tw: suicide mentions in comments

[thesettingsun]

hey quick question
anyone else remember a (near) death experience and keep feeling like they're dying
even after the memory is over

it's not a panic attack mine are different

Comments

[thesettingsun]

not really
feels like my heartbeat's slowing down and i'm about to pass out
haven't passed out yet though so it's probably just a feeling
but it's not a fun one

[sleepingknight]

That's awful

Do you need someone to stop by and hang out with you for a while?

[Suffering by yourself just... makes it all the worse, or at least, that's how she always felt.]

[thesettingsun]

that'd be nice
thanks

I'm at the jp national library, the one that showed up recently

[sleepingknight]

Ok

Hang on a sec and I'll be right there

Oh wait - anything I should pick up on the way?

[thesettingsun]

a movie maybe?
if you want

[sleepingknight]

I can bring my laptop to stream something!

Unless you want a physical copy?

On my way though!

[thesettingsun]

either works
thanks

[Whenever Yuuki arrives, she'll find Shuji just sitting in the lobby, phone in hand but not really looking at it or at anything.]

[sleepingknight]

[It's a petite girl who walks into the library. Long purple hair cascades from a cute pompom hat hiding away elfin ears, and her eyes are notably red - the shades she normally wears have been pocketed already. Sure enough, she's got a backpack along with her, packed with her laptop and charging equipment.]

Hey... Shuji, right?

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji raises his hand in greeting.]

That's me. Sorry our first meeting in real life isn't under better circumstances.

[sleepingknight]

[She shakes her head, walking over properly.]

It's okay! I think these memories have been messing people up. I knew someone else who had a pretty bad aftereffect, too.

[But she leaves it at that, instead glancing around the library curiously.]

Where should we get set up? Oh, and what kinds of movies do you like?

[thesettingsun]

Oh, we can use my dorm.

[He'll lead her to a side hallway with a line of similar-looking doors, one of which he opens up into a pretty standard dorm room.]

Comedies sound good right now.

[He's not in the mood for anything serious, after that memory.]

[sleepingknight]

Comedies, comedies...

[She's already taking out and booting her laptop, zipping her backpack enough to ensure nothing falls out and then proceeding to type as she walks. We're just going for Netflix because that's the easiest option.]

Looks liiiike we mostly have romcoms, some super hero movies, and stand up comedians.

[And there's the room! Perfect timing, it gives her a chance to stop and show him what's available.]

[thesettingsun]

[The super hero movies are tempting because a good action sequence might make his heart race - but he already knows his pulse is normal and it just feels like it isn't.]

Stand up comedians. I might not be able to follow a plot so well.

[Given his continual state of feeling like consciousness is about to slip away from him.]

[sleepingknight]

O-kaaay.

[She'll set up one of the stand up comedians that's probably this game's Mulaney counterpart, I don't know, my stand up comedian knowledge is close to nil. It's a nice hour long special, so there's plenty of time to just settle down and watch, although Yuuki does throw the occasional glance his way to see how he's doing throughout.

She's worried - hard not to be, with an effect like that - but Shuji pretty clearly wants a distraction, and she knows how that is. So she'll just content herself with doing what she can to keep watch for now.]

[thesettingsun]

[why would you need comedians who aren't mulaney

Hard not to worry, and Shuji wouldn't blame her for it. For his part, Shuji is paying attention to the comedian as best he can. He seems a little bit sluggish, and sometimes takes a beat too long to laugh at a joke, but he's here and present.]

[sleepingknight]

[Partway through she reaches into her bag to pull out some snacks. Mostly energy bars and the like, if admittedly the chocolate-y kind. She sets a few between them in case he wants to snack, unwrapping one for herself to munch on around when the comedian starts talking about STREET SMARTS.]

[thesettingsun]

[Snacks are very appealing, especially ones with sugar in them. Shuji will be sure to have one or two.]

Thanks.

[sleepingknight]

It's the best time for chocolate.

[This is actually pretty much any time, really, but especially when you're feeling down. She's an expert on these things, you see.

But eventually the special ends, and she's looking over at Shuji again.]

Should we fire up another one?

[thesettingsun]

If you don't mind... I don't, um, want to keep you too long.

[This feels like something he should be able to deal with by himself. He knows there's nothing wrong with him.]

[sleepingknight]

[She just waves a hand nonchalantly, clicking ahead to the next video with her other.]

Nah, it's fine. I'm taking a break from the missions anyway.

Besides, whenever I felt sick, people would always drop things to play games with me. So think of it as kind of... paying it forward, I guess?

[thesettingsun]

...The first time monsters showed up, I didn't have my scythe yet or any way to fight, so I hid in my boyfriend's apartment for the whole month. I did what I could - dogsat for a friend going on missions, helped people with riddles, learned to cook - but I remember feeling completely useless then.

[Shuji looks at the floor rather than at the video.]

I didn't realize until later how important stuff like that is. Even if it doesn't seem like it means as much as going into secret labs and smashing Vanderweele's stuff.

So - thank you, is what I was trying to say.

[sleepingknight]

[She listens to him speak, not really paying the video any mind at the moment. Her smile softens as he does, and her gaze never quite goes back to the screen.]

...Yeah. Even if it's just one less thing to worry about, it's still one whole thing off of someone's plate. Plus, your mental health can seriously affect your physical health, so...

[She scratches a little at her cheek before breaking into a grin.]

Well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're welcome!

[thesettingsun]

Don't I know it. [about mental health affecting physical health.] But this really helps.

If you do need someone to smash stuff for you, just let me know.

[sleepingknight]

Heheheh, I'll be sure to! But right now, it's looking like I'll be able to dive bomb things from above!

[She's still (unsure) about the whole being a fairy thing, but it can't be denied that once she figures out the flying part, things are likely to get much more convenient.]

I just, y'know. Need a little more practice with the wings, that's all.

[thesettingsun]

[There's worse things to be than fairies. You could be a demon, for instance.]

Flying's a lot of fun when you get the hang of it... I kind of miss it.

[That's the only part of October he misses.]