ㅤㅤ. ݁₊ ⊹ .𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 ݁ ㅤ 「ㅤ@akuroiㅤ」ㅤㅤpresented a perspective: ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ⤷ㅤ“Do you know what love is? I'll tell you: it is whatever you can still betray.”

Something shifts softly beyond the window pannelsㅤㅤ────ㅤㅤrain,ㅤor the wings of a butterfly that quietly passes,ㅤthrough darkened corridors.ㅤThe silence follows feels heavier than the world suspended surrounding them;ㅤbetrayal is a language that those that understand may be quarrelsome with loyalty at the edges drenching it too much,ㅤto wish to embrace the previous state.ㅤThe cruelest of things about love is it's ability to force change.ㅤㅤ❛❛ㅤㅤThat's a terrible cynical definition.ㅤI think reducing love only to its capacity for betrayal gives pain far too much authority over it.ㅤㅤ❜❜ㅤㅤThe other believes it completely,ㅤpeople do not tend to arrive at beliefs like that without being able to survive something sharp to carve it there permanently.ㅤThere's truth within it and the pinkette does not dare to pull the thread away unraveling what's beneath it,ㅤbetrayal only matters when affection has lingered first and strangers cannot wound one another in quite the same way.ㅤ

A pause ensues,ㅤthe bridge becomes too thick between one and another.ㅤㅤ❛❛ㅤㅤGiving someone the tools and the opportunity to be wounded in such manner and the other does not dare to cross such line is why what you've spoken can or cannot be true.ㅤAnyone can stay while things are beautiful.ㅤLove reveals itself in the moments where cruelty and betrayal would be easier.ㅤ❜❜ㅤㅤThere's an exhale.ㅤSome may call it obsession,ㅤsome may call it hope among despair.ㅤShe has seen both sides of the coin;ㅤa tale of light and darkness,ㅤwhere the darker tones aren't usually meddled with the light.ㅤA faint breath exhales,ㅤalmost tired,ㅤalmost thoughtful.ㅤㅤ❛❛ㅤㅤPerhaps people who have been hurt too often stop believing those choices are possible at all.ㅤㅤ❜❜ㅤㅤ

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒  𝐀  𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃  𝐖𝐀𝐘  𝐀  𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘  𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃,  𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃  𝐎𝐅  𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘  𝐀  𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓  𝐎𝐍𝐄.  As  inevitable  as  a  flame  turning  to  ash  and  even  the  brightest  day  giving  way  to  night,  so  too  was  love  little  more  than  a  fleeting  joy  in  a  transient  world:  something  to  be  held  and  cherished  for  only  a  limited  time  before  its  absence  arrived,  hollow  and  cruel. 

❝   Is  it  really?  Or  is  it  simply  a  realistic  approach  to  something  so  fickle?   ❞  Without  a  doubt,  Sayuri  felt  justified  in  her  inherent  pessimism;  unflinching  before  the  fact  that  she  let  negativity  dictate  the  course  of  her  life.  It  was  better  to  be  safe  than  sorry,  after  all     —     of  that  the  ravenette  remained  convinced  with  every  lonesome  step  taken.  

To  trust  another  to  the  point  of  blind  devotion,  to  lay  oneself  bare  in  utmost  vulnerability,  was  a  notion  fundamentally  paradoxical  to  the  very  essence  of  her  being.  There  was  something  inherently  ugly  about  being  truly  seen,  subjected  to  the  unrelenting  gaze  of  another.  Sayuri,  for  one,  much  preferred  the  familiar  comfort  of  remaining  unknowable. 

❝   The  smartest  people  have  been  turned  into  fools  by  love  alone.   ❞  Indeed,  affection  was  a  precarious  thing:  capable  of  nurturing  when  given  freely,  eager  to  unravel  when  taken  away.  

❝   I’d  rather  not  become  another  cautionary  tale  proving  that  feelings  are  humanity’s  greatest  weakness.   ❞  

𝐀𝐍  𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐍  𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍  𝐎𝐅  𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒,  𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐔𝐑𝐈  𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃  𝐓𝐎  𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄  𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄  𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒  𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐖𝐀𝐒  𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐅𝐀𝐑  𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄  𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍  𝐒𝐇𝐄  𝐇𝐀𝐃  𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘  𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃     —     a  penchant  for  improvisation  being  something  that  she  not  only  cherished,  but  positively  relished  when  it  came  hand  in  hand  with  the  thrilling  rush  of  adrenaline.  

