As Papillon brushes the sand off their clothes, they find their thoughts returning to the creature the group just defeated. Even though they’re the one who Uploaded into Neo, they can’t help but feel like the so-called ‘Ultimate Lifeform’ went into their mind instead.
Neo’s electronic conscience had been overwhelming, to say the least. It had been simultaneously so much and so little. The memory of their identity growing hazy causes a shiver to go down Papillon’s spine despite the late summer heat. They’re not sure they’ll ever get over how unnerving the experience was.
...Then again, they aren't sure they’ll ever get over any of this.
So much has happened during these past couple months — most of it bad. From watching those around them die to pretending to die too, this one summer has been filled with more tragedy than they’ve experienced in the past twenty-four years combined.
But this one summer has also been filled with more joy than they’ve experienced in the past twenty-four years combined too. From hosting a party to making friends, they can’t deny they've had some pretty good times.
And now that they think about it, Papillon suspects there’s a moral to be found here. No doubt it’s one about the virtues of leaving your comfort zone and living life, how no matter how unpleasant the outside world can be, there’s always something amazing out there waiting for you. But unfortunately for anyone expecting them to learn an important lesson about taking chances, they quickly dismiss the concept for the time being. They’re way too exhausted to care about whatever moral is at the end of this story.
Truthfully, they just want it to end already.
Seeing everyone gather around the rescue party only fuels their desire to leave. Sure, they have some questions they want answered, but they’d much rather go home.
Not that home’s too far.
[♪♪♪]
Papillon walks up to Nate, taking in the sight of their partner in heroism following their biggest battle yet. He looks exhausted, like the weight of the world has suddenly come crashing down on him. Seeing him look so weary strikes a chord in Papillon, and they feel tears welling up in their eyes. But they will themselves to keep it together a little longer.
Because right now, even more than they want to return to Canada, Papillon wants Nate to know he’s not responsible for holding up the world all on his own.
They smile at him before looking at the others. Even though they might not be close to all of them (hi, Abe), by this point they’re willing to help any of them shoulder the weight of what happened here too. And so their smile remains… up until they turn their attention to Shoko and the others.
Instead, they scowl.
“Hey, thanks for showing up, I guess. When we go back to the real world, we don’t have to be questioned or interviewed or any stupid shit like that, right? Because I dunno about the others, but I’m done. Unless you’re sending me financial reimbursement for putting us through this nightmare, I’d prefer never hearing from you guys ever again.
“...Uh, no offense.”
Their face grows hot as they talk as tears begin pricking at their eyes again. Papillon can’t stop themselves this time— they start crying. Their face scrunches up as they sniffle, and soon enough tears start rolling down their cheeks.
“I’m so fucking sick of this, is all. Screw aliens and superpowers. I just wanna get off this shitty island so we can start piecing ourselves back together.”
...Because in a way, that’s the only option they have left.
It’s not like the weight of the world is an easy burden to shoulder, after all. Even with Nate, Riley, Roger, and the others all helping, they're in dire need of a reprieve. And they’re pretty damn sure everyone else needs a break too.
Although deep down, Papillon knows the events that transpired here will linger in their mind for a long time to come. Which, in spite of how heavy some of them are, they’re ultimately grateful for. They can’t bear the idea of forgetting all the happy experiences they've had here.
From eating ice cream with Angel to gossiping with Ana; from stargazing with Haruki to camping indoors with Gabi; from watching Rina perform to falling asleep with their head on Nate's chest—
No, they can’t say they completely regret entertaining Nate's idea to sign up for the competition and taking the plunge into something outside their comfort zone.
...That being said, they’re still more than a little ready to go home. And as they stand there under the hot tropical sun, the only thing stopping Papillon from making a break for the boat without waiting for Shoko’s go ahead is the man beside them.
For no matter what the future may bring (though they hope it’ll involve a lot less murder and betrayal) they can’t imagine seeing tomorrow without Nate by their side.
