week 10, wednesday, mid-afternoon

[hopefragment]

[Look, okay, there's only so long Hinata can try to pretend that the conclusions Sans had drawn didn't make sense. And that there isn't the smallest pattern to how these killings are happening.

So sorry, Urashima, he can't fold cranes right now. He's kind of just anxiously pacing in the lobby for a bit before moving into the kitchen, looking for-- ah, yep. Good, okay. At least that hasn't changed.]

Um... Poland?

[He's trying not to sound upset, he really is. He has to be Strong.]

Comments

[hopefragment]

And the way he acted most of the time, yeah.

[He laughs quietly, though it's a little choked because of the stupid onions. At least he knows now not to assume anyone doesn't know how fire works. Thanks for that, Sans.]

You... don't think it's true, right? About... it coming down to one of each sin? Miata said right from the beginning that's... not what was going to happen, but...

[sobowtor]

Here we can take turns. [She'll relieve him of the knife for a bit and help slice the onions.]







...It wouldn't be very optimistic of me to believe something like that.

[hopefragment]

...I...

[He surrenders the knife easily and steps back, rubbing the back of his hand against his eyes again.]

I... don't want to believe it. I don't...

[He takes a deep breath and presses his palms against his eyes. Wow, those sure are some strong onions.]

I d-don't want to be the only one. I-I don't want to see anything happen t-to you, or to Roxy, or to Faize...

[Considering gluttony has a retiree already, and his two other friends are both the same designation...? He's in for a bad time no matter what.]

...I'm scared, Poland.

1/3

[sobowtor]

[Poland's hands tremble with Hinata's voice, as she sets down the knife.]

2/3

[sobowtor]

It's okay to be scared. Living... is hard.

It's the hardest thing there is in this world, really.

[She's lived through many times. Many things. Many people.]

I'm sorry that this burden has been placed on you here. But. I think that you're more than capable of over coming it. Despite the fear and the heart ache it'll bring you.

3/3

[sobowtor]

I've never-- [Poland's voice cracks-- because she's never been on this side of things before.

She's never not survived. Anything. Before.]

...

[Tears swell in her eyes and she can't even blame the onion.

She's never let anyone down like this. She's never not kept a promise like this.]

[hopefragment]

...What if you're wrong?

[He looks up at her then, rubbing his hands against his eyes one more time before trying to look to her without tears welling in his eyes. It's... not working, but the attempt is there.]

I-I've lost a lot of friends here, b-but... it was always something we could prevent. Something we could fight against. I-I... I can't be responsible for saving our friends, Poland, not from this! I need you! A-and Roxy, and Faize, I-I... I can't be the only one. I-I can't pick who to stay with, to try to keep them safe. I can't make those kind of choices!

[sobowtor]

[Poland wants nothing more for Sans to be wrong and she wishes he'd never written that sentence. She regrets having even read it.

It was so much easier to just blindly believe she would just preserve-- like she preserved through so many things. That she'd be there for Hinata when he needed her most and everyone else she promised to save somehow.]

I'm sorry--!! I'm sorry.

[Because she's going to die or-- even just for believing she's going to die.

For the first time since her conception, the Nation of Poland truly feels weak and powerless and small.]

[hopefragment]

[No, wait, hang on, he made a Mistake, Poland was never supposed to be upset?? Maybe he should think before he speaks.

All at once, he's moving toward her, trying to wrap her in a tight hug because even if he can't do anything else, apparently he's good at this? That's what Roxy wrote on his page in her profile book, anyway.]

N-No, I'm sorry, I just... I-I'm scared everyone's counting on me, a-and... I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I... haven't been able to help anyone.

1/2

[sobowtor]

[It's easy for Hinata to wrap his arms around Poland and hug her, even with her own arms limply at her sides. She doesn't resist, her voice catching in her throat.

She doesn't want to leave like this. After all these weeks. After working so hard. After all this... to just wake up dead for no reason other than there has to be seven.]

[sobowtor]

[The jerky, choking noises in Poland's throat subside and she wraps her own arms tightly around Hinata.

Eventually Poland speaks. It's soft and quiet and hard to hear unless you're listening. Much like when they first met.]

...you helped me.