champion_link | |IC Contact| [R6]

[it's been a couple days since Gab came out of the vending machine - the previous day he was a bit too creeped out by the stereo chanting, but he's realizing that just giving the dog all of his ham may not be sufficient here, so. he's a bit hesitant, but here's a phone call out of necessity.]

Um, hi. Is there any way I can get some other things delivered to the house besides the bread and stuff? I need to feed my dog.

Edited 2020-02-05 17:50 (UTC)

[The phone picks up, and there's a brief pause before Link answers.]

Eric. Yes, the dog you received. It's somewhat unusual, but let me check.

[There's another pause, maybe about five seconds. There's a soft noise like paper being shuffled, before he responds.]

You will receive a bag with enough for each day with your morning delivery. Please take care not to lose it or portion it incorrectly, as we will not provide replacements.

Thanks. That's a relief... There's been a few other animals in the vending machine, after all.

Those who need a supply of food must submit individual requests. It's the nature of the paperwork.

Paperwork... right. So you're working at a desk whenever you're not around us?

We work in multiple places, wherever the schedule places us. We are assigned here for now, but might be assigned somewhere else in the future!

Um. Wow, great...! Like where?

To another City, where I can help even more people!

So you like to help people, huh... is that some kind of thing with you?

Don't get me wrong, it's the right thing to do, but not everyone would want to choose where they live based on something like that.

[There's a pause and the sound of a deep breath being taken.]

It is related to what I did before I came here. I will grant you that much.

But... why wouldn't you?

[hmm! interesting! he's on to something... but give and take, he'll answer the question earnestly.]

Oh, you know. There's a lot of reasons to stay or go. Like staying close to your friends, or moving away to get married. That's a decision I thought I'd have to make once.

[... Married... there's silence on his end of the line for exactly ten seconds before he speaks again.]

you won't have to worry about that once you join us. They'll be safe.

[...you okay there link. oh, there he is.]

I won't. That decision already made itself a long time ago.

[although this implication that they'd have all of his people in whatever safety-land he's talking about is. concerning to say the least. no, it's creepy and he can't drop it, as much as he wanted to move on to asking about what he did before this.]

Are you speaking from experience?

That's none of your concern, Eric.

Are you done? I really do need to get back to work.

Um...

[that was prickly. he shouldn't push his luck.]

...yeah, I guess. Have a nice day!!

And you as well!

[BEEP]

[With how distracting the sandwiches were at the trial last time, they might as well eat lunch beforehand this time. Hiyori comes out of his bedroom (he'd brought writing supplies in there several minutes ago for some reason) and meets Link in the kitchen.

And... still can't keep his mouth shut.]

Hey, Link. Do you think any of the Strangers personally hate you?

[Link frowns at the question, considering it seriously.]

I don't know. I don't think so... I know that some of them might have had a worse view of you because of what you did on the plane, but... well....

[They're gone now.]

Maybe it's because I'm a bit more gentle than you.

That probably is the reason...

[Hiyori's past and present lack of gentleness. It's not something that sits well with him. He keeps standing.]

May I also ask, do you think any of them are about to submit because of you?

[His voice goes small and scared for a moment.]

I don't know. I tried being nice, then firm, and now I'm not sure what to do. They seem to be fighting harder than ever. So many of their number are gone and they still think it's safer to fight than to be happy.

[He nods, fiercely, that they're all fighting.]

There's no more trials left to serve as lessons. There's... there's nothing left in the schedule besides our leader taking the survivors by force at the final trial. Should we - should we just wait at this point?

What... what else can we do? If we go out there during the trial to make a final plea, do you think they'd just let us walk away? Of course we're much stronger than them, but they would try.

[He picks at the hat that he's stuck in his pocket.]

I... I thought... I thought that I could awaken their hatred...! To make it easier for IT—I could feel that Vita Clotilde-Morris hated me that much, and I accepted that it must be part of our leader's plan... I picked a fight with Jonathan Morris too... but... but now...