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You Wanna Study Us So Bad It Makes You Look Stupid | Papillon | Trial 6.10 | Re: Nate making points | Attn: Rev
The relief Papillon feels when the cages disappear is short-lived— much like their tolerance for Celestial Revolution.
They’ve listened to her egotistical arguing for far longer than they would’ve preferred. Everyone has been voicing the same questions they’ve been wondering, so they (thankfully) haven’t had any reason to speak up. That and they don’t really want to keep talking to her. They just want to leave her and Leo and Red on this stupid island and go back to Canada already. ...Which, for someone who came here ready to start arguments with anyone and everyone, really says something about how fed up they are.
But then Nate brings up something they hadn’t given much thought to— aliens.
Papillon never really gave a fuck about aliens; to them, the idea of life beyond Earth was nothing more than subpar movie fodder. So even if one of the more common theories for the origins of superpowers involved aliens, they never truly subscribed to the idea. But when they discovered Ivo’s entire reasoning for this experience hinged on the theory of aliens being real, they started to accept it as fact.
However, now that they think about, Nate’s right. There’s still no concrete proof aliens are responsible for this.
Yet even though they think he’s onto something, there’s something Rev said awhile ago has been bothering them. Still, they can’t pass up an opportunity to dunk on the overwhelmingly irritating woman.
“Damn, Nate’s out here making points, eh? Where’s your evidence aliens are real, Celestial Revolution? Your Twitter feed? Or wait, that’s not scientific enough, is it? I bet you only get your info from real sources, like The History Channel.”
They cackle, clearly pleased with their burn. Even if they’re still at the mercy of Rev and her powers, finally making fun of her feels good.
They grin smugly as they continue,
“Fuck, I bet I come BS some fake alien contact right here and now, and you’d lose what’s left of your chill. I can see it now, getting flustered as you realize kyaaah, they’ve been here to observe this whole time— ‘cause god forbid they have been.”
And just like that, their amused expression disappears. Instead, Papillon’s now looking eerily serious as they stare down Rev through narrowed eyes.
“But that reminds me. Even though I doubt aliens are even real, I’ve been wondering about the bots. You said they weren’t part of your plans, yeah? They were programmed by that Shoko person from Sunscape? Well, I remember we found blueprints earlier for what looked like the normal Sunscape bot. But the designs weren’t labeled ‘Sunscape bot’ or anything even related to robots. They were labeled ‘Soleil Archetype’ and then some version number.
“And that implies those aren’t bots— or uh, they are, but they’re also what people think the Soleil aliens look like. So as fucking unlikely as it is, it’s theoretically not impossible your beloved aliens are already here, hiding amid the robots. Maybe they’re passing judgment as we speak. I hope their verdict is the same as mine— that you’re a little bitch.”
They scoff and look like they’re about to shut up again... but then decide to throw Rev a bone first. Because even if their theory is a total shot in the dark, Papillon is curious too. After all, the twist of the aliens having been here all along would be a type of movie plot they’d actually want to watch.
“If you want, I can help you figure it out. If you promise not to kill me, I can Upload to check if any remaining bots aren’t accessible. ‘Cause I doubt aliens would be connected to a digital network, so I wouldn’t be able to enter them.
“After all, can you imagine how fucking ridiculous you’d look if you dismissed aliens being here and they actually were? They’d probably have to edit their verdict on you to be not just a little bitch, but stupid too.”
Bit the Apple | Papillon | Trial 6.9 (AYYY) | Re: Everyone Is Here Now! But Rev's Evil! | Attn: Rev, Nate
Despondent.
That’s the word to best describe Papillon in the beginning. They feel a million miles away from the trial room as the story continues to unfold. They hear Abe and Shougo tell them off for giving up so easily, they see Fergus struggling to break free of his cage, they feel the sorrow in the air as Red and Leo realize they regret their decisions.
And they’re not alone.
Papillon’s regretting their decisions too — all of the ones leading up to this moment. They never should’ve left their house the day they met Nate, never should’ve Uploaded to hunt him down after they couldn’t get him out of their head, never should’ve agreed to come with him to this battle royale tournament.
