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EMPATHY - You lay on your ruined hotel bed. Not five minutes ago, you were standing on a balcony with a man you’re fairly certain you’re in love with.
PERCEPTION - Kim. His eyes. His face. His voice. The way he goes about… Life.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - You have a vague feeling you're forgetting someone. But who? Who were they to you? Were you two… something? You don't remember, do you?
YOU - I don’t.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - You may never remember. You drove away your companions, supposedly.
EMPATHY - They may despise you now.
PERCEPTION - But not Kim. He has stayed. Granted, you have no idea if he was there for the… Festivities. But he is there. And real. And, seemingly, fine with you.
EMPATHY - Kim is fine with you. Your antics, your memory loss, your everything. And you have no earthly idea how to feel about it. You can't recall if you’ve ever felt this way towards anyone. But it’s real. And it’s love.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - You can’t even remember your own past. Yet, you remember what love feels like. And this is it
EMPATHY - You sigh shakily as you roll to face away from the door, A tear rolls down your cheek. Then another. And another. You’re crying over a man you just met.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - A man you barely know. A man who knows more about you than you do yourself.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You get out of the bed.
PERCEPTION - You hadn’t even taken your shoes off yet. Like every fibre of you knew you weren’t going to stay here for very long.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You trudge out of the room, heading to the room beside yours.
PERCEPTION - His room.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You stand in silence for a very long time before knocking.
PERCEPTION - Nothing. He’s asleep, which is both good and bad.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You turn to make the slow trek back to your room. Until you hear a half-asleep voice from behind you.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Yes?”
PERCEPTION - There’s his voice. His lovely voice.
COMPOSURE - You turn to him, head down. You can't bear to let him see you in this state.
YOU - “It’s nothing. Forgot what I wanted.”
KIM KITSURAGI - “You could retrace your steps. That may help.”
PERCEPTION- Dolores Dei. You stay quiet for a moment.
YOU - "Can I... Come in?"
PERCEPTION - You look up at Kim. What's the worst he could do right now? His eyebrows raise at the sight of your tear-stained face.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Yes, why?” You can hear the tiredness in his voice.
YOU - I just… I don’t want to be alone right now.”
PERCEPTION - A tinge of concern is in his eyes.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Of course.” He steps out of your way, socked feet silent against the floor.
PERCEPTION - You enter, looking around the pristine room. Kim closes the door behind you. His jacket is on the coat hanger on the back of the door, and his boots beside the bed. His belt is atop the cassette player. You sigh. Kim looks at you.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Is everything alright?”
YOU - “Yeah, I think so. Just… Scared, is all.”
KIM KITSURAGI - “Scared of what?” He walks quietly to the bed, sitting on its edge.
COMPOSURE - You stay silent for a moment.
YOU - “Myself. I think.”
PERCEPTION - Kim sits quietly. Thinking.
COMPOSURE - Did you say something wrong? You open your mouth to speak, when Kim interrupts.
KIM KITSURAGI - “I am too, sometimes. Scared of myself.”
YOU - “What have you done to scare yourself?”
KIM KITSURAGI - He’s silent for only half a second. “Quite a lot.”
YOU - “Are you okay saying what they are.”
KIM KITSURAGI - “No.” He states rather quickly. “Not yet.”
YOU - “Oh. Sorry for asking.”
KIM KITSURAGI - “It’s not you. I have been told I don’t open up to people easily. They’re right.” He sighs heavily.
YOU - “That’s okay.”
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You hesitate before placing a hand on his shoulder, sitting down next to him. He lifts his head, looking at you.
PERCEPTION - God, he’s everything.
KIM KITSURAGI - “It’s nice to know I’m not alone.” A smile threatens to form on his face, but he fights it off. But not before you notice.
PERCEPTION - You sit there in silence for a very long time, before you break the silence.
YOU - “Can I stay for the night?”
PERCEPTION - Your words come out fast.
KIM KITSURAGI - He’s quiet for a moment. “I suppose. I think I may also need company.” He stands, allowing you to crawl into the bed.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You kick off your shoes and lay down, trying to leave enough room for Kim to comfortably lay down, which he does. Kim lays, facing away from you
ENCYCLOPEDIA - He trusts you. Oh, Dolores Dei, he trusts you. Why else would he lay facing away from you?
PERCEPTION - Maybe he can’t bear looking at you. You aren’t the prettiest, after all. Not in comparison.
KIM KITSURAGI - “You don’t have to stay pressed against the wall.” He’s falling asleep as he speaks.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION - You pull away from the wall, and hesitate before placing your arm over his waist.
PERCEPTION - He tenses up, yet doesn't stop you. He’s the first to fall asleep out of the two of you. You stay up, just admiring him. But you soon snap out of it and close your eyes, falling asleep.
ENCYCLOPEDIA - And all is well for the night.