❝   I  didn’t  take  you  for  the  spontaneous  type,   ❞  her  assessment  rang  remarkably  close  to  a  thinly  veiled  compliment.  The  true  essence  of  life,  as  she  perceived  it,  lay  all  too  often  in  the  unexpected. 

And  so  she  didn’t  need  to  be  told  twice;  slipping  onto  the  purring  vehicle  just  behind  him,  she  mourned  her  once-pristine  hair  in  quietude  as  she  complied  with  standard  safety  measures  before  sliding  her  arms  around  his  waist     —     her  voice,  still  oh-so-velvety.  ❝   Consider  me...  intrigued.   ❞  

𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄  𝐓𝐎  𝐀  𝐅𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐓,  𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐔𝐑𝐈  𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃  𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐓  𝐓𝐎  𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄  𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆  𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓  𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐒𝐄  𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃  𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐕𝐄𝐈𝐋  𝐎𝐅  𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐘  𝐒𝐇𝐄  𝐒𝐎  𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐘  𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐃  𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅  𝐈𝐍     —     the  admission  of  overt  caution  that  bordered  on  outright  paranoia  one  that  rang  true,  though  concealed  behind  lips  curled  with  sardonic  intent. 

❝   Not  at  all.   ❞  At  least  that  much  was  truthful;  frankly,  Qifrey’s  words  needn’t  stir  her  mistrust,  for  it  had  long  since  taken  root  already     —     her  lifelong  companion.  ❝   I  just  like  knowing  who  I  have  in  front  of  me.   ❞  

Friend  or  foe...  the  lines  had  irreversibly  blurred  for  someone  convinced  the  world  lingered  at  her  heels  with  teeth  bared,  who  believed  every  soul  sworn  to  ill  intent  and  malice  in  light  of  her  deep-rooted  pessimism.  ❝   And  people  who  work  too  hard  to  appear  harmless  are  usually  the  worst  ones.   ❞  

why are you here ?

drive .  drive fast .

i think we should make an informed decision .

are you coming or not ?

you’ve been avoiding me .

[ name ] ,  what were you thinking ?

this should be your priority .

let me hold you for a minute .

get out of my way .  i won’t tell you again .

that wasn’t supposed to happen .

can you keep a secret ?

i don’t know what i did to deserve you .

you seriously think i could’ve done something like that ?

you’re safe with me .

sorry isn’t good enough .

where is all this coming from ?

who told you about that ?

sorry i’m late ,  i got caught up .

you’re being paranoid .

why are you looking at me like that ?

you’re the single most important thing to me .

all i’m asking is that you hear me out .

whatever they told you ,  it’s a lie .

we shouldn’t stick around here .

hold my hand ,  i don’t want to lose track of you .

[ name ]  …  truth or dare ?

i love you .  nothing’s gonna change that .

can you tell me what happened ?

you can’t come around here anymore .

back off ,  okay ?

what ,  you don’t have time for me anymore ?

you’re asking for too much .

i’m trying to start a new life .

what do you mean ,  you aren’t coming back ?

sometimes i think you must hate me .

why can’t we just talk about this ?

i know i fucked up ,  you can stop rubbing it in .

you’ve got quite a reputation .

i’m not usually like this ,  i’m sorry .

please ,  just let me explain myself .

i love watching you work .

we’re on the same team .

did you ever tell anyone ?

you’ve got a lot of explaining to do .

really funny ,  you’re very mature .

you call THAT a PLAN ?

can we get out of here ?

i thought things would be different .

this is not up for debate !

do whatever you have to do .

karma’s going to get you for that .

it could’ve been a lot worse .

i asked you to leave me out of this .

maybe it’s time to take a leap of faith .

i never want to see you again .

can you see how many fingers i’m holding up ?

i’m gonna be there when you get what’s coming to you .

you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me .

i’ve been waiting all night for this .

i told you not to contact me .

sometimes i really think you have a death wish .

what do you need ?  —  what can i do ?

i would do literally anything to keep you safe .

that was supposed to be a secret .

you haven’t called me that in years .

stop telling me to calm down !

we make a pretty good team .

i have so much i want to say to you .

i’m not going to let anyone hurt you .

can we please not do this right now ? 

wait ,  wait  …  just breathe for a second .

how are you holding up ?

why don’t you stay the night ?  i’ll take the couch .

i don’t need your protection !

you’re not making this easier on yourself .

are you going to let me in ?

