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[reparator]

Who: Cerealians from all over!
When: Various
Where: Various
What: This is a general overflow log! Use this whenever posts hit captcha and a new one will be put up each time this post also hits captcha.
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GENERAL OVERFLOW
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Comments

[immobileyes]

Styx-san...

[ She's trying to be a little braver here! ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ AWWWW MAN, give him a break, he's totally being diplomatic here! ]

Okay! Okay! Look, I'm not saying that's GONNA happen, alright!? It's just that it might happen! You can't seriously vouch for every single person living in this goddamn city- er, place, right?

[immobileyes]

I-I know, and I'll be careful, but... I don't want you to give up, either!

[ He'll make friends!!! ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Give up on what? Believing in the goodness in the hearts of people everywhere? Sorry, kid, but you're like a hundred years too late on that count.

[ ow the edge ]

[immobileyes]

...

[ She actually has no response to that. Because she can't tell him that there's good everywhere. She knows there isn't. But there's also not bad everywhere, and that's what makes her chest ache. If he gives up entirely... ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ Styx doesn't notice the sudden silence from Mary's end, at least not yet. So he keeps talking. ]

Lemme tell you something. People like you- like us- we gotta learn to stick up for ourselves. Comes with the territory, if you get my drift. Fuck, I can't even keep track of how many times I've had to cut ties with some group of friends or other. Either a hideout ends up part of a greenskin purge, or some asshole backstabs the rest, or-

[ He snorts, rolling his eyes. ]

Look, what I'm getting at is, always prepare for the worst-case scenario: being left to survive on your own. What d'you think your chances are?

[immobileyes]

I've been left on my own for a very long time before.

... I never want to be like that again.

[ It's just that. Because after she's known friendship, had people care about her... being on her own sounds like the worst possible fate. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

... huh. Damn. Well, can't blame you for that.

[ As is often the case with Styx, morbid curiosity wins over being considerate and/or not tearing open old wounds. ]

So how'd you survive the first time around?

[immobileyes]

I stayed inside for... one hundred years, I think.

[ Such a simple thing. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ There are precious few things that are able to render Styx completely speechless (for a few moments, at least), and Mary's just uttered one of them. ]

The fuck? Are you serious?

[ He knows better than most what one hundred years means. ]

Did you at least have a goddamn window or something?

[immobileyes]

I wouldn't lie about it... [ It's a soft mutter, but she nods. ] But yeah, of course. I used to look outside all the time.

[ Don't laugh. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ Man, laughing is, like, the last thing on his mind. He DOES snort, though, and his mouth twists into a grimace. ]

Stuck inside for a hundred years, and you were fine with just looking outside? Shit, if I was in your position, I'd have broken through the window and given new breathing holes to anyone trying to stop me.

[ There's no pity in his voice, but there might be something close to grudging understanding. ]

[immobileyes]

I... didn't want to go outside. I thought if I went out there, the world would take something else away from me.

[ Even though she'd still wished, sometimes... that she could get out, that someone would be able to take her away. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ That's pretty heavy stuff. Styx shakes his head. On one hand, it'd be an embarrassment if he made her cry again, but on the other hand, he's already blabbing away. ]

Well, the world damn well took something away from you anyway, didn't it? Time, kid. A hundred damn years.

[immobileyes]

Losing time isn't as painful as losing family.

[ And that will never change. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Yeah, well...

[ He trails off, shaking his head. ]

You got me there, kid. Although to be honest, I'll just have to take your word for that.

[immobileyes]

I don't want you to ever have to really understand what that feels like.

[ It's never a good feeling. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

[ Styx DOES scowl at her for that, more out of shock than anything else. ]

Wait, what? Me? Ooh no, don't you worry about me. I don't have any family, and if I DID, memory loss's taken care of that.

[ How's that for reassuring? ]

[immobileyes]

E-eh?? You lost your memory?!

[ WAIT GO BACK TO THAT. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Yeah? What's so-

[ And he has an "oh" moment. The goblin sighs, running a hand down his face. ]

I didn't mention that before, huh. Look, it's not really a big deal or anythin'.

[ SERIOUSLY, HE'S NOT SEEING WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT ]

[immobileyes]

Isn't that a really big deal? What if you forgot something important??

[cutebutexpendable]

No, it ain't.

[ There's an edge to his voice. Styx slowly releases a breath, glaring at nothing in particular. ]

Trust me on this, kid. I caught a few glimpses, and it's... it's weird as all hell, is that it is. Could hardly recognize myself. As far as I'm concerned, that shit ought to stay where it belongs: forgotten and buried in the past.

[ Sure, he's an assassin by trade with gallons of blood on his hands, but even he'll judge his past self. ]

[immobileyes]

... So you really don't want to remember... [ Had it been that painful? She's afraid to ask. Especially when he looks even more agitated when it comes to discussing it. ]

[cutebutexpendable]

Pretty much.

[ He runs a hand down his face, shaking his head. He's a little calmer now, at least. ]

The most I can do- ALL I can do- is trust that my past self had a damned good reason to do what he did. Other than that, it ain't any of my business anymore.

[ That's a half-lie, but that's as much as he's willing to admit. ]

[immobileyes]

... Sorry. I won't ask anymore.

[ Because it's not her business, either. ]