Because if they never left their house that day, they would’ve never learned what it felt like to have a home…
…And to lose him.
They know they should pull themselves together (god, why do Abe and Shougo have to be the ones who are right?), but they can’t figure out how. They’re too far from the room, too lost in their haze of grief to find their way back—
But returning to their body has never been a graceful process for Papillon.
So much to no one’s surprise, this time isn’t any different.
(One of the downsides of Upload is how jarring it feels to wake up.
One moment they’re virtual, the next they’re jolting awake. Although they no longer shriek from the mental shock, the intensity has never dulled. Every time they return, their chest still heaves like they’ve just run a marathon. All their senses are uncomfortably sharp for the first minute or so too, a byproduct of the fight-or-flight type reaction their body has to becoming conscious again.
They have yet to get used to the sensation. Because even though they’re merely waking up, Papillon has wondered more than once if this what it feels like to come back to life.)
When all hell breaks loose as help arrives, Papillon feels a shock all too similar to the one they experience when returning to their body. It takes their breath away, then returns it the next moment. It looks and sounds and feels like everything is happening all at once, but they don’t mind the intensity.
After all, it’s just a sign they’re alive.
…And thankfully, so is Nate.
They don’t have the opportunity to call out to him though, because the moment there’s a lull in the action, they’re swept off their feet— literally. And soon after they notice everyone else is in a similar gravitational predicament, the Boss arrives.
Celestial Revolution’s entrance is impressive, objectively speaking, but Papillon isn’t any mood to let her know as much. Surely it’d just make her ego even bigger (which, now that they see her like this, is probably massive enough to have a gravitational pull of its own). So they instead take a moment to spite Rev by calling out to Nate first… and also because making of her somehow (which is their preferred method of spite) could very well lead to Papillon getting tossed into the electrical currents of their gay baby jail enclosure.
“Hey, Nate! You can’t take a fucking second from kicking ass to say hi to us? I thought you ate shit, you guys took so long to get here. Eugh, I’m never letting you fuck up evil robots without me again.”
There’s more they want to say — so much more, actually — but they focus their attention on Rev for now. They’re not sure whether they prefer having to reason with someone as eerily composed as her or emotional live wires like Red and Leo. Neither have been easy to deal with. But since she seems willing (and almost eager) to discuss the true nature of this project, they decide to ask questions while they can.
“So uh, not to burst your egotistical, Elon Musk-esque space freak bubble, but how are you so sure the Ultimate Life Form will listen to you? If you say some cliche bullshit like, ‘They’ll listen to me because I created them,’ I swear to god I’ll lose my fucking chill.
“I know we didn’t talk one-one-one a lot — and honestly, thank god we didn’t — but you must’ve heard from someone that we found out people’s souls or consciousnesses or whatever the fuck you choose to call them are in the creatures here, yeah? The things we fought in the gauntlet had actual memories and shit of people who were here. I’d Uploaded into them, and instead of a normal mainframe, I’d end up in like someone’s mind palace.”
Papillon, please don’t use the phrase ‘mind palace’ when talking to an evil genius mastermind about something actually worrisome.
They scowl at Celestial Revolution, looking more disgusted than angry.
“And the same goes for the fucked up ULF prototype Leo let escape. I decided to try Uploading into it and didn’t last long because there was so much going on. There were so many fucked up memories and voices and— and just a ton of remnants of, like, actual people. And that was the goddamn prototype.
“Did you know some part of people’s souls or whatever get put in those things when their powers and DNA get inserted too? Was that accounted for? If so, I’d love to hear all about your evil little failsafe for your little evil project to get the alien-senpais to notice you. ‘Cause not gonna lie, I bet the ULF won’t even listen to a fucking word the aliens have to say, let alone anything that comes from your mouth.”
Papillon huffs in annoyance as they finish their rant. Their heart might be racing from how terrifying this situation is and how much more terrifying the outcome may be, but now that Nate and the others are here, they feel they’ve found their footing again.
