this is crystal's fault and i made this pc under duress

[insistence]

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Week 1: Monday

[insistence]

[What the hell is taking that flamboyant clown of a man on the network so long to get here? Did he get lost?? Does he really need to go hunting the man down to get a simple task taken care of???

Nishi isn't one to wait around, so he heads out in search of Ainosuke but takes a wrong left turn and ends up knocking on the door of Lovecraft instead. And knocking. And knocking louder and faster and maybe kicking the damn thing too, hurry the FUCK up,]

[ohrlyeh]

[And here comes a loud groan from inside.]

Why are you knocking so much...?

[He will open the door a peek. Hello.]

[insistence]

[The door finally (it's been like .5 seconds) opens, and...

Oh. That's. Hmm. This dour man is not quite what Nishi was expecting, but you know what? Nishi's rolling with it. Let's see where this goes.

He leans casually to one side to peek right back at Lovecraft.]

Hey there. You come here often?

[Teehee, how embarrassing. It's been a while since he's done this, probably. He can't remember!]

[ohrlyeh]

...

[He looks behind him, then at Nishi. Who is this weirdo?]

I am staying here so. Yes.

[Obviously.]

Do you want to come inside...?

[insistence]

[Nishi jolts! How did he know...? Can this man... read his mind...?

...So like, yeah. He wants in, so he eagerly nods. He's here on important business, after all.]

You wouldn't happen to be alone, would you?

[Please say yes. Committing crimes in front of an audience really isn't his style.]

Week 1: Post-trial

[insistence]

[...Post-trial, post-fight, post-alcoholic bender, and post-fight #2, here comes Nishi shambling his way on down to God's house with nothing but sins to his name.

Oh... and look! Lovecraft's here! Time for Nishi to slur out some bullshit in lieu of a proper greeting.]

Did you come here to pray? You hardly seem the type, my friend.

[ohrlyeh]

[Lovecraft is actually sitting at a pew, here, turning his head to glance back as Nishi wanders in....all the worse for wear, it seems.]

I do not pray.

[He scoffs, glancing back towards the altar that held a head.]

It is a folly.

[insistence]

[A folly... Nishi scoffs himself, grins too.]

...So you're calling all those who believe in God fools? Am I hearing you right?

[ohrlyeh]

I do not care if...one believes. Or not. I do not...know how to pray regardless. And neither would I...put my beliefs in. A higher power. And if it existed, divine power wouldn't care for...human trifles.

[A pause, before he pats the space next to him.]

Sit.

[insistence]

[That would strike him as surprisingly profound were Lovecraft not a strikingly profound man, but he is. Compelled to sit, Nishi wanders over, a little less sure of his footing, before dropping unceremoniously onto the pew.]

How sad. I would want to believe in a higher power- or at least hope for one.

[Hope for someone merciful, undeserving as he is.]

WEEK 2, DAY 3

[ohrlyeh]

[He's looking for a certain someone. High and low. Here and there. And finally, he spots it - a man who he's been circling, perhaps, like a mysterious little satellite.]

[He wanders over to the side of the hot springs, glancing down.]

Nishi.

[Hi, there.]

Enjoying yourself?

[insistence]

[Nishi— ...Rather, Char is slow to react. He heard Lovecraft coming, the cadence of his footfalls suggesting someone tall and thin. Char had, perhaps shortsightedly, imagined he would be alone if he came to bathe this late in the evening. He's been avoiding people all day.

He turns to acknowledge Lovecraft with a look, not sure if he should nod or shake his head. Normally, he'd be enjoying himself thoroughly. Onsens are wonderful. Right now, though...]

...I suppose. It's a surprise to see you here.

[Char looks like he's been in the bath for too long, read and bleary-eyed from the heat. Lovecraft seems more like a... room temperature water kind of guy to him, so he must not be here to bathe. Why come here, then?]

[ohrlyeh]

I and the water get along well. Though this...is a little hot...

