+ The (Final) 12 Days of Ewaymas +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: EVERYONE!
Where: Real Side only!
When: 12/13-12/25
Rating: PG-13, warn if going higher
Summary: On the first day of Ewaymas, Wonderland took from me...
The Story:
On the first day of Ewaymas (12/13/19), Wonderland took from me:
The Forest and all of the trees!
On the second day of Ewaymas (12/14/19), Wonderland took from me:
The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the third day of Ewaymas (12/15/19), Wonderland took from me:
Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the fourth day of Ewaymas (12/16/19), Wonderland took from me:
Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the fifth day of Ewaymas (12/17/19), Wonderland took from me:
ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the sixth day of Ewaymas (12/18/19), Wonderland took from me:
So many fruit trees! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the seventh day of Ewaymas (12/19/19), Wonderland took from me:
No more lake a-swimming! Six tons of fruit! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the eighth day of Ewaymas (12/20/19), Wonderland took from me:
Traumatic human chess! No more lake a-swimming! Six tons of fruit! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the ninth day of Ewaymas (12/21/19), Wonderland took from me:
The flora and the fauna! Traumatic human chess! No more lake a-swimming! Six tons of fruit! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the tenth day of Ewaymas (12/22/19), Wonderland took from me:
Somewhere dark and dingy! The flora and the fauna! Traumatic human chess! No more lake a-swimming! Six tons of fruit! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the eleventh day of Ewaymas (12/23/19), Wonderland took from me:
Shady backyard vendors! Somewhere dark and dingy! The flora and the fauna! Traumatic human chess! No more lake a-swimming! Six tons of fruit! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!
On the twelfth day of Ewaymas (12/24/19), Wonderland took from me:
Endless magic closets! Shady backyard vendors! Somewhere dark and dingy! The flora and the fauna! Traumatic human chess! No more lake a-swimming! Six tons of fruit! ALLLLL OF THE MIIIIIIIRRORS! Hedges and their maze! Every grain of sand! The whole entire Ocean! And the Forest and all of the trees!

Comments

[postcondition]

Of course she does, she pretty much always does.

[Which is so incredibly boring most of the time to her, but she gets why things turn out like that.]

Sure, she's kicked the bucket here a few times, but most of the time something dangerous is going on, there's almost always a convenient note in there telling her what to or what not to do. That's pretty lucky, don't you think?

[moraloutrage]

[One part of that sticks out and makes Ishimaru turn pale.]

Are... Are you saying that she has died in this world... multiple times??! [He winces.] Urgh... If only I was more vigilant...!

[He quickly shakes his head.]

However, what do you mean when you refer to those notes? Are they notes written by her, or someone else?

[postcondition]

If it makes you feel better, she hasn't died since she's come back. I'd say I'm surprised she hasn't told you, but I'm sure it slipped her mind.

[She's sure it does not in fact make him feel better.]

And that's a super good question, isn't it? Like if she's not writing them, who is? But I'm pretty sure everything in there's written in her handwriting, so it'd have to be her, right?

[moraloutrage]

Th-that is not much of a relief... [Sure, he's glad that she hasn't died within the past few months, but that's kinda easily overweighed by learning that she's died several times!

He frowns and just tries to dismiss those distressing thoughts as he focus on the other subject, as confusing as it is.]

...Huh? If they are in her handwriting, then they must be her handiwork! You may be her mirror, but you must have missed the moments when she wrote them. The solution must be as simple as that! Otonashi-kun... must have been working hard and preparing herself for a number of scenarios!

[postcondition]

That would make the most sense, sure. But what happens in Wonderland isn't always what makes the most sense, right?

[moraloutrage]

You do have a point there. [He reluctantly nods, conceding that point.] ...But still! That does not mean that everything that transpires here has to be nonsensical in nature! I believe in Otonashi-kun, after all. And I have done my best to instill the spirit of hard work in her. That must mean that it is working!

[postcondition]

Oh no, you believe in her? Whatever will I do?

[The Mirror recoils as if hearing that's harmed or defeated her somehow, but it quickly gives way to the unpleasant smile she normally wears.]

That's good. I'm glad actually. You don't have to believe it, but I'm happy someone out there believes in her. And I hope you keep believing in her no matter what.

[It'll make it all the worse if certain things happen.]

[moraloutrage]

[Something in her words feels mocking. He does remember in the past that she told him that Otonashi was a lost cause. Could something have changed her mind since then? He's not sure, and he affixes a frown at her while he replies.]

...Hm. Well if you are truly glad, then that is good to hear! Of course I believe in Otonashi-kun, and I have every intention of continuing to believe in her no matter what!