Utsusu Abe doesn’t have many aspirations, really. He grandstands, he pretends like he knows he’s hot shit, he flirts, he’s loud, he claims to be all knowing and all powerful.
He knows he’s not.
He’s an ugly 22 year old NEET who steals from local shops to make due. He hasn’t left his house to go drinking with friends even once in his life. He has one friend that he plays MMOs with that he was too chickenshit to ever really talk about real shit with. He’s a loser who came here to stall on paying his rent.
His only found family was a boyfriend that died. He’s dating a replica of said boyfriend to make himself feel better. His only other true friend’s facing their mother figure right now, and he can’t do anything to help. His supporting roommate’s boyfriend might’ve died.
“…”
It’s just like when he got a call that his mother was hit by a car. It’s just like when he heard her come home after trying to confront his father. It’s just like when he watched Gabi die. It’s just like when-
“…….”
in 5th grade, he got lost in the city for the whole day and cried. when he was 19, he tried to go on a blind date and was laughed at. when he was 21, a robbery went wrong and he almost got caught and sent to jail. when he was 2 years old, he fell down a great height and almost died from cranial trauma. when he
… But what’s the connecting thread? What keeps him going right now? Nate’s dead, isn’t he? And if he’s dead, the other bots are probably dying too, or brought under control. What’s to stop ___ ___ from appearing. What is the connecting thread across his unfortunate, pathetic life?
Utsusu Abe survived for a reason.
He’s a cockroach. He’s impossible to kill. Even if he’s pathetic, even if he has no worth, even if he’s nothing- He’s a survivor. And he’s lived this far for some purpose-
And he might see what that purpose is now. More than ever.
“He’s not dead.”
He might be so fucking dead.
“Pch. You think these people don’t have some way to psych you out? Sure, our powers might work inside this room, but who’s to say your outside perspective isn’t getting jammed? Or hell, he’s out of range. I don’t care. Your powers are fucking bullshit, Roger. You’ve got more tits than you do braincells, so its obvious your power would shit out.”
He turns to stare at Papillon, a joking frown on his face that is accompanied by fearful tears in his eyes.
“And what about you, huh? Dumbass fucking poodle looking ass that’s got nothing to even compensate for your lack of a functioning brain, unlike Roger over there. You’re what, his platonic soulmate? Whatever the fuck you are, fucking simp, and you’re here looking like your owner just left you behind? If I was Nate, I’d fucking dump your ass and never talk to you again. He’s too nice to do that, though. he’s just gonna flick you on the head later and go GYAHAHAHAHA and then hug you or whatever the fuck gay shit you people do. Focus, bitch.”
Deep breath, Abe. Deep breath. He can feel a hand on his shoulder.
go get ‘em, 'tsu.
He must be going insane from the fear.
“If Nate’s dead, he’s dead. But he ain’t gonna be. Unless our boss wants to prove that to us.” He lifts his head, and he grins.
Let’s recap.
“Our boss is a brainiac with a stuffy attitude that sticks through even text messages. They’ve got the resource base to arrange something like this, along with hiring the likes of Red, who probably has some pretty high rates. They’re doing this for some sort of greater good, and they’re a charismatic leader if they got Red to believe in that mumbo jumbo. They’re a results oriented person experienced with management, and if I had to hazard a guess, they’re into space research- Unless those notes I found in the archives weren’t made by the boss.”
He folds his arms, and thinks. Sure, maybe the person is a good liar like Plague was, and could fake a lot of aspects about themself- they could have to comb through all the dumbasses like Haruki or Rina to find the hidden snake. However, from what Abe can tell, there is only one person remaining in this deck of cards that fits this profile he’s created, and that person-
“They owe me 5 bucks. You still remember our arrangement, don’t you?”
Neverland | Papillon | Trial 6.8 | Re: Not Much | Commercial Break: Death(?) Reaction
If Papillon were more self-aware at this very moment, they’d no doubt think it’s weird they’re so still. Normally they’re the type to indulge in emotional outbursts any chance they get. And yet when Roger tells the group what he saw, they don’t reel back in surprise. Nor do they yell at him to clarify. They also refrain from doubling over sobbing upon learning that Nate’s gone. Instead they stand completely still, staring at Roger—
Or no, that’s not quite right.
