Carlos. [Now he's just kinda frustrated.] ...is this something you just can't tell me? Or do you not want to? [A beat.] Also, we're all kinda weird if you haven't noticed.
That's not good enough. What happened to both of us working together to fix this and get home? What about getting back to Akane? ["What about me?"] Tell me what you can so I can fix whatever's wrong.
[Junpei... He puts a hand on his arm, as if to steady him in case he flies off the handle because, haha! Carlos sure does look sad, but at least he's going to try and smile through it.]
... What I want hasn't changed, Junpei. I want to fix this, believe me. But we...
[...]
I don't know how much I can tell you without being censored.
...try. What do I have to do to try and understand what's happening? Do I have to sleep with you? Like. Would that help?
[The hand on his arm helps except it also means Carlos can probably feel it shaking a little because he's tense.] I need to make sure you're not going to die again like the previous hosts did. I'm not letting that happen.
[That's fine, because Junpei in turn will feel how cold and clammy Carlos' hand is. He looks like he's about to say something, but that gets thrown out the window towards the end there.]
The last hosts. [Wooden. His eyebrows furrow.] What happened to them, exactly?
[...that's also alarming so he'll just shift to try and hold onto his hand to warm it up? And subtly feel for a pulse while he's at it even though he's just talking to him.]
Not sure. Something that was keeping them alive wore off and they died, according to the researcher notes we found. [A beat.] It's funny...Nikkari told me that Nathan learned their names. April, Neena, Hazel and Jason. Hazel summoned the demons the last time, and April was the sacrifice. They were the same ages as you and Polly. Weird, right?
[...] Even weirder was that the notes for April said something like..."the subject does not present any abilities related to the concept of space and time. She is not a god, a time traveler, or a dimensional shifter. Perhaps she carries it in her blood as an untapped ability? It's a shame the subject is in no state to answer my questions." I thought maybe they were looking for SHIFTers or something.
The notes on Jason said..."I wish whatever was keeping you and the other three alive hadn't worn off, but I suppose this is the world righting itself."
So...I don't really know. That's what I'm trying to understand to make sure we don't make the same mistakes.
[He has a pulse! Though it feels like he's a bit agitated. Maybe his hands are just sweaty and cold for other reasons.
Either way, he'll listen to Junpei's info dump patiently... But it doesn't look like he's alarmed or even concerned over any of it. Instead, he'll give Junpei's hand a gentle squeeze now that he's trying to warm Carlos' hand up. Hah.]
Man I have been asking! Constantly! I have been trying to outsource and talk to people and I'm working with people. Nikkari's asking the dead and we're getting some information from them but it's not enough time. I tried to loop everyone in and your fucking higher-ups didn't like it. What else am I supposed to do?
[If he sounds mildly hysterical it might be because he is and also he's still really Unsettled about this entire conversation.] Can I do a task to talk to the other side, too? Do I just start breaking into rooms alone because we're running out of time? Why does it feel like even though we can't make the same mistakes this isn't the right answer?
[Ah. Don't like that! He claps Junpei's hand with both of his own now, squeezing in an attempt to be reassuring. Which, uh, will probably not be as effective given how terrible this conversation has been so far... But it's the thought that counts?]
Listen to me, okay? You're on the right track. Keep doing what you've been doing so far, and things will work out. I promise.
[It like sort of helps except now he has two clammy hands holding his which probably is a little weird but it's fine? They're fine. He's busy reining in his own emotions to refocus but six weeks and a whole lot of bullshit really adds up after a while.]
We have seven ritual items, a ritual that might not even work, and a note that says "there's no fourth." I don't know what I'm even supposed to think right now.
[...he looks at his hand in Carlos's.] ...you never answered again. [About?] Would sleeping with you net answers to help us help you guys?
[That's. A plus. And so he stares at their hands because somehow that's easier. Also I just remembered he never zipped his jeans up so that's fine.]
...what if I just want to anyway? [Carlos is 100% free to say no, but he figures he should also make it a little more obvious that he's been interested outside of sleeping with him for answers. Somehow Junpei has accumulated an alt-timeline fianceé, a fox wife, a side sword, a temporary boyfriend, and...whatever this is. If it's anything. It's a mess but whatever.]
[i forgot about junpei's unzipped jeans so ig he's just been halfway on carlos' lap with his unzipped hands while holding hands. fellas, is it gay?
