[in this chapter, the Ushiromiya family gets fed up and starts saying what they REALLY think.]

[golden_dream]

[Day 11-12]

[for this post, we'll say they took over some other non-gassed set]

All right... we're all here. We all took the serum, right?

Comments

[meatitfeedson]

I guess that's as likely as anything else.

What about that champagne, it would be impossible to get hold of without breaking into the winery storage. Yet it appeared instantly. It was an incredibly specific request, too.

[golden_dream]

[nods] But that's within the context of the 'game' with the clown... do you think Ronove is working with the clown, even as a contestant?

[meatitfeedson]

No, I doubt that. But if it's possible for this game, then why not at home? What makes it any different?

[golden_dream]

Because... the world made sense before we came here!

Listen, there's another man too, claiming to be a space traveler and a time traveler. Are we supposed to believe time travelers exist??

If you're going to say that, maybe someone time traveled and saved Beatrice before she died!

[meatitfeedson]

Fine, think what you want.

[It's becoming pretty clear she can't convince her of anything. And what they should really be doing is playing the game. And Kyrie's got something that should be worth plenty.]

Do you think we don't notice how you treat Maria-chan? What makes you think that's alright?

[golden_dream]

[...]

[suddenly jolts backward, like she was shot, crashing into a shelf of props which immediately fall on her]

[meatitfeedson]

[--Oh, holy shit- Kyrie rushes to try to help her up.]

1/2

[golden_dream]

Just what I need!

[wincing, she'd shove the pointier objects to the side]

...

[golden_dream]

[...then she stares up at Kyrie, pain spurning her shock into anger]

You... You have no right to talk about Maria! I don't tell you how to parent your children, do I?

...Do I??

[meatitfeedson]

[She kind of expects to be rejected, but she kneels down and offers a hand anyway.]

I'm not telling you how to parent your child, I'm asking a question. If you're going to put it like that, should I assume you think it's perfectly acceptable? But by all means, if you have any opinions on my parenting, now is a good time to bring it up.

1/2

[golden_dream]

I... --I... --I...

[all of her usual retorts along these lines were dying in her throat, why did she have to be tongue-tied now!?]

[...]

[golden_dream]

... [then suddenly she smiles, as a positively wicked idea occurred to her spurned from an old memory]

Actually, I do! Yes... I almost forgot.

[she sucks in a breath through her clenched teeth]

Last year. The conference... I don't know what she told her, but Maria went home with me in hysterics that year. She was inconsolable. For days!

And do you know why--yyyy? Because Ange-chan told her something her mom had told her, and that's why Ange-chan suddenly didn't want to be her friend anymore!

[she nods, crossing her arms, triumphantly]

I don't know what the hell it was even, but did I mention that incident to you, ever?! No! --Because I knew it was something silly and she'd forget about it! But if you suddenly want to be so concerned with how you think my daughter is treated, maybe you should take some responsibility for the pain your daughter did to her last year!

[meatitfeedson]

Alright. Whatever Ange said to her, I'm sorry. If I had known it would end up upsetting Maria-chan, I never would have said anything. I think it's great that they're friends and I hope they continue to be despite that. But you're deflecting the question by putting it on me and Ange.

Whenever someone tries to break it up, you do the same thing. Acting like they're the ones causing a scene. So, why? Do you feel inadequate? Is it just all you know because of your own childhood? I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation, but you'll end up making me walk away thinking you just like it if you avoid the subject.

1/2

[golden_dream]

...Shut up!!

Shut up, shut up, shut up!!

[she reached for something to throw at Kyrie, but whatever prop she grabbed, she ended up just flinging it somewhere off to the side in her haste to get it in the air. Accuracy departing along with her emotional state.]

You--... You--...

[again, every retort was dying. "You don't know anything about my relationship with Maria," "That only happens when she acts up, to discipline her," "Everything would be fine if they just left them both alone," "I'm trying my best..."]

2/2

[golden_dream]

Wh-- Why are you trying to torture me!?

[the anger departed replaced by... fear]

Stop picking on me... you're just asking this to upset me!

[meatitfeedson]

That's right, that's the game. I'm trying to upset you so maybe I can get a vote out of it.

[She was prepared to dodge that but evidently Rosa is more than just upset... She does feel a little badly for it, but it's necessary, so she can't worry about it right now.]

Do you want one too? Give as good as you get and maybe you can. Or you can answer, that might be worth a vote too.

1/2

[golden_dream]

[she grabbed the side of her head in anguish and screamed, huddling her head to her chest and burying her face in her hands]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!!!

[...]

[then, slow breathing]

[golden_dream]

...

I love my daughter.

She... she just doesn't listen...

...She never listens...

...A simple thing like "Stop saying uu--."

...Say it nicely, meanly, whatever...

...She still does it...

[she tugs hard on her own hair]

...She talks like Beatrice is her best friend...

...Beatrice and her do magic and she wants to tell me all about it...

...Meanwhile, I want to throw up because I can't help seeing Beatrice's dead body on that miserable cliff again...

...And the years I spent of sleepless nights suffering with the guilt of killing her...

I love Maria, but I swear, she is really trying to make me a wreck...!

[meatitfeedson]

[It's a really awful situation. It wasn't what she expected to hear at all, but it makes too much sense. It helps too in explaining why Rosa so adamantly refuses to accept Beatrice. Maybe it's not just the woman she met, but also that it would bring more guilt in how she treats Maria if Maria was right.

All she can do is watch for a moment, but finally, she reaches out to pat Rosa's back, soothing circles.]

I'm sorry you have to carry such a terrible secret, Rosa-san.

[golden_dream]

Right?? There's a point you just wonder "What is going to do it? What is it going to take??" And before you know it you've gone too far...

[meatitfeedson]

...Yeah, I can understand that.

But you know, she doesn't know anything about it. She's not trying to hurt you with it, she just wants to tell her mother something fun. It's just the opposite, she thinks you'll be really impressed and happy.

[golden_dream]

--I can't tell my daughter something like that!

[meatitfeedson]

No I definitely don't think you should tell her!

[That would be traumatising?]

It's just... to try to keep in mind.

[golden_dream]

...

[she was relieved to see there was light at the end of the tunnel of this conversation, finally]

...Anyway... Maria loves me.. I know she loves me....

I'd take a bullet for her. I'd die for her.

[meatitfeedson]

And I'm sure she would do the same, she seems like she really does think the world of you.

[Which makes it even worse. Kyrie knows what she's saying, and it's subtle for a reason.]