i’m supposed to be protecting you .

i will kill you if i have to .

do whatever you have to do .

this is going to hurt ,  i’m sorry .

what happened to you ,  where have you been ?!

there was nothing you could’ve done .

you’re all i need right now .

i don’t believe in love at first sight .

have you been following me ?

i need you to believe me .

what do you remember ?

i’m not a good person .

what the hell’s going on with you ?

you’re being followed .

just when i thought my day couldn’t be any worse .

i’ve been having weird dreams .

so you’ve been lying to me this whole time ?

are you trying to get us killed ?

this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me .

i never asked for your help .

you’re being followed ,  pretend you know me .

why has it started to feel different with you ?

don’t worry ,  i have a plan .

i heard everything .

do you need to sit down ?

i have the right to know what’s going on .

i’ve just gotta catch my breath .

stay out of my business .

what did you think was going to happen ?!

don’t cause a scene .

tell me something about you that i don’t know .

can i buy you a drink ?

what if  …  we played spin the bottle ?

this was never a problem until  [ name ]  came around .

you can’t ask me to make that choice .

are you seeing anyone right now ?

i need you to listen to me ,  we don’t have long .

you’re lying ,  that doesn’t make any sense .

you look  …  stunning .

what are you trying to prove ?

who died and made you the boss of me ?

you can’t just show up here like this .

let me make it up to you .

there’s no way i’m leaving you like this .

can we stay like this ?  just for a little longer .

i don’t need you to fight for me .

so  …  you lied to me ?

you’re the only one that can help me .

i can’t help you if you won’t let me .

i never introduced myself ,  i’m [ name ] .

i expected more from you .

you have no idea who i am ,  do you ?

are you real ?  is this real ?

can i stay with you ?  just for the night .

you’re going to get yourself killed .

why did you help me ?

tell me what i can do to help .

pick a card ,  any card .

i never wanted any of this .

i love you .   you don’t have to say it back .

do you wanna get out of here ?

what the hell are you talking about ?

i should have trusted you .

get your head out of the clouds .

how is any of this MY fault ?!

what aren’t you telling me ?

i can’t help you if you won’t let me .

it’s never just one with you ,  is it ?

you’re not supposed to know about that .

shut your mouth .

i haven’t kissed you yet ,  today .

where is this coming from ?

come over here and make me ,  then .

keep lying to yourself ,  see where it gets you .

i’m not a bad person .

is that what you wanted to hear ?

we can’t be seen together .

i can’t give you what you want .

i need you to leave .

are you drunk ?

i’m here ,  i’m here .  i’m not going anywhere .

you might want to take a seat for this .

have you been listening to anything i’ve said ?

i haven’t heard from you in weeks .

you’re jealous ,  aren’t you ?

who do you think you’re talking to ?

what are you reading ?

you could’ve killed me !

come on ,  we don’t have time for this .

i just need ten minutes of silence .

really ?  that’s all you have to say ?

we could leave ,  you know .  go far away .

you don’t look too good .

i never want to see you again .

why can’t you just leave me alone ?

i thought you died .

you’ll do anything for attention .

give me another chance .

how’s the weather up there ?

all you do is hurt people !

i’m sorry ,  none of this makes sense .

you need to get out of here before anyone sees you .

i told you i didn’t want you around here .

is that supposed to be a threat ?

you’ve changed .

don’t look at me like that .

it’s a beautiful day ,  don’t you think ?

i did what i had to do .

you never know when to stop .

i’ve got to get home ,  it’s getting late .

i have nothing to prove to you .

stop LYING to me  …  all you do is lie .

you don’t have to be nice to everybody .

don’t tell me what to do .

pull your head out of the past .

nobody can help me .  i can’t even help me .

we are not talking about that right now .

are you new around here ?

you have no idea what you’re starting .

i’m gonna get us out of here .

whatever you came here to say ,  i don’t want to hear it .

everyone’s staring at us .

is there anything i can do to help ?

i won’t cause you any more trouble .

– just follow my instructions for once !

do you want to come in ?

i just didn’t know what to do .

you need rest ,  lie down .

i’m not who you think i am .

i don’t know what you want me to say .

you’re not like anyone else i’ve ever met .

i feel like i’m going insane .

stop asking ,  you’re not going to like my answer .

i didn’t want you to see me any differently .

i wish i knew what to say to you .

don’t give me that look ,  you know what i mean .

you should be afraid .

do you still love me ?

i never thought i’d get this far .

the world doesn’t revolve around you .

i need you to give me some space .

i know what you’re doing ,  don’t play games .

you left me to die .

i’m beyond repentance .

when are you going to get it through your head ?

i missed you more than i thought i would .

i’m in love with you .

what do you need from me ?

i’ll kill them ,   just say the word .

