She wakes with a lot of aching (including, she's sure, her pride, even as still-disoriented as she is), but especially a splitting headache. It takes her a moment to question whether or not she even is awake as she presses a palm to her temple and shifts upright. What's with the lighting? Where is she? She manages to get to her feet, leaning against the wall with a groan.
"Natsuno!" She calls and staggers a few steps before she starts noticing the tingling. Was she out that long, or-? No, there's something about this place, and--her knee almost starts to give out and she grabs onto a strap. "What the hell's up with this...?"
A voice comes over loudspeakers, echoing through the room. It is the voice of Number 2. "This is your therapy, Number 11. You have been struggling to adjust to The Village. It is only natural given your documented lack of social skills. Never fear. We can help you."
Ugh, as if her head wasn't already pounding, that buzzing that starts to feel like it's going right through her skull is not helping--and that's before she hears that voice.
"Shut up, Number Jerk!" She immediately snaps before even parsing what he's said, but her scowl deepens as it does set in. "Like anyone wants your help! Nobody's here to actually join your creepy pretend village, you know, so keep your fetishes to yourself!"
They're here to suffer. She knows that. She knows it's stupid, to willfully sign up for torture. But to keep things going a little longer, to send the probe, for the slim chance at making a future for the ones she loves...
Even if it's too little too late for the ones who already disappeared.
"Nobody? Are you sure? I wouldn't be so quick to assume you know the hearts and minds of everyone here... or even your own."
The volume of that buzzing seems to increase until it's vibrating in her bones. Her muscles are starting to burn as if she's pushing herself through a difficult workout.
"Do not be afraid. You will see Number 14 again soon. Just as soon as you are well."
"And you think you know?!" She snarls back. Are they doing this to Natsuno, too? This would be hell on his senses--she already hates it herself, hates the heat, hates the rattling in her bones and brain. Her arms are burning, like she's already exhausted from holding onto the straps, and her limbs tremble from the effort of staying upright.
"I'm fine," she grates out between gritted teeth. "Let me out and I'll show you." Oh, she'll show him, she thinks, picturing a fist smashing him in his stupid face.
"You will show me, will you?" Number laughs harshly. "Falling back on violence again. What a disappointment. Will you never learn? If Jade could see you now...what would he say?"
The physical stress is starting to impact her comebacks, as she grits out, "Shut up...don't you dare--you don't know him!"
Of course she doesn't want to disappoint Jade. But Jade's not here. And even if he was--he'd be helping her; there's no way he'd be disappointed with her in this situation! (Probably not, at least, a tiny voice nags in the back of her mind...)
"You are unfortunately correct. I don't know him because he left. Abandoned you like all the others before. But you won't have to worry about that here. You'll finally get the recognition you deserve. All you need to do is embrace this as your home and you can be safe here. I will never abandon you."
All the others before--anger surges fresh and hot and she gets a brief second wind, staggering shakily away from the straps towards a wall, trying to find a door as she yells at wherever his voice is coming from. Of course she's upset that Jade disappeared; after making himself such a reliable figure, someone dependable, then he did go and abandon them. Even if it wasn't his choice, it still hurts.
She doesn't want to take about it with Number 2 of all people, though. (She tries not to think about how he already knows.)
"Don't you dare pretend to understand! You--it's not like you're anyone that matters!"
Other people did. Estelle, Jade, Clarke. And other people do. Natsuno, Fio...
"You couldn't be more wrong. I am the one who matters most to this place because, without me, it could not exist. Would you condemn all of these people I harbor to the same fate as Jade? Would you do that to your friends here? The solution to everything is right in front of you and you refuse to see it."
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2023-12-17 09:39 pm (UTC)"Natsuno!" She calls and staggers a few steps before she starts noticing the tingling. Was she out that long, or-? No, there's something about this place, and--her knee almost starts to give out and she grabs onto a strap. "What the hell's up with this...?"
no subject
Date: 2023-12-18 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-12-18 12:40 am (UTC)"Shut up, Number Jerk!" She immediately snaps before even parsing what he's said, but her scowl deepens as it does set in. "Like anyone wants your help! Nobody's here to actually join your creepy pretend village, you know, so keep your fetishes to yourself!"
They're here to suffer. She knows that. She knows it's stupid, to willfully sign up for torture. But to keep things going a little longer, to send the probe, for the slim chance at making a future for the ones she loves...
Even if it's too little too late for the ones who already disappeared.
But speaking of loved ones-- "Where's Natsuno?!"
no subject
Date: 2023-12-22 02:08 am (UTC)The volume of that buzzing seems to increase until it's vibrating in her bones. Her muscles are starting to burn as if she's pushing herself through a difficult workout.
"Do not be afraid. You will see Number 14 again soon. Just as soon as you are well."
no subject
Date: 2023-12-22 08:04 pm (UTC)"I'm fine," she grates out between gritted teeth. "Let me out and I'll show you." Oh, she'll show him, she thinks, picturing a fist smashing him in his stupid face.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-24 04:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-12-24 07:27 pm (UTC)Of course she doesn't want to disappoint Jade. But Jade's not here. And even if he was--he'd be helping her; there's no way he'd be disappointed with her in this situation! (Probably not, at least, a tiny voice nags in the back of her mind...)
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Date: 2023-12-27 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-12-27 11:31 pm (UTC)She doesn't want to take about it with Number 2 of all people, though. (She tries not to think about how he already knows.)
"Don't you dare pretend to understand! You--it's not like you're anyone that matters!"
Other people did. Estelle, Jade, Clarke. And other people do. Natsuno, Fio...
no subject
Date: 2024-01-02 01:40 am (UTC)