pc catchall for junpei (crashout)

[uncurtained]

IM PUTTING THE TIMON GIF IN HERE LATER YOU CANT BEAT ME

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[crashout]

...it's okay. Just...[There's another breath and he tries to sort his thoughts. That mystery's solved then.]

...let's start from the beginning. Did you send anyone else something, or just me?

[uncurtained]

[She nods.]

It was more than just you.

[crashout]

Something important to everyone. [He tilts his head, swinging his legs in the water while holding Akane's ring.] It wasn't everyone here, I know that, but...how many is more? Or is that too specific? Less than five?

[He's bad at shutting up but at least he's less sad?]

[uncurtained]

I think it was fifteen. So - about half.

[crashout]

Are you serious?! [AHHHH] No wonder Carlos told me to ask around. [I'm glad he asked people and the people he asked flat-out just didn't have anything.]

Is...that going to be something you do every week? [Can he get more free stuff?]

[uncurtained]

[After a moment of deliberation:]

Maybe not the exact same thing, but... Yeah.

[crashout]

[A slow nod. Okay...weird.] So should I expect some new stuff showing up around the hotel every Wednesday? How do you even decide something like that?

[uncurtained]

I don't know if it'll be on the same day or not.

[She tilts her head.]

I just pick between a few different choices I'm given.

[crashout]

Like from a list? Are the choices really specific? [Kickkickick. He kind of wants to be in the actual water but that's just an idle thought.]

[uncurtained]

No, they weren't specific at all, and - not from a list, exactly.

[She sighs.]

This time, I had to choose between three options that looked exactly the same.

[crashout]

So it was kind of a lucky guess. Am I allowed to ask what the options were?

[uncurtained]

You can, but... I don't know what the other two options were.

[crashout]

Wait then how did you pick in the first place?

[uncurtained]

It was between three objects that looked the same. I only found out what my choice represented after I made it.

[crashout]

Sounds like a game of chance then. [Yikes. He doesn't envy her at all.] So that means...what? That the choice might not always be so great?

[uncurtained]

I'm... hoping that isn't the case.

[crashout]

Me too. [Woof...] Are you allowed to tell people what you pick before it shows up? Now that I know it was you.

[uncurtained]

...I'm not sure. I would have to ask.

[But.]

I'm glad you asked. It was tough, keeping it to myself. But - do me a favor and don't tell anyone until I know it's safe for you to do that...?

[crashout]

[He playfully bumps his shoulder against hers.]

Promise. We don't know who we can trust right now, but...I'm glad it was you. And that's one more thing off my mind. [The ring goes back into his pocket.] I kind of hope that you can tell me stuff like this in the future. We might be able to help everybody else if we're working together.

[Carlos. Definitely kind of made him really think hard on this friendship and teamwork thing. Please love him again, Beck, he's trying to do his best.]

[uncurtained]

Right. I'll tell you as much as I can, I promise.

[But she sighs, before:]

And - again, I'm sorry about the ring...

[crashout]

No, it's...[God. Explaining it somehow feels a little more exhausting.] When I first got it, it felt like...I don't know, a sign that I was really screwing things up here. The only way to get anywhere is to sleep with people, earn tokens, and find the demons that're out there. But it still feels like I'm forgetting about her or something when I do that, or when I'm enjoying it or whatever. I think about her every day and wonder what she'd think if she knew have of the things I've done here.

[But...] But on the other hand, it reminds me why I'm doing this in the first place. Carlos and I have to get back to her. Not doing anything is almost worse than what I've been doing.

So I guess what I'm saying is...don't worry about it. I think I'm okay with it.

[uncurtained]

I don't know her, but...

[She isn't sure whether this is going too far, but:]

Is she the type to be angry at you for doing what you need to do to survive?

[crashout]

[He knows the answer to that, but somehow it's also not as simple as a yes or a no.]

...not to totally make this weird, but is it okay if I talk about her? The answer to that question is kind of complicated.

[uncurtained]

[She nods.]

If you're okay with it.

[crashout]

Kinda have to be if I'm marrying her someday. [There's a light grin, but...he stares at the water and looks thoughtful.]

I've known Akane since we were six. We met in elementary school when we both lived in Japan. When we were kids, I always used to see her sitting alone curled up away from everyone. People thought she was strange and most people didn't want to be friends. It...didn't feel right. Back then, I wanted to protect her and always be with her so she wouldn't have anything to be afraid of and she wouldn't be alone. [He shakes his head.] We had these pet rabbits in our class, and Akane was pretty attached to them. One day, she was at their hutch and...these middle school kids had come by and killed the rabbits in the hutch. She just kept crying and apologizing to them and...I didn't want to see her hurt like that ever again. She got kind of mad when I found those kids and fought them, but it was worth it. [He grins again, almost fondly.] We were best friends for years, but at the end of elementary school I had to leave. We had one last day together, and then after that I didn't see her for a really, really long time.

[But...okay. The hard part.] ...did I ever tell you about what happened before I dropped out of school and started my detective job?