adsum | npc contact.1

[...Is this what it's like to talk to him? With how easily and naturally he moves away from the subject - he finds it infuriating, though that thought is quickly tinged with a hint of irony.

Apparently, he can dish it out, but he can't take it.

Still...There's something else here, some unspoken past between them. Though even if he asks, he's certain he won't get a straight answer.]

...I do understand. And it is - a comfort.

[Lies, of course. He's been nothing but unnerved and off guard internally since this meeting began.]

Is this sort of memory loss - something you deal with normally? Or are you merely just skilled at your job?

[A little bit of levity, there. Will he dodge it, or...?]

[ The little bit of levity makes him laugh, deep and throaty. ]

You flatter me. I am experienced, that's all. What sort of counselor would I be if I weren't able to get into people's heads?

[ Messing around in there a little... tidying is what he means to do. Rearrange things just how he likes it. Ah, counseling. ]

[Isn't that a mood. The whole 'getting into people's heads' part, he means. Though he's also done his part guiding others, as a criminal consultant...hm.

Still, is this man truly not aware of Moriarty's act? Or does he also see it, and is playing along?

Or is Moriarty himself just overthinking?]

Haha, that's true enough.

[There's a moment of silence, before he shifts a little.]

I am also a little...worried. There was the - stabbing incident, and the body that appeared in the auditorium...

[The uh, decomposing body everyone just dumped there. Thankfully by this point in time, he's able to hide the two stab wounds he got via hyde, but perhaps it's time to ask about something a bit more directly and see the reaction he gets.]

That has been - one of the sources of my anxiety towards the future. Is this school - truly so dangerous?

[ He doesn't seem fazed at all, hearing about what happened— he's heard it all before, surely, from multiple sources as even though his door has remained closed for the majority of the school year thus far, it was never empty. But he frowns as appropriate, nods his head at that admittance of anxiety, and though he places the pretzel stick in his mouth, he merely holds it there as one would a cigarette because he at least has the presence of mind not to crunch loudly when he's being confided in.

He crunches after, though, before answering. ]

School is only as dangerous as you allow it to be. People are the ones who are truly dangerous— volatile, unpredictable— and, in those episodes, terribly in need of guidance. That's where I step in.

[ For murder counseling. ]

You're not worried of dying?

[Damn it all - he didn't realize he let his sheer indifference in the face of death slip out as he clears his throat, shuffling a little in his seat at the question.]

W-Well, I...Ah, well, I am an older man, you see. Death is more of an inevitability, instead of a horrible outcome.

[He shrugs, as if to say 'it is what it is.']

Of course, it is not a thing I relish in thinking about. But I am not a teenager, believing themselves to be immortal.

[Once he's answered that, he can actually let himself think about the first part of it - and the implications thereof.]

So...I have been - violent, in the past? And that is why I am here?

It's an inevitability to all.

[ Overall, a normal way of thinking, and although there's such thing as a healthy amount of fear, a lot of people never move past that to acceptance. Everybody is here to die! Glad we don't have to have this talk. ]

That aside... Your actions in the past are not why you are here. Think of it more as an "and." [ You fucked up, and you're here. It doesn't have to be the reason why. ]

You don't remember, do you, James? But that's alright. You are you. Your actions, the consequences, are yours and yours alone, regardless of whether you remember. And you will take responsibility for them. If you accept, give me your left hand.

['Everybody is here to die' what do you mean ori EXPLAIN

Either way, it's hard not to notice the way the counselor refused to give his name, or to discuss what he did prior. But it's not as if he's incorrect - even when he was truly memoryless in shinjuku, he was still himself, still had the consequences of his actions, and still took responsibility for them.

So - with a moment to close his eyes and prepare himself for whatever is going to happen - he reaches out with his left, placing it in the counselor's grasp.]

