[text] - backdated to November 1st

[bashfulshifter]

[Please humor him, Tower. The man was clawed to death by a shadow and has missed some days. He's very worried!]

...Is the game over? Did anything happen in the past few days? Is everyone okay?

[The rest is filtered to Veronica Madaraki.]

I'm so sorry for pushing you away over the last week...it's not the first time I've been out of my right mind in this place, unfortunately, and I'm ashamed for having lost myself again. I just hope you weren't hurt at my expense...and if you were, I definitely don't deserve your forgiveness. I'm sorry.

Comments

[Text]

[heavenscorpse]

I think it's over, since I'm alive again.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

I'm sorry that you died because of this...I did, too, and I also just woke up. It's...strange, though. I've died here before, but it never took this long for me to come back.

[text]

[heavenscorpse]

Me neither. Maybe it's different when you die during something strange going on?

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

Possibly...or it could be something to do with the shadows? There were a lot of people who died because of them a couple months ago, and it seemed like it took a few days for them to revive as well.

[text]

[heavenscorpse]

That could be it too. I died to the monsters when people were turned into monsters, and I came back right away, but I didn't when I died because of the shadows last time.

[Text]

[pureply]

I believe so; it looks like the people who were killed during the game have come back.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

Myself included. Did you make it through okay?

[text]

[pureply]

I'm terribly sorry to hear that; please come see me if you need anything healed.

The shadow children weren't attracted to me, so I'm okay.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

Thank you...but I'm okay now.

[Physically, anyways. He's not sure Mia can do anything about the mental scarring.]

They weren't? Odd...although now that you mention it, I don't think my roommates were affected by them either. Or if they were, I couldn't tell.

[text]

[pureply]

Yes. It seems strange, doesn't it? Like it only targets a portion of the Tower's residents.

[text]

[notsogrimreaper]

It seems to be over now... Did something happen to you? Are you okay now?

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

I think I got too many riddles wrong and made my shadow unhappy with me.

[Read: violent death.]

I'm okay now, though. Better, at least. Did you make it through the game okay?

[text]

[notsogrimreaper]

I see. I'm not surprised. They weren't too happy if you couldn't give them everything they wanted.

I didn't make it either, sadly. One of the shadows stole my whole bowl of candy, so I couldn't give them what they wanted after that.

[And got eaten alive. Great.]

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

I'm so sorry that happened...I wish I could've helped.

[text]

[notsogrimreaper]

There's nothing to apologize for. You didn't need to help. I wish I would have been able to help you, honestly.

[Filtered Text]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[There's a small message, plain and simple.]

Come to floor twenty five. I'll be waiting. We'll talk there.

[She'd rather speak directly to his face.]

[filtered text] - 1/2

[bashfulshifter]

...On my way.

[action] - 2/2

[bashfulshifter]

[And he departs! Rick is quick about showing up--he's already wronged Veronica in too many ways to insult her by being late.]

[The blonde man is still somewhat disheveled and shaken, leaning into the landing of the cool fall meadow with a significant amount of apprehension; but he's noticeably less anxious than he was the last time they met. Hopefully this will not get worse.]

...V-Veronica? Ah...i-it's me...

[action]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Sitting in the middle of the meadow, facing away from Rick, was Veronica. Her swords were sticking out of the dirt beside her. She was looking down, tracing her scarred fingers over her necklace.

She looks up and turns when she hears Rick's voice, an apology plain on her face before she even speaks.]

Uh... h-hey... I-I guess w-we both have s-some apologizing to do...

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick barely sets eyes on the expression Veronica has before he melts into a stammering, apologetic mess.]

--N-No, I--y-you d-d-did e-everything right--i-it was my f-f-fault. I c-can't...b-b-believe I d-didn't...I don't e-even know w-what...why I c-couldn't...trust...

[His head sinks into his chest.]

...I'm s-sorry.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Well then it was Veronica's turn to start apologizing, quickly devolving into a mess of her own.]

N-n-no! No! Y-you were only t-trying t-to help. A-and you were j-just afraid of... s-something happening to m-me!

[She fumbled over herself trying to get to her feet, tears appearing in her eyes.]

I n-nearly attacked y-y-you! I-I couldn't trust a-anyone by the end.... I'm so sorry...

[Text]

[neverbeamemory]

Patrick, right?

I should thank you.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

...Yes, that's me. Thank you, but...I'm afraid I don't understand. What for?

[Text]

[neverbeamemory]

You died so that I could live.

[Text]

[bashfulshifter]

...I did? Can I ask how?