Day 10

[andascholar]

[Everything is terrible and Zelda has no time to mourn forever. She needs to make plans and solidify alliances. And so she is making invitations to her dressing room whenever boys are available.]

Comments

[andascholar]

She did. Niles refused to abandon you, and told her that if she wanted him to change his vote so much she'd have to convince you. Which she had set out to do, until she found out that Link died. She took that opportunity quite quickly. [Biting back bitterness, she's still mad, but this isn't about her this isn't about Link focus on the person in front of you.] I don't mean to upset you, Nijimura. But I think it's important that you know she was willing to forfeit your life, when she still had the option of using her own vote. If Niles hadn't refused her bribes... It's a danger you should be aware of.

[talktothestand]

And he doesn't even know me that well... [ Oh, thank god. Thank god for Niles, for both Zelda and Okuyasu, really. (He was also aware he helped Zelda and Link in the fire.) Okuyasu almost wants to fall to his knees in relief that he barely lives another day. But he's a punk! Gotta be tough... So he might at least lean against the wall to keep balanced. ]

...

I thought she cared about me. She's Rohan's friend. Rohan said it himself that Lotus and those Ushiromiya ladies would help me too if I ever needed it. [LOOKS LIKE HE GOT PROVEN WRONG. THEY NEVER ONCE HELPED HIM SINCE DAY 1. ROHAN HELPED ONE DAY AND STOPPED AFTER THAT.

They were just like his big brother, Keicho. Would be alright with using Okuyasu even if it meant him dying.

He's... not going to cry. NOPE. I'M A PUNK HIGHSCHOOL KID. PUNKS DON'T CRY... Just tear up a bit. Fists are clenched and shaking.

He punches a wall in a fit of rage. He'll apologize later, Zelda..]

I already know my chances here are slim. I'm not that smart. But... I fucking wanna die on my own terms.

[andascholar]

[She might not have been expecting the punch, but after what he's just heard Zelda won't begrudge him an emotional outburst.] I'm sorry Nijimura. But you aren't alone here. Neither myself, or Niles, or Corrin will allow you to be used like that.

[talktothestand]

[A few more moments of deep breathing before he finally lessens in shaking and starts to look less like He's going to wring someone's neck on the spot. Don't worry Zelda, he wouldn't hurt you. Just... Someone named Lotus. that's all. ]

....

Fuck that "network" they've got going on. [That word that Rohan so fondly liked to call it.] It's shady and I want nothing to do with them.

I'll beat her to a bloody pulp. Tell me where to find her.

[andascholar]

['Network' huh] -Nijimura no. I understand you're angry, but if you attack her she has allies that can endanger you. We won't let her get away with this, but we have to be smart about it.

[talktothestand]

And if you know this... Niles had to tell ya, huh? [A hand runs through his slightly disheveled hair. Ok, he's almost calm, but he sure is seeing red. ]

Can't do that and make Niles look like a guy who can't keep a secret in front of people. ...You're right.

...I may not be smart. But if you need some help somewhere. I can step in.

[andascholar]

Thank you. We would appreciate your help, if you're willing. [She's still not sure how much they should trust him with, they haven't spoken enough, but she hopes they can work together.] Can you tell me more about this network you mentioned?

DAY 13

[andascholar]

[IN THIS PLOTTING ZELDA IS EYEING CORRIN'S SWORD AND LOOKING CONFLICTED. GOSH. WHAT COULD SHE BE THINKING ABOUT. IF ONLY SOMEONE WERE TO ASK.]

[talktothestand]

Zelda...

How are you feeling? [He... knows it's not the best question to ask when Zelda just lost her girlfriend, but he's at a loss of what else to say. He's not the smartest.. ]

[andascholar]

. . . Back at the beginning, I was offered an extra vote if I killed someone. I refused before, but, Mari was so upset, she wanted to go to the hotel... If I'd taken him up on that offer, I could have helped her before this all happened...

[talktothestand]

....She didn't belong in a place like this to begin with. [ Sighs. Ah, Mari.

Mari, Mari, Mari.... She wasn't meant for a place like this. ]


If you needed someone to kill to help Mari-chan get to the hotel... I would have offered.