Which is to say, Carlos is pausing, rapidly glancing up at his face as if to make sure he heard him right. Once a moment passes and Junpei doesn't say sike!!, Carlos huffs out a laugh, looking down at their hands again.]
Then I guess it'd be your lucky day.
[... That's a yes. It took them six hecking weeks to get here again because they are both FOOLS.]
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Oh, so I'm usually weird?
[That is absolutely not an answer.]
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[C-Team is. A lot.]
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...
Yeah, his expression just kind of falls.]
I'm really sorry, Junpei.
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Explain. Why are you saying sorry?
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You'll understand why I said it soon... Probably...
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That's not good enough. What happened to both of us working together to fix this and get home? What about getting back to Akane? ["What about me?"] Tell me what you can so I can fix whatever's wrong.
Probably isn't exactly promising.
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... What I want hasn't changed, Junpei. I want to fix this, believe me. But we...
[...]
I don't know how much I can tell you without being censored.
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...try. What do I have to do to try and understand what's happening? Do I have to sleep with you? Like. Would that help?
[The hand on his arm helps except it also means Carlos can probably feel it shaking a little because he's tense.] I need to make sure you're not going to die again like the previous hosts did. I'm not letting that happen.
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The last hosts. [Wooden. His eyebrows furrow.] What happened to them, exactly?
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Not sure. Something that was keeping them alive wore off and they died, according to the researcher notes we found. [A beat.] It's funny...Nikkari told me that Nathan learned their names. April, Neena, Hazel and Jason. Hazel summoned the demons the last time, and April was the sacrifice. They were the same ages as you and Polly. Weird, right?
[...] Even weirder was that the notes for April said something like..."the subject does not present any abilities related to the concept of space and time. She is not a god, a time traveler, or a dimensional shifter. Perhaps she carries it in her blood as an untapped ability? It's a shame the subject is in no state to answer my questions." I thought maybe they were looking for SHIFTers or something.
The notes on Jason said..."I wish whatever was keeping you and the other three alive hadn't worn off, but I suppose this is the world righting itself."
So...I don't really know. That's what I'm trying to understand to make sure we don't make the same mistakes.
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Either way, he'll listen to Junpei's info dump patiently... But it doesn't look like he's alarmed or even concerned over any of it. Instead, he'll give Junpei's hand a gentle squeeze now that he's trying to warm Carlos' hand up. Hah.]
You won't make the same mistakes.
[Like he's stating a fact.]
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Okay, how do you know? We don't even know what the fuck we're supposed to do on the fiftieth day.
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That sounds like something you might hear about from someone else.
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[Hm.]
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Glances away.]
I can't give you any straight answers, Junpei.
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...then tell me how I can get them. [...] Please. How do you know we won't make the same mistakes? You just asked me what happened to the last hosts.
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[So, haha. That's that.]
Just... Trust me when I say you can't make the same mistakes.
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[If he sounds mildly hysterical it might be because he is and also he's still really Unsettled about this entire conversation.] Can I do a task to talk to the other side, too? Do I just start breaking into rooms alone because we're running out of time? Why does it feel like even though we can't make the same mistakes this isn't the right answer?
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[Ah. Don't like that! He claps Junpei's hand with both of his own now, squeezing in an attempt to be reassuring. Which, uh, will probably not be as effective given how terrible this conversation has been so far... But it's the thought that counts?]
Listen to me, okay? You're on the right track. Keep doing what you've been doing so far, and things will work out. I promise.
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We have seven ritual items, a ritual that might not even work, and a note that says "there's no fourth." I don't know what I'm even supposed to think right now.
[...he looks at his hand in Carlos's.] ...you never answered again. [About?] Would sleeping with you net answers to help us help you guys?
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He'll stare at their hands, too, before shaking his head.]
... No, not for the answers you want right now.
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...what if I just want to anyway? [Carlos is 100% free to say no, but he figures he should also make it a little more obvious that he's been interested outside of sleeping with him for answers. Somehow Junpei has accumulated an alt-timeline fianceé, a fox wife, a side sword, a temporary boyfriend, and...whatever this is. If it's anything. It's a mess but whatever.]
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Which is to say, Carlos is pausing, rapidly glancing up at his face as if to make sure he heard him right. Once a moment passes and Junpei doesn't say sike!!, Carlos huffs out a laugh, looking down at their hands again.]
Then I guess it'd be your lucky day.
[... That's a yes. It took them six hecking weeks to get here again because they are both FOOLS.]
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