INBOX

[foolmetwice]

[ text | voice | video | action ]

[HIT HIM UP WITH SOME MESSAGES SHOULD YOU CHOOSE]

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[foolmetwice]

[stiffens a little when he hears it, stumbling a step or two back, gaze flickering towards the TV]

[. . .]

. . . don't be a hypocrite.

[he says, eyes flicking back to Crown, chin lifted

You're the way that you are because you're trying to avoid this— [gestures to the interrogation room, the hallway outside] — too.

[lefthandpath]

[TV is actually full of static snow but maybe for a moment there's a clear scene of some shitty clown beating on a kid, words distorted and muffled by the sound of static a person can get in their ears when there's nothing but fury--it's gone as quick as it came, back to Mars' House footage.]

H-haa... talking like you know anything... isn't that what they call projection?

[lifts a foot to kick-shove the table into Mars]

Like hell you know anything about it!

[foolmetwice]

[chained to the table as he is, there is no escape for Mars. he finds himself pinned between the table and the wall, hissing like an angry cat, fingers curling against the surface]

[the scene with the clown is brief, but doesn't go unnoticed]

You don't know what I do or don't know!

[the House footage distorts, no longer playing scenes from just the game but rather other gruesome scenes involving Mars, each one ending with a gritty death. stabbed in a school classroom. beheaded by a yellow-eyed king in a castle dungeon. shot in the back while trying to flee a room that looks eerily similar to this one—]

If you're just here to yell at me and tell me that I'm coping wrong, then why even come in the first place?!

[lefthandpath]

[--a man calling him a possession wait that's not Mars's--but it's already gone to static and snow--no, actually snow, tho.]

I'm starting to wonder that myself! I suppose Know Thy Enemy works for a good enough reasoning at this point!

1/2

[foolmetwice]

[those last few memories cause Mars to freeze up, whatever retort he had prepared dangling on the tip of his tongue evaporating into thin air]

[a loud bang cuts through the snow, and suddenly there's a struggle on screen. the dialogue is garbled, but one line is clear— Haven't you realized it yet? We're connected. You can escape today, but there will always be another tomorrow]

[. . .]

[foolmetwice]

[. . .]

[Mars barks out a laugh, dragging one hand down his face]

So is that why we get along like oil and water—?

[lefthandpath]

Huh?!

[someone has not... been looking at the TV so much. because. well. he's facing Mars, so. he did hear things going on and that last line but WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!]

[foolmetwice]

. . . nothing. It's nothing.

[the sound of footsteps echoes in the hallway]

[lefthandpath]

[TENSES immediately, looking to the door.]

--oi. What're you up to?

[foolmetwice]

[also tensing, hackles raising, immediately on alert as he too stares at the door]

I'm not up to anything.

But if you don't want to die, you should get out of here.

[lefthandpath]

It's a dream. No one has to die!

[in fact, time to push back against the door because fuck whoever's wanting to come in.]

[foolmetwice]

[WELL]

[THAT IS A THING THAT JUST HAPPENED]

[the door slams shut and suddenly, one of the interrogation room lights flickers on, illuminating the area above Crown's head. Mars has gone from wary to stunned and is now staring like ?????]

What—?

[lefthandpath]

You really are this stupid!

It's! A! Dream!

The fact that you spend your nights just dreaming about death and dying says a lot! You could be doing literally anything else and you just stick to this! Well! I want a feast! All the food I can eat and finally feeling full for once! I want to take a hot bath and have the heat linger even when it's cold and stay clean even when it's filthy out! I want my own bed and blankets and pillows that I don't have to share and no one can steal away from me so I can sleep soundly!

It's not much but it's better than all your mess, right?!

[GET SOME PERSPECTIVE, JFC]

[foolmetwice]

[??????]

[????????????]

I— what? No, that's—

It always ends with me dying. Sometimes I take people down with me, but I always. . .?

[anyway a warm fuzzy blanket suddenly appears draped on Crown's head]

[lefthandpath]

[YES. GOOD. HE DESERVES.

YANKING THE BLANKET AROUND HIS SHOULDERS AND LEANING BACK AGAINST THE WALL, SO FULL OF PUFF AND HUFF!!!]

Because you're stupid, stupid.

If you don't want it to happen, then stop letting it happen!

[foolmetwice]

[????????????]

I don't— I don't know how?

[Crown also gets some soft pillows and a stuffed cat]

[lefthandpath]

[YES. HE STILL DESERVES!!!!

though he will lob the stuffed cat at Mars's head.]

BE MORE IMAGINATIVE, STUPID! If ya don't wanna die, then what d'ya wanna do?!

[foolmetwice]

[KER-CONKED IN THE HEAD]

[yelps in surprise and scowls as he rubs his forehead]

. . . I don't know! I don't—

[there's a pause. the footsteps outside are getting louder]

Listen to music?

[lefthandpath]

So put on some music!

[foolmetwice]

That's not how it—

[music starts to play through invisible speakers. the room is a bit brighter now, with a few more lights fluttering to life on the ceiling]

[Mars looks up, still completely bewildered, as someone from the hallway knocks on the door]

[lefthandpath]

[... wtf kind of music is this?

but anyway, looking back at the door, not moving yet.]

--so who is it? It can be someone who's not interested in hurting you. Someone who you know you'll have a good time with.

[looks back to Mars.]

Who is behind this door?

[foolmetwice]

[it's idol music don't judge!!!]

It's--

[the door creaks open, and Mars stiffens again, almost like a caged animal that wants nothing better than to bolt. he takes a step back, spooked and wary, but the chains attached to the table keep him from going too far]

[the door creaks open, and a young man dressed in LiliS's cozy, rumpled fashion pokes his head through the crack]

[lefthandpath]

[... well, this person looks soft.]

Ah. Don't mind me, I'll be seeing myself out just as soon as this idiot's in a better place.

[foolmetwice]

[THIS PERSON IS INDEED VERY SOFT!! he slips into the room fully, leaving the door wide open behind him, mouth curving into a gentle smile. the lights in the hallway are back on, too]

[Mars flushes a deep red]

Sh-- shut up.

[but there's no heat behind it. though he does lift his chained hands, tugging at the cuffs around his wrists pointedly]

What do you suggest I do about this, genius?

[lefthandpath]

Do you really want to chain yourself down when you have such a friendly guest?

[those chains are all you, idiot]

Can't you come up with somewhere more comfortable than this room?