[andascholar]

Okuyasu... [Wow that is so scary, but also so brave. Would she really be able to kill Okuyasu? ...But he doesn't have a vote to cover him and she knows that and that's awful.] Thank you. I think... It likely would have broken Mari's heart to get to the hotel that way. You were a good friend to her, weren't you?

[talktothestand]

I liked her a lot. [As a friend and... well. He knew she was thinking of other people more. And that was ok. That was always Okuyasu's life. ]

I wanted her happiness and protection than anything else.

Mari-chan, you, and Niles were the only ones who were able to know me as... myself. It's not much, but I liked that enough that I'd help you. I'm glad to be known as myself and not just someone that Rohan knows or "Rohan's friend" like others did since day 1.

I'm grateful for you guys.

[andascholar]

[yOU ARE BREAKING HER HEART HERE. Zelda stands up and slowly steps towards Okuyasu, wrapping her arms around him.] Nijimura Okuyasu. You're an incredibly brave and kind man. I'm glad I knew you.

[talktothestand]

And it's not like I got much much worth and chances as far as winning this game now that my only friends are slowly going... Mari did. Niles did. YOU do, Zelda. [Heh. You might actually get this guy to crack a slight smile. A sad one, but it was there. ] No one would miss me. People would miss you. They missed Niles and they miss Mari-chan.

...

I'm glad I met ya guys, too. Even if it was just to help with the kidnapping and showing those other bastards what we're made of.

If there's anything I can do to help before the Ronald bastard gets me... I'd like that. That might be my last thing to ask of ya, princess.

[andascholar]

[Don't cry. Do not cry don't you dare cry. Give him dignity. Zelda blinks furiously and looks up at him, taking a deep breath.] I will miss you. I wish I could help you, are you... Are you truly sure? You'd ask this?

[talktothestand]

[His grin widens in attempt to help keep the atmosphere just.. a little more chipper, even if he knows it can't be fixed cause he just reminded Zelda that he has no votes and they're all used up. Sorry, Zelda, he didn't mean to...]

Hey, name your task and I'll do my best. I'm not the smartest guy around here and not all that fast... But I will do anything.

[andascholar]

[Clenches her fists.] It's cruel. It's so very cruel to you.

[talktothestand]

And I've had more cruel stuff thrown at me my whole life. I think I can handle whatever you might ask. Don't worry. [Rubs the back of his head a bit sheepishly. Did he say something wrong to Zelda...?]

[A childhood of being abused by an alcoholic father. Growing up with an abusive older brother after that... Taking care of themselves after both parents were unable to ook after them. Being used by his own brother. No friends except when he met Josuke Higashikata.

So quite frankly, Rohan's treatment of him here didn't compare.]

[andascholar]

...Even if I asked you to die for me?

1/2

[talktothestand]

...!!!

2/2

[talktothestand]

W-What happened just now that might need your protection? Did something happen and I can help?

[That came out of nowhere. But.. He would.]

[andascholar]

[...HE'S ACCEPTING IT SO EASILY] You - you can't tell me, that you'd be so eager... I know you don't want to die. You said you wanted it to at least be on your own terms, but, this is asking so much...!

[talktothestand]

Hey, hey... [A reassuring hand on her shoulder.]

No one wants to die. It's normal. I even had prizes that I would have liked to win more than anything.

But I am dying on my own terms. I am choosing when I die and not letting the Ronald or the chihuahua or whoever's running this game at this point... So it'd be ok, Zelda.

It'd be ok if I got to go knowing I helped somewhere along the line.

I don't know how to thank you and Niles... So I'm doing what I think can probably get through to you guys that I'm grateful.

[andascholar]

[This is so so cruel. As a princess she's enlisted people to die for her countless times but never this directly. Never by her own hand. She's supposed to protect her people. And now she's even making him comfort her. A failure of a princess to the end.] You... You will save a life. Someone will go to the hotel, and this will be remembered. I'll tell everyone of your sacrifice. I'll have your name spread throughout Hyrule Okuyasu, everyone in my kingdom will know the service you've done for me. For everyone here.