hotel: hope

[shaft]

Comments

[highestheim]

[ he doesn't even flinch, he just smiles back ]

If you'd rather not talk about it, you can just say so. You don't need to try and deflect.

[shaft]

[ stop don't be genuine

Claude just sighs, defeated. ]

There's not much to say. Death is pretty final.

[highestheim]

[ solemnly: ] Yeah, it is.

[ . . . ]

Is this what you went home to, after we left Wiwaldi?

[shaft]

I didn't go back.

Didn't seem like there was much of a point.

[highestheim]

So...

Where did you go?

[shaft]

I went on a vacation. Something more people should've done, in my opinion.

[highestheim]

[ ... a faint smile ]

I can't say I blame you for wanting a break.

[shaft]

It was smart too, to have one before winding up back here. I'm surprised more people didn't consider one.

[highestheim]

[ ... ]

Can I ask you something personal, Claude?

[shaft]

[ dude can u get more personal than watching a bro die ]

You can ask, sure.

[highestheim]

What do you plan to do with this second chance of yours?

[shaft]

[ oh, he blinks at the question. ]

I have no idea, to be honest.

[highestheim]

That's fair. I'm sure you hardly even had the time to consider the implications before ending up in another one of these situations.

...

I'm sorry for the burden you've had to carry with you this whole time.

[shaft]

[ stop he's going to feel awkward ]

We all have our burdens. [ he just smiles ] Thanks, Hope. We might not have been close before, but I'm glad for your friendship now.

[highestheim]

What can I say? I've matured over the years.

[ :') ]

[shaft]

So you have.

You were pretty mature as a kid too.

[highestheim]

[ laughs ]

Was I? Everyone says that, but I never felt that way... though I guess we are the worst judges of our own character.

[shaft]

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but you seemed quite serious most times. Focused on figuring out what was going on, and the like.

It's too bad.

[highestheim]

"Too bad"?

[shaft]

Yeah, you were only 14. Should've been allowed to do normal teen things instead of solving murders.

[highestheim]

Ah... well, it isn't as if my life back home was any better. I did experience some sense of normalcy once we'd saved our world, but... I think it's safe to say I haven't really known "normal" in a long time.

[shaft]

That really is too bad.

But hopefully one day. [ nudges him ] Maybe take a break after this and go to a beach.

[highestheim]

[ a wry smile ]

Are you speaking from experience?

[shaft]

I am. I have no regrets!

[highestheim]

Then maybe I can accompany you on the next vacation you go on. I'd be honored to travel with someone who has experience.