Imeeji: IC Continuations

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Previous:
Speed Dating [Day 32]
Mistletoe Game [Day 71]
Social Bingo [Day 101]

Includes:
B's Fancy Dance [Day 102]
Kissing Game [Day 124]
Mistletoe 2 [Day 187]
Objective Game [Day 223]
Tokyo-F Stamp Rally (Age Up and Age Down Event) [Day 245]

Comments

[we_meet_again]

HAHAHA I guess so! Gotta get 'em points!

[This laughter has a tight edge to it, and sounds forced for some reason!]

—Just kidding, it's cause I hate being terrified of something I used to love.


[taking a deep breath and letting it out as they leave the lobby.

Did you know there are multiple exits from the lobby? And the back exit leads out to a little patio with a small garden. There are trees here, but they're small. Across the street is an actual park, though, full of real-ass plants and everything. So there should be plenty around here to work with.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[He steps onto the patio, waiting to see if Cobalt will go for the smaller plants or venture toward the park]

So what exactly did the tree do to you?

1/2

[we_meet_again]

[He takes one look at the trees on the patio and his eyes skid right off them again. Hey what if he ignores these and starts walking to the park instead? That will buy him at least one and half more minutes of not having to deal with this. That seems worth it!!

So he starts leading the way across the pedestrian bridge that goes over the empty highway, connecting the patio to the park. He's trying very hard to be cool about this but the color in his face is already starting to drain, and his skin looks a little clammy.]


...


In the House—

I was alone and badly injured, trying to find medical supplies to help a unitmate. I got caught by someone who'd lost their sanity.

I fought back, but she got me on the ground and stabbed me in the chest with a spear, then pushed this... seed, into the wound.

The—

...







—The seed started growing inside me and a tree burst out of my ribs. I was paralysed and all I could do was lay there and watch as it grew branches and leaves that were edged with my blood. I died terrified and weeping and suffocating on the roots that were growing in my throat.

[we_meet_again]

[taking a couple of unsteady breaths.

He smiles, but his eyes are a little too wide, mouth a little too tight.]

Ever since then, whenever I look at a tree or touch anything that looks like branches, I panic and throw up.

It is such bullshit.

1/3

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[








Oh.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[If you had asked Intensity what he should have been expecting, that certainly wasn't it.

And it's not like being pinned down and being torn apart while you're still alive is something he is unfamiliar with, but---


What do you even say to that?

"Actually, turns out it never leaves you!"

"Deal with it!"

Retorts that are too awful even for Intensity too immediately blurt out.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

And you think exposure therapy is the best way to get around that?

[we_meet_again]

The avoidance therapy sure isn't working, anyway.

[a tight, forced laugh.]

Did you know I can't even deal with gardening any more? That was one of the things I did to calm myself after bad games and now I can't.

The nightmare I got from the tournament game was a vision of myself and everyone I loved being ripped apart by trees.

And now I have a "tree" objective in even this game.

[he clutches his phone like he's ready to spike it onto the ground]

This phobia is a liability and I need to get it under control by whatever means necessary.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . .

[Grabs the crook of Cobalt's elbow and drags him farther into the park]

[we_meet_again]

[thanks, he hates it]

[The tug on his arm sends sharp spike of panic straight into his lungs. His instinct is to dig in his heels and punch Intensity squarely in the face, and he probably would have if this were any other person -- It's only the fact that Intensity's never hurt him before that keeps him from reflexively tearing his arm completely off.

He does go very rigid, though, stumbling along with considerable resistance.]

Stop- stop it.

I'm going already, don't pull me.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[He stops about six steps forward then]

They're not going to hurt you.

I won't allow it.

[we_meet_again]

[He stops for a moment, taking sharp, deep breaths, trying to calm the fuck down and pull himself together.

He looks at Intensity... swallows, then looks away. His heart is pounding.

