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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 5, 2023 22:14:55 GMT
“I can do it,” the girl smiles back at him. “I can still do everything just as well, probably even better than before because I’m not doing so much. I’m just nervous about the people because being confident at them backfired. It’s so…” she tucks her hair back and shakes her head.
She picks up her drink. “Maybe we could switch roles? I mean if people get mad then we can’t but I should be a good note taker and you should be good about gathering us up and motivating us. In fact, I know it would work well,” she smiles.
“So would you want that?”
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Post by Joker on Apr 6, 2023 0:04:40 GMT
"M-Me? Be president?" Nico asks, a bit nervously.
"I'm not so sure... I'm not really a great leader. I guess I can try if you really want me to?"
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 6, 2023 0:21:58 GMT
“Well, what’s being a leader anyway?” Xhuli says mysteriously. “It’s just setting goals for everyone to meet and believing in them so much it inspires others.”
She rolls her eyes, “I mean that’s just one example of a definition, but any one of them would apply to you. You can do that and you can do it all.”
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Post by Joker on Apr 6, 2023 1:49:23 GMT
"If you really believe in me, and the others are fine with it, I'll give it a chance. But if things don't work out my first order of business will be putting you back in charge, okay?"
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 6, 2023 1:59:00 GMT
She giggles, “Look, I trust you. Me being leader in some ways didn’t work out, and I think that is okay, as long as you believe in it, you should be that person. I really mean it.”
“Look Nico, you mean a lot to me. You’re my best friend here, and we’ve been working together for weeks. Your positivity brings me joy, and even though we’re both learning the same things at the same time, it feels like you teach me by always putting forth your best. I’ve been feeling really low lately but I’m beginning to stand up for myself just because I have someone who thinks positively here to encourage me.”
She wipes a tear from both eyes, “I mean, look at me. I’m just thinking about how far I would have fallen just now if you weren’t willing to be with me. Hawk and them literally think I’m a monster. But here you are just being good-hearted and amazing and you’re really helping me out. I said I would be there for you, but you’re really being here for me.”
“This is all just to say that you’re better than me. Maybe not in every way, and you don’t have to be perfect, but you’re definitely worthy of all the praise I can give you. Even when I was mad at you just now, I felt secure that you would give me a real chance. And I bet everyone has that trust in you.”
She grips his hand, “And I won’t leave you to do everything on your own, you still have my full support. And I’ll give you notes and ideas because we’re a team. Okay?” She winks at him, pushing more tears from her eyes.
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Post by Joker on Apr 6, 2023 4:11:17 GMT
Nico gently squeezes Xhuli's hand. "H-Hey now, you can't go and say all that stuff then start crying... You're gonna make me cry too!" He smiles as his eyes start to water a bit.
"Thank you. Truly. You're a great friend, and you mean a lot to me as well. But you can't compliment me and then go and drag yourself down! That's not how this works, okay? I'm not better than you. We're equals! Friends! Partners! You get the gist of it!" He chuckles, as he wipes at his eyes with his free hand.
"If we go through with this, there's no one else I'd rather have as my teacher than you. And if the others have even half as much faith in me as you do, then I think things are going to work out."
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 6, 2023 4:18:23 GMT
“Yesss!!” The president cheers. “Of course, I’m not putting myself down, I’m just admitting I’m struggling!”
“I bet everyone will be happy for you. That or I’ll fight them! I always wanted to fight someone, like, not that I would force it or anything… maybe that came out wrong. I don’t want to fight people, I just want to do what I believe in always.”
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Post by Joker on Apr 6, 2023 19:43:40 GMT
Nico laughs. "I can't imagine you fighting someone! Hopefully it won't come to that, but it's good to know you have my back!"
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 6, 2023 19:50:14 GMT
"Well, you'll be surprised when I do my expert fighting!" She laughs.
"Okay, well, want to play a game here? Anything you're good at?"
[We can skip ahead to later, like around the time of the pool party if you want, or we can do a scene where we goof around. Up to you.]
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Post by Joker on Apr 6, 2023 22:17:50 GMT
"Sure!"
Nico searches the shelves, in search of something for the two of them to play.
