BACKDATED TO DAY 182 — The Happy End

[screwthatnoise]

 [if you're a teammate or a friend, or something of the like, Echo is looking for you! or maybe you just coincidentally run into her. however you wish to handle it.]

[but unlike usual, her eyes seem to have quite a bit more... life to them.]

There you are. Are you busy?

((TBA: letters!! Echo will eventually leave letters for Turq as a whole as well as a candle and etc))

Comments

[autorejoin]

The freaky bondage chick? Yeah, I remember her.

[screwthatnoise]

That is not Doldum. That chain goes by Doldee.

I am Doldum.

[autorejoin]

You're...? Wait, how does that work?

[screwthatnoise]

The "freaky bondage chick", Doldee, is the chain who takes the lead. Its strings are the backbone to controlling people.

I am part of that chain, but unlike that "freaky bondage chick" I maintain the image of what Noise used to be like—the things every single one of the Doldums liked about her... We were all born to protect Noise's mind. And in the end, it feels like I am the one who failed the most right now...

[autorejoin]

What, because she turned into a fucking psychopath?

[screwthatnoise]

[she practically stammers at this, and she doesn't seem angry if not just very passionate about this]

P—Precisely! It was a consequence of her contract with Doldee, and it is Doldum's—my responsibility to protect Noise at all costs!

[autorejoin]

That personality flaw runs so deep that I'm not sure there's anything you could've done about it except go mental yourself.

[screwthatnoise]

You could say that is what happened to the Doldums before me. However, I am a reflection of who Noise used to be. Noise was not inherently a psychopath like you say.

If you want me to be honest... Breeze was the one who was right about Noise all along...!

[autorejoin]

....Why is the one time you say "Breeze was right" have to be the one time I completely and entirely disagree with her...?

[screwthatnoise]

..................

[autorejoin]

....That face....

[screwthatnoise]

It is the face I make when I belatedly realize that you never shared that opinion with Breeze in the first place...

[autorejoin]

I don't agree with her on everything. There's a difference between "humouring her" and "agreeing", after all...

[screwthatnoise]

Regardless, please take my word on it! I promise that by giving Noise this second chance she will change for the better!

[autorejoin]

...In the end, it's your life and your choice. I won't tell you how to live it. But I can't promise that I'm going to be forgiving of the shit she's pulled. I'm not that nice of a person.

[screwthatnoise]

[she nods]

You do not have to forgive her.

[autorejoin]

I will tell you this, though: The only reason I won't kill her is because it's clear that would make you unhappy.

[screwthatnoise]

[quiet for a moment]

Thank you for that consideration.

I hope you are the worst reaction to this news. I have yet to tell any other teammate, or Kise and Geyertide for that matter. Selenia was receptive though.

[autorejoin]

The Sapphire guy with the eyebrows and the beard? I'll probably be the most tactless, at least. Those other guys are better at saying things nicely.

...I won't tell the newer kids anything you don't want them to hear, so she'll get her chance. Even if she doesn't fucking deserve it.

[screwthatnoise]

She can have a chance, even if she does not deserve it... but I think she deserves it. If you think about it, this life in Aather... it had been my second chance all along. Noise deserves that, too.

[autorejoin]

I'd be more inclined to give her that if she hadn't been a murder-happy, violent sociopath.

[screwthatnoise]

[stiffly]

PEOPLE CHANGE.

[there is this slight concern that zwei won't but you know what. not going to consider that. or admit it. but it's visibly obvious that she's struggled to say that in her typical monotone]

[autorejoin]

Some people change.

[ He sighs and tosses the cigarette he's been smoking on the ground. He stomps on it and puts it out, then rests his hands behind his head. ]

If you come back.... I won't forgive. I won't forget. But if she's really changed.... I'll make an effort to move on. And it's not even for her sake. It's all you.... But I trust you. I trust you, even though there's only one person I've ever hated more than her. What she did, the way she treated you, that was completely wrong. But.... because you want her to have a chance, even the slimmest chance... There it is.

It's the best I can offer you.

[screwthatnoise]

[she watches him silently, even after he's done speaking]

[and shortly after that long pause, she gives him a small smile]

...that is more than enough. Thank you, Clue.

[autorejoin]

[ He doesn't say anything to that, but he does reach over and ruffle her hair. ]