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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Sept 6, 2023 0:46:10 GMT
[Chapter 1 - Initiated by Ava]
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 6, 2023 7:48:37 GMT
After the rooming situation gets completely settled, and everyone probably goes exploring their new home for the next hundred days, Ava ends up in the Reading Room of all places. She paces back and forth in front of a shelf, arms crossed.
“Stupid dumbass house…” She mutters to herself, head whipping around to scan for any cameras in the room before looking back, frustrated, at the book spines in front of her. “No internet access, and not even any interesting books, probably because of TV guidelines or some shit… this blows…”
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Post by Safy on Sept 6, 2023 14:55:06 GMT
Raphael looked up towards Ava, as she was flipping through a book over a tabletop game. “Huh, Ava- I mean, “ She coughed a bit trying to hide her surprise, as to not offend. “Nice to see a friendly face here,” She tilted herself back a bit, trying to get a good look at what Ava might’ve been looking for. “Uh…. Are you looking for something, specific?”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 6, 2023 17:02:55 GMT
Ava whips around in an instant, flinching like she’s about to get chainsaw massacred. It’s hard to say whether the surprise on her face is from being caught unaware, or from the fact Raphael actually thinks she’s friendly.
“Hu- oh, uh, hey. Raphael. ‘Sup.” The girl pauses, letting out an overdramatic sigh, “No, not really. There’s just no fuckin’ internet in this place, so I can’t do anything! And we’re gonna be here for a hundred days!”
She then kicks the precarious mound of chairs and throws her hands up in the air. “I’m already missing my dailies on Gaia! I haven’t missed a log-in since I made my account as a middle schooler, and now that’s all going down the goddamn toilet, and it’s just— Ugh!”
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Post by Safy on Sept 6, 2023 17:52:15 GMT
Raphael crossed her arms and lifted an eye brow. “I am pretty sure they were up front with everyone about the lack of internet before applying? Unless you were kidnapped here, like Hisoka,” She added jokingly, before getting up.
“Gaia, I’ve heard of that one, I never got into many social games like that, though.” She rubbed the back of her head, “Other than single player rpgs, I never gave much else a shot. Mostly because I’d not have anyone to play with.” She paused, figuring that bit of information would just be used to ridicule her later, but brushed that aside, shrugging.
“I am not sure what entertainment you’re looking for here though. None of these books will give you the answer to your internet problems.” She paused for a moment, “Well we do have an IT person here, and Rebecca does have a laptop. Maybe you could make something from that.” Raphael joking implying she should try and steal it, though obviously knowing she wouldn’t …..hopefully.
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 6, 2023 18:13:06 GMT
The frustration on Ava’s face turns much more melancholic at some point during Raphael’s response, but it’s gone as soon as it came, replaced with an amused smirk as she settles into the seat across from the other woman.
“That’s a great idea… she’s probably a heavy sleeper, too, so it’ll be like, easy mode…” The devious glint in her eyes says she is absolutely enthralled with Raphael’s subtle suggestion of stealing the computer. “Looks like all my adoring fans on the forums won’t be waiting so long, after all!”
“I gotta say, you’re really impressive. And that’s high praise, coming from someone as amazing as me… plus, you scored some bonus points for being a gamer. I didn’t expect that from you.”
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Post by Safy on Sept 6, 2023 18:56:55 GMT
Raphael laughed awkwardly, “Oh no…. Well I am sure the producers will appreciate that drama, hopefully that will earn me some audience points,” giving a mocking impression of something Rebecca would say.
“Life experience has a tendency to age you,” She coughed, muttering cryptically, “Though we really aren’t that far from each other in age you know, so it would make sense to have similar tastes in things.” She shrugged, “I have been big on Oblivion recently myself.”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 6, 2023 19:33:36 GMT
“Ooh, nice, nice…” Ava reclines back in her chair, reaching up to cross her arms behind her head, exposing the matte black sleeves covered in hearts, skulls, and crossbones under the baggy sleeves of her cardigan.
“Not really my thing, but I respect it. I’m more into Japanese games, mainly. Especially when it comes to RPGs and stuff. Was getting really into beach volleyball before the show started… man, you’re a lot less annoying to talk to than most of the other people here.”
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Post by Safy on Sept 6, 2023 21:27:44 GMT
She lifted an eyebrow, “Is that so? Interesting, you’ll have to recommend some to me then. I enjoy a lot of different types of games, especially ones set in a medieval setting.”
Raphael waved a hand in the air nonchalantly, “Well, if you give more people a chance, perhaps you might find others easy to talk to.” She shrugged, “Honestly, you remind me of one of my friends back home, Lily….. she was very outspoken and, uh, strong-willed-“ She tried to parse out the more positive ways to describe her personality, “And brash, and blunt. Though I always knew she was a great friend underneath that…..” She sighed, “I am sure other people here may appreciate those aspects about you too. What kind of friends did you make back home, Ava?” Raphael cocked her head to the side, genuinely curious to learn more about the girl .
