shewhooncegripped

[shewhooncegripped]

[Kromer gets a small smile as Sinclair seems to pout, it's an adorable show of annoyance that is followed by comforting words. Kromer can't help but exhale in amusement. She doesn't follow up with any new thoughts on the matter.]

[And then Sinclair entertains her question. Sinclair possibly could even be read as somewhat calmer, as her voice is less robotic than it was with the previous topic. The thought brings Kromer's grin to a full smile. Her voice turns almost teasing, but there's a genuine warmth in it.

Ah, it's settled! It's time to get you back to your original body~! And then... Well... I don't know what comes next, I'll follow your lead. A journey like this is meant to be enjoyed, so we shouldn't rush it.

[Kromer takes one of Sinclair's long pigtails in her hand and starts to gently run her fingers through it.]

[Kromer averts her gaze for a moment as if she wants to comment on something. She seems a bit awkward though.]

'Clair... Do... Do you want me to stick around until we can find out how to get you back in your normal body?

[The woman looks awkward and nervous. Is Kromer nervous about the nickname? Or... Perhaps Kromer is a bit flustered to ask if she can spend time on Sinclair's bus?]

Sinclair, Do you need help? I'm hearing.... Noises from the changing room.

- @dreamsoftheredchamber

Sinclair swallowed uncomfortably. She felt the foreign, mechanical musculature move, swallowing her spit, and yet it still felt foreign. Like there was a piece of phlegm, or mucus stuck that she couldn't remove as she tried to open her mouth. Her chest ached and her eyes were... Sore, in a way. They ached, from tearing up, and yet she knew that it wasn't right. It felt different. It felt foreign. It was a mimicry.

It was false.

Still, as the knock rang out, she set her PDA down, and shifted her hand, towards her wrist. She opened her mouth, and pushed past the oddity of the new form, and allowed her voice to echo out.

"A...A... U-Um... I'm, not sure?"

Her voice was worried. Shifting. Unsteady and... A little higher, than she remembered it. It was afraid. Scared. And most of all, there was a slight tinge. A slightly, mechanical tinge, the perhaps only she could hear, and yet it was there, all the same. It was hideously panicked.

"Th... The, um... Anon-- Th... They changed me and I... My head hurts, and these memories, they're...!"

She tried to explain. Explaining would... Make it easier, and yet she knew she sounded insane. Her head hurt. It ached, and everything was wrong. Her hands gripped at her arms, and her 'breathing'... No, the simulacrum of a breath stifled itself in her chest, as she tightened her grip. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it didn't feel right.

It felt... Like it had back / t h e n . When she had f / a / l / l / e / n .

When she had f a i l e d .

When even Glass Slippers had been unable to save her. To save Abe, or... Anyone.

Her head hurt.

[shewhooncegripped]

[Kromer holds Sinclair for a moment as she silently thinks over Sinclair's words. She cannot see Sinclair's face well from her position of holding Sinclair in the hug, but she seems to realize that Sinclair may not enjoy the subject of conversation. An odd inhuman tone of voice, small twitches, Kromer swears she can even see the light of Sinclair's eyes change color briefly.]

...He doesn't sound pleasant. He sounds like he's trying too hard to be mysterious. He sounds like he wants to use you.

[Kromer closes her eyes, a small sigh leaves her as if she notices some sort of contradiction.]

Ah, but I guess I also probably tried to use you in your world. It's unfair for him to get the only blame.

Though, if you would like... We can change the subject. It seems like neither of us know much about Demian.

[Kromer has an odd expression on her face, her arms tug Sinclair closer.]

If you are comfortable, I want to learn about this mark... If you have any information about it. But I don't want to push the subject if you are uncomfortable. We can always wait for a different time.

[Sinclair is more important than any information Kromer can glean.]

[...Kromer doesn't want to see Demian again, she decides. Kromer can only guess why Demian decided to attempt to kill Sinclair in her world, but it appears Demian is one to do what he seems is a necessary evil in order to get what he wants... And it seems like Kromer is something he wants now.]

[Baoyu's story of the fish turning to a dragon... Demian wants Baoyu to show him a fish. And... Baoyu declared that Kromer is that fish.]

[A feeling of unease settles in Kromer's stomach.]

[...She's prey.]

[It doesn't feel nice to be on this side of someone hunting. Normally she's the one doing the hunting, but now the woman feels as if the man in blue could possibly appear at any moment.]

