week one, saturday

[digestif]

[ Mizuki is not a ninja. Sasuke is. It's probably sheer luck that they even catch a hint of him after the trial when he doubtless doesn't want to be found - but they think they saw him go down this way. It is, perhaps, against their better judgement to do this. They already know he's volatile. Still... ]

-- Uchiha-kun?

[ they call after him nonetheless, expression neutral, creased slightly by worry. ]

Comments

[moralmyopia]

[It's true. He doesn't even give everyone what they want: him punching Itachi. He glares and leaves, cold. There's too many people left to really find a good alcove, but he manages by squirreling himself away at the pool.

He's nowhere to be found, initially, though not because he's actually invisible. His voice echoes, undistinguished.]

What do you want?

[digestif]

[ weird. Mizuki glances around, trying to find him - but it's late, and this is a big room. He must be hiding just out of sight... right?

The question is somewhat harder to answer. Mizuki's quiet for a second while thinking of a reply. ]

... I want to apologize, I think.

[moralmyopia]

[With a bit more time to look, he's there. In the more oasis styled section, hiding among the foliage and designs, not sitting but not standing, leaning maybe against a craggled rock.]

I'm not the one you should be apologizing to.

[digestif]

No, you're the one who will live. You'll need it more than he does.

[ Mizuki does finally spy him - however, they don't quite approach, maintaining a good 10 or 15 feet between the two of them. ]

You shouldn't have to lose your brother. I'm sorry that I helped make it happen.

[ they don't regret it; Itachi did kill that girl. They properly played by the rules. But they don't like that he has to leave someone behind. ]

[moralmyopia]

Keep your apology. I don't want it. [Even if he doesn't move at all, he doesn't seem bothered b Mizuki's presence entirely. But he does look away.] It doesn't matter. I never had him to begin with.

He was dead back home. I'm the one who killed him.

[digestif]

[ yeah, this is familiar, too. They can't deny that the reason they're here is because they sympathize with his particular plight - and even if they hadn't known that part, it just makes it more understandable. ]

... The "god" I'm working for says he'll return us all home after this - home, or wherever they'd like to go. That's what I'm working towards. [ they cross their arms. ] I won't make any promises. But if all goes well, you can have him back.

[moralmyopia]

He isn't meant to be alive.

[He's!! so hollow!! It's hard not to be dead inside when there's such a big cavity to fill up with hopelessness. Having a few good, not turbulent moments was just pouring salt in the wound.]

Neither was the girl. I'm going home regardless. I have unfinished business.

[digestif]

[ "Neither was the girl." That raises plenty of questions. But they're not going to grill Sasuke about it while he's in this state. Nor are they idealistic enough to think their words can actually help Sasuke. This was, in truth, a selfish exercise. Mizuki went to find him because the matter was bothering them. ]

Mm. That's fine, too. I'd wanted options, though - so I thought you should know you have them.

[ they stick their hands in their pockets. ]

That's all. Thanks for indulging me.

[moralmyopia]

[It’s a good and soft endeavour anyway. Normal, even if Sasuke is too embittered to see it.]

You don’t actually care, do you? It’s a platitude to make you feel better about your own choice. A lot of you try to boast about helping some god make a safe and perfect world, but you have no issue sending two people out of the game. Even banking on one being absolved so you feel less guilty.

[digestif]

[ at that, they shake their head, expression becoming more neutral again. ]

I don't care about the gods' world. I just don't want them to do this again. We shouldn't have to be here dying for their game... That's all. [ a beat. ] I don't expect Kresnik-san to be saved. I don't think he'll be the only loss, either. But if you try to save everyone, you won't save anyone.

[moralmyopia]

[The kind of righteous indignation dims slightly, and Sasuke's brows draw together.]

You won't win unless the god you decide to assist wins. What are you going to get out of this if you don't care about their worlds?

[digestif]

It's not the world I'm living in, is it? It's not yours, either. Or anyone here.

[ they have priorities. ]

Like you, I have things I need to do back home.

[moralmyopia]

Even leaving a broken world for them sounds unreasonable when we're able to change it. [Sasuke peers a little harder at Mizuki's face, as if trying to read it.] Weren't you promised something when you came here?

Are you saying you don't care about any of the gods?

[digestif]

Do you?

[ a beat. Then, they add: ]

I care about everybody, Uchiha-kun. But, like I said, there are things I need to do.

[moralmyopia]

That doesn't answer my question.

[Surprisingly, he emerges fully out with Mizuki, mismatched eyes blazing intensely.] Are you going to make Itachi's death not worth it? You don't care who is next so long as someone wins, and you leave.

Is that it?

[digestif]

[ *chuckles* i'm in danger.jpg ]

If that was the case, I wouldn't be here apologizing to you.

[ nonetheless, Mizuki stays where they are. ]

Like I said, the god I'm following says he'll fix what's happened here after the fact. That's what matters to me, in the end. I don't know what the others are planning, but I won't settle for less than that.

[moralmyopia]

[stomps on mizuku's apologies because he's an emo seventeen year old chuuni]

The god I follow is going to fix it from the start. [It's a challenge of some kind, as prideful teenagers are wont to dish out.] Not talking to the rest of them is foolish.

[digestif]

"From the start?" What does that mean?

[ manipulating their memories or turning back time? One of those is more reasonable than the other, but they don't really like the sound of either. ]

[moralmyopia]

They are trying to make it a good world already. Right now.

[digestif]

... Well, they're not doing such a good job...

[moralmyopia]

[WOW]

They're doing the best they can with what they have.

[digestif]

[ JUST SAYIN ]

I suppose we'll see if their best is good enough in the coming weeks, then.

[ the fact that people are dying already says it's not to Mizuki - it wasn't good enough to save Sasuke's brother, either - but they won't say that. ]

[moralmyopia]

[Thank God, he'd be very offended, but also... he has sort of accepted his brother seemingly destined fate maybe. It hurts, but yeah.]

We'll see.