They’re staring past him, their gaze focused on something in the distance. It’s far beyond this room, this island, this side of the world.
It’s home.
But their home isn’t their apartment in Montreal. It’s not even in Canada.
It’s somewhere they always feel safe, even when the outside world is full of monsters lying in wait.
It’s somewhere they can whisper their secrets aloud in the middle of the night, knowing their regrets aren’t burdens they must shoulder alone.
It’s somewhere they rebuild after the storm clears, each replaced floorboard and repainted windowsill restoring a part of them in turn.
It’s somewhere they’re certain they can always find love, not to mention find ways to love.
It’s somewhere they’re able to take a stand to fight back when things are darkest, providing support until dawn breaks and the battle is over.
It’s somewhere—
It’s someone—
It’s—
“Nate…”
It’s by Nate Martin’s side that Papillon Jeune truly feels at home.
That’s why they were able to keep it together as long as they had; they were able to go home whenever they saw his smile, heard his laugh, felt his fingers intertwine with theirs.
So they keep staring at some distant point beyond here and there and everywhere in hopes of discovering a way to him. But as they stare and stare and stare, the light gradually leaves their eyes. They eventually notice they’re staring at a wall of a room in a world where Nate’s no longer alive.
And yet they don’t want to return to the reality of the situation at hand: that Red and Leo are partially responsible for the deaths of so many people here, Nate’s now included. No, they just want to keep believing Nate will show up.
They want to keep believing they can go home again.
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This Is Why Haruki Was The Superior Himbo | Papillon | Trial 6.7 | Re: Gun, Holiday Parties | Attn: Roger
Although they’re positive Red can’t read their mind (because if she could, she would’ve been teasing them incessantly this whole time), Papillon’s breath catches in their throat when she claims this whole mess was “just a job.” The words feel like a punch to the gut, leaving them stunned and speechless.
Did she guess they were thinking about that conversation they had back in the clinic? The one that up until a few hours ago, Papillon had thought was their last conversation with Red? The one where they both admitted how much they meant to each other?
Because while she can’t read minds, they’re pretty damn sure she’s still capable of understanding why they care so much about her.
After all, Red indulged them in their daydreams about the holidays— saying she could show them her favorite holiday movies, burn the cookies, give them a shitty gift they’d pretend to like anyway because at least she tried.
They take a deep breath in, about to speak up, but then voices raise as tensions grow higher. It makes sense, honestly. After all, Roger is holding a gun and pointing it at Red.
Pointing it at Red, who’s more than capable of smiting Roger on the spot.
Pointing it at Red, who’s more than capable of killing everyone else here too.
Pointing it at Red, who’s still someone worth caring about even if she helped orchestrate this mess.
Their mind returns to the elevator, back to Nate. Is he still fighting? Is he outnumbered? Is he unharmed? Is he alive?
When will he show up?
They’re like a patient dog waiting by their door for their owner to return home at the end of the day. (Which is kind of funny, really. Even though people usually jump to the French meaning of papillon upon learning their name, Haruki hadn’t been the first to assume they were named after the dog breed). And even though the criminal duo AI-T and Fenrir are very much equals — they know this now — they can’t help but feel helpless right now as they wait for him to come back.
As they wait for him to come home.
But they have to have faith in their best friend, don’t they? So as much as they want to confront Red and Leo as the pair’s masks start to crumble, Papillon addresses Roger. Because god knows Nate would be devastated to arrive at the trial to see his boyfriend dead, having been killed as punishment for shooting one of the people behind this.
“Roger, you stupid himbo. Are you really gonna fuck up Nate’s kickass entrance by shooting Red before he gets here? He’d be pissed to see you dead for attacking her, and I’m pretty sure it’d throw him off his game. How can he make some wordy speech that wastes everyone’s time but is cool anyway if your corpse is right in front of him?