[Hiyori threads his fingers fiercely through his hair, plucking them in time with the ticking.]

What was the point...?

... We wouldn't be given pointless orders...

[Right?]

[Hiyori is startled, then nods fiercely.]

I wasn't directly ordered to push them away. Maybe... I'm the one who wasted time.

... I thought being kind to them and indulging them would be helpful. Maybe we accidentally worked against each other. I'm sorry.

I tried to do that with Jonathan Morris at first and he just thought that was proof I'd never actually want him brainwashed!!

[Hiyori just throws his arms out. This is apparently the part that hurts the most. He tries to draw himself back in, consciously drumming his fingers to the beat against his temples.]

It's - it's good for them to think you and I are different. Vita Clotilde-Morris awakening her hatred for me was definitely helped along by you making me look worse.

... We just want them to join and be happy, though. Why would them hating you be better?

Because negative emotions are what gives the red fog a stronger hold in their heads. That's why Rachel needed so much more time to push you under than me! Or did you actually go under all by yourself because you wanted to be happy?

[He goes quiet for a bit, staring down at the table.]

It did take them a long time. I don't remember some of it. I remember it...

[No. Does he? He clutches his head, the image of the tunic flashing in front of his eyes for a moment. He slumps forward, shaking his head.]

[Hiyori may remember from either Zelda's file or Link's that Link has large gaps in his memory, possibly caused by trauma.]

... I remember that at the end was that they told me I could help people be happy. I remember being afraid, and then feeling safe.

...

[Hiyori's lips move. Words don't come out. His throat is just cracking incredulously.]

Oh.

I see.

That's nice.

I remember being reminded of every single time Ikuya Kirishima put me down until I finally realized he would never love or even respect me. For starters.

... Snippets... but I remember.... being shown how many people died because I couldn't defeat Calamity Ganon the first time.

[He puts his elbows on the table and presses his hands against his forehead.]

You're much smarter than me. What do we do? IT keeps us safe and protected. Why can't they see that? They aren't going near the TVs or radios, so the red fog isn't affecting them as much...

[He presses his lips together.]

I'm going to go to them after the trial is done. Make one last plea to them. You should stay back in case they try to all swarm and attack me at once. One of us needs to make sure things stay running, just in case.

[When Link calls him smart, Hiyori glances with a nervous smile back towards his own bedroom.]

It's good that we're coming up with a plan together. Working together makes us stronger. They believe that, we should too. It's how we kept #7 at least safe.

But... [Link's conclusion fills him with deep concern.] You want me to let you go ahead and die before me...? That's... Exactly what the picture book they gave back to me said I should never do...

[Hiyori slams his hands on the table, a glint of hope in his eyes.]

So I should do the opposite! That was enemy propaganda from outside!!

It's not as if I won't fight back. And as much as we've been training together, I still have more experience.

[He nods at Hiyori's assessment.]

Don't worry. I'll be careful. I won't even go far - before the trial's done I'll set up some sandwiches in the dining room and have the wall stay clear so they can see.

You're right about that. We're still much stronger, and you still more so. If they go far enough to get themselves punished, knowing that... It's on them. Maybe it's better this way, than being targeted by the others, or the familiar Noise. You have so much experience... You can make it very clean. I've thought a lot about what I'll have to do if it gets down to the wire like that and - it's not as pretty.

[Likewise nodding at the sandwich thing.]

So I think you have a good plan. It'll be like... when I went to Kyuubey's party last week. We're just taking turns.

Right. And if there's anything you think we should prepare before we confirm with our leader that we need to do this the hard way, you can take care of that. You're much better with that sort of thing.

[Hiyori takes a last swallow of his lunch and gets up.]

I'll be at the desk, then. Looking into the rules. The Strangers need to know what will happen if they don't take this trial seriously.

...thank you for talking with me. It really - it helps. Let's help IT.

Of course. You can come to me at any time you need and that we have some time free. Friends help each other. And we're friends with IT.

|IC Contact| [R6]

wednesday, 7am

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Week 4 Friday

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