[postcondition]

That's great! Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone devote themselves to a lost cause like Ryoko Otonashi!

[She didn't forget at all. Nope.]

[moraloutrage]

Hrk-! So, so you still consider her to be a lost cause! I... I do not understand you at all, Otonashi-kun's Mirror!

[postcondition]

That's not really a bad thing. If you understood, then we wouldn't be talking about her at all.

[moraloutrage]

Eh? What exactly do you mean by that statement?! To me, it seems like you are the one who needs an understanding!

[postcondition]

What do I mean, what do I mean, what do I mean?

[She'll look despondent while she repeats that question a few times.]

Kinda getting tired of that one. If I give it all away, even now, what was the point? I guess there's no point in it if Wonderland falls apart and we all fall screaming into the void, but if we don't...well, those aren't my questions to answer. So it wouldn't be right for me to answer them.

[That's probably a weird answer, but she'll go on a little more.]

Let's say one of your classmates knew something about you, something you didn't even know about yourself. Would it be right for them to just tell everyone?

[moraloutrage]

[The more she goes on, the more confused Ishimaru gets. What could she know, and what is keeping her from disclosing it? He's hesitant to trust a Mirror, but at the same time, he also feels guilty about the idea of distrusting someone just because they are a mirror.

He tries to focus on the last question.]

Ah... 'everyone'? Well, I suppose that it would depend on the fact in question! If it was something of a private nature, than I would much prefer to be told first! Then, I would be able to decide if it was appropriate to share with others!

[postcondition]

Right, that's what you'd do with a normal person. But you can't really do that with her, can you? If it doesn't mesh with the nice orderly world her notes create, she either writes it off as having nothing to do with her, or...

[She'll pause before smirking again.]

Or she totally fucking panics like when you brought up your classmate to her. Let me tell you, I definitely got a kick out of watching that one through the glass.

[moraloutrage]

[Once he applies that to Otonashi, the Mirror's intent becomes clearer. And things start to feel more concerning, especially as he brings up something that he remembers quite clearly, because it happened recently.]

W-wait. [He says, his eyes widening.] You're talking about her reaction to hearing about Enoshima-kun, correct? ...But that just seems to be the result of a big misunderstanding! Sh-she told me her misgivings about her back during her last stay in this world! [And after he brought them up to Junko herself later, they seemed to have been dismissed... That should be the end of the story.]

[postcondition]

That's right! But if you're worried about it, it's just an example! If it's a misunderstanding that's been cleared up, it's a misunderstanding that's been cleared up!

[She somehow manages to make it sound like that's absolutely what it was and also like it's absolutely what it's not. It's a weird balance, but she manages to pull it off somehow.]

But you see what I'm getting at right? You can't tell her something that screws up her world view, that doesn't help anyone.

[moraloutrage]

[The mirror managed to concede to his point about Junko! And yet, Ishimaru finds it hard to feel relieved about this. Something about the way she says it makes it feel like she believes that there's more to it. But Ishimaru refuses to entertain the notion.]

Now that is not necessarily true! I am sure that, with time and patience, Otonashi-kun can accept challenging ideas! And I am also certain that it would be for the best! [Especially if helped Otonashi and Enoshima to get along. Surely that would be absolutely good!] Through hard work, anything can become possible!

[postcondition]

Sure, sure, I mean Pinocchio eventually became a real boy, so anything can happen if you work for it, right?

[Not exactly how that story went, but close enough.]

But it's not really my problem, I guess. If you want to throw all your time into effort and helping her with that, then go nuts.

[moraloutrage]

Pinocchio-kun... certainly was a hardworking boy! [It's possible that he sincerely believes it was Pinocchio's hard work that made him become a real boy.]

Hard work can overcome the impossible! I... ah... am glad that you will allow me to do so freely! But... What do you intend to do, Otonashi-kun's Mirror?

[postcondition]

Not sure yet, I was gonna go mess with her, but you'd probably get in my way if I tried to do that now.

[Which doesn't mean her plans are ruined or anything like that.]

So I guess I'll just see what else is going on over on this Side for now.

[moraloutrage]

Of course I would! I will not tolerate any mischief against Otonashi-kun. She has more than enough to deal with as it is!

[He takes a breath.]

In any case, please enjoy your tour of the mansion, and be sure to behave yourself! If you need help with anything that is ethically sound in nature, please do not hesitate to call on me!

[postcondition]

Don't worry, I definitely will.

[And she'll just be off to do...look does anyone really want to know what she's doing? Probably taking the long way around and then going to torment Ryoko, honestly.]