soba | zenitsu

I'm probably not going to see them again after this.

How come? Did you get into a fight with them?

[ he shakes his head ]

I'm just leaving. It'll be easier for them, too.

[ it's complicated, toi said. zenitsu can't wrap his head around how something can be so complicated that one would leave family. ]

Are you gonna be all right, leaving like that?

[ he nods. ]

I'm going to have to be.

[ that doesn't sound reassuring. ]

Just don't isolate yourself. That's more tiring than anything else.

I'll... have my brother.

So it'll be fine.

[ he doesn't need enhanced hearing to hear that pause. is his relationship with his brother also complicated? ]

Thanks for sticking around.

Where else would I go?

[ his room. ]

My room's clean. I didn't go there yesterday.

You won't dry out while you're in here, will you?

I could always sleep in the tub.

[ maybe he can drown retroactively and everyone has been talking to a ghost this whole time ]

[ don't. ]

You could. That means you'll have to go back at some point, so you can't stay out here too late.

[ not just because it'll be uncomfortable, but also because zenitsu can feel the monster's vying for control. that's not something he wants toi to see. ]

... I guess.

I'm sure other people probably want to check on you.

[ he knows zenitsu has friends, despite apparently thinking everyone dislikes him? zenitsu your self worth ]

[ people always leave, okay? always. ]

You think so?

[ that's a mood ]

People were pretty worried about you.

I wish I could hear their sounds. I'm sure they'd all sound really kind.

[ ... ]

Are you going deaf?

[ he just about feels that way. ]

Before I came to this mansion, I had really good hearing. By listening to the sounds someone was making, I could tell what they were like. I can't hear them anymore, but I think almost everyone here would sound kind if I could.

[ that... kind of seems beyond just having good hearing. it's kind of amazing what the people here can do, when their abilities aren't being blocked. ]

You think so?

I could be wrong. I've been wrong a lot before.

[ he's been wrong here, too. hearing or no, he's always fumbling. ]

But it's what I want to believe.

In that case, don't say people here dislike you again, stupid.

[ if they're kind then they're your friends ]

I said that, didn't I?

[ it felt as if a lot was going on at once—all those ordinarily encouraging words, twisted by the underlying accusations, provoking the monster and magnifying his fears under their scrutiny. ]

When you said my name, it sounded scary.

... scary? What do you mean?

I wasn't expecting you to say anything.

Actually, more people spoke up than I thought. It was hard to think straight.

[ not that he was thinking straight to begin with. from start to finish, the trial was pure hell. ]

If what you said is true and the others come by, it might get stuffy in here. I appreciate it, but you don't have to stay.

[ as exhausted as he sounds, he means those words. he isn't kicking toi out without reason, either. ]

[ ... ]

I'll come back later. To see if there's anything else you need for the rest of the night. Okay?

(no subject)

swordflash - 2020-04-04 16:52 (UTC) - Expand