(I'm fine with whatever, I didn't really have anything in mind. If you had an idea and wanted to skip ahead that's fine with me. We can say they talked/played some games or something then skip. Or if you'd rather they stay here, that's fine with me as well.)
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 6, 2023 22:38:16 GMT
The two of them game for a while, enjoying their time together. It was exactly how their friendship felt before.
Xhuli is very funny playing games, very unskilled but always putting in her complete effort.
---
A few days later, Xhuli is waiting in her room. The recent events with the attempted murder have happened. She notices Nico nearby.
"Heyyy, Nick! Oh, I've been playing with nicknames, but Nico is cuter I guess," she laughs. "You're lucky."
She scoots over and pats her bed, "Come here, I want to talk to you. What do you think of this whole trap situation with Ige?"
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Post by Joker on Apr 7, 2023 1:52:24 GMT
"Oh, hey Xhuli!" Nico waves to her. "Nico's actually my full name! It's not short for anything, so it's kind of hard to come up with a nickname for it. Believe me, Leon tried."
He sits down on the bed next to her. "It's... A little scary." He admitted. "The fact that we were unable to solve it makes me feel like I have to sleep with one eye open."
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 7, 2023 2:18:43 GMT
"I agree with Leon, Nico is the perfect name for you," Xhuli giggles and scoots close to her friend.
"Yeah, it definitely is scary..."
"Nico, does it make you sad when you think that we probably won't escape this place together? Let alone that if you only take one person, well, it should be Felix. If we're just being honest."
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Post by Joker on Apr 7, 2023 20:43:11 GMT
Nico seems taken by surprise by Xhuli's words.
"I don't like where this conversation is going, Xhuli." He said uncomfortably. "...Can we talk about something else, please?"
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 7, 2023 21:03:52 GMT
Xhuli’s eyes widen, “Geez, I’m sorry! I know this topic sucks I just have been thinking about it a bunch. I guess if you’re not thinking about it, then let’s keep it that way,” she smirks. “It’s not like I have any of the answers.”
“I think whoever set that trap though just is unhappy. Do you really think anyone here really wants to kill anyone at all? I don’t think so. I think they’re all like Su-Ah, you know? People who just need really really good friends around them.” She grips Nico a little bit.
“Okay, we’ll let’s forget about all that, then,” she doesn’t loosen her grip. “We should plan something special for the sleepover. Maybe we could each become really close friends with half of everyone. Do you think you could do that?”
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Post by Joker on Apr 7, 2023 21:50:29 GMT
"Look, I know with everything going on, it's probably naïve of me to think we'll all make it out of here alive. But I don't care. I don't want to think about anyone else dying. It hurts too much..." Nico frowns.
"I don't think anyone wants to kill. Well, at least I hope they don't." He shakes his head and sighs. "I just don't know anymore."
"The sleepover, huh? I almost forgot about that. I'm not sure about close friends, but I'll try my best!" He manages a weak smile.
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 7, 2023 22:20:06 GMT
“They don’t want to. But everyone here has unmet needs…” Xhuli insists, “I think we all know that…”
She stops grabbing so hard.
“I think I can help with Hawk, Ige, Caitlin, Hella, and Calvin.” she lays her head on Nico. “Could you keep track of the rest?”
“Also do you think we should make an uplifting speech?”
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Post by Joker on Apr 7, 2023 22:35:20 GMT
Nico nods. "Sure, I can try."
"Do you have any experience with writing speeches? I don't, so I'm not sure how well that would go over."
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 7, 2023 22:51:09 GMT
“I used to be a straight-A student, never allowed to have even less than a 97 in a class. I am a good writer, at least in theory,” Xhuli says.
“The hard part is what we say. That’s the hard part. And everyone needs to be able to relate to it.”
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Post by Joker on Apr 8, 2023 0:24:56 GMT
"I'm guessing it wouldn't be that effective to just say no one should kill each and we should all be friends, right?" Nico says.
"If only things were that simple..."
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 8, 2023 0:43:49 GMT
“Well, maybe we can skip the first part, but it’s important to talk about how we should be friends,” Xhuli bobs her head eagerly.
