nostabbing | 011 | Goldenrod City

[It's a legitimately beautiful day in the neighborhood when the video comes on — the skies are partly cloudy but there are streaks of sun in places, and there's no snow on the ground. Rather, a bunch of probably incredibly confused plants have evidently decided that spring has arrived egregiously early this year, and are already starting to bud; the grass around is turning greener with every passing day, and ordinarily Parker would probably approve of that because green is objectively the best color, but today, she's...

Well.

From the looks of things, she's sitting against a tree in black jeans, a T-shirt, and a flannel hoodie over; her hair is long and a veritable mess, because she hasn't bothered to tie it back and she certainly hasn't bothered to brush it lately. And she's not really looking at the camera, despite being the one who intentionally turned it on. There's an equally tired-looking Eevee (one that, strangely, seems to be wearing a little white uniform with red trim) snuggled against her chest, and flanking her on either side are Nate the Mightyena (still in his dapper fedora) and Sophie the Ninetales (still in her diamond necklace collar), snug against her sides as though they're standing guard.

The camera angle is haphazard and sideways — not quite a Myspace angle, but clearly chosen without a whole lot of care for how the picture ultimately comes out.

Probably because it's a good reflection of Parker's mood right now.]

It's sixty-five degrees outside. In January.

[When she speaks, her voice is dull and flat — almost robotic, in the way she's just sort of pushing the words out.]

In January.

[A pause.]

Is the world ending? Maybe the world's ending.

[There's another pause, and this time when she speaks it's under her breath, more to herself than to the camera.]

Yeah. Maybe that's it.

[For a brief time, she doesn't say anything more, and then just when it's starting to look like she's forgotten she's still recording, the camera jiggles as her hand moves, and almost as an afterthought she switches the feed off.]

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I did have some weird feelings the night before it happened, but I had no idea what was going to happen or who it was gonna happen to. I just knew something was going to happen.

[He's clearly frustrated about it.]

If only it would've been clearer.

[But that's not actually answering the question and he can't dwell on it anyway.]

I haven't felt anything since, but from what I've heard about what sometimes happens in these weird coma things...it's not going to be good at all. 'cause if he goes back home, I know what happened. I...I know all of it.

Ishimaru told me what it's like at your school.

[Understatement of the century, the way she puts it, but.]

Someone's gonna die, right? I don't — I don't want you to tell me stuff, I don't think Ishimaru wants me to know and I don't want to go behind his back finding out, especially not when he's...

...

...but someone's gonna die. Right?

[Oh, well that's good to know. It saves a lot of explaining he'd have to do.

Also it's a good thing Alice mentioned not wanting to know stuff because otherwise he probably would've spilled things that people didn't want him spilling. Go Hagakure.

Still, he'll at least give an answer to that question.]

Y-Yeah, someone's gonna die.

[~~And thus we all avoid an RP time paradox.~~]

...

Is he gonna have to watch?

[~~Aw yeah.~~

He nods solemnly, not quite making eye contact with the 'Gear as he continues. It's still pretty difficult to think about.]

We all have to watch. He just...takes it a lot worse.

...Can you tell me something? It's not really about what happens, but it's about your school. And I couldn't...ask. Him.

[For reasons that will become clear in a second, and possibly shed light on just how much Parker is willing to trust Hagakure at this point.]

...Why didn't anybody try to help you guys?

[Ohhh boy. Hagakure has to choose his words carefully for this one.

He pauses for a few moments, then swallows hard when he finally comes up with a phrasing that works.]

People did try to help, but there wasn't anything they could do. The person behind everything made sure they couldn't get to us.

[Not even going to make any sort of reference to the state of the outside world because he's definitely sure that's a big no-no to mention.]

[And that seems to cut her inside, because of course her instant reaction to that is my team would've gotten to you, we would've helped...and she can't even say it because even if she knows it's true, doesn't that just make it worse — knowing that someone out there could've helped, somehow, and didn't.]

You have to tell me. Promise me. If they come here, you have to...

[Suddenly, this is urgent.]

Promise me you'll tell me who they are if they come here.

[Hagakure's eyes widen in surprise. Before he can think about it, he's already responding.]

Promise. There's no way I won't, Alice-chi. You definitely deserve to know, for sure.

[They've only known each other for a few months, but he understands how close she is to Ishimaru and considers her a friend too. She's part of the group, and likely knows how big of an issue it would be if the Mastermind showed up. They're gonna need all the help they can get to keep that person away from everyone.]

I'm not gonna let anybody hurt you. Not you, not Ishimaru, not anybody. Not even Celes and Creepy Eyes. Nobody.

[Nobody is gonna hurt these kids. Not ever again. Not on her watch.]

Alice-chi...

[It feels...it feels really good to hear that. After having to go through the killing game completely alone with no help from the outside world, someone is here and willing to protect them if they're ever threatened again.

So he can't help it if he gets a little misty-eyed, okay? He quickly rubs at his eyes because he's totally not emotional! Man, he never thought he would get emotional in this place. Everything is supposed to be rainbows and sunshine here because they're not there! Obviously he's learning that's not the case.

But at least they're not alone this time.]

Thanks, Alice-chi. I know we all appreciate it.

[Maybe someday, she thinks absently, they'll all know that she's Parker-chi. Yeah. Maybe someday.

It's okay if it's not today. Families take a while, sometimes.]

Yeah. Okay.

[For the first time this conversation, Hagakure's able to smile. Wow, that shouldn't be such a hard thing for him but here we are.]

You're a really cool person, y'know that Alice-chi? I'm glad you and Ishimaru-chi met.

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