♥ v2

[screwthatnoise]

A cold, delicate hand grabs yours and pulls. It pulls, and it pulls... there's a sense of urgency in this icy grasp, as well as a trace of reluctance. Abruptly the hand let's go, right as your vision fades to black, and for a brief moment, only a brief moment, your senses disappear. There's only the eerie sensation of weightlessness before your feet are settled back on solid ground again.

(please join #echolife! ♪)

Comments

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"Nothing. That was just... very surprising. I have never done anything like this."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

You should do that kind of thing more often. Um. If you are sure that you will not die, because, please do not ... die again, since dying is bad, and coping should not die if it can be avoided.

But, you still did a good job.

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"I will try to live. Thank you."

She stands up... Janta, who is glued to your side, come to mention, is still shaking.

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

Good.

[... but why are you shaking]

Janta...?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

Janta's small, frightened voice joins in.

"Sh-she did this to me!"

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

Coping did?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"Yes!!"

Janta isn't even bothering to keep its voice down.

Coping is quiet.

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

... Coping, did you hurt Janta?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"...I did. But I only did it because I had to protect myself. My garden. You see... the same person who just killed you had threatened to kill me. But, she said if I severed Happiness's limbs, she would leave me be."

Janta shudders. Coping continues.

"I did as she asked. But..."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

[...]

Don't—hurt your happiness, for whoever that was. Your happiness is important. And... happiness can help you cope, because you will know that happiness is there. I understand that it is not always possible to be happy, but, happiness is still important, and the idea of happy things, can help you cope.

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

There's a silence.

"I... I see. I'm sorry. I was just afraid..."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

I would be afraid, too. There are some scary things, in here.

But, remember that you can be a badass, so, even if things are scary, just... keep going, as long as you are also careful in the process.

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

There's the rustling of her hair...? Or something. She's nodding, anyway.

Janta relaxes a bit, speaking up this time.

"I still don't know who it was... but it wasn't Zwei. Even if it was dressed like her..."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

... I don't know, either.

[...]

Is there a third personality?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"NO."

...they both say that at the same time in flat voices.

"It was not Zwei though, because she cannot escape the bounds of this building..."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

[................]

Is there a list of the different versions of Hails, that I could refer to, then?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"In the heart? There's Nurse Hail, Coping, Happiness—that's me! ... and True Heart! And then... there's that other person who acts like Zwei. But we don't think it's Zwei, right?"

Silence.

"Coping says yes, you did not see her nod!"

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

[.......................]

Out of that list, the only one that I have not met is the True Heart. Is it possible, for a true heart to go crazy?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

"No! Impossible! True Heart is Hail's ideal, and she's on constant watch by Coping."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

[:/a...]

Coping, do you know where True Heart is?

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

Silence.

Janta chimes in.

"Coping has nodded, she says y—"

Coping cuts its voice off.

"Quiet. True Heart is accessible through the ballroom... I suppose, the new trauma center. The entrance to her room is through the grandfather clock."

Re: trauma center...

[pchaaair]

Could you lead me there?

[working on ... getting off of the bed to go \o/;;]

I want to meet True Heart.

Re: trauma center...

[screwthatnoise]

Coping takes your hand.

"Allow me to lead you to her."

Without a moment's thought, she begins walking you directly to the ballroom.