prismatica | ( video, un: koriel - slightly forward-dated )

[ on the morning of the 14th, everyone’s feeds get to enjoy what appears to be a somber-looking video of a somber-looking man. his shoulders are hunched, his eyes downcast, and one might wonder why he’s making a video if he’s going to look this sad while doing it. don’t worry about it. ]

It’s…

[ he falters. he should have planned this out a little better. ]

I’m sorry to bring them up again, but what was said about the Oracles of the Sinless has been weighing on my mind. One of those members mentioned wanting to “reset” the world…

[ a new game+, as tarn put it. ]

My world is… I… [ although he can't finish his thoughts, it doesn't sound like he's getting emotional. his voice is quiet, but even-toned. ] It’s been destroyed. Most people are dead, and those that aren’t are… unwell. And when I think about that, the idea of resetting the world doesn’t seem wrong.

[ he seems to realize that he’s dangerously close to spreading cult propaganda, and he looks up at the camera with the first fluctuation of emotion—from a kind of downtrodden pensiveness to concern. ]

But I don’t think it seems right, either. I don’t know. [ he glances away from the camera once again. ] The Sinless must be scared. They don’t want the world to get worse. Our arrival here… it makes beautiful things, but maybe…

…um. I wanted to know what everyone else thinks.

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…

[ is this what having a sister is like? he knows what having a brother is like, but surely this would be different. ]

I haven’t eaten. [ one question at a time… or maybe just one question only. ] I’m hungry.

[She doesn't know, being an only child and all.]

Then come over. Kaoru-chan and I will be here. Stop listening to cults.

Shiho, I…

[ of course he wants to, but he’s not sure that he would really be welcome. he’s not in any position at all to see other people, even if shiho and kaoru won’t judge him. they may not remember him the way that he recalls them, but he knows they’re both good people. which is exactly why he can’t go. ]

I don’t know if I should.

...you don't know if you should come over or you don't know if you should stop listening to cults?

[Because she knows that the answer should be for either of those.]

[ shiho could read the alphabet to him and he would probably cow to her when she gets like this. although he doesn’t think she’s being mean, not at all, there’s an authority about her that he finds hard to say no to. ]

…I don’t know if I should come over. I know listening to cults is usually…

[ usually bad. ]

...Usually. [She isn't sure she likes the sound of that.]

And why is it that you think you shouldn't come over?

…

[ he doesn’t deserve it. for him, it’s as simple as that, but it’s not that easy to actually admit to it aloud. ]

I’m not… the type of person… you and Kaoru should be around. I think.

[She is actually kind of mad now.]

When we first met, you said we were friends. If I decided to be your friend once, I doubt it's because that me just has terrible taste. Who I want to be friends with, who I want to be around is up to me.

I…

[ it’s the perfect approach to take with him. he doesn’t want to remove that choice from shiho’s hands, and her tone suggests that he’ll only make it worse if he continues to press down this path. his hands clench in his lap, conflicted, but the only thing he can think to do is nod.

she’s right. ]

I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you as a friend, Shiho. I’m just scared. [ therefore: ] I need to wash my face. And then I’ll come over.

You wouldn't lose me if you don't come over. I'll be mad but we won't stop being friends, you know.

[She just wants to make sure he knows that first.]

But we can go get ice cream. We'll have all your favourites. [All his favourites that are cooked, conventionally edible and not full of parasites, that is.]

…

[ it is really hard to say no to ice cream. he finds himself smiling, even if it looks so sad and weary on his tired face. ]

I want to have your favorites. I don’t know what I like yet.

[Stop breaking her heart, Dex!!!]

...Kaoru-chan and I will go get a bunch of things. [They'll help him find his favourite ice cream flavour, damn it.]

[ dextera doesn’t know what “a bunch of things” means, actually, but he’s not going to change the way he proceeds. he should just actually go ahead and listen to her. ]

I’m looking forward to it.

[ and, surprisingly, he is. ]

[It means there will be too much ice cream in her freezer after today and that she's sending him home with whichever flavours he likes best.]

You'd better. Two cute girls are feeding you ice cream, after all.

[ dextera is inclined to agree. both shiho and kaoru are very cute. it’s not the first time he’s thought that they’re the platonic ideal of “younger sisters,” although he’s only ever had experience being a younger brother. ]

I’ll… I’ll tell you when I’m ready. I promise it’ll be today. Even soon.

[Shiho would die of embarrassment at being told she would be the best younger sister.]

...You know whenever is fine, right? Just.... don't force yourself to do this alone, okay? We're here to listen. No matter what.

[ that’s why he has to tell her! but she’ll be spared it today, simply because he’s not in the mood for that kind of discussion. ]

I know… I know you both forgave me once.

[ maybe he’s scared of losing it, a second time. ]

Don't say that like we wouldn't forgive you a second time.

…Shiho.

[ said with a breath, relieved and grateful both. maybe it’s true. kaoru and shiho have both seen so much, even if dextera can’t recall all that they’ve told him over their friendship, but they’re nothing if not generous to the people they’ve chosen to care about.

briefly, looking at shiho, he remembers someone else—a boy with headphones, at the mercy of his own future. ]

You’re right. You’re right. Because… we’re friends.

Of course.

[But at the very least, he seems happier. She may even give him a hug later.]

And don't you go forgetting it.

Actually…

[ dextera chances his own feelings, since ice cream flavors is a topic without stakes. ]

I just remembered. I’d like strawberry ice cream.

[That's more like it!

Time for Shiho and Kaoru to probably go overboard and buy him every kind of strawberry-related ice cream, right? Regular pink strawberry, neapolitan, strawberry cheesecake, vanilla with a strawberry swirl, if it has so much as existed near a strawberry, you can bet they're buying it. It's fine, there's no Minamoto here to tell them to save their Chroma.]

Then strawberry it is. Oh and do you have a cooler? Should we get you one of those too?

A cooler…?

[ he’s thinking. dextera is going to be overwhelmed by the absolute variety of strawberry ice cream that exists out in the world, but for now, he’s just trying to keep up with shiho’s whims. ]

Where frozen things go?

Yup. Just so they'll survive your walk back if you have to go too far.

[Because she suspects he'd eat melted ice cream and she wants him to maybe... not???]

( video, un: koriel - slightly forward-dated )

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mary why must you hurt me like this

bwahaha

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