[ It's murderschool, I have Expectations

The counselor slides off the desk, wiping pretzel dust off his hands before striding over to Moriarty and taking his hand— one hand to hold, one hand to trace a line on Moriarty's palm. The life line. It itches when the counselor touches his skin, and at the same time, the tally marks on Moriarty's wrist begins to burn, a searing pain, one finger pressed to the end of the line while the other hand wraps itself around Moriarty's wrist with surprising strength to prevent him from pulling away.

He opens his eyes and it's darkness, it's silence, there's the distinct lack of air or space to move but he finds himself trying anyways, hands scrabbling at— dirt? soil, heavy and damp, crushing him on all sides, something with too many legs skittering over the back of his hand, something with no legs slithering inside his open mouth that's screaming, shouting, no breath left in his lungs that burn and sear as he keeps calling for help, crying for somebody to save him— for somebody to hear him— for Maya to-

He opens his eyes and he's in the counselor's office. The counselor is crouched in front of him, hands to himself again, peering up at Moriarty.

...He breathes a sigh, and pushes off his knees to stand. ]

That will be the end of our counselling sessions, James. For now.

[Whatever he expected - it wasn't this. This horror, this - This had been a very real fear when he was alive. The horror of being buried alive, suffocating underground where no one can hear you scream...

But it is also too close to the memory of his true death, of when his back was broken and the water of the falls surrounded him as he drowned, the surface of the water forever out of reach of his paralyzed body.

Once he comes back - he's shaking. Genuinely shaking for the first time, cold sweat breaking out on his skin and basically hyperventilating in front of the counselor, because - because for a moment, he doesn't know if he's back in those waters, or under the ground, both times desperate for a breath or a miracle that will never, ever come.]

Wh-wait -

[Despite what he normally acts like, he reaches forward and tries to grab onto the counselor - hands, arm, anything - something to cement him back onto what is real.]

What - what do you - mean....?

[He doesn't even really know what he's saying at the moment, as his mind is scrambling for some kind of stability while also still trying to keep the conversation going out of some kind of instinct.]

[ It's the arm that Moriarty is able to grab first, and although the counselor gently removes his arm, he takes Moriarty's hands in turn and holds them both in his. They're warm hands, a firm grip, that pull Moriarty up onto his feet but remain there in front of him for stability. ]

I'm here. I know it's a lot to take in... but it's important that open your eyes and take that step. Don't look away from the truth.

[ He gives Moriarty's hands another squeeze. Shhhh. It's okay. It'll be okay. ]

I'll be here when you need me again; I won't abandon you.

[The grip, the pull - it does a lot towards making Moriarty calm down, his shaking and rapid breathing beginning to slow, along with that soothing voice.

'I won't abandon you.'

Is that the truth, or a lie? It's been so much of a lie throughout his life -

It seems he comes back to himself, all at once. Or maybe he's been standing there for more time than that?

His heartrate begins to go back to a more normal rate, as he breathes in once, breathes out...and forces his trembling to still.]

...I-I see. V...Very well. I'll...I'll keep that in mind.

['The truth?' So that vision, that clear death - was the truth? But what is the truth, in this situation?

What is the truth of this school?

He doesn't know. But, for now...]

So - does this mean - I won't be scheduled for another appointment? Or...

[He'd normally never say it that outright, but he's still coming back from the episode.]

[ He's patient, holding Moriarty's hands as long as he needs him to, steady and grounding because that's what he needs to be. But he doesn't offer answers, doesn't put forth so much as he reflects what's in front of him. ]

That's right. Until you need to see me again, this is the last of our sessions. But you know what to do if you wish to talk with me again.

[ Just kill someone? Then his door will be open, easy peasy. ]

[...And that is the crux of it. Isn't it? Violence, murder - it's what's needed in this school.

...Perhaps not now. But another time. Once he's finished following the lead the vision he's seen today.]

...Alright. ...Thank you.

[That is genuine. Despite the - issue he just went through, it's a little bit more of the puzzle of this school.]

Then - I suppose I'll be going.

[And he'll...awkwardly....take his hands back...]

npc contact.1

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