ceded | [week four

[ Well. Once the. Horse situation is dealt with, Xion is free to go about her day. At least there aren't any corpse trees or body-burning bonfires today, that's nice. ... actually, it's a little eerie. Why isn't something happening? How unsettling.

(Unless the horse was Monday's Thing this week, and Xion doesn't know how she feels about that.)

Well, anyway. She has some things she wants to do. Hobble-hopping around is just ... so slow, but with how much she's abused her heel since she broke it she's in more pain than ever. Hannibal is helping her with that (who knew such a helpful thing like pain medication existed?), but she's still trying to take care. Even if it's frustrating and makes her feel extremely restless.

At the very least, she can find Milla, right?

You're accusing him based on the exact same reasons you could accuse me, but you won't accuse me!

. . . I'm sorry.

Yeah, they ... they need to talk.

Xion's not sure she's ready for this, but she might never feel ready, and Milla is -- Milla is her friend, one she cares about very much. She won't just let this go, no matter how complicated she feels inside. The ... only problem is finding her. Being only barely able to move around in the first place makes her reluctant to head out exploring the town unless she's positive Milla isn't in the hotel, so she decides to comb the place first. Habit brings her to the library, and...

... well, wouldn't you know it.

Seeing her makes Xion freeze up - at least, until she squares her shoulders. Gently: ]

Hi, Milla.

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[good. that's more than enough to appease her]

I asked the Sheriff about breaking the windows on the train. He advised me not to, and when I asked why. . .

[pause for DRAMATIC EFFECT]

. . . he told me the train is where those who are killed go to wait out the remainder of the game.

[ The shock happens in gradual stages. Her eyes widen, she sits up straighter, she goes a little pale, all these things happen in steps as the full import of those words slams into her. ]

You mean those shadows... those are our friends? Riku and Annabeth and--

[ Without even realizing Xion had started to rise from her chair, and she sits back down abruptly, kind of staring off into space. ]

... are they ... really safe? That's ... really them? For real?

[Milla reaches out, as though she's about to gently push Xion back into her chair. but Xion sits down on her own, so her hands once again drop into her lap]

Provided the Sheriff isn't lying to me? Yes. It is.

. . . I thought that knowledge might give you a bit of comfort, considering. . . well.

[Tarvek. Riku. all the other people who died, and all]

[ It really takes another few moments for that to really sink in.

And when it finally does, Xion kind of ... ducks her head, rubbing at her face while her shoulders jump once or twice. But that's all; she stays curled up as long as it takes her to calm back down, and when she sits up again, her face is dry, even if her eyes are still luminous with unshed tears. ]

I'm so glad... [ her voice is a whisper. ] They're really going to be okay... I'm so glad!

[ ... okay, well. She did try. She hiccups again, smiling through her urge to cry, and gives her head a rough shake. ]

I don't think the Sheriff would lie. He can be ... well, hard to understand, I guess, but I don't think he'd lie about something like this. Milla... we have to make sure the train stays safe.

[OH NO MORE CRYING. . . but this is definitely a different sort than the tears Xion had shed before. they're happy tears, and that's a good thing. why people cry when they're both sad and happy is still something Milla doesn't quite understand, but she'll take this]

I agree. He's. . . surprisingly reasonable. [which Milla finds both frustrating and relieving, but you know]

I tried to ask him what would happen to the deceased should we break those windows. He told me it depended on the individual's will to live. If they wished to survive, then there is a chance they would return to life. If they wished to remain dead. . . then their death might become permanent.

For that reason, I also want to make sure the train stays as safe as possible. We can't let anyone break those windows or otherwise destroy it.

[ Honestly, she couldn't tell you either. She's still too new to emotions this intense to really explain why she reacts the way that she does. All she knows is that this is how her feelings move her.

She'll end up rubbing her face again even if she's not actually crying, just trying to stem the urge. ]

I'll try and keep an eye on it. I don't want to go by too much, or it might seem strange, but... I'll do my best.

[ If they wished to remain dead...

It's a scary thing to think about. ]

Of course you will. Trying your best is just the kind of person you are.

[and since this is WAY BEFORE Jason and Shinnosuke open the post office. . .]

I wonder if there's a way for us to communicate with them?

I dunno. Actually, that's something I want to ask the Sheriff about, so if I find out, I'll tell you!

[ Xion's quiet for a moment, twisting her hands in her lap. ]

I just wish... there was more I could do than that.

Ah, all right. I'll leave that task to you, then.

We both wish there was more, but. . . ah. I suppose we just need to make the most of what we know we can do. Right?

... there is--

[ A pause. ]

... you said you're okay with risks, right, Milla?

That's right. Risks are an inherent part of living-- and escaping otherwise dangerous situations.

Why do you ask?

.... do you think .... we could try opening up one of the boarded up stores?

[ ... ]

After all, that's how we got access to the clinic. We might find something important.

[she responds without hesitation]

Of course I do.

I'm convinced that opening up those boarded up buildings will help us find the answers we seek. I know that it may be dangerous, but the risk is well worth it.

[ Xion blinks, and then ... perks up, at least a little. Milla is pretty reliable this way, huh? ]

... let's do it. We'll have to be as careful as we can, but ... if we can learn something, it'll be worth it.

[she is! she is a terrible influence, oh my god. either way, a big smile stretches across Milla's face at the suggestion]

All right. I think that's an excellent idea. It'll be much safer for us to go together.

[so they can have each other's backs, of course]

Are there any buildings in particular you want to open up first?

[ milla's the best bad idea enabler in all of whole ass ]

... no, I hadn't really thought about that too much. They're probably all important.

Likely. I think the clinic was the most important of them all, but now that it's open I imagine it doesn't matter in what order we open the rest.

[so she's advocating for picking one at random over here]

[week four - monday]

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