Week 5, Wednesday; Hiro

[sylfied]

[ She honestly isn't sure what Serph's letter means-- and she knows it's from him, she'd know that symbol anywhere.

She's also not exactly sure she wants to enlist help figuring out what he's trying to tell her, but Serph is just like her: he wouldn't go through the trouble of doing something if it wasn't important.

So Fie squares her shoulders, wraps her scarf around her neck because that is currently the warmest thing she owns in her short shorts, and goes to possibly regret some things. Besides the weather. ]

... Hiro. I need your help.

Comments

[sylfied]

... Thanks. [ whoops, she's back to staring at the ground again, bleary-eyed against another wave of weariness from just-- everything. Mera's disappearance, the cold, the knowledge that she was one of two Sirens remaining with the majority of the island probably wanting them dead, Serph's letter, and Hiro's rather solid friendship in the face of all of that. ]

For everything, I mean. Even if something happens to me, I hope you can help bring this whole thing to an end.

[zerotohiro]

[Even if she's looking at the ground, he can at least watch her still.]

I'm going to do my best not to let anything happen to you if that ending isn't the ending we need. And even if it is...I'm not happy about it. There are people working on this island and nobody's saying anything. I'm just hoping we don't mess up.

[A pause. And then, almost suddenly--] I know you said that you'd stay with Mera's dog tomorrow but...if you want, I can ask Yona if you can crash with us?

[sylfied]

-- Huh?

[ wait. Wait?? ]

I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. If anyone does target me, you two might get caught up in it.

[zerotohiro]

Fie. [Just a flat look.] You know I could say the same thing about if somebody targeted either me or Yona, right? I know what you're saying but...

[He shouldn't be protecting her when her death might be the key to getting them out of here, but at the same time she's still a friend. And that's the most awful part.]

I don't know what else to do. At this point, all of us are targets for each other. Especially when we still don't know what's up with people just going around killing other people.

[sylfied]

I couldn't tell you anything about that-- as far as I know, we were the only ones ordered to have one kill a week.

... Maybe people are just that bloodthirsty here.

[ who knows, honestly? Fie lets her grip on the sheets slacken a bit, slowly shaking her head. ]

But I'll be fine. Probably.

[zerotohiro]

Which is even more reason why we need to tell them how to end the game. [He rolls his eyes.]

Probably isn't an answer, dude. You better be fine or...I don't know. You'll owe me. [He's absolutely just kidding but also. Thanks Hiro.]

[sylfied]

Roger that. [ as deadpan as ever, even if it's a little more subdued than her usual. Fie's trying, at least. ]

If I'm not fine, I'll owe you a favor.

[zerotohiro]

Or a cupcake. They probably have those wherever everybody else is, right? [That is to say he can't really think of any favors he wants or may need.]

[sylfied]

Probably, but it might go stale before I see you.

[ she might die??? ]

[zerotohiro]

[No it's fine, they're going to be fine!!!]

Then I'll think of something else. I don't need favors since you kind of already gave me enough. [He goes quiet then.] All I've ever wanted is answers. And this was enough.

[sylfied]

... That sounds like you. [ said with a very soft sigh. ] I guess at least someone's happy with something I did.

[zerotohiro]

Nah. You're going to help so many people...once they know the truth? The endings and everything. Who wouldn't be happy knowing we still have a chance at bringing everyone back?

[...] Are you scared?

[sylfied]

[ A chance, and just a chance. There's no guarantee, and Fie is no stranger to taking risks, but she's also not prone to being as entirely reckless as most of her friends. There's still too much about this game that she doesn't know, and this time, it frustrates her, that they still might get this wrong.

But she's quiet, taking a few minutes before she answers Hiro. ]

A little. I think I'm more tired than anything.

[zerotohiro]

Understandable. [There's a shrug because there's a lot they don't know and a lot left to do. It's enough to exhaust anyone even without the added stress of being a Siren.]

I'm not going to tell you not to be because I think everybody's a little scared even if they won't admit it. If it wasn't so bad out, we could probably waste time building a snowman at this rate. [What.] I hate waiting. I think you do, too. But you can also stay here as long as you want and take it easy until we're ready to keep going. I'm not going to force you to stay with other people tomorrow night, but it's still Wednesday.

[sylfied]

...

Hiro.

[ It's more of an exhalation than a statement, but Fie's lips twitch into something resembling a very faint smile. He's really trying his utmost for her here, and she appreciates it, but since this is Fie and she's not that great at expressing emotions as easily as Katara and Yona seem to be able to pull off-- ]

Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?

[zerotohiro]

[He's just. Staring for a moment before there's an actual laugh.]

Probably more than you'd think. [He's selectively chatty.] Sorry? [But not that sorry.]

[sylfied]

I kinda doubt that.

[ Yeah, she's sure he's really not that sorry at all. You tried, Hiro. ]

[zerotohiro]

I can stop talking if you really want.

[sylfied]

I didn't say I hated it. One of my classmates talks that fast, only she's way more hyper.

[zerotohiro]

I do not talk fast. [He says quickly while defending himself...]

...you've never really talked about your classmates and stuff either. What're they like?

[sylfied]

... We've got two robot summoners, a musician, a noble and a commoner who fight each other a lot but probably should just make out, a guy who loves the wind, a girl with a combat maid, a witch, and a girl obsessed with swordsmanship. Our teacher drinks a lot and tries to get us to make terrible life choices.

[zerotohiro]

[...oh my god.]

...a neatfreak who's like the size of a giant and created a laser that could disintegrate an entire person, a scary biker chick who's actually pretty cool and can't go fast enough, a girl who looks like she belongs in a fashion magazine instead of a lab and can create complex chemical combinations on the fly, and a guy who wanted to be a giant fire-breathing lizard instead of getting a degree.

Oh. And a nursebot that is more concerned with my emotional well-being and chases butterflies while still capable of destroying anything with a punch.

Why do we know so many weird people...?

[sylfied]

Dunno. Probably because we're so normal.

[ no you're not. That sure is a friend group, though. ]

[zerotohiro]

You fought monsters and blew up a door. [So no. He's calling her out on that lack of normal? Hiro, meanwhile, is perfectly normal. Obviously. Of course.]

[sylfied]

Blowing up a door is only natural when you can't unlock it. And everyone has to deal with monsters.