side a little.]
Is that a memory you'd like to keep on hand?
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[He says, quietly, giving an unconscious squeeze to their hands. It's only now catching up to him that this is...sure a lot! A lot is happening.]
[He leans back.]
I saw you smilin' and I couldn't help it.
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...It's strange, and perhaps an unkind thing to say, given how many tears this place has wrung from other so far... But I think I've had more reason to smile here than I have in years.
[He feels guilty about it! Guilty as hell! But it's also not... entirely bad.
Very sad though perhaps considering how few and far between and very very tiny his smiles are even now.]
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[His own expression softens at that.]
Yeah. Honestly, for me...I don't think I even smiled as much when I was alive.
[When all he knew was war, and vengeance, and fury, there wasn't many moments where he could just...be happy.]
[But...he's happy now. Maybe he shouldn't, with all this death, all this drama, these manipulations, these tears, but...]
[He lifts up the others hand to kiss the back of it, like a knight would.]
You're...part of the reason for that.
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Thank god it's not emoshare week yet though because he'd be a hotass mess in this moment. A big ol' conflicting ball of emotions, some positive and most negative just because that's the type of creature he is.
His free hand raises, and he gently rests it against the side of Mandricardo's face for just a second.]
...Then I'm glad that I could at least do this much for you.
[It feels nice, knowing that you've brought something positive to the world. That you've made even one person smile.]
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[Because he always feels like he doesn't do enough. That he's never good enough. There Sakyou stands, and he wants to move the world with all of his might to make it okay.]
[He stares at Sakyou for a long moment, lips trembling.]
You're so beautiful, you know? [He always has been. Even from the very beginning.] I really just...I really just...I want to make you feel good.
[Even if its with a third-rate like him. He leans against that hand, voice wavering. It's easy to get emotional, his eyes glistening with tears.]
I want to kiss away all of your sorrow, and make you feel safe in my arms. I want to be strong enough for that.
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It's a terrible thing, for someone to want to treat you well when you believe yourself to deserve not a single scrap of good or comfort. It's awful to feel guilty for wanting to be selfish and enjoy it, and to feel selfish for wanting to turn it away. But what can he do?
What can he do, when every option and every action and every decision he makes seems to end the same way? With the people he's come to care for, upset and hurting?
It's hard to pick out a specific emotion after that stricken look passes. The hand against his face has stilled; after a moment, he gently pulls the other away from where it holds Mandricardo's, so that he can hold his face in both hands, like a careful cradle. I want to kiss away all of your sorrow. Could something like that be done? He doesn't think so.
But he leans forward anyway, driven by his selfishness and his own hurt, and - presses his lips just below one of Mandricardo's eyes, against the ridge of his cheekbone. Featherlight. He closes his own and sighs.]
...Please don't make a face like that for someone like me. It's too much.
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[Everything is too much. He's still reeling from the revelation about his Master, reeling from every death that comes to their door. Mandricardo thinks he's exhausted his library of emotion every day of every week, and still, this place brings more. It feels like a flood he can't help but drown himself in, and drowning would be a fitting fate, he feels. Just to drown, and not have to worry anymore.]
[He's expecting for the rejection, as always, because what little confidence he has won't allow him some measure of happiness without putting himself down, first. So the touch that comes, the kiss that's placed gently below his eyes, makes him tremble with shock and surprise.]
Then what face do you want me to look at you, with? I won't look at you with disdain, or hatred, if that's what you think.
[His own hand moves, cherishing, between Sakyou's hands to trail a finger down the side of his face. Goodness. He's hopeless, isn't he? His finger moves to press against the bottom of Sakyou's chin, and he closes the distance then, eyes lidded, as he kisses him properly on the lips, a sweet, gentle kiss.]
[He murmurs as he draws back, his cheeks burning, a tear trickling down his face.]
I couldn't. [And a sigh of his own.] I never could. You're...too important to me, y'know?
[Even after Byleth, it's funny. Maybe Sakyou could stab him in the gut, here and now, and...]
[He'd still be happy, even as he dies. What a lovesick fool he is.]
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