Endgame

[idolpro]

Who: You lot
Where: Game Tower
When: Day 155, sunset

[ The house is silent; you awaken in your starter rooms, with injuries healed and the gripping hold of possession released as though it were all a dream.

It wasn't though, was it? The scars that remain, whether physical or emotional, are proof of that. If you need more proof, well - when the elevator opens for you once more, to take you back down to ground level, you'll find you can carry whatever is on your person back down with you as souvenirs, although their effects don't carry over.

Once you take the elevator down, you'll find most everyone else there too - most everyone, anyway. Some are missing, and . . . well, the doors to the outside aren't opening to let anyone out, although non-participants may enter to fret over their loved ones.

Soon enough, once the last elevators go down, the doors will unlock and you'll be free to hurry home, as the last rays of the sun disappear behind the skyline. Night is coming once more. ]

Comments

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Even just seeing Shrike twists Griffin's chest into a suffocating knot of guilt and worry. She had to be disappointed in him, at the very, very least - he made her cry, for fuck's sake! Just being around him brought her so much pain, and there was no way he could make up for that, and-- and that wasn't even taking his betrayal into account!

He wants to run at her and confess, let loose a floodgate of apologies. But that part of his mind goes blank when he sees the blood on her.

Shrike didn't have those bloodstains the last time he saw her. She didn't want to kill anyone... He wasn't there for her, and--]

Shrike!! What happened??!

[softlyfalling]

[ she lifts her head hearing his voice, and for a moment looks deeply relieved at both seeing him and having him acting normal again before her expression crumples in on itself. ]

I—killed...

[ fuck. ]

...I absolutely fucking lost it, Griffin.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Oh no.

Suddenly, all his own discretions paled in comparison to her trauma. If there was any hesitation in him before about whether he deserved to be at her side right now, they were gone in an instant as he hugged her tight - this time, at least, in a state to actually understand her.]

I should've been there, I should've-- I'm sorry.

[softlyfalling]

No, it's—gods, Griffin, I don't know what I should have done, but—I'm sorry we got separated, and I...

It's bad. I know how bad it is when something like that gets into your head.

[ she's leaking tears now, but they're not sad tears, just overwhelmed ones, as she wraps her arms around his waist in turn. ]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[He looks up at her and the tears streaking down her face again - the memory of her words dawning on him finally, through the haze.]

Is that what you meant...? Not doing this anymore?

[softlyfalling]

...mm.

Sorry, I—you should know, but I'm... used to having vengeful ghosts in my head at all hours, so you'd think I'd be able to deal with it. I thought I was doing better, but...

Ah, but—you, are you...

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Jesus. He can't... imagine being used to this feeling. Of being swept away in the urge to kill. To fight, yes, but not-- like this.

With a shuddering breath, he rests his head against the slope of her shoulder.]

There's this sick feeling in my chest-- that's regret, right? That's what it feels like?

[Griffin's voice cracks,] I... I did a lot I regret, Shrike. Things I-- have to apologize t'you for.

[softlyfalling]

I... mm. Sort of like a large heavy knot and a dull ache? That's it, yeah.

[ she reaches up to pet his hair, combing through it. ]

I know you didn't—you wouldn't have done any of that, normally. Far be it from me to stop anyone from apologizing, but—you should know that, at least.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[He croaks out a bitter laugh,]

Y'know... I feel worse about not giving'em a fair fight. They were just people wanting t'protect their family. Their kids.

But that's-- [he swallows.] That's not what I meant. When you disappeared, we all split up to find you. I ran into Maki a-and... we kissed.

[HE'S MORTIFIED. AND SO ASHAMED. It'd almost be funny that this is the thing he's most upset about instead of the vicious murdering - except he looks sick to his stomach with guilt.]

