It was the first book on the pile.
[She tosses it back down.]
I thought Todomatsu was into this kind of comic thing. I was wondering what it was all about.
[She doesn't know an anime...]
[She tosses it back down.]
I thought Todomatsu was into this kind of comic thing. I was wondering what it was all about.
[She doesn't know an anime...]
[ Ah, his expression immediately slants into something pained. ]
I don't know either. The ritual is supposed subdue the monster, so it should get easier.
... But everyone just wants to help you. You're not a murderer.
I don't know either. The ritual is supposed subdue the monster, so it should get easier.
... But everyone just wants to help you. You're not a murderer.
[Staring even more.]
It's...sentient? [Or does it just mimic words it hears?]
It's...sentient? [Or does it just mimic words it hears?]
[ Sits down next to her. ]
Do you think it's sexy for two men to kiss?
Do you think it's sexy for two men to kiss?
Isn't it creepy to ask a teenager that?
[ he's smiling though, and taps the book ]
It's BL, I doubt the plot is going to make much sense.
[ he's smiling though, and taps the book ]
It's BL, I doubt the plot is going to make much sense.
[ Ugh. The memory settles over like nausea, something unsettling and wrong all over his skin and in the pit of his stomach. It's like the buzzing of curses under his skin, each one that he consumed and now lives in the amalgamation of his cursed energy.
He hates it. ]
Why did she do that?
He hates it. ]
Why did she do that?
Sort of. It's a manifestation of negative emotions. I usually describe it like if fire took a physical form.
[This little shit]
You asked first, smartass.
[Though the onus is on her to be responsible. Not that she's great at that.]
BL? ..."Boy's Love"? [She picks the book up and flips it over, eyes skimming the back. Then grabs a different title, squinting at the summary there.]
Oh, okay. So it's PG-13 cartoon porn. Neat. [She pushes the volume into his chest, a mild fuck-you coated in affection.] Pretty progressive. Getting caught with this shit in my hometown is a good way to end up bloody in a ditch.
You asked first, smartass.
[Though the onus is on her to be responsible. Not that she's great at that.]
BL? ..."Boy's Love"? [She picks the book up and flips it over, eyes skimming the back. Then grabs a different title, squinting at the summary there.]
Oh, okay. So it's PG-13 cartoon porn. Neat. [She pushes the volume into his chest, a mild fuck-you coated in affection.] Pretty progressive. Getting caught with this shit in my hometown is a good way to end up bloody in a ditch.
[ Help. That's such an extreme thing to say. ]
What? Why?
What? Why?
More spoilers/cw for mental illness, allusions to sexual assault of a minor
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scrapdraught
2024-07-02 11:37 am (UTC)(link)
[God. This fucking week is a nightmare. Camille hasn't been so bodily humiliated in front of this many young boys since she was younger even than them.
She has her hand pressed over her eyes, breathing slow. Coming down from the queasy sweat her mother's work puts her in.]
...Ever heard of Munchausen's? [Camille swallows. Risks looking him in the eye.] How about Munchausen's by Proxy?
She has her hand pressed over her eyes, breathing slow. Coming down from the queasy sweat her mother's work puts her in.]
...Ever heard of Munchausen's? [Camille swallows. Risks looking him in the eye.] How about Munchausen's by Proxy?
[grits teeth, sometimes you don't realize how insane your experiences are until you meet people outside of them]
Come on. Small town in the south of America? Bible-thumpers by the dozen? [She shakes her head.] Not much love there for anyone who puts a toe out of line.
I left as soon as I could for a reason. They're stifling people. Not everyone's that bad, but enough are.
Come on. Small town in the south of America? Bible-thumpers by the dozen? [She shakes her head.] Not much love there for anyone who puts a toe out of line.
I left as soon as I could for a reason. They're stifling people. Not everyone's that bad, but enough are.
[ Her reaction now isn't much easier to swallow than experiencing it first hand in the memory.
He meets her gaze, sympathetic, before looking down to grant her some privacy. ]
It's a mental health condition, right? Where you imagine illnesses?
He meets her gaze, sympathetic, before looking down to grant her some privacy. ]
It's a mental health condition, right? Where you imagine illnesses?
Oh.
[ He's so focused on curses, he forgot the world is also terrible outside of that. ]
I didn't grow up in a big city either but... it wasn't that bad. [ ... ] But you can't just kill people like that without consequence.
[ He's so focused on curses, he forgot the world is also terrible outside of that. ]
I didn't grow up in a big city either but... it wasn't that bad. [ ... ] But you can't just kill people like that without consequence.
[Sometimes the greatest evil...is man.]
Maybe they wouldn't kill you. Teach you a "lesson" maybe. Though if they went too far, I can't imagine Vickery would put much effort into solving the case.
Maybe they wouldn't kill you. Teach you a "lesson" maybe. Though if they went too far, I can't imagine Vickery would put much effort into solving the case.
[ HE'S LIKE... WHOA...
Time to change the topic. ]
Okay... Hey. You mind if I ask you about the whole monster possession thing?
Time to change the topic. ]
Okay... Hey. You mind if I ask you about the whole monster possession thing?
[Thank god except icly this is less comfortable?
But also who can blame him. Or anyone.]
...Sure, go ahead.
But also who can blame him. Or anyone.]
...Sure, go ahead.
[ He meets her gaze, expression still mostly concerned. ]
Do you know what's going to happen to you this Thursday?
Do you know what's going to happen to you this Thursday?
[She looks down, nodding. Naturally he wants to know.]
I'm working on it. The overseers might be able to put up a barrier, or I can go under lock and key. Maybe restrained.
I don't think my monster is the powerhouse some other people have, but I'm not sure what to expect of it either.
I'm working on it. The overseers might be able to put up a barrier, or I can go under lock and key. Maybe restrained.
I don't think my monster is the powerhouse some other people have, but I'm not sure what to expect of it either.
[Thank you for your discretion sweet Geto.]
More or less. With the by proxy crowd, you're making someone in your care sick.
It's usually about the attention of it, being seen caring for someone. Or...grieving them. If you go too far.
More or less. With the by proxy crowd, you're making someone in your care sick.
It's usually about the attention of it, being seen caring for someone. Or...grieving them. If you go too far.
And... All right.
[Does she want to know? Can she even comprehend?]
I'm glad I live in a boring world.
[Does she want to know? Can she even comprehend?]
I'm glad I live in a boring world.
... Grieving them?
[ Ugh, his stomach twists at that. ]
[ Ugh, his stomach twists at that. ]
[ He smiles. ]
I think everywhere is equally hard, to be honest. Boring or otherwise.
I think everywhere is equally hard, to be honest. Boring or otherwise.
[Yeah...]
I had another sister. Before Amma. [Camille quiets. Jaw tight.] Marian was very good about taking her medicine.
I had another sister. Before Amma. [Camille quiets. Jaw tight.] Marian was very good about taking her medicine.
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