[He's never been one for extreme temperatures, and with his build, he probably would pass out if he stayed in for longer than ten minutes.]

[He's bending down to take a closer look at him.]

You have...been in there too long. [A beat.] And I wish to...show you. Something.

[insistence]

Fair enough. When you start to prune, you've been in the bath too long.

[And he's long since gone past that point, taking on an ironic red hue. With a bit of effort — sluggish, tired — Char pulls himself out of the bath and gets to his feet. Even the way he's carrying himself is... off. Normally so precise, so meticulously put together, he no longer radiates that same untouchable aura.]

We don't delay, then. Just allow me a minute to get dressed.

[ohrlyeh]

...Alright.

[He'll back up, but he feels that something has changed. Nishi has changed. He doesn't know how, but...]

[Hm. Maybe he's just tired from being in the springs for so long. Lovecraft tilts his head.]

Are you...well?

week 2: post-exe

[insistence]

[Char seems... not in better spirits, exactly, but more grounded than the last time they spoke alone. With the story drawing toward its inevitable end, there are matters he intends to settle before the conclusion arrives.

He finds Lovecraft wherever he lingers, naturally checking the chapel first, and approaches with firm steps, visor and helmet tucked neatly beneath one arm. When he stops before him, his bearing carries that familiar, commanding weight.]

There's something important I need to discuss with you. Is now a good time?

[Not even a 'hey how u doin' before jumping straight into the meat and potatoes. Someone's fired up today.]

[ohrlyeh]

....Yes.

[He sits on the pew, hands clasped on his lap, with only purple eyes sliding to look over at the man.]

What is it...? Come. Sit. If you desire.

[insistence]

[Char easily settles beside him on the pew. His gaze is intense, but he doesn't angle any sort of aggression at Lovecraft. Rather, he's here to beg for a favor.]

You said that you would follow me, did you not? Does that remain true?

[ohrlyeh]

[He meets his gaze with a level one of his own.]

If you still promise me...everything I desire. Yes. I am yours.

[insistence]

[Everything... even when made whole, old memories intact, Char has to wonder how much he has in him to give. Still, any promise he can keep, he will.]

Then tell me what it is you desire. There are limits to what I can offer, but beyond that... I won't let you down.

WEEK 3 EPILOGUE

[ohrlyeh]

[There is one man he is going to put effort into finding. A man who he just saw carry the being who had taken his heart.]

[And now, they have a world to have fun in, friends all returned, but...]

[He will be sitting on the pier, looking out onto the water, waiting for Char to come to him. When he does, he glances over, petting the space next to him.]

Nishi. Come here.

[insistence]

[Ah. Lovecraft haunts the edge of the peer like a shadow, yet it feels like he was compelling him to meet here. Just his imagination, surely, and not a Lovecraftian spell cast over his soul.

Char settles at his side easily, turned to meet his gaze.]

There you are. I was beginning to think you'd grown tired of the fanfare and slipped away early.

[ohrlyeh]

I...admit that, too.

[He's never been one for crowds or fanfare or festivities, really. Char settles next to him, and he's shifting closer, though still shy of outright touching him.]

But I hoped you would have fun with the others. Everyone is...saying their goodbyes.

[insistence]

[Char huffs softly, the sound caught somewhere between amusement and weariness. He turns his gaze out toward the garish lights of the park, their reflections spilling across the water in fractured ribbons. When he speaks, his voice is low and even, without the mask of showmanship he's carried for so long.]

Goodbyes have never suited me. I've said too many of them already, and never well.

[His eyes flick back to Lovecraft, steady and deep.]

It would have been easier to disappear without a word, but I'm turning over a new leaf. So I've convinced myself, anyway.

[ohrlyeh]

[He's always liked him like this. No mask. Nothing else but just him. This, too, might be a layer, but it is a layer that he feels is something maybe he can only see.]

[Lovecraft can't help himself. He reaches up to tuck a strand of that golden hair behind an ear.]

A new leaf? Hm. And what would that be?