tearmeanewone | sept + video

[Video]

[When the video starts up, it’s very clear that the recording is accidental and loud--there's a strange whooshing noise that has a mechanical drone to it, and the image of Elizabeth, just outside the library surrounded by odd glowing airstreams, is on its side and at a sharp upward angle, the strap of her bag obscuring a bit of it.]

[Which is fairly alarming in itself. Arcs of light seem to be coming from speaker-shaped instruments attached to the droids surrounding her. Anti-tear measures, to make certain she can’t fight back--perhaps because her boyfriend had already given them too much trouble. Elizabeth clutches her head and screams, trying to run despite feeling as though her head is about to explode. She puts up a fight, kicks and flails, but eventually there's too much to defend against while suffering the dizzying siphon. The droids overpower her and she’s pulled out of the frame and away. Seconds of that strange mechanical drone continue over the feed, then once it’s faded, the video cuts.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gai will give Shu as much time as he needs to figure things out without any prompting. It's better this way, to let Shu process it all on his own rather than having him explain exactly what happened. This way Shu can own the knowledge for himself on his own terms rather than having it thrust upon him.]

Is Inori just a tool to you?

[This was something that Shu wanted to ask for himself. Nothing really made sense to him, but Gai didn't deny any of the accusations Shu made earlier. ]

That's what I tried to tell myself.

[From the look on his face, however, it's clear that it isn't true.]

[That makes Shu very angry.

He clutches his hand into a fist and he's ready to aim it at Gai face.

Instead of actually hitting Gai, Shu cries louder than before. He doesn't want to hurt Gai anymore so he immediately puts his fist down.]

[When Shu raises his fist, Gai doesn't even blink. He merely stands, unmoving, waiting for Shu to go ahead and punch him... if he actually has the guts to do it, which Gai suspects he doesn't right now.

His suspicion is proven correct when Shu just lowers his fist rather than taking a swing at him. Shu really is far too easy to read-- it doesn't even take him much effort to figure out what the other boy is going to do.]

I'm tired of this.

[He puts his hands to his face in an attempt to cover his face.]

Can things to back to the way they were before?

That's a decision only you can make.

[He isn't angry with Shu; he's made that much about as clear as he could. The only one who can take the next step is Shu himself.]

I'm just an idiot.

How will I be able to decide for myself? I'm not like you. [He can't decide things the same way Gai does.]

Just leave me alone, Gai. You shouldn't be wasting time dealing with me.

[Elizabeth got kidnapped. Shu doesn't want to waste any more time arguing.]

Do what you need to do instead.

[... another predictable response, although Gai had been holding out a faint hope that perhaps this would be the time Shu finally saw the light. If Shu is still going to be this way, then so be it. He's not going to push things any further, not when he still has Elizabeth to worry about, as Shu oh-so-kindly reminded him.

He stares at Shu a moment longer, grey eyes judgmental... and then he simply turns to walk away.

They can continue this discussion later when emotions aren't running so high on both ends.]

[Shu's fine with that response. He doesn't care about what happens to him. As long as Gai can save Elizabeth things will be alright.

Maybe he shouldn't try to be Gai if Gai can't protect what's close to him.

Shu will have to think on this. He'll reach an answer eventually.]

sept + video

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