Camp: private conversations

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Respond here for a private conversation with Red! All comment threads are screened.

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[le_mat]

...

I mean, I wouldn't say no?

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[Red smiles.]

Pick a color from my set and take a seat.

[Most of her nail polish is various shades of red, orange, and yellow, but she does have some cooler colors as well. Some of them have sparkly shit in them too! But there's also clear polish if he wants to be fancy without color.]

[le_mat]

[Fuck the police, he picks red. He could go full goth and pick black, but he misses having warm tones in his life right now]

Sorry, my nails are probably a wreak.

[He's never really taken extra care of them - just kept them very trim since he works with small tools all the time. But the medicated bathhouse water had always kept them from being brittle or cracking and he likes to be clean and nice. But camp has kinda made him discard anything other than basic hygine]

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It's nothing that can't be fixed.

[She has emery boards out the wazoo so she'll grab a clean one to use on his nails. She gently takes one of his and starts filing them down to smoothness.]

I believe I interrupted your train of thought though. Were you coming here for something?

[le_mat]

I want to... not ask you something since I know you probably can't answer anyway. And... I'm too tired to fight again.

[His voice DOES sound a little slurred - but it's not completely exhausted. As much as it is his mouth starting to numb a little]

More just... bounce something off you? We were all talking yesterday, and Kirijo-san said that you told her that, hm, the people you work under haven't been able to cure what's happening to T- ... to everyone that's died? What's happening to us now? Is that right?

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[Ah, so he's losing that sense. That makes Red pause for a moment before she keeps filing, even moreso than his question does.

And certain conversations happen before this, so she already knows that you guys know about the stone, so!]

You are right. There are ways to slow it, but no way to stop it entirely.

[le_mat]

Is that what happened to Leon and Mami- it moved too fast?

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Possibly. I think that might be what happened with Soma too.

[le_mat]

Soma... you think it's what made him run for it?

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It wouldn't be the first time someone was influenced to die as quickly as possible.

[le_mat]

So it can fill in all the empty spaces.

[he mutters, repeating what he said to Nine, before. The fact that Red is holding his hand still is likely the only reason he doesn't ruin the polish with his subtle trembling]

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[Well, he's got the general idea, so Red won't speak up to confirm. Instead, she keeps painting his nails.]

It doesn't always move fast. For some people, it takes years and years to get to the point Dan was at. It's not a death sentence.

[Even though he will likely die here at camp anyway, she feels like she needs to give him SOMETHING to hope for.]

[le_mat]

... years.

Red. Was... was Dan a camper, once?

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I don't believe so, no. They started using people from other worlds a long time ago, so I think he only ever worked here. But even as a counselor, if you stay here too long you will eventually succumb as well.

[le_mat]

So you and Mr. Pines will...

[that honestly clearly distresses him more than anything else they've discussed so far]

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Eventually, yes. But we're older and more resistant to the effects. I haven't even started hearing the voices yet, and I don't think Stan has either. So we will be here for quite some time yet.

[le_mat]

Mr. Pines... he doesn't realize what's happening. They... they did something to him. Why? It's not the same as you.

[ his voice wavers at this- he... likes Stan a lot]

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...

Not all counselors would go along with the camp willingly. The Facilitator must keep their memories, but that is not a requirement for the other counselors.

It...seemed kinder, to make him not realize what is going on.

[le_mat]

He'd never go with it if he knew.

[Ren says this like he knows it for certain]

But since Talcott... [He shakes his head and cuts himself off. No, no he isn't going to say shit about how sad Stan looks, about his dreams. No, because Red might take his memories away again. Or worse.]

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He never would, no.

[She hears him cut himself off, and she just waits. Emotions are hard, it's okay Ren. She's patient.]

[le_mat]

...things are hard, for all of us. Something is going to snap.

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I know.

[le_mat]

It has before, I'm guessing. Has anyone ever made it all the way? I'm really starting to think not.

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...

I can't speak for years before my time, but since I have been here, no.

[Seven years. Not a single survivor.

There's a reason this job gets to her.]

It would be nice if someone would make it, though.

[le_mat]

But what then? I... I think I'd rather die then get out of here on everyone else's back. Or before this... thing... took over.