["Wanna talk about it?" Simple question, right? Sunny could - should - normally would - just say, "No," and leave it at that, but it's not just that.
[He knows what will happen if he tries to tell Luz too much, or if Luz pushes too far. Her offer is kind - he should be able to trust her, but he doesn't...]
I can't. [It comes out weak, pained; Sunny hugs himself with his arms wrapped tightly around his middle.]
[Luz was watching him, more than looking for a way out. Sunny was not just some kid, or Aubrey's other boyfriend: he was HER friend, and he was still trying to compose himself so he wouldn't freak out.
She remembered their conversation about Omori, and how he was frightened about what might happen].
Sunny. I'm going to look for way out for us. If you don't want to talk about anything, I get it. I understand.
But know I won't tell anyone, if you do. Your secrets don't leave this room. Even I know that sometimes there are things I need to say to other people.
If I keep it to myself, it can take me to some dark places.
[Sorry, Luz, but you just don't know him like that.
[A knife is produced from the boy's pocket - flipped and caught in his hand. He juts his arm out and holds the knife point only inches away from Luz's throat.]
Things happened to him, things he keeps inside, all the time. He doesn't say it, and people let it go, but some know, and maybe are scared to talk about it.
But they should let him talk. He feels like he can't, and he's so scared that if he talks, no one will ever care about him anymore.
[Omori pictures his steak knife wedged sideways through Luz's throat. She puts words in Sunny's mouth like they're her own - they are her own, or so she says.
[Then, she. Should. Know.
[But she's still talking.
[Fine. They can talk.]
Sunny isn't you, Luz. [His voice is even, calm. He watches Luz's eyes.] Whatever you did to disappoint the people that care about you, that's your fault.
You don't deserve them, right? Even if they forgave you, you must know that's true...
[Luz realized now this was a lot like when she had faced Belos in his mindscape, where he had the answers and she was asking questions, and then he steered her to the truth, his truth. That he had manipulated her so well she had given him just what he needed.
But it needed to change. It needed to change to their fourth encounter, the truly dangerous one, where he showed his true face and came at her, showed his cards and flexed his power on her, almost killing her.
Strange, how that was starting to be familiar, coming close to death, and staring it back, having to BE unafraid].
I faced what I had to face then. That's my own burden, and I'll carry that.
But Sunny deserves someone listening to him. Helping him. And that's what I want to do.
No one should be petrified by their mistakes forever.
[That was the really annoying part too: NO ONE really could say what they wanted to, and where things got murky, Luz knew she was risking herself here.
The boy had a knife to her. She could see that, she could even feel that heaviness in the air where the knife could come, where the moment of being unaware meant she could lose something. A limb, a body part.
But Luz wasn't trying to think about that now].
No. He did that. He does that. He's scared. That's why you come, isn't it?
You help him. That's why no one is angry about Omori. Like at the birthday party. They know you help.
And you know what, maybe you do. I know I don't know anything about the real details. I'm not stupid.
But someone's got to let him talk. He wants to leave here someday, possibly feel better, I think. Can he do that if he never faces the things he can't talk about?
Or when he thinks he's lower than so many other people, who love him?
[Ha. That birthday party. Luz probably doesn't realize what took place only a few days later - only hours after she and Sunny sent off a lantern together. That birthday party meant nothing - a house full of liars trying to twisting themselves back into Sunny's life.
[It almost worked. Omori should have known better. Who knew that he wouldn't actually have to do anything to keep Kel away when Kel is perfectly capable of fucking everything up himself?
[Luz's questions won't be answered. Sunny is meant for happiness. He and Omori both know that very well. But it's none of Luz's business.]
You need to stop asking questions.
Stop putting your own insecurities onto someone you barely know.
Sunny is here. He's taken care of. He doesn't need you.
[He sure liked to tell Luz what she shouldn't do, and she knew well enough that her insecurities were bad enough. That they were own.
And Omori understood there was some projection there. But Sunny had his own issues too. You'd have to be blind not to see them. Saying that he was OK and fine wasn't right either.
Even being here, in this place, bothered him. There was a connection to moving, which he didn't want to do, and the feeling that he was back here that unnerved him enough that Omori was here].
Maybe you don't understand. So I'll say it plainly, so you get it too.
I want to help him. The place where he is, it's slowly swallowing him. Not immediately, but little by little, and one day he won't even know how to get out.
It's not about me and him being the same, I know we aren't. I still feel like I can talk to people about my pain. But he doesn't.
And you need to remind him of something I told HIM. That I would be here. That I wouldn't leave him, even if things got scary. Because I won't stop trying to stop him from thinking the worse things about himself.