Gods dammit, he feels like he's about to cry already. This is so fucking stupid. He's so mad about all of this -- not at Intensity, just about the situation. The game. Having this reaction to fucking plants.

He swallows again, and takes a deep breath. Steels himself. Looks Intensity in the eyes.]

Yeah.

[He sets his jaw and starts walking again, heading into the park with the biggest air of confidence he can muster.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[If Intensity notices the reactions, it doesn't show on his face. Just a slight nod of his head when Cobalt acknowledges him.

And keeping one hand in the crook of Cobalt's elbow, he walks alongside him - a little off the path himself (when they use it), so Cobalt can be equidistant from the trees on both sides.]

[we_meet_again]

[His gaze is fixed on the path. He's white as a sheet and covered in a cold sweat, keeping his breathing deliberately even in an effort to keep the panic from creeping back in.

Unfortunately, walking around under the trees isn't doing anything for his goal, so he'll have to do something else.

When they get to a lawn area with a couple scattered trees, he pauses for a moment, considering it... then sets his jaw and starts heading over toward one.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Watches him approach, though he removes his hand so Cobalt can so whatever he needs to do.

He crosses his arms and waits just a couple steps behind]

[we_meet_again]

[Not looking up at the branches, he approaches the tree, hesitates, and puts one shaking hand on the trunk.

Nothing.

He kneels, squeezes his eyes shut, and lowers himself to the ground to lay on his back under it.

Nothing.

It takes him a few moments, just laying there and breathing, before he finally opens his eyes.

Intensity gets a hit of dopamine.

Cobalt rolls onto his side with a hand clapped over his mouth and starts coughing violently.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Intensity is at his side at an instant with a hand on his back.]

Hey...

[we_meet_again]

[he's laying on his side with both hands over his eyes now, taking deep, rasping breaths and shaking all over. He doesn't flinch away from the contact this time, though.]

ThIs iS So StUpId...

[he sounds. pretty mad.

He didn't throw up this time, though. So he's got that going for him.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Yes. Well.

[How does one offer comfort to a trauma if the coping mechanism is not denial?

We just don't know]

Everything about an idol Hell is stupid.

So you're not wrong.

[we_meet_again]

[The combination of barely-contained panic, frustration, gratitude, shame, and the bright rush of wonderful, excellent game feelings on top of everything is frankly a little overwhelming. He swallows, and it feels tight... and despite his best efforts not to cry, his mouth twists into a sharp, wobbling frown and he draws in on himself.

It's pretty contained, all things considered. His eyes are still hidden behind his hands and there's nothing much to see. The only indication is a couple deep, hitching breaths, and the way his shoulders shake... and then it's gone. Blink and you'd miss it.

He sniffs and wipes his face off, a little forcefully, like he's frustrated. But he sighs and gets to his feet.

He still looks stressed out, but mostly he just looks exhausted. When he speaks, his voice is rough.]


Okay. We got the points. Let's get out of here.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Cobalt, please.

Perhaps you should have chosen a better trauma partner because 75% of these cues are just gonna go straight over his head.

All he knows is that something is wrong.]

You wouldn't be here if it was just the points you were looking after.

[we_meet_again]

[I dunno, Intensity not noticing seems like the ideal situation, honestly? We don't need to unpack ALL of this.

He starts slowly leading the way back to the game tower, looking back to make sure Intensity is following.]

Yeah.

[He rubs his eye]

I've been working on this for a while. I know it's hard to tell, but this is still better than before.

Check it out: this is the first time I've managed to do that without Cloud Nine, and I didn't even barf. Normally I do. Nearly every time.

[I mean, he did cry, but,]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[He is following, less closely since it's seems they are heading back out of the park]

And this applies to all plants?

[we_meet_again]

[they are, indeed. fuck this shit]

Just ones with forking branches, these days. Flowers are okay. Bushes are thin ice.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Maybe if you pruned the bushes into art pieces, they'd be less offensive.

Also probably on brand for pep.