[He's also eying the wrists. He's going to ask sooner or later, but the answer still hurts in a way he wasn't expecting, even if he can't pinpoint why.]
Why? Because there's too many people involved suddenly? [He's still trying to keep this light.] You know we work best in threes and...I told you about how Akane probably feels, too.
Anyway I know you won't. We're going to fix it together. Akane's gotta let me join Crash Keys now, and you'll help us off-site probably. And D-Team and Q-Team--well, who knows. [...but he blinks a little when Carlos mentions personal plans and he looks a little embarrassed.]
...before you say it, I still love Akane. I'll love her for the rest of my life, and all of the other lives I have, too. Dick knows about her and how I proposed in a different history, and we both know this is temporary but...I don't know. We both have things to do and things to get back to, so...[A shrug. He hadn't thought about it, basically, because he's selfish and wants everything.]
[But he's not elaborating. And even though his response is brief, he doesn't quite manage to keep himself from sounding very, very sad. It's gone in the next moment, though, as he leans back while propping himself up by the arms. The ceiling is very nice and interesting.]
I don't doubt that. You and Akane— You guys are made for each other. I can tell. [He says this fondly.] ... And I know you'll figure things out with Dick, too. Even if you both have things to get back to, that doesn't mean whatever you guys have will be meaningless.
[So, he shrugs! Live in the moment. Take what you want. Don't live with any regrets. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.]
It's just— I was thinking... This is the longest I've been away from Maria. I wanted you to meet her once this is all over.
[Well, curing her will have to come first. But...]
[That heavy and uneasy feeling grows because the tone isn't helping, and he's not sure what the hell to say. He wants to push for an answer, but...maybe not yet.]
...I know. I love her, so it'll work out that way. And the rest...[Man.] It's been...a weird six weeks, man. I've been learning a lot about myself I wasn't sure I would've figured out. I don't regret the people I've met here and the things I've felt for them, even though maybe I should. Nothing will be meaningless if I have a say in it.
[...but he frowns curiously, turning to face Carlos even while Carlos isn't looking at him.]
Why are you saying it like we won't get the chance to meet her? Or that we won't see you again whenever we get back?
Carlos. [Now he's just kinda frustrated.] ...is this something you just can't tell me? Or do you not want to? [A beat.] Also, we're all kinda weird if you haven't noticed.
That's not good enough. What happened to both of us working together to fix this and get home? What about getting back to Akane? ["What about me?"] Tell me what you can so I can fix whatever's wrong.
[Junpei... He puts a hand on his arm, as if to steady him in case he flies off the handle because, haha! Carlos sure does look sad, but at least he's going to try and smile through it.]
... What I want hasn't changed, Junpei. I want to fix this, believe me. But we...
[...]
I don't know how much I can tell you without being censored.
...try. What do I have to do to try and understand what's happening? Do I have to sleep with you? Like. Would that help?
[The hand on his arm helps except it also means Carlos can probably feel it shaking a little because he's tense.] I need to make sure you're not going to die again like the previous hosts did. I'm not letting that happen.
[That's fine, because Junpei in turn will feel how cold and clammy Carlos' hand is. He looks like he's about to say something, but that gets thrown out the window towards the end there.]
The last hosts. [Wooden. His eyebrows furrow.] What happened to them, exactly?
[...that's also alarming so he'll just shift to try and hold onto his hand to warm it up? And subtly feel for a pulse while he's at it even though he's just talking to him.]
Not sure. Something that was keeping them alive wore off and they died, according to the researcher notes we found. [A beat.] It's funny...Nikkari told me that Nathan learned their names. April, Neena, Hazel and Jason. Hazel summoned the demons the last time, and April was the sacrifice. They were the same ages as you and Polly. Weird, right?
[...] Even weirder was that the notes for April said something like..."the subject does not present any abilities related to the concept of space and time. She is not a god, a time traveler, or a dimensional shifter. Perhaps she carries it in her blood as an untapped ability? It's a shame the subject is in no state to answer my questions." I thought maybe they were looking for SHIFTers or something.
The notes on Jason said..."I wish whatever was keeping you and the other three alive hadn't worn off, but I suppose this is the world righting itself."
So...I don't really know. That's what I'm trying to understand to make sure we don't make the same mistakes.
[He has a pulse! Though it feels like he's a bit agitated. Maybe his hands are just sweaty and cold for other reasons.
Either way, he'll listen to Junpei's info dump patiently... But it doesn't look like he's alarmed or even concerned over any of it. Instead, he'll give Junpei's hand a gentle squeeze now that he's trying to warm Carlos' hand up. Hah.]
Man I have been asking! Constantly! I have been trying to outsource and talk to people and I'm working with people. Nikkari's asking the dead and we're getting some information from them but it's not enough time. I tried to loop everyone in and your fucking higher-ups didn't like it. What else am I supposed to do?
[If he sounds mildly hysterical it might be because he is and also he's still really Unsettled about this entire conversation.] Can I do a task to talk to the other side, too? Do I just start breaking into rooms alone because we're running out of time? Why does it feel like even though we can't make the same mistakes this isn't the right answer?
