skyagain | catchall estelle

It was strange... We were students at a school, and it felt like we'd been there for a long time...

They taught us how to fight demons, and... that's what we had to do.

... So it was some kind of ... demon slayer school? [ ????? ] Did you guys remember this hotel at all?

We did! But it was like we'd lived these other lives too... though it feels more like a distant dream now.

That's... I don't know if anything like that happened in the Realm, but it might in other places. [ like a school or something. wow. ] Probably a good thing you're not stuck with a fake set of memories.

[ yes that would suck wouldnt it cloud ]

I didn't even think about that... That would be terrible.

[i'm crying]

We had all these powers we don't normally do, either... Ones specially for exorcising demons.

[ nods because yeah! it would be terrible! so terrible. anyway ]

... So... wherever you ended up, they really immersed you in that world. Wonder if there's any reason for that or if it was just to mess with all of you.

We were tasked with investigating incidences of hauntings and dispatching the demons responsible... Without our "training," we wouldn't have been able to do that... So maybe it was a means to that end.

A way to make sure you went along with what they wanted you to do. Yeah, that tracks. [ he looks her over again ] So demons are what got you guys like that?

[ injured by demons and ghosts is terrible but it could be worse? maybe? ]

[she nods, but...

she's also looking downward.]

Mostly...

... Mostly.

[ hm. he's not forcing her to keep talking but he does look very :T about that specification ]

A lot of the injuries were from... each other.

[ oh. he frowns heavily ]

... You guys too? [ hrm. ] Not exactly a pattern you'd want.

[She nods, falling quiet for a few moments, her gaze low and distant.]

[ hesitantly... puts a hand to her shoulder ]

Hey. You don't... have to talk about it if it's too much.

[She lifts her head after another moment. There's some weight in her expression, but she can at least try to face him.]

Right... I'm sorry.

I wonder what the purpose of it all was... Is it just another form of "entertainment"?