[softlyfalling]

[ pause. processing. this is all trickling through her head at the approximate speed of molasses. and strangely there is a tiny part of her that's... jealous? but he looks like he's dying inside about it, and she knows how hard things like that are for him to do casually—

she holds him tighter, leans her head against his. ]

Shh. I—appreciate it, but—are you all right?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Even if Shrike was ready to move past it, Griffin wasn't - he was still sputtering to try and explain himself, grappling with his own shame]

I didn't want to, I swear-- I shouldn't have fought her t'begin with, or I should've been stronger? I mean, it's pretty pathetic, getting skewered on my own spear, but--

All I could think was how I let you down. And I don't know if we're... it's not even like it's official, right? But you deserve better and I fucked up--

[softlyfalling]

Griffin, I—I'm so sorry.

If someone's hurt you and then they kiss you when you don't want it—that's hardly anything you have to apologize for? Regardless of—um.

...do you want it to be something, um, official? I know we didn't have time to talk about it really, but.

[gigadevilbreaker]

But I still--

[Whatever protest was on his lips dropped off into stunned silence. It felt unthinkable that Shrike would even consider wanting something like-- like a relationship, with him, - someone who had just gone off the deep end, was completely unreliable, made her so upset and. And even kissed another woman.

Whatever Griffin had ever managed to do for her, to him it still felt like he was a violent punk who would keep letting everyone down. Inadequate. His voice is faltering, too scared to hope.]

Even though I...? You could... you could do so much better.

[softlyfalling]

I didn't really like what I did with a lot of ghosts in my head, either. Or, well—some of what I did without them, for that matter.

So I don't know about that. Even like that you still really wanted me to be all right, and—things feel warmer when you're around, I guess.

[ she puts a palm against his cheek, sort of like she did before, but this time she doesn't headbutt him—just rests her forehead against his. ]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Griffin almost flinches when she puts her forehead against his, because-- that's what Maki did. That's what she did as she slowly opened his throat with a knife. But he suppresses the urge, instead leaning into the comfort of her hand - even if it was as cold as ever - and closing his eyes.]

You too. I wanna... I want t'live up to the things you see in me. I wanna keep stayin' at your side, for whatever happens.

[softlyfalling]

Me too. Me too.

[ she pulls back a bit, and brushes his hair back a bit from his forehead with one hand.

...long hair not bad ]

...you're really important to me, and—I'd like to be by your side, too. For as long as I can be.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Griffin opens his eyes and stares into hers. Somehow, knowing she forgave him - that she'd still want him, after everything...

He just wanted to do things over and kill the regret hanging in his heart.]

If-- if it's okay. Can I kiss you now?

[softlyfalling]

[ !!!!! ]

...honestly, I'd like nothing better.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Despite himself, a nervous smile lights up his face. It takes another second for him to steel his nerve - he brings his left hand up to caress her jaw, as though to guide himself as he closes his eyes and leans up--

By all metrics, it's just a chaste press of his lips against hers. But however plain and brief it is, Griffin's chest feels like it's about to burst.]

[softlyfalling]

[ she closes her eyes and leans into it, pressing back very gently, and it—feels just right, actually, for who they are and where they are.

she drapes her arms loosely around his shoulders, and when she opens her eyes she can't keep a wide smile off her face. ]

Was that all right?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Griffin's beaming too, sheepishly.]

I feel like I should ask you that. But-- yeah. I liked that... a lot.

[softlyfalling]

Well—me too.

...let’s do it again sometime soon?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[He can't help but laugh - and for a second, the depravity and horror was momentarily forgotten.]

I swear I'll get better at it with practice.

[softlyfalling]

‘s already plenty good, but I’m happy to help with any practice you require.

[ she’s teasing a little, but also— ]

...I’m really glad. I didn’t think I’d be saying that here, but—can I kiss you back?

[gigadevilbreaker]

[D-doki

Tries to play it cool but the deeply bashful flutter of his eyes pretty much give away it away. Also, the stammer.]

I-I mean-- sure, go for it. [so cool]