[ nomura: i struggled to design aqua's outfit us: we can tell ]
...A little. I wasn't expecting to be.
[ what happens when you are NERFED and no longer have your anime temperature regulation rights... unfortunately though she thinks her outfit is very normal.
looking at the white robes in her hands (now stained), and smiling a little at camille ]
[ a smile ] I'd like that. I wouldn't mind a change of clothes, but these [ the robes ] aren't so easy to move in as is.
[ HELP ME!!!!!! AT LEAST AQUA is used to her clothes being called weird in canon (even if, again, she doesn't personally think there is anything strange about them... just cultural differences, etc...) ]
...Neither. Though, a party is a nice thought. [ she is imagining a family-friendly d*sney affair... anyway! looking at camille, ]
I... would take a guess myself, but I'm afraid I'm really out of ideas.
[ wherever they are, ink covers aqua's arm like dark stains through her white sleeves. there are quite a few words woven together, and it may be difficult to make it out all at once: Have the uncountable hours in the shadows whittled away the courage I never really had?
she places a hand over some of the words, but they bleed elsewhere. she sighs. ]
[ it's honestly a hot mess, and this is by far the most words that have ever sprouted at once... ]
...It's been persistent. And unfortunately, pretty successful.
[ she sighs. ...there's always the slight uncertainty between tiptoeing around people's secrets, and wanting to offer comfort where it might be needed. aqua doesn't know which is the case with camille, but even moreso, she's not sure if camille can even see what's been stamped on her. ]
...I'm sorry. Do you... want to know what's being shown?
[ sadsack time... again... she's just standing near the pyre, staring into the flame. she has a small wooden bird in her hands. (no, she's not going to throw it in.) ]
Camille approaches, hugging her middle and looking strung out. Between the lack of sleep and the leech attacks she'll not be winning any beauty contests this weekend.]
Hey. [She would be game to just stare in silence together, one more wild girl's night for the books. Instead her gaze draws to that wooden figure.
[ studying her rulebook curiously, and then glancing over to camille. i don't know what would've compelled aqua to randomly check hers, or carry it around, but she IS a nerd so we can always use that as an excuse. ]
...Does yours say the same thing?
[ points to new rule that just popped out of nowhere. ]
[The theatre is empty. Who wants to visit a place where death hit twice?
It's a fact Camille is counting on as she runs her fingers over the broken planks of the stage. There — a sturdy splinter. Three inches long with an unforgiving point, sturdy base.
She pries it loose and scoots to the edge of the stage, breathing thin. She pulls her sleeve back and finds a word to trace. Just trace. It's fine to follow the lines. Worrisome.
She's dragging along the second R when the door opens.]
[ aqua might've avoided the theatre, too, but... she this time she's actively looking for people. and she wonders, if someone might be hiding somewhere this unlikely. she wonders if that someone may need company, all the more for that reason.
so when she looks in to see camille by herself, it's easy to tell something's not quite right.
when she sees her carving into her own arm with a splinter— ]
Camille—!
[ she grabs her wrist, grip strong, pulling her hand and implement away before she can deal more damage. her gaze falls to the lines of blood leaking down the woman's arm, and her eyes widen. ]
[She hadn't meant to break skin. Honest to god. Then the door swung open and she startled, slipped.
Easy as pie.
Camille's head is swimming in the first two seconds of the intervention. She can only boggle at the younger woman, stiffen in her grip. Then reality hits: the sweet sting, the running blood, the panic in Aqua's eyes. All smothered in a sodden swaddle of shame.]
I'm fine.
[Pull out. Get away, get far away. Camille fights to get loose, splinter soaking in sweat as she clamps it in her fist.]
[ Have the uncountable hours in the shadows whittled away the courage I never really had?
camille will receive a memory of the realm of darkness, a place she's wandered alone for over ten years. the world seen in her memory is one that's been swallowed up by darkness, an empty shell of what it once was. a fraction of her journey. (7:00 - 9:01)! ]
[Fractions can have wholly profound effects. What strikes her as she sits in Aqua's skin is the loneliness. The hours, the toll of torment. She's a strong girl. Noble in the way you pictured knights in fairy tales. Unlike anyone she's met in her life.
But there are the cracks in her heart, and a manifestation of them wearing her face. It comes for her again and again. That strength of conviction is chipped away each time. Death by a thousand cuts.]
...How long did it take? [She looks to Aqua and wonders if she's shaking off the melancholy any easier than she is.] Did you beat it back at the end?
[ aqua will be lingering around the pyre, sitting on one of the benches. she's avoiding the cabin for obvious reasons. the vibes are just soul-crushing sadness but what's new, really. ]
but oh. that is. that is EXTREMELY upsetting to hear. aqua looks like she's on the verge of crying but also are you ever so exhausted that the tears don't quite fall. (every weekend for everyone.) ]
I... That's so awful.
[ just... sits uncomfortably with this for a long moment. her shoulders slump. ]
[She catches her at the church (new locations) (not yet murderified), grateful to see the faint blue from the distance and catch up in time to join her.]
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WEEK 0: Saturday
Anyway Camille stops in her tracks to observe all of Nomura's pride and joy.]
You aren't chilly?
[Or chaffing. It's not the most impractical costume she's seen here but it's far from regular.]
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us: we can tell ]
...A little. I wasn't expecting to be.
[ what happens when you are NERFED and no longer have your anime temperature regulation rights... unfortunately though she thinks her outfit is very normal.
looking at the white robes in her hands (now stained), and smiling a little at camille ]
Not chilly enough to get back in this, though.
