Second: Because this road is all you'll ever have

[failed_protector]

[Lyuze didn't like to think, but boy did she do just that...All the time, too. It was just horrid. Her thoughts liked to run off without her and leave her. Today she didn't quite make it to her hiding spot before she found herself up against a wall and not completely there.

She held her right arm, contemplating. The Ruin would slowly eat her alive and she was starting to think that maybe she didn't want that.... For such a long time it didn't really matter. So long as she was about to find Casshern and kill him before it happened. But now....what would she do.

Being around these people was strange. It was all...strange. She hadn't felt like she wanted to actually live for a long time.

It was like she was betraying Liza. She frowned at that thought. She couldn't do that. It wasn't fair to her sister. She almost curled into herself at that.

If Liza was here, she'd know what to do.]

Comments

[nietzsche_waifu]

[Someone's standing near you, Lyuze. A tall blonde woman, not saying anything. Just staring.]

[failed_protector]

[Startling herself out of her thoughts, Lyuze noticed the woman and stood up straight. She raised an eyebrow]

Did you have some sort of business with me?

[nietzsche_waifu]

No. But I can tell when I see a troubled person. in conflict with her own thoughts.

I speak from experience.

[failed_protector]

[A blink and now she's leaning against the wall casually.]

Then perhaps you know when it's best to leave someone to their thoughts.

[nietzsche_waifu]

Indeed.

[Rather than leaving, Devon leans against the same wall.]

Something is not right. Anyone who'd pass can see it.
So what happened?

[failed_protector]

[She hesitates.]

Plenty.

[nietzsche_waifu]

How much of it is because of Casshern?

[failed_protector]

[Another pause]

Enough.

[nietzsche_waifu]

...

[Devon shakes her head silently. It takes a while until she starts talking again.]

You'd be surprised how much just being on this ship can... change you. For the better. You are a part of the crew, in one way or another - so if you have troubles, some other people may be willing to help you work them out.

But they have to know first.

[failed_protector]

Being helped isn't really my thing. [By which she means she doesn't know how to interact nicely with others unless it's children.]

[nietzsche_waifu]

It isn't anyone's thing. The feeling of helplessness... it is even worse if other peoples' assistance is all that remains.

Once again. I speak from experience.

[failed_protector]

Why do you care so much?

[nietzsche_waifu]

Because...

I used to be a... very troubled person. I was thinking dark thoughts, and I felt conflicted and alone. Not that people I knew were not willing to do anything for me. They were - I just wanted to do everything myself.

And I made choices. Their results... were not good at all. If I was not too proud to ask my friends for help, it could have ended much differently.

I will not let something like that repeat itself. For myself - and for others, if I can help it.

[link_to_revival]

[The sight of Lyuze like that, and with her arm in such a condition... it wasn't hard to make Lynn give pause.]

... Are you alright?

[failed_protector]

[Defensively, Lyuze let go of her arm and straightened up.]

Fine.

[link_to_revival]

But your arm...

[Lynn fought against the urge to try to look closer at it and see if it really was the Ruin. But whatever the case... Lyuze, you're dealing with a woman who struggled with a death wish for years. She can't help but feel that something's up when she sees someone looking like that.]

[failed_protector]

What of it. [Defensive, defensive, defensive, defensive, defensive]

[link_to_revival]

Well.. I do some mechanic work onboard the ship and... I had to read the briefing regarding the Ruin so...

[She's just gonna let the rest of that sentence go unsaid.]

[failed_protector]

You are one of the ones that can "replace" my arm? [Because Casshern alluded to such]

[link_to_revival]

Maybe... but all things considered I thought that if you would've wanted it replaced, you could've had someone take care of that by now.

[failed_protector]

Correct. Apparently one of the people I share a living quarters with also has mechanical experience.

[link_to_revival]

So then why haven't you? If it's not treated, it could kill you.

[failed_protector]

I don't remember mentioning something killing me.

[link_to_revival]

But it's the Ruin!

[And again, Lynn's read the reports. She knows what happens to robots that succumb to it eventually.]

Why would you let something like that just be there? I can understand... how things might be when you're in the region, but you're free know. There's plenty of replacement parts you could get, and not worry about it claiming your life.

[failed_protector]

Replacing parts that may be infected with the Ruin aren't sure fire ways of getting rid of it. It may be lurking in other areas. Perhaps it would be my fate to die by that which was created when the one I was to protect died.