Ah, if you'd rather not talk about this though... Do you like this body more? Is it an interesting learning experience?

[The swap sinner doesn't bring up the inhuman nature of the body, instead she appears more focused on if Sinclair feels content with this new experience of a different body type.]

Your hair looks cute when it's up like this.

Sinclair, Do you need help? I'm hearing.... Noises from the changing room.

- @dreamsoftheredchamber

Sinclair swallowed uncomfortably. She felt the foreign, mechanical musculature move, swallowing her spit, and yet it still felt foreign. Like there was a piece of phlegm, or mucus stuck that she couldn't remove as she tried to open her mouth. Her chest ached and her eyes were... Sore, in a way. They ached, from tearing up, and yet she knew that it wasn't right. It felt different. It felt foreign. It was a mimicry.

It was false.

Still, as the knock rang out, she set her PDA down, and shifted her hand, towards her wrist. She opened her mouth, and pushed past the oddity of the new form, and allowed her voice to echo out.

"A...A... U-Um... I'm, not sure?"

Her voice was worried. Shifting. Unsteady and... A little higher, than she remembered it. It was afraid. Scared. And most of all, there was a slight tinge. A slightly, mechanical tinge, the perhaps only she could hear, and yet it was there, all the same. It was hideously panicked.

"Th... The, um... Anon-- Th... They changed me and I... My head hurts, and these memories, they're...!"

She tried to explain. Explaining would... Make it easier, and yet she knew she sounded insane. Her head hurt. It ached, and everything was wrong. Her hands gripped at her arms, and her 'breathing'... No, the simulacrum of a breath stifled itself in her chest, as she tightened her grip. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it didn't feel right.

It felt... Like it had back / t h e n . When she had f / a / l / l / e / n .

When she had f a i l e d .

When even Glass Slippers had been unable to save her. To save Abe, or... Anyone.

Her head hurt.

[shewhooncegripped]

I think... Perhaps, people are being too mean, so I'll give you an easy question to get rid of this mean old serum.

What simple object, more than anything, would you like to hold in your hands right now? Be it the softest toy, or a stress ball; if you could have it, what would it be?

[Kromer can be found on the floor, she appears to be catching her breath as she reads this ask. The woman closes her eyes for a moment as if the ask allows her a moment of rest.]

...

[When Kromer opens her eyes once more she stares up at one of the nails stabbed through her ceiling. She appears to be thinking about her answer.]

...I want my friends.

[A stray tear leaves her uncovered eye, and Kromer looks tired.]

...I want Sinclair. I want Don Quixote. I want Dongbaek. I want my friends.

[Kromer lays on her back for a few more moments before she sits up, wiping her eyes. She seems to be attempting to compose herself before she becomes more emotional than a single tear.]

...That's a bit embarrassing to admit, hah.

[There's a bitter smile on Kromer's face.]

I... Guess the truth serum has worn off. Hopefully.

[shewhooncegripped]

Please, answer truthfully! What is something you had about each of your coworkers?

...what is the question?

[shewhooncegripped]

Kicking you into a wall, shattering your spine and stepping hard on your neck in such a way one might fear it will break in order to punish her for daring to lie

[The 11th Sinner lets out a stained yelp as she's sent flying against the nearest wall like a ragdoll. By the time Kromer slumps on the ground there is already a foot on her neck.]

[Kromer's hands instinctively reach up to claw at her attacker's leg in an attempt to breathe, soft wheezes leave the woman as she tries to fight past the pain.]

[...This... Might be a bit much for a mere lie.]

[shewhooncegripped]

Truth serum's still around? Say, what's the one thing you hate about each sinner, your coworkers?

No. Listing such things would only make them dislike me even more.

P-plus... I don't even ha--!!

[Kromer's voice cracks as if she's in pain, she appears to be actively trying to fight the serum's effects. Whatever the woman was going to say is now cut off as she chokes on the lie.]

[Kromer is brought to her knees as she struggles against the pain of the words trying to break free.]

[...How unfortunate. Will you double down to force her into answering or will you allow her to answer a different question? Is a punishment needed for Kromer daring to lie?]

[shewhooncegripped]

Pt 1 / Pt 2

[As Sinclair speaks so fondly of Kromer, the woman in question can't help but wildly blush. The gentle words speaking of progress Kromer hasn't even realized has happened sends Kromer into a flustered sputtering.]