“Like we could all use a reminder to learn more about each other. Like do you know who your friends miss? Do you know what their dreams are?” She writes a little in her notebook. “Were you there for them on their worst day?”
“We all have intrusive thoughts. We’re all scared. We’ve all thought about killing and what would happen.”
“So, I think that’s good actually.”
“Do you know all that stuff about me?”
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Post by Joker on Apr 8, 2023 1:12:03 GMT
“That sounds good so far!” Nico said.
“Um… Not all of them, I don’t think.” He admitted. “Yugi’s dream was probably to go to a good college, right? But I’m not sure if it’s still that. And I wasn’t really there for you on your worst day.” He grimaced. “Sorry again about that.”
“I’m not sure about the other one, sorry.”
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 8, 2023 1:15:30 GMT
“That’s okay, the point of the questions is just to get people thinking. I wish I had been able to get closer to Su-Ah and even if I couldn’t have stopped her from doing what she did, at least I would have felt it when she wanted to get back to her shop so badly. Like I would’ve known that and accepted that she wanted to be there. It would’ve been nice to have that trust…”
“Nico, I really really really want to leave,” Xhuli looks at him seriously. “I love this world but every day it switches between somewhere that can make me happy and a place that can’t. It’s really hard to have the full life I want.”
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Post by Joker on Apr 8, 2023 22:02:58 GMT
“I want to leave too.” Nico replied. “It’s great spending time with you and Felix and everyone else, but I can’t fully enjoy myself when we’re in Hell. If this was just a regular school I’d be having the time of my life!” He laughs, but it quickly turns into a sigh.
“I miss Leon. I miss my family. I miss my career. I try to stay positive for everyone else’s sake, but I miss everyone so much… I’m scared I’m never going to see them again.”
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 9, 2023 4:01:53 GMT
Xhuli hugs Nico, "And I want you to be happy. I want so badly for you to get your chance to be friends with Leon again. It's one of the first things we talked about, and I think about it all the time. I think about how much better our lives would be if we were just at school together."
"Thanks for being honest. I really appreciate what you do for me and everyone. Even if not everyone can see it, I see it. And now that you're telling me all this I'm going to appreciate it all the more for however long you can do it."
"It's good to be honest, see?"
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Post by Joker on Apr 9, 2023 21:06:50 GMT
Nico hugs Xhuli back. “I didn’t realize you thought about it that much. When we get out of here, I’ll be sure to keep you updated on how things go! With you rooting for me, I really feel like things will work out.” He smiled.
“Yeah, it is. And thanks for your appreciation as well. I don’t know how much I actually help everyone, but it’s nice to know that it’s not going unnoticed.”
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 9, 2023 21:32:02 GMT
She sits in Nico’s arms, not particularly wanting to move on yet. “Yeah… It’s good to talk… It’s good to talk…”
She slowly lets go and sits up.
“Hey, I’ve never asked you but how did you get those scars? I do love the way you look a lot by the way. I know i might be intimidating recently with my style but I’m actually totally in love with a lot of different looks, including yours.”
She pockets her notes on their speech.
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Post by Joker on Apr 9, 2023 22:50:11 GMT
“R-Really?” With mine?” Nico asked, a bit surprised. He blushes a bit at the compliment. “I don’t think my style’s anything special, but thank you!”
“I don’t really have a cool story for it, if that’s what you were hoping for.” He laughed. “Caves can be dangerous. I probably just lost my balance or something and cut my face. I’ve got other scars all over my body as well. After it happened so many times, all the stories kind of just blend together.”
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Apr 9, 2023 22:53:14 GMT
She looks happy to take her mind off the serious stuff and just talk about scars, “Oh okay! Same with your arm, right?”
“What about your eyes? That’s natural right? They’re very cute and cool. And your hair?”
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Post by Joker on Apr 10, 2023 0:44:11 GMT
Nico grimaces. "...The arm's a bit of a different story. I couldn't forget that one if I tried."
After a moment or two, he shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Uh, sorry about that. Didn't mean to get so serious there, when we're trying to keep things more light hearted! My eyes and hair are natural! My mom has pink hair, so I got it from her. She has green eyes too, so I got one of my eye colors from her as well! And I got the other eye's color from my dad."
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