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Why? Because there's too many people involved suddenly? [He's still trying to keep this light.] You know we work best in threes and...I told you about how Akane probably feels, too.
Anyway I know you won't. We're going to fix it together. Akane's gotta let me join Crash Keys now, and you'll help us off-site probably. And D-Team and Q-Team--well, who knows. [...but he blinks a little when Carlos mentions personal plans and he looks a little embarrassed.]
...before you say it, I still love Akane. I'll love her for the rest of my life, and all of the other lives I have, too. Dick knows about her and how I proposed in a different history, and we both know this is temporary but...I don't know. We both have things to do and things to get back to, so...[A shrug. He hadn't thought about it, basically, because he's selfish and wants everything.]
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[But he's not elaborating. And even though his response is brief, he doesn't quite manage to keep himself from sounding very, very sad. It's gone in the next moment, though, as he leans back while propping himself up by the arms. The ceiling is very nice and interesting.]
I don't doubt that. You and Akane— You guys are made for each other. I can tell. [He says this fondly.] ... And I know you'll figure things out with Dick, too. Even if you both have things to get back to, that doesn't mean whatever you guys have will be meaningless.
[So, he shrugs! Live in the moment. Take what you want. Don't live with any regrets. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.]
It's just— I was thinking... This is the longest I've been away from Maria. I wanted you to meet her once this is all over.
[Well, curing her will have to come first. But...]
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...I know. I love her, so it'll work out that way. And the rest...[Man.] It's been...a weird six weeks, man. I've been learning a lot about myself I wasn't sure I would've figured out. I don't regret the people I've met here and the things I've felt for them, even though maybe I should. Nothing will be meaningless if I have a say in it.
[...but he frowns curiously, turning to face Carlos even while Carlos isn't looking at him.]
Why are you saying it like we won't get the chance to meet her? Or that we won't see you again whenever we get back?
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Haha, is that what it sounds like? I'm asking you to meet her once we're done with this. That's all it is, Junpei.
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Stop using past-tense. And stop...[He bites his lip.] What's wrong? You're acting weirder than usual.
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Oh, so I'm usually weird?
[That is absolutely not an answer.]
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[C-Team is. A lot.]
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...
Yeah, his expression just kind of falls.]
I'm really sorry, Junpei.
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Explain. Why are you saying sorry?
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You'll understand why I said it soon... Probably...
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That's not good enough. What happened to both of us working together to fix this and get home? What about getting back to Akane? ["What about me?"] Tell me what you can so I can fix whatever's wrong.
Probably isn't exactly promising.
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... What I want hasn't changed, Junpei. I want to fix this, believe me. But we...
[...]
I don't know how much I can tell you without being censored.
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...try. What do I have to do to try and understand what's happening? Do I have to sleep with you? Like. Would that help?
[The hand on his arm helps except it also means Carlos can probably feel it shaking a little because he's tense.] I need to make sure you're not going to die again like the previous hosts did. I'm not letting that happen.
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The last hosts. [Wooden. His eyebrows furrow.] What happened to them, exactly?
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Not sure. Something that was keeping them alive wore off and they died, according to the researcher notes we found. [A beat.] It's funny...Nikkari told me that Nathan learned their names. April, Neena, Hazel and Jason. Hazel summoned the demons the last time, and April was the sacrifice. They were the same ages as you and Polly. Weird, right?
[...] Even weirder was that the notes for April said something like..."the subject does not present any abilities related to the concept of space and time. She is not a god, a time traveler, or a dimensional shifter. Perhaps she carries it in her blood as an untapped ability? It's a shame the subject is in no state to answer my questions." I thought maybe they were looking for SHIFTers or something.
The notes on Jason said..."I wish whatever was keeping you and the other three alive hadn't worn off, but I suppose this is the world righting itself."
So...I don't really know. That's what I'm trying to understand to make sure we don't make the same mistakes.
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Either way, he'll listen to Junpei's info dump patiently... But it doesn't look like he's alarmed or even concerned over any of it. Instead, he'll give Junpei's hand a gentle squeeze now that he's trying to warm Carlos' hand up. Hah.]
You won't make the same mistakes.
[Like he's stating a fact.]
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Okay, how do you know? We don't even know what the fuck we're supposed to do on the fiftieth day.
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That sounds like something you might hear about from someone else.
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[Hm.]
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Glances away.]
I can't give you any straight answers, Junpei.
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...then tell me how I can get them. [...] Please. How do you know we won't make the same mistakes? You just asked me what happened to the last hosts.
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[So, haha. That's that.]
Just... Trust me when I say you can't make the same mistakes.
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[If he sounds mildly hysterical it might be because he is and also he's still really Unsettled about this entire conversation.] Can I do a task to talk to the other side, too? Do I just start breaking into rooms alone because we're running out of time? Why does it feel like even though we can't make the same mistakes this isn't the right answer?
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