You would know.
[Luz took a breath, then exhaled. And began searching for the coin].
[Luz must think that she's helping Sunny, somehow, Omori thinks. She doesn't realize that she's done more damage than a single other person here - insisting on Sunny's need to speak, talking about the truth and mistakes like she has any idea what she's talking about.
[She's at the top of Omori's list now. It'll be an uphill battle getting Sunny to tell her anything - it won't happen if Omori can help it.
[He can.
[He allows Luz to search for the coin - through boxes, piles, whatever she chooses. Omori stands in the center of the room all the while, flipping the steak knife in his hand.]
[Luz would probably still have done it. She believed in helping Sunny, and whether that meant Omori would keep her away from him or not, she still wanted to hear him and talk to him.
She had suspected she would likely not get along with Omori, and now she knew it for sure. Well.
She was used to some people not liking her by now.
As she was rummaging through the boxes, she looked up].
You know, the faster you help, the quicker you can get away from me. I figured you'd want to help for that reason alone.
[Omori continues cutting open boxes and turning them over. If some debris accidentally lands on the glyph? Oh well.
[Eventually, the sound of a coin rolling on a wood floor. Omori stomps on it with his foot like a bug; reaches down to take it out from under his shoe. He brings it to the cabinet.
[He doesn't wait for Luz to see, nor does he ask her if she's ready. For all he knows, they'll be sucked into another video game, forced to work together; when he inserts the coin, that doesn't happen.
[They arrive back in the Enchanted Garden.
[Omori looks at Luz - cocks his head to the side.]
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[He knows what will happen if he tries to tell Luz too much, or if Luz pushes too far. Her offer is kind - he should be able to trust her, but he doesn't...]
I can't. [It comes out weak, pained; Sunny hugs himself with his arms wrapped tightly around his middle.]
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[Luz was watching him, more than looking for a way out. Sunny was not just some kid, or Aubrey's other boyfriend: he was HER friend, and he was still trying to compose himself so he wouldn't freak out.
She remembered their conversation about Omori, and how he was frightened about what might happen].
Sunny. I'm going to look for way out for us. If you don't want to talk about anything, I get it. I understand.
But know I won't tell anyone, if you do. Your secrets don't leave this room. Even I know that sometimes there are things I need to say to other people.
If I keep it to myself, it can take me to some dark places.
cw: alters/shifting, violence/threats SORRY LUZ
[A knife is produced from the boy's pocket - flipped and caught in his hand. He juts his arm out and holds the knife point only inches away from Luz's throat.]
That's enough.
Find the coin.
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Put that away. You know what I can do. Don't think I can't disarm someone with a knife.
[Luz was speaking soft, but with conviction].
I was meaning to talk to you.
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You'd hurt Sunny? [The knife flips once more in his hand.] But you're such a good friend.
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I'd hope you feel the same way. That it doesn't just have to end with someone getting hurt.
I don't want that for him. Or you.
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You don't know him, either.
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And I care about him. I know you have to know that.
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What reason do you have to care?
He's a nice guy. Is that all it takes?
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Things happened to him, things he keeps inside, all the time. He doesn't say it, and people let it go, but some know, and maybe are scared to talk about it.
But they should let him talk. He feels like he can't, and he's so scared that if he talks, no one will ever care about him anymore.
I KNOW what that's like.
cw: violent thoughts
[Then, she. Should. Know.
[But she's still talking.
[Fine. They can talk.]
Sunny isn't you, Luz. [His voice is even, calm. He watches Luz's eyes.] Whatever you did to disappoint the people that care about you, that's your fault.
You don't deserve them, right? Even if they forgave you, you must know that's true...
no subject
But it needed to change. It needed to change to their fourth encounter, the truly dangerous one, where he showed his true face and came at her, showed his cards and flexed his power on her, almost killing her.
Strange, how that was starting to be familiar, coming close to death, and staring it back, having to BE unafraid].
I faced what I had to face then. That's my own burden, and I'll carry that.
But Sunny deserves someone listening to him. Helping him. And that's what I want to do.
No one should be petrified by their mistakes forever.
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What makes you think that Sunny wants to talk to you? He's not here, is he?
You think I made him go away? You think he has no one. Helping. Him?
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[That was the really annoying part too: NO ONE really could say what they wanted to, and where things got murky, Luz knew she was risking herself here.
The boy had a knife to her. She could see that, she could even feel that heaviness in the air where the knife could come, where the moment of being unaware meant she could lose something. A limb, a body part.
