Joker: wanna set up cottage somewhere? Joker: i've got experience with that for sure Joker: but i don't want cameras everywhere when talking about it Joker: pretty sure you don't, either
[that works for him, he'll climb inside the cottage and make himself comfortable in the piles of pillows stacked up inside, gently patting next to him once he does for Joker to join him]
I should've brought something, too. I hadn't thought of it.
[but also looking at Lily with some concern because... like... this is a heavy topic. and Lily seems to very on a low.]
... so, I'm just going to say. I'm not very good about... dealing with Bad Enders who've been taken away. The one time I've managed to talk about one of them--it was a while ago.
reaches out a hand for Lily's. just placing it easily, so Lily can do what he likes.]
There were five Bad Enders, starting out. Only three of us are left.
We lost Keith really early on--I barely even knew him. I think that's when Phoenix turned up. Then we got Silk. Lost... Oni. [yep. your instincts were correct there] Got Vive and Thorn. Lost Vive. Got... ... I never got that person's name--just their profile that says "Rat", he was gone too quick. Then Tiamat who also left quick. Kanna stayed around for a little while. So did Catra. But they're both gone now. And we have Hades and this new guy I'm calling Anon, he turned up after... [gosh, he hasn't even talked about this one and he's shutting his eyes to get through it] Phoenix... was taken.
Worst of them was... definitely Oni. And Phoenix. And it's because they were so early on--Phoenix might as well have been one of the originals, too.
I don't know if there's magic words, but... that's why I try to stay focused on "get us all out of here in as little of pieces as possible". I want to make sure they all get out, too.
[Lily considers for a moment before fully taking Joker's hand in his, listening, expression soft.]
Bad End seems like a really close group. LiliS is, too. I don't know about everyone, but at least Lavender and I... we consider the others like family. It feels like I lost part of my family. And now my family is going to get replaced.
[closes his eyes for a moment]
If they're missing... how are we going to find them? Are they in other programs? Or are they... gone?
[this said quietly and firmly because... he's pretty sure.]
I think... some have been sent to other programs. And some... they might be becoming Damned--part of the audience that watches us. But I don't know for certain. And I do know Asmodeus has said it's possibly to bring a soul back from becoming like that.
[debates for a moment before gently leaning against Joker, fingers twined]
Someone already came to replace Iris. I'm not sure when Hellebore left -- I just noticed his profile was gone today, this afternoon. It hurts, that this place thinks it can just replace them, just like that.
[he knows he's only saying things that Joker already knows, though]
[a whole six years old, staring at the burning wreckage containing his parents mangled bodies, fresh in his mind like it was only yesterday! so fun, right?
he tenses for a moment, just a moment, but immediately softens after, leaning against Joker and pressing his face into his shoulder.]
I keep losing people. And I can't... keep the people around me from dying. I don't like it. Even if here, even if people come back... the pain and suffering stays.
Re: late 121
Joker: since the start
Joker: memories are a bit hazy because of mirrors
Joker: but, yeah. really long time.
Joker: why? something up?
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Water Lily: I don't really know what to do.
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oh no.
that feel.
long pause]
Joker: wanna set up cottage somewhere?
Joker: i've got experience with that for sure
Joker: but i don't want cameras everywhere when talking about it
Joker: pretty sure you don't, either
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Water Lily: Meet me on the roof?
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Joker: be there in a bit
[gives him time to buy things like thermos for coffee and bottle of alcohol. who knows who will have what. we're covering bases here]
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he'll be there! and looking very cute today]
Hey.
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Hey.
[gestures for Lily to go first]
Shelter provider gets fist dibs on seating.
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I should've brought something, too. I hadn't thought of it.
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You're providing the shelter, Lily. You're fine.
[but also looking at Lily with some concern because... like... this is a heavy topic. and Lily seems to very on a low.]
... so, I'm just going to say. I'm not very good about... dealing with Bad Enders who've been taken away. The one time I've managed to talk about one of them--it was a while ago.
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That's okay. I guess part of me was hoping there were some magic words to make it hurt less, but. You know.
[gently shrugs...]
Iris and Hellebore had been here with me since the beginning of LiliS arriving. I just...
[what do you even say??]
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reaches out a hand for Lily's. just placing it easily, so Lily can do what he likes.]
There were five Bad Enders, starting out. Only three of us are left.
We lost Keith really early on--I barely even knew him. I think that's when Phoenix turned up. Then we got Silk. Lost... Oni. [yep. your instincts were correct there] Got Vive and Thorn. Lost Vive. Got... ... I never got that person's name--just their profile that says "Rat", he was gone too quick. Then Tiamat who also left quick. Kanna stayed around for a little while. So did Catra. But they're both gone now. And we have Hades and this new guy I'm calling Anon, he turned up after... [gosh, he hasn't even talked about this one and he's shutting his eyes to get through it] Phoenix... was taken.
Worst of them was... definitely Oni. And Phoenix. And it's because they were so early on--Phoenix might as well have been one of the originals, too.
I don't know if there's magic words, but... that's why I try to stay focused on "get us all out of here in as little of pieces as possible". I want to make sure they all get out, too.
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Bad End seems like a really close group. LiliS is, too. I don't know about everyone, but at least Lavender and I... we consider the others like family. It feels like I lost part of my family. And now my family is going to get replaced.
[closes his eyes for a moment]
If they're missing... how are we going to find them? Are they in other programs? Or are they... gone?
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[this said quietly and firmly because... he's pretty sure.]
I think... some have been sent to other programs. And some... they might be becoming Damned--part of the audience that watches us. But I don't know for certain. And I do know Asmodeus has said it's possibly to bring a soul back from becoming like that.
So they're not gone.
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Good.
[debates for a moment before gently leaning against Joker, fingers twined]
Someone already came to replace Iris. I'm not sure when Hellebore left -- I just noticed his profile was gone today, this afternoon. It hurts, that this place thinks it can just replace them, just like that.
[he knows he's only saying things that Joker already knows, though]
I... took another memory today, too.
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easily takes Lily's weight and squeezes his hand, encouraging.]
You okay?
[seems dumb to ask but like... more getting an idea of how good or bad the memory was]
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[bad, definitely bad]
Car crash. I don't know how I got out of the car. Not yet, anyways.
1/2
that's... that's really bad.
and Joker saw how young Lily was when he was getting bounced around in a previous memory, so, like...
...]
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he tenses for a moment, just a moment, but immediately softens after, leaning against Joker and pressing his face into his shoulder.]
I keep losing people. And I can't... keep the people around me from dying. I don't like it. Even if here, even if people come back... the pain and suffering stays.
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[that's the key thing he wants--no, needs to drive home. he definitely knows that.]
... I'm... right here.
[he almost says "Mars" but... no. let's be real here. Lily already knows that]
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[he adjusts his head a little so he can look up at Joker despite remaining snugly against him, eyes soft]
I don't care if I die. Especially if it's to help someone. But I don't want anyone else to die... that's kind of hypocritical, isn't it?
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But, Lily, you have to know... other people care if you die.
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...Yeah. No one wins when someone dies.
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Maybe we can lessen the deaths, just a little.
[hesitantly, kind of... tucks his face in against the crook Joker's neck, lips brushing softly against his skin as he speaks]
But I... just feel really hopeless, right now. Especially knowing that... anyone I care about can be taken away, just like that.
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