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[Kim's in the castle hallway, coming back from treating Kotetsu. Seeing Monika in his path, he offers a polite greeting.]
Good afternoon. I hope you're well.
[After everything they just witnessed, he means.]
Good afternoon. I hope you're well.
[After everything they just witnessed, he means.]
[He shakes his head.]
No need for thanks. He's going to be all right, so...
At least there's that.
No need for thanks. He's going to be all right, so...
At least there's that.
[He looks... unsure of how to take that.]
I just do what needs to be done. If I didn't... someone else might, or they might not.
I just do what needs to be done. If I didn't... someone else might, or they might not.
True...
Still, I don't think it's anything special.
Still, I don't think it's anything special.
[Somewhere in town, Kim's daemon picks up a glass shard in her talons as she moves about in the form of a great skua. He doesn't realize there's someone else nearby, but in an instant, both he and Monika experience a horrific shoot-out as if they're there.]
[Welp. Kim turns to face her with an apologetic look.]
A tribunal. And a bloodbath.
I'm sorry you had to see that.
A tribunal. And a bloodbath.
I'm sorry you had to see that.
... No, don't apologize. It's, like, totally not your fault.
[Already shaking her head, her expression shifting to something more sympathetic. She pauses for a second, hesitating, before she asks:]
Ah... Hey... About your partner. Um, did he...?
[Die...? Make it...?]
[Already shaking her head, her expression shifting to something more sympathetic. She pauses for a second, hesitating, before she asks:]
Ah... Hey... About your partner. Um, did he...?
[Die...? Make it...?]
... He made it.
[He says it quietly, his expression softening a little. It's almost a smile.]
[He says it quietly, his expression softening a little. It's almost a smile.]
... Oh.
[Immediately, her shoulders slump in relief and she smiles.]
Oh, thank goodness. That's great! I'm so, so relieved to hear that.
[She sounds genuine, at least. It even looks like she's about to ask a follow-up question, when she accidentally nudges a shard with one of her feet. So, uh, this sure happened.]
[Immediately, her shoulders slump in relief and she smiles.]
Oh, thank goodness. That's great! I'm so, so relieved to hear that.
[She sounds genuine, at least. It even looks like she's about to ask a follow-up question, when she accidentally nudges a shard with one of her feet. So, uh, this sure happened.]
[...
It's hard to read the lieutenant's face. It goes very still, except for his mouth opening slightly and just... hanging there. A few moments pass.]
What in god's name...? What was that?
It's hard to read the lieutenant's face. It goes very still, except for his mouth opening slightly and just... hanging there. A few moments pass.]
What in god's name...? What was that?
A piece of fiction? But it was your memory, wasn't it?
You mean the boxes and letters? What was that...? If it's not the real world, then what is it?
Okay...
[Fortunately, he knows 'video' and 'game' as separate concepts, so he's not completely lost. Just... mostly.]
I'm not sure I understand how that's possible. Are you saying that you're a work of fiction, too?
[Fortunately, he knows 'video' and 'game' as separate concepts, so he's not completely lost. Just... mostly.]
I'm not sure I understand how that's possible. Are you saying that you're a work of fiction, too?
All right. I believe you.
... What about the other people in that vision?
... What about the other people in that vision?
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