But Luz wasn't trying to think about that now].
No. He did that. He does that. He's scared. That's why you come, isn't it?
You help him. That's why no one is angry about Omori. Like at the birthday party. They know you help.
And you know what, maybe you do. I know I don't know anything about the real details. I'm not stupid.
But someone's got to let him talk. He wants to leave here someday, possibly feel better, I think. Can he do that if he never faces the things he can't talk about?
Or when he thinks he's lower than so many other people, who love him?
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[It almost worked. Omori should have known better. Who knew that he wouldn't actually have to do anything to keep Kel away when Kel is perfectly capable of fucking everything up himself?
[Luz's questions won't be answered. Sunny is meant for happiness. He and Omori both know that very well. But it's none of Luz's business.]
You need to stop asking questions.
Stop putting your own insecurities onto someone you barely know.
Sunny is here. He's taken care of. He doesn't need you.
Are you really sure he even wants you?
ha its ok I already deleted the other one!
[He sure liked to tell Luz what she shouldn't do, and she knew well enough that her insecurities were bad enough. That they were own.
And Omori understood there was some projection there. But Sunny had his own issues too. You'd have to be blind not to see them. Saying that he was OK and fine wasn't right either.
Even being here, in this place, bothered him. There was a connection to moving, which he didn't want to do, and the feeling that he was back here that unnerved him enough that Omori was here].
Maybe you don't understand. So I'll say it plainly, so you get it too.
I want to help him. The place where he is, it's slowly swallowing him. Not immediately, but little by little, and one day he won't even know how to get out.
It's not about me and him being the same, I know we aren't. I still feel like I can talk to people about my pain. But he doesn't.
And I'm scared that this will crush him one day.
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[The knife is held steady. Void dark eyes bore holes through Luz Noceda.]
Sunny has been swallowed. Little. By little.
Sunny has been. Crushed.
You wouldn't know. They wouldn't know.
You can't save him. The boy is dead. It's too late.
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[Spade is a spade.
The next words are ones that Luz needs to swallow a moment. Sunny, just gone, here only enough so that he can put on what was left himself.
That Omori was all that was left. That there was nothing left of Sunny to help. To save.
Luz could see his face, giving him the warning not to touch off his other self. That was Sunny. It had to be].
He needs someone to listen to him. Not to save him, or redeem him, or fight for him. He needs people to hear his voice.
If they don't, maybe then, he might be crushed. But I know he isn't yet.
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[Sunny doesn't need to be heard; Sunny needs to be left alone.
[He is crushed. If anyone asked him - really asked him - he'd tell them the same.
[Omori pulls the knife away from Luz's throat, flipping it again, again, again in his hand. He hasn't stopped staring through her.]
Sunny doesn't want to talk to you.
If he did, he'd be here.
When are you [All of you.] going to accept that?
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And you need to remind him of something I told HIM. That I would be here. That I wouldn't leave him, even if things got scary. Because I won't stop trying to stop him from thinking the worse things about himself.
You would know.
[Luz took a breath, then exhaled. And began searching for the coin].
feel free to move toward wrap or w/e you prefer!
[She's at the top of Omori's list now. It'll be an uphill battle getting Sunny to tell her anything - it won't happen if Omori can help it.
[He can.
[He allows Luz to search for the coin - through boxes, piles, whatever she chooses. Omori stands in the center of the room all the while, flipping the steak knife in his hand.]
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She had suspected she would likely not get along with Omori, and now she knew it for sure. Well.
She was used to some people not liking her by now.
As she was rummaging through the boxes, she looked up].
You know, the faster you help, the quicker you can get away from me. I figured you'd want to help for that reason alone.
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[Considering for a moment, he eventually goes over to one of the boxes and slices it cleanly open with his knife. He dumps out the contents - no coin.
[Onto the next box.]
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But Luz was searching as well as she could herself, looking for any hint of a coin-so far, nothing.
Luz sighed, then put down a glyph so that she could bring a beacon of light to help them see a little better].
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[Omori continues cutting open boxes and turning them over. If some debris accidentally lands on the glyph? Oh well.
[Eventually, the sound of a coin rolling on a wood floor. Omori stomps on it with his foot like a bug; reaches down to take it out from under his shoe. He brings it to the cabinet.
[He doesn't wait for Luz to see, nor does he ask her if she's ready. For all he knows, they'll be sucked into another video game, forced to work together; when he inserts the coin, that doesn't happen.
[They arrive back in the Enchanted Garden.
[Omori looks at Luz - cocks his head to the side.]
All done.
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