[ name ] ,   what are you doing here ?

how can i help ?

you’re pathetic .

i need you to come pick me up .

where have you been ?  it’s eleven o’clock .

i couldn’t live with myself if i let you get hurt .

i can’t just pretend it didn’t happen .

you’re a real piece of work .

do you remember how we first met ?

when did all of this fall apart ?

that’s not what i came here for .

i would do anything for you .

i don’t need you to hold my hand through this .

are you sure this is the right thing to do ?

can’t we try to pretend things are okay ?

what is THAT supposed to mean ?

you’re always late ,  what am i supposed to think ?

there’s nothing you can do to fix this .

you’re far too kind to me .

can we go now ?  like ,  right now ?

i have to do this alone .

where’s your common sense ?

we aren’t supposed to be in here .

can you feel my heartbeat ?

i think i’ve seen you around before .

why are you acting weird ?

i have a really bad feeling .

i hate seeing you like this .

how am i supposed to react to that ?

❝ You're literally bleeding out. ❞ The disbelief in his voice could be mistaken for insulted, unable to comprehend how she is still arguing. She's stubborn, and not in the cutesy way that makes him want to push harder. No, she's just foolish. If his instincts are right, if she really is only human, she is not getting through this without help. ❝ You’re not exactly in a position to negotiate, sweetheart. ❞

Another time he might have entertained it, if only to hear what she wanted. Everyone wants something, that much he’s learned over the course of his miserable existence. The only difference is what they’re willing to sacrifice for it.

❝ Fine. Have it your way. ❞ He shrugs, rising to his feet as though he truly intends to leave her there. ❝ Stitches and painful small talk it is. ❞ Because abandoning her for the next thing lurking in the dark to pick apart was not an option.

The shadow creature sharpens into view beside him, the low electric hum of its form settling into something vaguely humanoid. It keeps its distance from Sayuri, reaching into its own body before producing a first aid kit and extra gauze. James flips the case open, rummages through it, then hands the needle back over without hesitation.

❝ Now can you at least stay still? ❞ His gaze flicks between her and the creature beside him. ❝ Trust me, you want Shadow doing the stitching instead of me. ❞

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒  𝐃𝐈𝐃  𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘  𝐍𝐎𝐓  𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓  𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍     —     𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓?  Her  mind  had  to  be  playing  tricks  on  her;  nonsensical  hallucinations  conjured  by  blood  loss  and  pain  to  come  up  with  something  so  utterly  illogical  in  the  throes  of  her  growing  delirium.  But  then  he  actually  addressed  the  phantom  at  his  side,  and  her  almond-shaped  eyes  widened  for  it. 

Shadow.  Right.  Because  apparently  it  made  perfect  sense  for  a  shadow  to  stitch  up  her  leaking  wound  while  casually  summoning  a  first  aid  kit  out  of  literal  nowhere  while  it  was  at  it. 

Sayuri  squealed;  high-pitched,  uncontrolled,  obnoxiously  sudden.  ❝   What  the  hell?!   ❞  The  attempt  to  scurry  backward  in  her  hunched  state  made  for  a  pitiful  sight,  but  for  once  the  oh-so-impeccable  fashionista  cared  remarkably  little  about  preserving  outer  appearances  and  whatever  reputation  she  claimed  to  possess.  ❝   What  are  you,  some  kind  of  freak?!   ❞  

Admirable  remained  only  the  fact  that  her  sharpened  tongue  persisted  even  through  moments  of  utter  helplessness     —     the  ever-present  vicious  bite  to  her  persona  that  she  seemed  determined  to  go  down  with,  no  matter  how  undignified  the  descent.  ❝   Did  you  crawl  out  of  a  circus  or  something?  Ugh...   ❞  

❝   ...why  do  good-looking  guys  always  turn  out  weird?   ❞  Admittedly,  most  of  them  were  either  pathologically  evil  or  so  painfully  dull  that  any  attempt  at  genuine  conversation  with  them  turned  into  a  yawn-show  real  quick     —     so  this  was  at  least  something  new.  

Not  that  that  made  this  whole  ordeal  any  less  worrisome.