INBOX (noctium)

[hierophany]

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[hierophany]

I took the scissors because I chose to leave the dorm room unlocked and wanted them accounted for.

The other items I took as props. I was hoping that I could overcome my penalty to human interactions by presenting myself as competent and prepared. The safety pins seemed a useful but non-threatening tool to have to hand in case of minor problems, which would allow me to quickly establish my usefulness. The tape measure seemed like a less immediately useful item, but one I could potentially use to establish my dedication to providing accurate information.

[freshprints]

I see. Even playing as a different character, you were concerned with achieving a certain level of usefulness to others in the environment.

Regardless, it's unlikely that a circumstance like that would ever successfully repeat here. There are too many people who wouldn't allow me to forget my own name.

Or who would seek vengeance upon anyone who took it from me.

[hierophany]

I suppose so. I had thought of it as playing correctly rather than a personal need for usefulness, but it's difficult to escape one's own biases.

What was his name? The boy.

[freshprints]

His name is Makoto Naegi.

You would hate him, I think. Until you realized you'd fallen in love with him, too.

[hierophany]

Life changing boys are like that. You hate them, until you don't. Or you love them until you don't. Sometimes both.

I'll remember him. If someone takes him away from you, I'll remind you.

[freshprints]

Where are you currently with yours? Love or hate?

[hierophany]

The one that matters? Love, I think.

The one that doesn't matter doesn't matter anymore.

[freshprints]

The one with the star on his shoulder.

I met him, I think. I didn't deliver your message because I wasn't able to be sure. But I had a suspicion.

...He told me about crabs.

[hierophany]

It's funny. You'd think that would narrow it down more than it does. But I know which one you mean. If the other showed up, I'd make sure you knew.

He does that. He's- he does that. It's the most reliable way of getting him to communicate, sometimes.

[freshprints]

With crabs?

That's an interesting icebreaker, to say the least.

[hierophany]

Crabs. Or shellfish. Coral. That sort of thing. He doesn’t do small talk very well. Has to be talking about something. And he doesn’t talk about things he doesn’t know much about.

You seem thoroughly unimpressed.

[freshprints]

I suspect it was just an incompatible mix of personalities. I'm not altogether good at small talk, either.

Besides, I'm obliged to hate him, aren't I? You're two of my boyfriends, so he's stolen your heart from me twice.

[hierophany]

I suppose he has. Without even trying to. They do that, don't they? Without even knowing what they've done.

You can hate him as much as you like. And I'll hate your boy, too. But I'll remember him. And if you forget, I'll tell you his name and how he's probably the kind of person who pisses me off most. And how all the things that would piss me off are probably.

Probably the exact reasons you love him.

[freshprints]

You would find a thousand reasons to hate him, I'm certain. There's nothing special about him. His grades are average and he's not particularly good in any sports or clubs. He doesn't stand out. He knows a general amount about a variety of things but has no expertise in any of them. He's not even particularly lucky, and in fact tends to draw the short straw in life more often than not. He has no instinct for self-preservation, wears his heart on his sleeve, and assumes the best of people most of the time. He's shorter than I am, even, and his hair is unkempt no matter how he might try to render it otherwise.

He's exactly what you try not to be.

But one time, when it mattered most, he believed in something so hard that I started to believe in it, too.

[hierophany]

Ah yes, my least favourite kind of person.

But it's funny, that he achieved that. Because I would hate that sort of person for making me feel like believing in things was useless. That there was no point.

[freshprints]

Why would he make you feel that way?

Is is because that type of person gives off the impression of being "useless"?

[hierophany]

Not quite. Or not entirely.

People like that seem perfectly content, even though just about everything that could be wrong with them is wrong with them. They don't try to improve themselves or make up for their weaknesses. They don't try to protect themselves. And yet- it's not as if they're happy all the time, but they seem to do just as well as everyone else. Maybe a little better, but even that isn't a noticeable enough difference to matter.

They make everything seem hopeless, just by existing. Why try, when failure in every possible category has the same overall result as success? It's not that they're useless people. It's that they're people whose very nature makes all other things useless.

[freshprints]

That's the paradox of the super-talented, isn't it? By being extraordinary at a singular thing, they also make themselves relevant in only one particular way.

Take that away, and they wind up even less than hopeless. Unlike those hopeless people, who can still seem to find bliss in being unremarkable, those who've tasted what it's like to be special can never be content with being good at nothing.

[hierophany]

Your score has fallen bellow 0. As a consequence, you are DYING.

There are no accessible exits.

[freshprints]

I examine my surroundings.

[hierophany]

Someone has taken away your shoes.

You are lying on a tatami mat in a small room. It is sparely decorated but impeccably clean. It smells of charmy-brand cleaning supplies. Above you, your PRIMARY TARGET (★) speaks with SECONDARY TARGET (★) and A POTENTIAL OBSTACLE about your UNTHINKABLE DEEDS and impending death. On the other side of a screen door, your FINAL TARGET (★) is attempting to be subtle about listening in.

Your score is currently below 0. As a consequence, you are DYING.
Your frontal lobe is compromised. STAND features disabled.

[freshprints]

I

I check my inventory

I want to see what I have equipped.

[hierophany]

Your Equipment:

STAND: HIEROPHANT GREEN (disabled)
HEAD: YOUR FRIEND, UNWORTHY AS YOU ARE. HE CHERISHED YOU AND YOU HAVE FAILED HIM. THIS IS ONLY RIGHT (★)
BODY: SCHOOL UNIFORM
FEET: nothing.

Your score is currently below 0. As a consequence, you are DYING.
Your frontal lobe is compromised. MOVEMENT disabled.

[freshprints]

I attempt to communicate with my PRIMARY TARGET.

[hierophany]

You call your PRIMARY TARGET (★) a bastard. Your PRIMARY TARGET (★) fails to demonstrate an appropriate level of offense, but it's better than nothing.

(YOU GAINED 10 POINTS. CURRENT SCORE -90.)

Your PRIMARY TARGET (★) reaches for your face.
SUCCESS. You have inflicted damage upon your target.

(YOU GAINED 30 POINTS. CURRENT SCORE -60)