+ Guilt Runs Deep

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The Mansion
When: Feb 23-25
Rating: Please warn in top level subject lines for potential triggers/NSFW
Summary: Various residents are trapped in their own guilt, watching their guiltiest memory play on a loop.
The Story:

Welcome to the gathering post for the event. Please see the plotting post for more information + the bulletin board link. Have fun!

Comments

[entreats]

"They don't look like they're helping." After all, what good could people dropping dead in front of Nageki do? That seems like the opposite of what a cure is supposed to be. Besides, this doesn't exactly seem like a friendly hospital for any patient... Or a hospital at all.

".. you know, you're the only one who can break out of here. And I don't mean that in a "go ahead and run for the door" sort of way."

[mourning_ghost]

"..." Nageki drags the blanket closer to him again. "Then... how do I break out, Ms. Ushiromiya?"

[entreats]

She's not sure if it'll work as well if she just tells him plainly what to do. And she sure doesn't want to trap Nageki forever in.. whatever place this is. She's not cruel enough for that. So she frowns for a moment, deep in thought about how to put this into words, before speaking on.

"Well.. How do you feel about this situation?"

[mourning_ghost]

"I..." He's annoyed that Ange avoids answering his question, but her question likely has something to do with leaving. He swallows his immediate harsh retort and answers as truthfully as he can. "I wish... I could apologize. They might have lived if it wasn't for me."

[entreats]

So those humans are dropping dead like that because of him? It's still phrased in a way that's vague enough that it could mean anything, and Ange sure isn't going to fish for an exact explanation. Better to focus on the matter at hand for now.

"Then why don't you try apologizing? Even if it's just a memory, you still have the chance to do it now."

[mourning_ghost]

Doesn't the second sentence answer the first? He can't see how apologizing to a memory would do anything.

"They aren't real, Miss Ushiromiya."

[entreats]

"It's about the idea."

Honestly, it would be hypocritical to fault him for giving that answer of all things, since that's literally what Ange herself might have said if she were in his shoes right now. But it still feels kind of counterproductive to what she's trying to do here.

"It's not as if you'd be able to apologize to the real deal either way, right?" 'Since they're dead' being the implication here, but she's not cruel enough to rub that in by saying it out loud.

[mourning_ghost]

"..." It would be possible if Wonderland brought one of them here post-death. The chances of that happening are incredibly loe, though. He'll apologize if Ange thinks it will help.

He turns to the human who is choking on the ground. His beak open and closes a few times.

"I... didn't want this to happen. I'm sorry and... I hope that I can make it up you in our next lives."

[entreats]

This is so awkward. Ange is super glad for the fact she has a great pokerface, because she can't be the one looking awkward here when it's her idea in the first place. But the sight of Nageki apologizing to a human who is literally dying on the floor.. It's definitely awkward.

But she clears her throat, doing her best to find some words to say.

"So.. did that help? Even a bit?" Obviously aimed at Nageki. It doesn't seem like there's any saving that dying human at this point (which she's trying real hard to not look at right now, thanks.)

[mourning_ghost]

Nageki is surprised to find that he does feel a little better. Apologizing out loud, expressing his desire to fix things out loud, even if it is fruitless, does seem to help. So he nods.

[entreats]

Well, at least that's one good thing right there. It seems like she's getting something right. Maybe she just has to push a little bit more in that direction in order to get rid of more of that guilt.

".. What kind of person do you think you'd want to be in your next life?" Since he said he'd want to make up for it during that life.

[mourning_ghost]

The answer is easy.

"I want to help the ones I care about rather than be the one who always needs help."

He wants to work alongside his family and friends and help them overcome whatever struggles they face, the way his family did for him.

[entreats]

"Then you will be." It's a little too optimistic by Ange's own standards, but she'd feel bad saying anythi9ng else in this situation. It'd be unproductive too. "That kind of determination can't be beaten."

"So.. just try to focus on that. The good you can do in the future, rather than the bad in the past that can't be changed anyway."