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 6, 2023 22:03:05 GMT
Ava is surprisingly enraptured listening to Raphael talk about herself, and that sad look on her face comes back when the the investigator says this evil munchkin reminds her of Lily, and it deepens at the comment about the others finding her charming as well.
But that quick flash of depression transitions immediately to panic as the subject is flipped to her. “My friends? Pfft…” Her usual voice and demeanor kicks in after an unflattering voice crack, “You probably guessed, but I’m like, suuuuper popular back home, and on the net, so, like… it’s hard to have close friends when so many people are fighting for your attention, right? We’d be here forever if I tried to tell you about… all of my friends.”
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Post by Safy on Sept 6, 2023 23:20:53 GMT
Raphael cocked an eyebrow up as she put a hand to her hip, “Is that so? Still I’m curious,” she was even more so now after such a strange reaction, “Surely you can tell me about at least a few you know maybe from when you were in schooling?-“
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 6, 2023 23:49:15 GMT
Ava flippantly waves her hand in front of herself while simultaneously batting her eyelashes at Raphael. “Nah… trust me, none of my friends back home are interesting at all-“ She over-enthusiastically searches for a camera and yells, “So, sorry besties!” before turning back to the older woman and uncrossing and recrossing her legs… and lowering her eyelids…
“I’m so much more interested in what you’ve got going on, Raphy.” She puts emphasis on the end of the nickname, her voice lowering as her eyes roll from Raphael’s shoes then back to her face, “You’re so cool and mysterious, but you also like to have fun, and you’ve got a soft and tender side… tell me more about yourself. Your work back home as a P.I., that Oblivion game you’ve been into, anything…”
“But like seriously my friends back home seriously don’t matter and besides that I don’t wanna tell the audience all the juicy details of my life so early on in the show, right????”
…it’s pretty clear she’s bullshitting and trying all the tricks in the book to skirt around the question, yeah?
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Post by Safy on Sept 7, 2023 18:36:35 GMT
Raphael crossed her arms and lifted an eyebrow, “…. If it makes you feel better, after what happened-“ Not clarifying much further then that but it was pretty obvious what it could be referring to,” I myself don’t have any friends left.” She then gave a glare at the camera but quickly looked away, as that glare wasn’t meant for the entire audience, “Back at home, other then my small P.I. Firm, that only I work at, I have little connections there.”
“Not that I’m insinuating anything about you, just felt like venting.” She shrugged.
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 7, 2023 19:26:39 GMT
An awkward silence settles for a moment as Ava breaks eye contact to stare despondently at the nearest row of books.
“….I mean it when I say I think you’re cool. And… someone like you doesn’t deserve to be so alone.”
Ava’s shoulders slump as she frowns and lets out a long breath, “My best friend’s name was Veronica. She was the smartest kid in our school, funny, even the popular girls ended up liking her in high school. She was valedictorian when we graduated, and she got a fucking standing ovation after the sappy speech she gave about friendship and unity and whatever…tch.”
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Post by Safy on Sept 8, 2023 16:13:35 GMT
“Well if only you lived in my town, not many people there seem to feel the same way.” She muttered to herself.
“Oh?” Raph seemed surprised to have gotten such info so quickly. “That doesn’t seem like the kind of friend you’d make…..interesting.” She snapped her finger, “Are you two still friends?”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 8, 2023 20:55:00 GMT
“…we haven’t been friends since fourth grade.”
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Post by Safy on Sept 9, 2023 2:51:54 GMT
“….I see.” She had a solemn tone, “Well, I suppose if we both are only talking about our past friends then… our situations might be more similar than expected….” Raph gave a defeated laugh.
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 9, 2023 3:40:45 GMT
Ava glances over at Raphael, head still mostly facing away, and she shifts uncomfortably in her seat.
"It sucks, doesn't it? Just getting abandoned like that, thrown away so easy and then just treated like you don't even fucking exist anymore... It's not something anyone should have to go through, but-" Her hands fly up and immediately flop down against her legs, "here we are."
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Post by Safy on Sept 9, 2023 17:36:34 GMT
Raphael clenched her first, muttering, “Tell me about it…. All those times together….everything we been through…. All that meant nothing….over one fucking story that isn’t true….”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 9, 2023 19:53:33 GMT
Ava’s the one who gets to raise an eyebrow, this time. “An untrue story? Mind telling me more, in the spirit of the little bit of bonding we seem to be doing?”
Even though a hint of her usual energy has come back, she seems genuinely invested in, and concerned about, what Raphael has to say.
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Post by Safy on Sept 9, 2023 22:45:01 GMT
Raphael, suddenly aware of how uncharacteristically easy she dropped her guard due to the similarities in their story, started to shift uncomfortably. “Erm, it’s nothing…. Just a rumor that got around in regards to well…. What happened. I lost everything that day, including my family. I didn’t think I’d even lose my friends too but, it seemed overnight everyone seemed to drop me on a dime….. Then, I truly had nothing.”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 9, 2023 23:45:45 GMT
Ava looks well and truly heartbroken as she stares at Raphael, just from the little bit that was told to her.
