AForestDark— Aspects Game

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Ends on 08/18/2016 at 10pm PST.

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Content warning references to child abuse and drug abuse. Will put more warnings up if they come up.

Comments

[decomposed]

[ ... ]

It is fortunate that it was returned to your possession.

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It was... though the circumstances... [ The girl hugs the box to her chest. Gently, because if you look carefully, you can see that it was shattered and only precariously repaired. ]

[decomposed]

... Would you tell me about them?

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It's not a pleasant story. [ The girl smiles sadly. ] You see, when the box went missing... It wasn't long after I'd gotten it, you see. I always suspected I knew what had happened, but I was afraid if I said anything... [ The girl coughs. ] It was my younger brother, you see. I got everything from our father and he hated me for it. I did what I could for him, and sometimes it meant pretending he didn't steal my things. [ The girl pauses to gauge Uriel's reaction so far. ]

[decomposed]

[ his eyes go briefly wide, but... it's not that surprising. he understands, more than he doesn't. ]

Did he return it to you in this state?

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[ The girl shakes her head. ] No... It was... I'm going to be married soon, you see. And Yuu-kun came to my window with a gift. Something wrapped up. I didn't recognize it, hadn't even thought about it in years... I didn't except his gift. I thought it was stolen... Well. I guess it had been. [ The girl looks down at the box. ] Yuu-kun got loud, agitated. "Just take it!" I tried to get him to keep it down, and I let it slip that I knew that he wasn't really our dad's child. He... he was so angry... [ The girl's breathing hitches. ] ...I'd never seen him so angry...

[decomposed]

[ slowly reaches out to touch her shoulder, silent comfort ]

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[ The hand helps. She takes several deep breaths before continuing. ] He... attacked me, and Dad... overheard. He came in and pulled Yuu-kun away and kicked him out of the house. I saw the gift Yuu-kun brought me shatter during the fight. [ She looks back up at Uriel. ] I was so scared, but I think... I think there was a part of him, at that time, that regretted... maybe just a little... And had been trying to make amends with this box. So I repaired it as best as I could, my treasure of "what might have been." If things had happened differently, if he or I had said or done the right thing at the right time to make it a little more bearable...

[decomposed]

... I am sure your feelings have reached him.

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[ The girl smiles faintly. ] I hope so... Though it might be too little, too late.

[decomposed]

You have never looked down at him for his illegitimacy and instead have treated him with kindness and acceptance for all this time. That, and that you hold him in your heart and forgive him even now, are irreplaceably valuable.

[ ... this is an npc and all but look ]

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[ Well, NPC or not, she is based off of Katou's perceptions of her... The girl's smile grows a little stronger, more natural. ] You're important, too, Uriel... It's because of you and Setsuna that this isn't a much worse place to be. Until that time back then... he couldn't hear my words at all.

[decomposed]

[ ah... ]

... Thank you, I'm glad to know it.

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[ The girl places the music box back down on its stand. ] It's not easy to forgive yourself, though, when all you can see is reasons not to. [ She says it contemplatively. ]

[decomposed]

... I am familiar with the feeling.

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And you've had so much longer to live with it, haven't you? How do you keep going?

[decomposed]

[ badly ]

As I am now, I do not recall so long of a time... but I imagine I would become frustrated if I were not trying to lead a productive life.

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I see... [ She pauses thoughtfully. ] I hope you can be a good influence on Yuu-kun, then. He hasn't had many of those.

[decomposed]

[ a faint nod ]

It is my intention to support him in bettering himself. He himself has the will to do so.

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Then thank you for that. [ The girl bows slightly. ]