“You wouldn’t do your boyfriend dirty like that, would you?”
They sigh, scowling at him. That being said, there’s no trace of anger in their eyes nor in their words. It’s clear Papillon’s just worried — worried for Nate, for Roger, and even for Red.
“Eugh, this is why Haruki was the smarter one of you two. Actually, I still don’t really get why everyone acts like he was so dumb…”
Forget the ULF; probably one of the most twisted ongoings taking place on this island is Papillon still genuinely believing Haruki Kitamura was some kind of genius.
Thankful their simping is put on hold for now. Because after a tired shrug and shake of their head, they return the subject at hand.
“So before we get back to grilling Red and Leo, can you calm the fuck down for now? I mean, Nate’s gonna come bursting out of the elevator any minute now, right? At least, I’m pretty sure he is. I guess I can’t really check at the moment because some people” — they shoot the two individuals not in electric baby jails a sharp look — “won’t let me use my power.”
Which is a very smart move on their parts, but Papillon can’t help but feel bitter. Being useless isn’t a great feeling, especially at a time like this. By now they’re half-tempted to ask Red and Leo directly if they know anything about what Nate’s up to. Surely they can check his status, right? Or at the very least, be able to tell if he was still alive?
…And then something clicks.
“But I guess they can’t really stop you from using your power, eh? Then we’d have some sorta idea of how Nate’s doing and maybe even how long Red has to fix her makeup in the event she keep crying.
“Oh, but Red— if you want some good recommendations for waterproof liner, I bet you can ask Nate or Rina for help. You know, since you’re gonna have to stay alive for years to come so we can have that holiday party you owe me, hag.”
Sorry to both The Detonator and The Electrocuter for Papillon basically disregarding their remorse. They truly want to address it. They want to ask Leo if he actually believes it’s too late to rely on others. They want to actually ask Red what she means by how she won’t be around much longer. But for now, Papillon’s too focused on Nate’s wellbeing to bring up anything else.
Which might be good in the long run, because this could be the group’s best bet to ensure Roger doesn’t pull the trigger within the next three minutes.
Lived Here, Loved Here, Bought It | Papillon | Trial 6.6 | Re: Hi Red!
For a uncharacteristically long period of time (relatively speaking, of course), Papillon has been silent. It’s not because they don’t have anything to say (they do), nor because they miraculously learned to have tact (they haven’t). No, they’re too busy trying to mentally prepare for what will inevitably come next.
Leo, as nice a friend they’d seen him as, has never been someone they were especially close to. They’d started to grow fonder of him towards the end, but the two never bonded in the same way they did with some others.
Among those others is a woman whom they’d come to hold dear. Who, as it turns out, is also their guess as to who Helper Two is. They know they’re not the only one who suspects as much, but they still flinch when Abe brings her up. Because by doing so, he basically makes their fears feel realer.
And as it turns out, they’re right to be afraid.
So very right.
Because shortly after Abe and Fergus speak up, the woman of the hour appears.
Ever since they first met her, Red has played a variety of roles in Papillon’s life. At first she was their equipment supplier for their crimes with Nate. Then they met in-person, and she became their annoying, self-appointed mentor figure who always knew how to get under their skin. At some point following that, she became their friend despite their initial rock start. Until finally, she became the sort mother figure they never imagined they’d be lucky enough to have.
…Except now she’s here, standing next to Leo and looking smug. And Papillon has to accept that “mother figure” is not the role Red will be playing in the final act of this tragedy.
Though they’re starting to doubt any of Red’s past roles have been what Papillon saw on the surface. Has she ever been genuine with them? Has she been playing them for a fool all along? They wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case.
As nightmarish their time on the island has been, Papillon could at least take solace in that they’ve grown to no longer be the one asking, “How high?” when somebody asks them to jump. Or so they thought! Because turns out they’ve still been played yet again.
