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[oceantrauma]

[Ken's followed by bubbles today. Sometimes they pop, but some of them just stay floating around him, like they're haunting him, refusing to leave him. They never properly fly away, just float around him.

[He's also in the Hall of Missing, this is clearly not meant to be broadcasted.

[Maybe it's the waking dream that spurned this on, or he remembers a conversation he had with her...whichever it is, in front of the portrait that belongs to Estelle, who has now, obviously left, he leaves a cup of what looks like water, with a bubble wand in it.]

I didn't forget, Estellise-san. I'm glad you got out, at least. [He doesn't look very happy, though.]

Please take care of yourself.

[As he turns to leave, a voice calls his name off the screen, he turns to the voice, wide-eyed, and the feed decides to cut out right there.]

Comments

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[negativegate]

Oh...

[Well, she feels a bit like a jerk now, but now she knows.]

So that's why...the dreams and stuff?

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[oceantrauma]

[He hadn't intended to make Rita feel bad about it.]

Probably, yes. Regrets. They could manifest as dreams.

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[negativegate]

[She knows it's not his fault. It's not really hers, either, but she won't be as flippant about it now.]

Regrets... That he didn't live longer?

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[oceantrauma]

It's...other stuff. I.... [He looks really abashed, now, but Rita's become close enough on the friend scale that, Ken thinks, if she doesn't know his flaws, then it's not particularly fair, is it? That doesn't make this any easier.]

Well, yes, that he didn't live longer. And regrets about fighting with him, or being jealous of him. I wish I hadn't spent so much time being petty, and had spent that time with him, instead. [He also wished he hadn't wished for him to disappear, but he doesn't mention that one.]

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[negativegate]

[Her expression softens just a bit, though she remains level-headed as she listens.]

I don't know what siblings are really like, but... Those sound pretty normal to me. It's the kind of thing you'd regret with anyone close.

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[oceantrauma]

Even if it is normal, I regret it.

[Is it really that normal? Even that doesn't help him feel better about it, though. He's moved on, and he's living his life, but every once in a while, that whole thing stings.]

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[negativegate]

I know. But regretting doesn't help--it doesn't do anything for you.

[She thinks it's normal to fight--she's had plenty of squabbles with her friends. If something happened after that, she'd probably regret it too.]

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[oceantrauma]

I...I suppose you might be right. I can't change it, and I can't even apologize for it.

But I also think that's something that will come with time, won't it?

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[negativegate]

That's possible, but it's only going to work if you stop dwelling on it. If you keep thinking about what you regret, you'll never forget about it no matter how much time goes by.

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[oceantrauma]

I know. I don't, usually. But when I have these dreams, it's hard not to think of it.

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[negativegate]

How long has it been?

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[oceantrauma]

Since...? The dreams?

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[negativegate]

Since he died. I mean, have you always had dreams like this?

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[oceantrauma]

They're more recent.

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[negativegate]

Oh--the picture, right?

I'll admit it's harder to forget things in the City, because of the curses.

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[oceantrauma]

Yes.

[He might sound hesitant there, because while the dreams were more recent, his regret, well, it was recent, but not AS recent. It started before coming here, but to talk about that catalyst. Well. He's not completely ready for that.]

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[negativegate]

I can't tell you to just move on...

[Maybe if it weren't the City, where reminders are likely to crop up. In any case, they're friends, so she feels it's only right to offer an ear-]

I've never had a sibling, but...you know, if you just feel like talking anytime--I'm here.

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[oceantrauma]

[Even if he doesn't often want to talk about it, he's touched she offered.]

Thank you, Rita-san. If I do, yes, I'll take you up on that offer.

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[negativegate]

Any time, okay?

[She offers him a brief smile, then her expression turns a little more serious.]

And be careful today. There's plenty of weird things showing up, and they're not all harmless.

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[oceantrauma]

Yes, I've seen a little of that. I'll be careful.

Thank you for the warning.