AUDIENCE: SORA

[retellers]

Comments

[reconnective]

I told Sumire like you said I could. But I haven't told the others yet. I think I'll tell Hua Cheng though, at least. And then when we find the last one all of us can meet together and we can start figuring out what everybody knows about what's happening and how to get even more nova.

Especially if we're getting memories back, too. I knew there had to be another way than killing someone.

[retellers]

Obviously. Didn't we tell you guys gathering nova would get your memories back? [ yes but maybe not this outright oops. she just. hugs him again because some people are giddy even though also they are tired? and also he deserves cuddles he couldn't touch people this week. ] Okay, your turn for news and feelings now.

[reconnective]

Yeah, but I didn't think it was like this. I just want to understand how to collect more nova if this is what it'll get us.

[cuddles are valid and...yeah. he'll admit he's been sad this week and just won't openly admit it. so he's not pushing swan away.]

I don't know if I have news...but I am worried about you guys. If the Realm's acting up, are you in danger? What're people doing to break the rules?

["how can i stop them?"]

[retellers]

It's... mostly the team sharing, I think. I'm less affected than some of the others, but breaking the rules makes the Realm unstable. We're holding it together as much as we can.

[reconnective]

So if we stop breaking the rules, we'll stabilize the Realm again? And it'll stop hurting you? [that's a priority.] Can we still tell people on our own team and a few people a week?

[retellers]

Yes, that should help. [ the rest she thinks about, frowning a bit. ] Your own team is still fine, but... I'm not sure about outside of that. I think it might be better to hold off for a bit, just to let us stabilize it.

[reconnective]

[he nods.]

That's okay. I think everybody I would have told knows anyway. And I trust them. As long as I can find the last of us that's my only focus right now.

[retellers]

Great. I knew I could count on you for that. [ :3c ... but she pokes his face ] Also, don't think I didn't notice you evading talking about feelings. Friends should talk about feelings! It's important.

[reconnective]

[he makes a face when she pokes him, but he grins anyway.]

I know! I totally agree. [do you, sora.] And I guess...I feel okay. We didn't vote for an innocent person and that has to mean we did something right. Kinda. I hope it means more people will feel better next week, too, even though we lost some people others care about.

[he wasn't particularly close to any of the victims or culprit so.]

[retellers]

Right. Every loss is bad, but... it went a lot better this week. [ she pokes him again, because he made a face and it's funny ] And you didn't get injured this week! Bonus.

[reconnective]

Hey. I do know how to take care of myself most of the time. [he did great!] We just have to keep this up. I wish I understood more about how the splintering worked though. Like...if we could know in advance to help stop it, maybe we wouldn't have to kill people.

[retellers]

Most of the time. [ she repeats it teasingly, but frowns at the rest ] ... That thing, about splintering... I haven't heard or felt anything like that. I've heard it from you guys discussing it but that's all.

[reconnective]

...but...why wouldn't the other leaders tell all of you about it? Wouldn't it be easier to find a way to solve the problem if everyone knew what was happening?

[retellers]

... I don't know. That's why... How can I be sure that it's true, and not just an excuse people are spreading around? Or even worse, an excuse one of the others used?

[reconnective]

We don't. And without knowing the leaders responsible it's not like we can even ask. That's why it makes even less sense. Can't the six of you meet together and come to some kind of agreement or something?

[retellers]

We've been talking, but if the others have been doing that, they're not admitting to anything. And if it was for a good reason, wouldn't they?

[reconnective]

You'd think. Unless the Realm's telling them not to. Is that something that can happen? The Realm talking to only some of you and not everybody.

[retellers]

... It shouldn't... [ but she doesn't sound so sure and just. groans in annoyance ] Ughhhh, why does it have to be so complicated?

[reconnective]

Wars usually are. [no one said anything about a war, and yet.] I wonder if you can try talking to the Realm by yourself. See if it answers.

[retellers]

[ none icons for mobile, but swan flops a little ]

Ughhh. This better not really be a war. [ she's not ready for 10 people to fight in a parking lot ] At this point, I kind of have to at least try to talk to it to get some answers. We've lost a lot of people already...

[reconnective]

[throws zia home]

I hope not either. Not again. [he's so tired, please.] I bet if you try though, it'll tell you something. You just have to be open and listen with all your heart.

The Realm can't want this. There's no way.

[retellers]

What if I'm open and listen with all my heart and it still doesn't talk to me?

[reconnective]

Then you keep trying and maybe yell at it a little. [duh.]

[retellers]

[ ... she laughs ] Yell at it? You think that'll work?

[reconnective]

Why not? At least it'd get its attention, wouldn't it?