silversnowfall

[69]

[It was almost a relief, to hear about so many people going home recently, even as more were due to arrive.

It was too sad to mention, knowing that one of those people was Professor Nebilim. That she wasn't really returning to anything. Just to the completion of a sad tale of a boy who thought he should be able to do everything.

And now Nephry is lonely. She has been, off and on, for a while; she feels it especially strongly today. At first she tried cleaning the kitchen but now she's sitting there, chin against her hands, staring at the table. With almost half of the house away or out of commission...things are quiet.

In the silence, she turns to her journal for a while.]

What do you believe happens...when you die?

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Thank you, Ginji. ...I think, in some ways, that it has.

And I shouldn't make you stand in the doorway. Please come in.

[The house has undergone some changes since Raine was last a guest. It feels larger...and, to Nephry at least, a great deal more welcoming.]

Everything is ready in the kitchen.

[There's a lot he isn't saying. She can tell.]

Can everyone who plays win?

Thank you. [It had already felt large to Raine the last time she was here, but that was because she was a child. It's a little strange to still get that impression even as an adult.

Still, the feeling upon stepping in is strange, almost nostalgic, as if it was a place she hadn't seen in many years... and in some ways, it was.]

The house seems different somehow. [Quieter? No, that wasn't it either.] Did you do some renovating?

You should understand...that it's difficult sometimes, because I never know how long anyone is going to stay.

...And there are some that I never expected to leave.

That when you died...you could play a game to save your life, but if you lost you would be "erased".

I don't think there's anything that says they can't. But as far as I know, that's never happened.

Well then. Take care, okay?

And if there's ever anything else on your mind...

Yeah, I get it.

[ he does. it's something he thinks about relatively regularly, actually; for all of his bright smiles, peony does a lot of thinking. but she knows that. she knows him better than almost anyone. ]

I'm not surprised you'd be so, you know, hesitant.

Well there's the silver haired girl! But aside from her... [No Seto, come on. You know there have to be survivors out there!] Aside from her, I have to go and look for others.

Yeah, that sounds about right. If you're in the Game, you face erasure every day if you don't complete the missions in time.

...You have been here before, you know. At least twice. ...It's difficult to say goodbye to you without you even there to hear it.

Yes, it's much larger now. We were getting a bit too crowded to handle everyone and...the changes they wanted to make.

[And they had only one bathroom.]

I'm glad that you were able to have that worked out.

Yeeeah, I got that.. impression.

[ sideglance. ]

I'm sorry that had to happen.

It isn't your fault. There was nothing you could do about it.

...Besides, what good will it do me to think about it now?

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