100

[looselips]

Who: Shinji Matou and OPEN
Setting: Room 2-06, Floor 96, Floor 14
Format: Action preferred
Summary: Shinji has emotions and passive-aggressively plays video games
Warnings: Shinji having no idea how to cope with feelings, will add anything else that comes up

[Room 2-06]
[The video game Shinji receives is a good one. He's fond of it. Maybe not his favorite, but it would certainly rank within his top ten, if someone forced him to sit down and make a list. Under any other circumstance, he would be all but overjoyed to receive it.]

[Now, though, all he can think is, That's it?]

[In his anger, and with his usual childish level of restraint, he raises an arm and chucks the game, still in its case, down at the floor. He isn't particularly strong, but the force combined with the angle as it hits the floor is enough to make the case crack at the top corner and along its spine.]

[...But that's it. He doesn't throw a full-blown tantrum, like the time that Rider left. Instead, he merely stares in silence at the video game where it has settled on the floor, a second or two passing before he moves to pick it up again, checking to be sure that it is otherwise undamaged and sitting properly in its case.]

[Floor 96]
[Shinji hasn't actually set foot onto the floor proper yet, lingering on the stairs. The video game he received earlier is tucked under one arm. Evidently having drifted off into his own little world of thought, he isn't paying particular attention to his surroundings, his expression blank as he mulls things over.]

[He's heard what will happen if he steps onto this floor, and where the thought of losing his memories normally unsettles him, it almost appeals to him in this moment. He can remember being restrained, and having people standing over him, and the horror of being conscious but unable to control his own body. He'd rather not be able to, so here he stands, weighing the pros and cons.]

[Floor 14]
[And, because this is a Shinji post, he can at some point be found irritably and passive-aggressively playing his "new" video game in the media room. It isn't actually making him feel much better.]

Comments

Floor 96

[swordofzero]

It's not worth it.

[Oh look Shinji it's your irritating roommate who wont just leave you alone and let you self destruct. He struggles with this floor a lot, but at the moment he doesn't feel like he needs to forget. The very opposite, he needs to remember, remember what they did.

Remember why they have to keep fighting.]

[looselips]

Yeah, maybe.

[He doesn't argue with Suzaku, exactly, which is maybe a little strange, considering his normal behavior. But, then again, he wouldn't be sulking around on the stairs if he was certain it was worth it.]

But you weren't the one they...

[He doesn't finish that sentence. There are a lot of things he could complete it with, but none of them are easy to say.]

[swordofzero]

I know. [Suzaku nodded at him, he didn't have to finish the sentence, Suzaku knew...]

I wasn't, and I'm sorry that you were.

[looselips]

Being sorry isn't going to fix anything.

[But, again, it's said without his usual aggression.]

[swordofzero]

I know, some things are just unfixable, you can't turn back time you can only move forwards.

[He was silent for a moment] I am sure you have friends, and people you know from your world who will help you, but if you ever need to talk, about anything, even if just for a distraction, I'm here.

[looselips]

[Shinji listens in silence. Suzaku doesn't receive an immediate reply, but after a pause of several seconds, Shinji shakes his head.]

The only people from my world [...] killed me before I came here. [He hesitates a moment longer, and then he adds:] It's fine. There's nothing to talk about.

[swordofzero]

[Wow Suzaku way to put your foot in it. He looked down] Oh...

[He shrugs] Of course not, but what I'm trying to say is, if you need me you know where to find me.

[He's pretty much trying to copy Diarmuid's actions, because this kid is reminding him more of himself every time they speak.]

[looselips]

...Yeah, alright. [He shifts from one foot to the other. Shinji is not a person who enjoys relying on other people, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to pretend that he doesn't need any help in a place like this.]

[Somewhat belatedly, it occurs to him that Suzaku is only the second person to learn of his death, and the first one he's told directly.]

...Don't go spreading around that I died, you hear? I don't want people hovering over me out of pity.

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku nodded, hoping the boy was being sincere. And then nodded again] I wont, I wont tell a soul.

[looselips]

...Okay. Thanks.

[That isn't something Shinji is likely to say very often, so Suzaku had better treasure it.]

They sent me a video game.

[swordofzero]

A video game? One that you had back in your world?

[As 'rewards' went that was almost kind]

[looselips]

Yeah. [He isn't sure why he's telling Suzaku this, exactly, but he's edging around...something.] Do they...do that a lot? To the people they do those things to, I mean.

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku nodded] Yes, I am not sure what their purpose is, but it is often when the worst things happen that they give those they experiment on things from home.

[looselips]

Do they seriously think that's enough to shut us up and keep us happy?

[Some of his usual spark returns to his tone, as though he's offended.]

[swordofzero]

Perhaps. [He looks at the boy sadly] I think it is just another way for them to demonstrate their control.

[looselips]

Fuck them! [Normally, he doesn't about use language like that aloud, or at least not language that severe, but this is different. The idea that it was deliberately done to rub in the power they hold over him— Somehow, in this moment, that enrages him more than the memory of what was done to his body and mind.] If Rider were here, I'd have her turn their bodies into bullet-ridden corpses...!

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku doesn't mention the language, he has a feeling they should at least try and keep some semblance of normality, and eight year old's should not have mouths that foul.

But on the other hand they are in this place and swearing is the least of their issues.]

I believe they are bullet proof. Or at least have ways to shield themselves.

[Rider was who he had been upset had left... And now Suzaku knew more about Diarmuid's world.] Rider... that's like Lancer is it not? Are you from the same place as Diarmuid?

[But he had said the only person from his home had killed him...]

[looselips]

[Shinji makes a face when Diarmuid is mentioned, but not for any deeply meaningful reason. He just doesn't like him.]

Doubtful. I guess you should know that there's at least one reality that's similar to my own, but it isn't the same. If you ever run into anyone who calls themselves my uncle or my sister, they aren't.

[swordofzero]

[So like the universe the Euphemia who had came here was from. A universe where he hadn't failed...]

That must be confusing.

[looselips]

It's irritating, is what it is. [He shakes his head.] Point is, even if the terms "Rider" and "Lancer" are related, that doesn't mean much of anything in this place.

[swordofzero]

[He nodded] What I meant was, is this Rider who you know like Lancer in the way that they are a Servant? Or does it mean something completely different on your world.

[looselips]

[He nods to that easily enough.] She's my Servant.

[swordofzero]

So you are a... mage?

[looselips]

A magus. [Though, really, the terminology probably doesn't matter all that much.]

[...He doesn't boast or anything, though, so he must still be in a bad mood.]

[swordofzero]

[He nods, impressed. He knew nothing apart from that about his world but he couldn't imagine that becoming a magus by the age of eight would have been easy.]

Magus, sorry, I wasn't sure of the correct term.