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Maybe we can find a good needle and thread, turn them into something more fashionable for later.
Were you... [Tilting her head, weighing the options.] A dancer, or...on your way to a party?
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[ HELP ME!!!!!! AT LEAST AQUA is used to her clothes being called weird in canon (even if, again, she doesn't personally think there is anything strange about them... just cultural differences, etc...) ]
...Neither. Though, a party is a nice thought. [ she is imagining a family-friendly d*sney affair... anyway! looking at camille, ]
I... would take a guess myself, but I'm afraid I'm really out of ideas.
[ SHE HASN'T BEEN TO A NORMIE WORLD ]
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W0 MONDAY
she places a hand over some of the words, but they bleed elsewhere. she sighs. ]
...Hello, Camille.
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Camille is having a struggle herself, but she's out in between bursts of words. Feeling lucky.
Though she isn't, as the ink scrawls over her collar once she's within four feet of the girl. you couldn't save either sister
And just because there's no point hiding it:]
Lord. It's trying to punch out a whole novel on you, huh?
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...It's been persistent. And unfortunately, pretty successful.
[ she sighs. ...there's always the slight uncertainty between tiptoeing around people's secrets, and wanting to offer comfort where it might be needed. aqua doesn't know which is the case with camille, but even moreso, she's not sure if camille can even see what's been stamped on her. ]
...I'm sorry. Do you... want to know what's being shown?
[ she gestures to her own collar. ]
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Spoilers from here on
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W0 SUNDAY
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Camille approaches, hugging her middle and looking strung out. Between the lack of sleep and the leech attacks she'll not be winning any beauty contests this weekend.]
Hey. [She would be game to just stare in silence together, one more wild girl's night for the books. Instead her gaze draws to that wooden figure.
Then flicks to Aqua's, one brow raised.]
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...From Boothill. He made me this Thursday.
[ probably record-time whittling but he's a literal machine man so it's fine!!!! ]
...I was right there with him. But I couldn't do anything to help him.
[ i'm sorry kabby the sadsacking never ends. ]
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W1 TUESDAY
...Does yours say the same thing?
[ points to new rule that just popped out of nowhere. ]
"tuesday" 🥲
[Her brows are knit together, flipping through the pages.]
Well I'm not making another headstone, I'll tell you that.
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Maybe we could settle for some flowers.
[ makes kabby come up with anything more exciting than that, i'm so sorry aqua is so normie ]
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WEEK 1: Sunday ((cw for self harm))
It's a fact Camille is counting on as she runs her fingers over the broken planks of the stage. There — a sturdy splinter. Three inches long with an unforgiving point, sturdy base.
She pries it loose and scoots to the edge of the stage, breathing thin. She pulls her sleeve back and finds a word to trace. Just trace. It's fine to follow the lines. Worrisome.
She's dragging along the second R when the door opens.]
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so when she looks in to see camille by herself, it's easy to tell something's not quite right.
when she sees her carving into her own arm with a splinter— ]
Camille—!
[ she grabs her wrist, grip strong, pulling her hand and implement away before she can deal more damage. her gaze falls to the lines of blood leaking down the woman's arm, and her eyes widen. ]
You're hurt.
[ she's hurt herself. ]
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Easy as pie.
Camille's head is swimming in the first two seconds of the intervention. She can only boggle at the younger woman, stiffen in her grip. Then reality hits: the sweet sting, the running blood, the panic in Aqua's eyes. All smothered in a sodden swaddle of shame.]
I'm fine.
[Pull out. Get away, get far away. Camille fights to get loose, splinter soaking in sweat as she clamps it in her fist.]
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Spoilers???
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W2 MONDAY
camille will receive a memory of the realm of darkness, a place she's wandered alone for over ten years. the world seen in her memory is one that's been swallowed up by darkness, an empty shell of what it once was. a fraction of her journey. (7:00 - 9:01)! ]
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But there are the cracks in her heart, and a manifestation of them wearing her face. It comes for her again and again. That strength of conviction is chipped away each time. Death by a thousand cuts.]
...How long did it take? [She looks to Aqua and wonders if she's shaking off the melancholy any easier than she is.] Did you beat it back at the end?
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she nods. ]
My phantom hasn't returned since that last battle, thankfully. I'm not sure how long it took, or how long it's been since I last saw her.
...But, I did meet someone else who'd stumbled into the Realm of Darkness, afterwards. That's why I knew more then ten years had passed since I fell.
W2 FRIDAY
...So Aerith hasn't been found yet.
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[Your Cabin....i'm so sorry Aqua you are suffering]
I found Cloud, Asa and I. Totty was downstairs. He was at the mansion, impaled on a sword.
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but oh. that is. that is EXTREMELY upsetting to hear. aqua looks like she's on the verge of crying but also are you ever so exhausted that the tears don't quite fall. (every weekend for everyone.) ]
I... That's so awful.
[ just... sits uncomfortably with this for a long moment. her shoulders slump. ]
Were you able to find anything else there?
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WEEK 6: Wednesday
Been a minute, hasn't it?
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Hey, Camille.
[ she'll reach out to give her hand a squeeze, though camille will just feel her fingers chilled for a moment. aqua gives her a sheepish smile. ]
—Sorry. Force of habit.
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[She smiles. But it turns brittle quick.]
I'm, um. I know it's been a while, and maybe things have moved past all that. But I am sorry. For not realizing you were in the same position.
It can't have been easy, going it alone.
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