Private Chat with ?????

[scienceofmagic]

[ A private message from someone whose name is just numbers? She'll just answer it and set up the chat. Maybe she can get some answers. ]

Hello?

Comments

Saturday, 1 am

[strangerpeople]

[Croix’s phone pings, at some point after Croix gets back to her room.]

[scienceofmagic]

[ She hasn't slept yet, instead sitting against her bed on the floor. She'll still answer, though, although her hands are shaking. ]

[strangerpeople]

[This time, it’s not a text.

Will you take this phone call?]

[scienceofmagic]

[ Yes. Her voice is shaky. Just like her hands. ]

Hello?

[strangerpeople]

[There is a pause, hesitation. Then comes the voice.]

Meridies-san? It’s me...Kana.

[It’s a young girl’s voice.]

[scienceofmagic]

[ ...She'll take a deep breath. She needs to compose herself. ]

...Hey. How're you doing?

[strangerpeople]

I’m...

...

[Quiet, with a tone of subdued sadness.]

I’m sad that Akechi-san had to die. That...Feiji-san and Katsuki-san...

It never gets easier, you know?

[scienceofmagic]

...How many times have you done this?

[ How are you still holding it together so well? ]

[strangerpeople]

In this place...

...

A lot. I’ve been here a year and a half, thereabouts.

[scienceofmagic]

...Kana... How do you keep going? Against all this hopelessness?

[ Croix doesn't believe in miracles. She hasn't in a long time. ]

[strangerpeople]

...It’s hard. But...I...

...

I think of you. Of everyone who is here or has been here, and...I think of the things that are worth fighting for. Even if they’re insignificant. Like...someone’s smile. Or the friendships people make. Seeing people fight for those friendships. And for...love.

To me, they aren’t insignificant. You know? Even if bad things happen, and...here that happens a lot...there’s... there’s good too.

To me...it’s what makes me feel...human. Knowing those things and... seeing them.

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix listens. She's silent for a few moments. ]

...I'm not a very positive person. I've spent so long buried in the negatives of humanity. ...You wouldn't believe how powerful things like hatred and anxiety and anger are. Happiness and such pale in comparison. ...Seeing them fight like that, knowing there was nothing they can do... It just made me feel numb.

[ She'll wipe a few tears from her face. ]

Miracles don't exist. So why do people bother trying to hope for one...?

[strangerpeople]

...Because it’s never wrong to hope.

[A quiet firmness enters her voice.]

And miracles...they must exist. No—I know they do. You yourself are a miracle. Everyone here, everything around you...why would you ever think yourself not with fighting for?

[scienceofmagic]

[ She's quiet a bit longer, but then she laughs a bit. ]

...You remind me of Chariot. Maybe a bit of Miss Kagari.

[ ...She's still not okay. Maybe she won't be for awhile. ]

...We're not all going to get out of here, Kana. I'm not sure even most of us will. There's already only ten of us left. ...More are going to die.

[strangerpeople]

I know. But...you guys are different from other, too. No one’s ever interfered with our boss like this before. Not like Kurusu-san or Minamino-san did!

Maybe this time...you guys might have a chance to change things.

[scienceofmagic]

[ They can change things, huh? ...Croix is quiet. ]

...Kana. ...How were you dragged into this mess? You sound young.

[strangerpeople]

Ah?? Meridies-san, you flatter me way too much...I’m not really young at all!

...

[A long pause.]

How this happened...it’s a long story. I was elsewhere, and...things...

[She trails off.]

It’s a long story.

[scienceofmagic]

...You don't have to tell me. Maybe when you're more comfortable, if you'd like.

[ Listen, you sound younger than her? So you're young. ]

...Thank you. For checking on me.

[strangerpeople]

I...yeah. Maybe one day.

[A pause.]

Of course. I, um, I left something at your doorway, too. I wasn't worried about anyone taking them.

[Whenever she gets a chance, Croix will indeed find something akin to this.]

Feel free to talk to me at any time, if you want, ok? And...I'll talk to you later.

[scienceofmagic]

[ ...She'll smile when she does finally check. ]

Take care of yourself. All right, Kana?

[strangerpeople]

I will...and...you do too, ok, Meridies-san?

Please, don't give up. I have faith in you.

[scienceofmagic]

...I won't. It'll be hard, but...

Also, Kana?

You can call me Croix.