hotel: rupert

[shaft]

Comments

[shaft]

I'm not sure I know any other methods...

[agleam]

There's always talking about your feelings...?

[oh no]

[shaft]

[ uncomfortable ]

I don't... know. About that.

[agleam]

I mean, I'm not going to force you, but... I think it might help more than you expect, no matter who you talk to about it.

[shaft]

[ his shoulders slump ]

It's just... depressing, you know?

[agleam]

Isn't that even more of a reason to get it off your chest?

[shaft]

I wouldn't want to bum you out, Rupert. I'm sure you deal with that plenty already.

[agleam]

Again, I'm not going to force you, but... You don't have to worry about that. I offered, you know? I really don't mind listening to stuff like that.

[shaft]

[ rupert is really doing his best but sometimes you are insecure.

he almost looks a little nervous. ]

Ah, well. Promise you won't think I'm petty?

[agleam]

[he nods]

Promise.

[shaft]

[ he still hesitates a little, before sighing and leaning back. he's probably sitting on his bed or something. ]

My first thought when I realized that I was going to die was that I should've killed someone first so at least my hostage could be safe.

[agleam]

[after a moment of pause:]

I don't think it's petty to be worried about what's going to happen to them. Not knowing whether they're okay is really hard.

[shaft]

It does make me feel like I'm playing right into the Nightman's trap.

... But I'm still angry. Wondering if the "high road" was worth it.

[agleam]

Right. It's tough feeling like there's no good option, right? Even if we decided not to hurt anyone, even that brings a risk of someone else getting hurt as a result. I think it's worth being angry about.

[...]

And for what it's worth, I think you made the right choice.

[shaft]

[ he smiles a little ]

Yeah, I think so too. Getting killed is still pretty traumatic.

[ speaking of which, ] How are you holding up? It seems you have more on your shoulders than I realized.

[agleam]

Right... It must have been even worse if it was a friend doing it. I'm sorry, Claude.

[he blinks, though.]

What do you mean?

[shaft]

Your letter... You mentioned the darkness in your world.

[agleam]

Oh... Right, Souji said something about that.

[another pause]

How - specific was it, exactly...?

[shaft]

Not very. Just that it came quickly and was incredibly dangerous.

You asked to ensure your world could never reach us.

[agleam]

[after a second, he nods.]

You guys were probably too busy to talk about it during the trial, but - if anyone brought it up, either then or afterwards, did it seem like people were going to honor that?

[shaft]

[ he shakes his head ]

I think people were a little devastated by Sheila... and then Sheila returning.

Are you so worried it'll travel to other places?

[agleam]

...Yes, I am.

[frowning a little.]

The connection is a little complicated, but it's basically - attached to another person, and that person would do anything to get away from it. He's been running for years. If he found a way to run to an entirely different world... [closing his eyes for a second] It took my entire kingdom in less than two days. I don't want to put any of you at risk for the same thing.

[shaft]

[ ... ]

How do you plan to defeat such a thing?

[agleam]

[awkward pause]

That's a really good question. But I can't just - run away or not do anything.

[shaft]

[ help ]

Rupert, do you... have magic powers?