"That's... that's beyond horrible." She grips the armrest beneath her hand tightly, looking incredibly, unexpectedly shaken up. "Next to that, my problems seem like..." Her voice breaks, and she sniffles, annoyance flashing on her face as she suddenly rises out her seat. "Shit..." With hurried steps she walks over to Raphael, the ends of her sleeves quivering slightly as she first reaches her hand towards the investigator, but then flinches back, settling for boxing her in with her arms, as she leans forward slightly.
"I didn't wanna just like, grab you outta nowhere but... will- will you follow me? Please?"
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Post by Safy on Sept 10, 2023 4:55:42 GMT
Raphael seemed surprised by such an emotional reaction, “Erm, of course….? What do you want to show me…?” She seemed willing to follow the girl.
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 10, 2023 6:21:04 GMT
Ava briskly leads Raphael out of the reading room, nervously looking to see if the older woman's still following every couple of seconds. Once they make it to the bathroom, she barges right in and makes a beeline for one of the showers, turning the water on and just barely avoiding getting drenched, and then repeats the process with the other stall. Once they're both on and the noise of running water fills the space, she turns back around, opening one of the doors to the toilets and gesturing for Raphael to step inside.
"I'm... not trying to, like... do anything, if you were worried about that. I just wanted to talk with a little privacy." She subtly gestures towards the camera that monitors the common/laundry area part of the room with her head to lend credence to her claim.
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Post by Safy on Sept 10, 2023 17:15:09 GMT
“Right….” She seemed to find the lengths for privacy intruding, and stepped inside with Ava, “I believe you, though it is a bit…. Of a tight fit…” she held her hands up, seemingly embarrassed. “What’s up?”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 10, 2023 20:03:07 GMT
Ava’s also a little embarrassed, and actually looks a bit uncomfortable with the close proximity, as she wraps her arms around herself.
“Look, I-“ She immediately falters, and looks down between their feet, one of hers tapping nervously against the tile. “Fuck, I don’t know how to do this… Listen, I just, think- no, I do relate to what you were saying. A bit. Not the whole, huge, horrible accident thing, which I’m like, super sorry you had to go through, but, I… I know what it’s like, being so alone. Feeling so alone, at least. Being abandoned by everyone you thought cared about you, not having anyone to turn to.”
Her monologue trails off, and at this point she forces herself to look up and make eye contact with Raphael.
“So I just, I wanted to tell you about myself. To trust you. It wouldn’t hurt to have a… friend, that you can relate to, right? Especially in a game like this.”
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Post by Safy on Sept 11, 2023 3:06:36 GMT
Raphael seemed genuinely touched with her opening up. “Trust…..” That was, a difficult subject for her. She didn’t like to trust so easily. “….. Well….” She looked at the woman in her face, finding it hard after seeing her open up to reject such an offer. “I…. Well. I am trying to remain friendly with the others…. But that’s different…much different…than being friends with them.” She crossed her arms looking down, “It’s been a while, a long while since I had a genuine….friend….”
She held out a hand, keeping her arms still partially crossed, “Friends then….? I do think, we both could use one…finally.”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 11, 2023 4:00:29 GMT
"I... I would like that, a lot." Ava, keeping up the surprise streak, is sheepish when she reaches out to shake Raphael's hand, and then shyly draws it back to hug herself with it again.
"You'd be the first friend I've had since, well, the fourth grade." Once the admission is out in the open, she struggles to keep her eyes on Raphael's, "Veronica wasn't the only friend I lost, back then. Since I'm being... honest, with you. I-"
There's a long pause as Ava struggles to find the courage to bare the truth to someone for the first time in her life. "I was heavy, when I was a kid. Past the point of just being chubby. And I got made fun of for it constantly, until everyone just started ignoring the fat girl when picking on her stopped being funny. Veronica was the only one who never bullied me, but, regardless, it's like I was her friend one moment, and like I never even existed the next."
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Post by Safy on Sept 11, 2023 22:52:15 GMT
Raphael gave her best attempt at a comforting smile to Ava, “I see….kids can be quite shallow no matter what age….” She opened up a bit more herself, seeing as Ava was already doing so, while looking equally as uncomfortable about it as Raph, “I….. after what happened, I had lost all my friends too, going into high school. Especially since…well there were rumors going around that I was the one who started the fire….I can’t even imagine why since we all have been friends forever, nor do I know who started it but…. I suppose that’s just how kids are.”
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Post by Akkordian on Sept 11, 2023 23:58:07 GMT
"People are the fucking worst..." Ava's too busy having a Sad Girl Moment to notice Raphael smiling at her like that, but that's so cute omg. She starts to cry, even, cursing under her breath at herself for losing her composure like this.
"It doesn't even matter that I lost all that weight, and completely transformed my image-" She gestures with the hand not dabbing at her tears to the bastion of charm, style, and cuteness that is her body, face, and clothes, "I was still the same weirdo nerd that nobody wanted to give the time of day. It's such bullshit...! And it's not like I could really consider any of the people I talk to in games or forums online actual friends, or that my mom and stepdad started to suddenly give a shit about me at all..."
"It's just not fair..."
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