If you were someone else, [Erika starts, and then stops, because why even entertain that thought? She shakes her head to cut herself off and adjusts her grip on her swords.] Right. I trust you. Okay - I don't think I can hit him. Fake or not. It'll be - mmf. Maybe.
[Ryuji watches and watches and doesn't seem to like what he sees. He smiles a wry, bitter smile.
Big talker, now. Where'd you learn that? The smile fades. Erika's not like that. She never said anything. Whatever she did, she just...
He shrugs widely, without hope. The mass behind him coalesces, hunched over him like a vulture.
...did. Left everyone in the dust. Even after everything I gave up. Can't even bother to feel bad about it.]
That's not quite true, [Erika adds somberly, as Ryuji's voice drops into some mix of a growl and a sob. She doesn't have time to elaborate and she knows it. For verisimilitude, it's Arcadiamon that's winding up to lunge, while the copy of her brother steadily acts out an uncomfortably realistic breakdown.
Look at me, he pleads through gritted teeth, Erika, or whatever you are, look me in the eye, dammit. She breaks away from Maya for round two of the dance, fending off the false Arcadiamon with its reaching hands and hopping lunges. She does not look the false Ryuji in the eye; content of the accusations aside, it seems to unsettle her in a primal way to hear his voice at all, much less begging can't you see what you did, she was the last thing I had, look at me, why the hell did you leave me?]
no subject
[Ryuji watches and watches and doesn't seem to like what he sees. He smiles a wry, bitter smile.
Big talker, now. Where'd you learn that? The smile fades. Erika's not like that. She never said anything. Whatever she did, she just...
He shrugs widely, without hope. The mass behind him coalesces, hunched over him like a vulture.
...did. Left everyone in the dust. Even after everything I gave up. Can't even bother to feel bad about it.]
That's not quite true, [Erika adds somberly, as Ryuji's voice drops into some mix of a growl and a sob. She doesn't have time to elaborate and she knows it. For verisimilitude, it's Arcadiamon that's winding up to lunge, while the copy of her brother steadily acts out an uncomfortably realistic breakdown.
Look at me, he pleads through gritted teeth, Erika, or whatever you are, look me in the eye, dammit. She breaks away from Maya for round two of the dance, fending off the false Arcadiamon with its reaching hands and hopping lunges. She does not look the false Ryuji in the eye; content of the accusations aside, it seems to unsettle her in a primal way to hear his voice at all, much less begging can't you see what you did, she was the last thing I had, look at me, why the hell did you leave me?]