adsum | npc contact.1

... I don't care about them as much, but they are useful, at least. How else am I supposed to pass math class. I was learning fractions before I got stuck here.

[leans back] Besides, fake memories nobody cares about probably aren't as tasty as real memories people love. I wouldn't get anything good for them. Those aren't the ones you want.

Yeah.

[ Nobody wanting to give up tasty memories means he's got to subside off pretzels and nuts... ]

But I do care. They continue to affect you, after all, even if they aren't real. It doesn't matter if they're good memories or bad, important or unimportant. They're still there, they still shape you, and so I care.

[she gives him a long, thoughtful look.]

What's your offer, then. For one.

It wouldn't be worth a piece of furniture, and I don't own much else to offer you...

[ He doesn't even own the furniture in the room, technically. But, hmm. He carefully scoops up his pile of hard to open pistachios and holds them out to her.

?? ]

[look just because her soul has been shook enough that she was willing to briefly seriously consider a Deal doesn't mean she's insane.]

Guess you go hungry today. [pause] Unless Hyde's interested. I don't wanna speak for him. You'd love his, though.

[ Hes eating the his pistachos. Coming to fluttering into shape form a golden array of flecs. Now as himself, shoving nuts in his face. ]

What am i doing? IM not paying attention.

Hello, Hyde.

[ yesssssssss the counselor seems happy to see him, even if Hyde is like... popping the entire pistachios into his mouth, shell and all ]

Do you have any tasty memories you don't mind relinquishing?

[god she can't fucking take him anywhere-- she clears her throat.] As his master, I get final say on any trades. And we'll only agree if it's for something really cool.

[ HELL YES HES EATING THE SHELLS!! All of it is magic input and frankly because Stephanie's has little to none, he is dying maybe if counselorkun is made of magic and wants to give hyde a treat he'd kiss him i mean -

anyway he looks over to steph with his mouth full and the cool counselorkun. ]

Yeah whatever the kid wants.

[ Maybe counselorkun is made of magic ]

You know him better than me, apparently. What memory would be worth a beanbag chair?

[ Master gets to choose. Nobody gets to blame him from taking more than what he's offered. ]

[she freezes, for just a moment.]

I don't really know him at all, though. [said mostly because she's starting to realize she. doesn't know anyone here.] He's, um... He's got lots of murders. You like those, right? He could spare one of the less important ones... if he wants...

[dear god it's her first day as a master and she's bartering him for a beanbag chair.]

[ It's a very nice beanbag chair... ]

A "less important" murder, huh? Is there such a thing? What makes one person's death less important than another's? How will you be able to choose which one to give?

[...]

Well, I've never met any of those people, so it's just however he feels about them.

Ehhhh? All murders are equal. [ He says shoving more pistachios into his mouth, leaning casually against the table. ]

Equally bad. [wHY DID SHE EVER AGREE TO ANY OF THIS WHY IS THIS THE WAY HER LIFE IS NOW]

[ ...Counselorkun smiles. ]

A memory he doesn't remember, then, as not to have any feelings about it. I know just the one.

[ He turns to Stephanie. ]

Unfortunately, with the way you two are connected, you may catch glimpses of it as it's dragged to the surface. But I can take it away from you too, after, if you'd like.

[she swallows.]

... I'll keep it. Then he could get it back, kinda, if he wants.

[ Okay well he's ready, he's looking at The counselor expectantly. ]

Kind of... Alright, then. When you're ready, give me your hand.

[ He holds his hand out to Hyde. ]

Awww, we holding hands now? Didn't know we were already this far into the relationship.

[ That arm is broken so, but he still offers it like it's not. ]

[ The counselor takes Hyde's broken arm and pulls it towards him rather than sliding off the desk to meet him halfway, holding the hand still in his left while the pointer finger of his right touches upon a spot on Hyde's head line.

Both Hyde and Stephanie see it at the same time.

They open their eyes and it's darkness, it's silence, it takes a moment for their eyesight to adjust to the faint moonlight glowing somewhere above their heads, and when they turn to look to their right, they see Moriarty there next to them, his head bowed and a shovel in his hands. There is a shovel in their hands too. At their feet is a pit, meters deep and black with soil that they toss inside the void in turns. The soil writhes inside the pit, moonlight catching on the carapace of scuttling beetles and burrowing centipedes and a fingernail— a hand- two hands desperately clawing their way up before another pile of dirt gets dumped on top to bury them once more, muffling the sounds of screaming and crying, the cries for help, the cries for Maya, the cries for—-

The counselor lifts his finger from Hyde's palm and Hyde remembers nothing; to him, all the counselor did was hold his hand and poke his palm and let go. ]

[ Initially Hyde gasps a little from the pain of being pulled, but the moment to him is so sudden and... Full of nothing. Hyde makes a face. ]

Really that was it??

[ There is a huff from his lips, sighing boredly. ]

[she rubs at her eyes violently when it ends, because for all her talk, she isn't used to this stuff, used to real magic, the kind of enchantments that really mess with your head. and, she'll admit, her head feels messed with. under the dirt...]

... When... Who...

[she stands suddenly, an almost manic grin on her face, pointing an accusatory finger at the counselor.] They can't go outside! Either of them! You do make those memories up! That's proof!

[ The counselor smiles, leaning back on his desk, and for once does not reach for his nut bowl. ]

You don't remember going outside? To the park, to the library, home?

[ Because those sorts of memories are buried in there too, just as fuzzy and impossible as memories of high school life. There's memories of family, even, and those of, idk, cup scout groups or knitting clubs or something. ]

You weren't always stuck inside. It's a little pitiful to see... but you're all working hard to make your way back.

... ? wait we can leave? how the fuck do we leave?

[ Hydes eyes flicker over to the counselor - though he knows the guy wont answer his question. He cant even read the other for that matter. But he asks it anyways.
Seemingly annoyed - that the girl seemed to have? Had a memory of something. ]

HauH? How come she got to see the memory? And I aint?

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