adsum | npc contact.1

That's...

[ hm ]

The students were a bit competitive.

[ Still not a competition! ]

... So, there's nothing stopping a whole bunch of people from qualifying for graduation if they all work together?

[which is such a pleasant way to refer to what would basically be a bacchanalian slaughter.]

Of course not. The class can graduate even if they don't work together, but helping one another out is often the more favorable course of action. Like I said...

[ Here, have some tea. It's blueberry acai. ]

Don't be afraid to ask for help, and don't forget to give it when you're able to.

[she takes the tea, but...]

I can't ever help anybody with that. Not ever. [because she has one tally on her arm, and she doesn't know what she'll do if she learns it wasn't from dying.]

Because you're 10?

[ Like they're talking about schoolwork ]

There are things you can do that others can't.

[because she's good. because she's a hero. because she'd disappoint him. because it's wrong.

but because she's also insatiably curious, she manages to keep that to herself for the moment.]

Like what?

If I recall correctly... "sick backflips"?

[ That she offered lessons on for the auction. Stephanie definitely has some martial arts shit she can work into that and slice and dice her enemies, who wouldn't want her by her side ]

[...

okay so, like. to be fair. the look of open and abject horror she's giving nurse-chan right now is entirely disproportionate to anyone not aware of the reason why stephanie would take offense at the idea of using gymnastics to kill someone.]

That would be awful! I would never do that! I would never kill anyone ever, but especially not like that! [it's basically sacrilege.]

[ Then like how—- ]

I'm not asking you to kill anybody! Stephanie...!

You are! That's what it's all about; that's what everyone says!

[just. stomps her foot, fully lost in tantrum mode.]

And I'm not gonna do it, not ever! Because I won't have to! He's gonna rescue me, and I'm gonna go home, and you're all gonna be really sorry you did this to me!

Who is telling you this stuff? Stephanie...

[ Whew, it's too bad she can't just stab Stephanie with a shot of Haldol and be done with it. All she has is her tea and her words and the patience to hear the girl out. ]

I'm not following what you're saying. Can you start from the beginning? Will you talk to me, so I can understand?

It's one thing to treat us all like we're crazy when we talk about our real lives, but you can't just act like what happens here isn't actually happening!

[she straight up just drops her half-finished tea, so she can pull her sleeve down and show her tally mark.]

This is real! You can't lie about it; other people already told us the truth!

[ Ohhh no, she's not equipped to talk about the """tally marks""" that's counselor-kun's job. Even if she reaches for Stephanie's hand on instinct, even if she has to catch her hand with her other, physically reel them both back to hold against her chest. ]

It's real. I will not invalidate your experiences, Stephanie. The cuts that help you through the pain...

[ She shakes her head. ]

Who says you must kill?

-- I didn't do this to myself, and you know it! And you know what we need to do to graduate, and, and, and I know I'll never tell on another kid here, even the weird ones! Because they might not always tell the truth, but at least they don't lie!

[she looks down at the mark. taps her finger against it.]

Lying to people all the time makes you a bad person. Miss Nurse. I bet you know that, too.

[ ): !!! ]

I know.

[ Her voice is quiet, small against Stephanie's rage. She says this but knows there are times where it is better to lie, that there are times where you lie with good intentions, and that it doesn't make you a bad person.

Sometimes it's all you can do, when the truth is hard to hear, or to admit to. Injuring yourself on purpose, snitching on others even if they're your friends, those sorts of shameful things you do in secret but don't ever want to tell...

And all those things aside, she looks like she wants to ask once more. Who said? ]

... Then don't. Or start. It's like being brave. You don't have to do it all at once. You can start being honest one step at a time.

If I told you who told us [and she frowns, thinking maybe that's a mistake, to use the plural], what would happen to them?

[ Hmm... She really is no good at this. Start being honest, Stephanie says, so she tries: ]

I don't know. I would talk with them. [ """talk""" ] Or perhaps the counselor will— he's much better at this than I am.

[considers this]

Then I'm definitely not telling. I'm not gonna get anyone sent to the scary crying room.

Oh, it's not supposed to be scary, it's supposed to be cathartic. Like when you watch a scary movie that makes you scream or a sad movie that makes you cry, and you feel better after because you're able to freely express your emotions.

[ It's a good scary!! good crying ]

You don't seem to have trouble with that, but many others do.

[her expression softens a bit, because, well. how many times has she heard sportacus explaining exactly that to trixie when she makes fun of ziggy for being a crybaby. in almost those exact words.]

Yeah, they do... [she can admit that. everyone around her is a freak and she can admit that.] But, the crying you hear from there isn't that kind. It's spooky crying. Like in scary stories about evil fairies trying to trick you into going outside.

[ Her expression twists into that one from worry again, because what are you doing over there mister counselor... ]

Some people can't help the way they sound when they cry...

[ She's picking her words carefully, like how some people have funny laughs or funny faces? you don't make fun of them for it, it's just how it is ]

But the counselor isn't a scary person, especially once you get to know them, and I find that that's true with most people. Would you like to go say hi to him? I can be there with you.

[reasonably, she should say, "no, why would I do that, I don't trust you any more than I trust him."

but, she's never actually even seen this counselor guy before, and if he's going to be A Thing now, she needs to learn more. the other transfers are counting on the fact-finding abilities of Agent Pinkie.

she nods. and then goes to hold nurse-chan's hand, because obviously you hold hands with a person when they take you places, that's just science.]

[ Oh they're going right now, okay

Nurse-chan at least looks a little more encouraged that Stephanie's willing to take her hand despite her screaming at her face just a second ago, but it's fine, children are just like that. She keeps her grip firm but not tight as she leads Stephanie next door to the counselor's and knocks on the door. ]

Mizuki?

[ There's no answer. She presses her ear against the door. Sounds of sobbing...
...
...
... ]

I think he's busy.

[she's ten she has no concept of delayed gratification.

she just. stares at the door.]

... And that isn't really creepy to you? Not even a little bit?

[ I have no concept of delayed gratification either, which is why, before the Nurse can open her mouth and answer, the door flings open and nearly smacks Stephanie in the face, Hiro hastily pushing his way through but freezing in surprise when he sees Stephanie and the nurse outside the door, himself trapped in the doorway. His eyes are rimmed red, his face pale. There's an audible sigh from inside the room. How many npcs can I put in one space at a time, let's see.

Maybe just two, because Hiro's going to try to... sneak on past the two outside the door and leave... goodbye... ]

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