Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=118#1179 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/7/2021 at 7:44 AM Rin is worried for Shiawase now, and he's still afraid Hitari will wake up and break the ropes. But he doesn't voice his concerns. Maybe I'm just..... paranoid. That's it. I worry too much.

(you're good :D)

Itami finishes his work - Hitari is tightly bound to the tree: each limb is tied, as well as his hands. At least if he is capable of breaking this, we'll definitely hear it before it happens.

He gestures at Hitari. If you want to talk to him so badly, just slap him until he wakes up.

"No, I. . .it's better if he wakes up on his own," Shiawase says as she stares down at Hitari. ". . .maybe they can work out their own deal. . .?"

Not when physical damage can be sustained, Itami replies grimly. He'd get beat up very badly.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Hitari shrugs. "Eh, fair. But, still - " He is cut off abruptly as the other suddenly grabs his ankles, pulling his legs out from under him.

As Hitari hits the ground, his arm flares up in pain. "Ow," he grumbles. "That's nice, but you can stop - " He doesn't get to finish as something hits him in the head very hard, giving him a good amount of blunt head trauma.

"You being me is a little helpful," this world's Hitari pants. "I know you let your guard down."

"Probably smarter," Rin agrees quickly. He's kind of afraid of what Hitari can and/or will do.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=119#1182 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/7/2021 at 2:23 PM "Probably smarter," Rin agrees quickly. He's kind of afraid of what Hitari can and/or will do.

As he probably should be.

"How does that even work?" Shiawase asks.

I. . .don't know, Itami says. I usually just think about it as a space in the mind that's empty. Like, uh. . . He gestures to the cave. Like that. It's hidden until it isn't. And just like the cave, if I were to harm you inside, you would still be injured when you come outside.

"So that's why he was. . ." Shiawase glances down worriedly as Hitari twitches, but nothing else happens. "This will all turn out. I know it will. . ."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Hitari rubs his knuckles - they're sore from slamming them into his other self's face. "Alright," he says to himself. "That's the biggest problem taken care of, for the moment. . ."

He glances around - which doesn't do anything for him, since there's still absolutely no light. "Good thing he kept talking. Otherwise, I. . .this probably wouldn't have worked out."

Rin isn't so sure, but he doesn't want to make Shiawase even more likely to break down.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=119#1184 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/7/2021 at 2:56 PM Rin isn't so sure, but he doesn't want to make Shiawase even more likely to break down.

Good plan - you have a lot on your plate as it is.

Well, we have at least a few minutes - hopefully - where nothing should happen. How about we all just do nothing for a while? Itami says. In fact, don't even bother answering. I'm going to go rest and try to recover my arm. . . He sits with his back against a different tree, and seems to nod off quickly.

"Wow, he actually sleeps," Shiawase whispers. "I never would have thought so." She glances at you. "Rin, he did have a point, though. Now would be a good chance to regain any energy if you're worn."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"How do I wake up?" Hitari asks himself. He pinches his arm, but nothing happens. "Mm. That was worth a try, though. . ."

Rin realizes, all of a sudden, how tired he is. He nods wearily at Shiawase and wanders over to the side of the cliff. Leaning up against the wall in a..... semi-comfortable position, he is asleep in a matter of minutes.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=119#1186 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/7/2021 at 6:31 PM Rin realizes, all of a sudden, how tired he is. He nods wearily at Shiawase and wanders over to the side of the cliff. Leaning up against the wall in a..... semi-comfortable position, he is asleep in a matter of minutes.

Strange dreams plague you (logically), but nothing you really haven't seen. . .at least, they're not bad enough to make you wake up or have a rough sleep.

Shiawase smiles faintly. "It's almost cute, sleep. Even when Itami does it. . .although, he did say he's resting for recovery. Perhaps I should try."

She simply lies with her back flat on the ground and closes her eyes, trying to clear her mind. Several minutes pass, and she begins to get frustrated. "They make it look simple."

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"If I were me, which I am," Hitari mutters to himself. "How would I. . ." He pauses to think. "Would a purposeful sleep wake me? He made it sound like killing me here is the only way for me to fade, so it might be worth a try. . ."

Rin has had his share of strange dreams in his lifetime.... at least, he gets the sense he has..... so he's mostly undisturbed by this turn of events. It's nice to get some rest, certainly after the day going the way it has.
While Rin is sleeping, Felix the owl swoops out of the woods, pouncing on a mouse, and sits down on a nearby tree branch, devouring his prey.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=119#1188 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/8/2021 at 7:44 AM Rin has had his share of strange dreams in his lifetime.... at least, he gets the sense he has..... so he's mostly undisturbed by this turn of events. It's nice to get some rest, certainly after the day going the way it has. While Rin is sleeping, Felix the owl swoops out of the woods, pouncing on a mouse, and sits down on a nearby tree branch, devouring his prey.

The mouse isn't quite as thin as the ones Kanashimi had brought - perhaps the cliff provides shelter for nearby plants, keeping them safe from the icy winds.

Shiawase sighs and gets up. Glancing around, she quietly walks over to Hitari and sits beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. Everyone's asleep, but you are the only one that chose not to be so, she thinks to herself. But, hopefully, when we wake, you do as well. . .

After a few minutes, she nods off into a dreamless sleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Hitari plops down and lies on his back. "Wow, I. . .haven't slept for a long time, have I?"

Wolfing down the mouse, Felix nestles his head into his feathery body and falls asleep as well. Even the owl is tired, apparently.