While Shougo turns stone cold in response to Red’s betrayal, Papillon meanwhile looks like they might ignite at any moment. They’re positively seething. They know now there’s no use in staying quiet when they can’t sneakily use their power, so why stay silent? And why stay still, for that matter?
Papillon’s never been particularly violent, but now they’re seeing red (which is ironic, all things considered). They approach their podium once more, because that’s the only thing they can hit right now. They start kicking it over and over and over, like a child throwing a temper tantrum. But instead of not getting the ice cream cone their mother promised them, they’re not getting the sense of love and safety and home she promised.
“I hate you! I hate you I hate you I hate you, you bitch!”
They accentuate each utterance of the phrase with a kick to their podium. But then they lose their balance in their rage, nearly falling into the electrical currents surrounding them. Thankfully they catch their balance using the podium at the last moment. After righting themselves, they turn their full attention to Red.
“You disgusting piece of shit hag! I hate your guts. Where do you get off, showing up looking like some lame-ass, bargain bin sci-fi MILF? And what the fuck is that gauntlet? You gonna snap your fingers and kill more of us? Feel free to fucking take me out in the process. I’ve had enough of you and your stupid little twink coworker!”
That’s you, Leo!
Papillon shakes their head, chest heaving. They basically said all that using the minimum amount of breaths required. But after kicking their podium once more for good measure, they pipe up again.
“So, what’s your deal for deciding to take this kinda job, huh? Not that I really care, to be honest. ‘Cause you’re a total freak too, you know that? We trusted you! Like legit trusted you, Mum—”
Oops.
Papillon stops mid-sentence. They go completely still, even holding their breath for a few seconds. This type of slip of the tongue is embarrassing in most contexts, but it’s downright mortifying in this situation. They wither a bit. And when they finally speak up, their voice is low.
“Are you happy….?”
They hope somewhere in another time and place and world, there’s a version of them that’s enjoying the holidays right now with Red, just as they told her they wanted to do. They hope those versions of them are wearing stupid themed sweaters as they decorate gingerbread houses. And most importantly, when Christmas Day arrives, they both know she’ll be there to spend the holiday with each other even if she was supposed to work.
Because in that ideal universe, Papillon matters more to her than any job ever could.
You Roll The Dice You Move the Mice | Oleander | Re: AI-T, Detonator
Leo avoids mentioning his feelings about Haruki. He avoids mentioning his feelings about Collin as well. That detail doesn’t go unnoticed by Shougo. They are supposed to be a detective after all, even if they may have proven to be a tad too idealistic for the role so far here.
The way he describes his sister as having hope when he doesn’t also hints at something to Shougo. Only self-loathing freaks say shit like that. The Plague they knew is an act, so perhaps some aspect of The Detonator in front of them is one too. Whether this is a hunch or just naivety, they have to pursue it along with the other answers they want.
“It’s got plenty to do with everything, Leo. It was rage and revenge that drove you to strike at Titan Tech, and there’s something that drove you to write what you did about those two. Your emotions are connected to this whether you like it or not--”
Their words die for a moment when the scythe comes out, fear gripping their chest when they think for a moment that Papillon might get cleaved in half. But they’re fine, more or less, and back to saying the same cursed shit they always do. Thank god. (Only because they don’t want to have to explain to Nate that Papillon got hurt, of course.)
“Anyway...who Aiko’s related to. That’s Shoko Yamamura, right? The AI engineer, and...maybe the person who can shapeshift described in that Loved Ones motive document? She didn’t show up on it, but the other two who were in Solisnik’s binder did. They were all people who were passed off as our loved ones…”
A very tiny bitter smirk crosses Shougo’s face. Might as well test their hypothesis.
“Speaking of: nice acting like a broken widower back then. Did it feel good, getting to guilt trip Haruki and Rina-san and watch Ana and me fuck up over something you knew was fake the whole time? Why are you avoiding talking about how great and fun this experiment was? Aren’t we supposed to just be a bunch of lab rats to you?”
“Come on! Where’s your dick swinging, Joker boy?! Beast played a better villain than you when she was just talking out of her ass!”
