[ continuations = imeeji = sfw ]

[at_heart]

[ linked from the continuations masterpost, this is where threads for various events or anything else will go! this post is specifically for SFW continuations. NSFW continuations are here! ]

Comments

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ Hesitates. He was really planning on being alone, wherever he wound up, but when he tries to say as much, what comes out is just... ]

Why?

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

Because you'd do it for me.

1/2

[at_heart]

[ well what does that have to do with anything tho ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

I might be pretty terrible company.

[ This has most of the cadence of a joke. Like, he tried. Gold star. ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

I can more than make it up for the both of us.

And you can decide if you feel like telling me what's happened or not.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ ...rubbing the back of his neck. ]

What, you haven't had enough of putting me back together yet tonight?

[ It — sounds nice. But he has to give Venti one more out, at least. ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

If you're describing this as "putting yourself back together", then I have to insist.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ A sharp blink. ...Stupid perceptiveness. That was supposed to be a joke. ] [ Lupine turns, starting to lead Venti away from the hotel. ]

...I don't even know why I'm surprised, really. I mean, I was working up to — saying something. [ Heh. ] So of course, right? I'm sure this is great TV.

1/2

[outofoffice]

[ Give him a second to parse this.

"Working up to saying something" . . . ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

[ Oh. ]

Your friend . . . ?

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ sorry Venti but even saying that many words was v difficult for him ] [ A murmur: ]

Off the roster.

The hope is that he wound up on a 'show' that sucks less than this one, right?

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

Ah . . .

Yes, at least . . . That's almost always the case.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

'Course, then you've also gotta hope you never see them again.

[ Beat. ]

I guess we probably don't graduate from the other programs, so. There's always that.

[ Anyway today is the worst. Today is the worst. He would kind of like to be drunk. ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

I think you're spared the guilt, in this case, of still wanting to see him again. You both come from the same world, after all, and it awaits you after this is all over if that's where you choose to go.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ ACTUALLY ABOUT THAT, ] [ The mention definitely does something to Lupine's expression, before he visibly pushes whatever out of mind. ]

—Yeah. I guess.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

[ Okay, but that reaction earns a frown. ]

You "guess"?

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ mrrrrr ]

I don't know. Even if you trust this system, [ and oh boy does he ever not, ] I'm not so sure riding off into the sunset is really my style.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

You intend to stay here?

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

...Heh. Wasn't really under the impression that we got that option.

[ Everyone's made it sound like — graduation is something you can put off for a little while, but not something you can opt out of altogether. ]

Don't love the idea of going back to any sort of peaceful world while this place is still up and running, though.

[ Which is definitely as close as he will get to saying he plans to take the fugitive option while on 'camera'. ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

. . . That's a noble thought. But will your presence here, suffering, make any difference in the machinations of these demons?

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ Nose wrinkle at noble for — multiple reasons, really. Lupine shrugs a tiny bit. ]

Some people go on to run games themselves, right? Social games.

[ He thinks Cobalt's games make a difference, even if it's not as much of a difference as he wants to make. And yes he sure is talking very casually about selling his soul. ]

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

They do. But one could argue that by participating, you're then aiding and abetting that system, no matter how much of a reprieve your games might be.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ It is very true that Lupine wouldn't last long at it, but. ]

Better than turning my back completely. [ Smallest hesitation, because again there are cameras, but he can phrase it like he doesn't already know: ] If there's even a chance we can take the system down from the inside...

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[outofoffice]

[ Resisting the urge to sigh ]

It doesn't always have to be you, Lupine.

Re: + Venti, Foul Toxins Aftermath

[at_heart]

[ ...Well. A little bit surprised by that. ]

I'm not asking anyone else to do it.