[Perhaps Kromer isn't quite used to such heartfelt compliments. Or, maybe, the warm smile upon Sinclair's face is enough to shortcircuit Kromer's brain. She's... Never seen such a look on Sinclair's face. It's almost as if Sinclair is proud of Kromer.]

[Kromer appears to be unable to form a coherent response by the time Sinclair shifts the subject. Kromer doesn't have time to refute Sinclair's words. Kromer doesn't have a chance to return fire with her own observations of Sinclair. Instead, pink paints the faces of both friends as the topic slips into Kromer's fellow sinners.]

[...It takes Sinclair's words for Kromer to realize that... Kromer does trust her teammates. Kromer is fond of them. Even if some of them are annoying, Kromer finds herself willing to die for them.]

[And... Kromer doesn't know if that makes her strong or weak. Has Kromer fallen from grace? Is she weaker than she once was because of a new set of morals and friendships?]

[The woman decides to set aside that thought for another day. Instead, she allows Sinclair to change the subject once more.]

Baoyu isn't above identity theft, surprisingly. I knew that he had already gotten on your bus already to meet his other self-- he would tease me about how close he was getting to talking to you during our unintentional meetings. Though, I don't think this last visit from him was malicious. He didn't seem to be violent at all today.

But that person he mentioned... Demian. I guess I could understand why you have complicated feelings about him.

[Kromer hugs Sinclair closer as she seems to think over what to share. Maybe Sinclair is her teddy bear now.]

...When I got my Sinclair into Nagel und Hammer... He told me that a man in blue named Demian used to visit him when I wouldn't be present. Demian apparently stopped visiting Sinclair after I brought him to NCorp with me. But... I wasn't told of the nature of the talks Sinclair would have with Demian. Just that Demian was a bit... Unsettling.

[Kromer appears to be very cautious with her word choice the entire time. She's dropping a lot of information in so few words, the woman's hands shake as if she fears Sinclair to suddenly judge her for sharing this sliver of information.]

[However, Kromer continues.]

I've only seen Demian once. When he killed Sinclair. Well, I guess Sinclair is alive... So... When he exploded Sinclair would likely be more accurate.

[Kromer's voice starts to wobble as she continues to speak.]

But... From Baoyu's words... It appears as if Demian wants to meet me. Or... He wants to see something from me? I... I wasn't really listening at that point...

Is this Demian the same person you are thinking of?

Sinclair, Do you need help? I'm hearing.... Noises from the changing room.

- @dreamsoftheredchamber

Sinclair swallowed uncomfortably. She felt the foreign, mechanical musculature move, swallowing her spit, and yet it still felt foreign. Like there was a piece of phlegm, or mucus stuck that she couldn't remove as she tried to open her mouth. Her chest ached and her eyes were... Sore, in a way. They ached, from tearing up, and yet she knew that it wasn't right. It felt different. It felt foreign. It was a mimicry.

It was false.

Still, as the knock rang out, she set her PDA down, and shifted her hand, towards her wrist. She opened her mouth, and pushed past the oddity of the new form, and allowed her voice to echo out.

"A...A... U-Um... I'm, not sure?"

Her voice was worried. Shifting. Unsteady and... A little higher, than she remembered it. It was afraid. Scared. And most of all, there was a slight tinge. A slightly, mechanical tinge, the perhaps only she could hear, and yet it was there, all the same. It was hideously panicked.

"Th... The, um... Anon-- Th... They changed me and I... My head hurts, and these memories, they're...!"

She tried to explain. Explaining would... Make it easier, and yet she knew she sounded insane. Her head hurt. It ached, and everything was wrong. Her hands gripped at her arms, and her 'breathing'... No, the simulacrum of a breath stifled itself in her chest, as she tightened her grip. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it didn't feel right.

It felt... Like it had back / t h e n . When she had f / a / l / l / e / n .

When she had f a i l e d .

When even Glass Slippers had been unable to save her. To save Abe, or... Anyone.

Her head hurt.

[shewhooncegripped]

This... This is fine Sinclair... I'm fine right now. I like being this close to you, Sinclair.

[Kromer gently reaches up and grabs the healing hand to make sure the other doesn't damage themselves any more. Though, Kromer's hand pauses at the wrath being shown on Kromer's behalf.]

I understand you are upset, but it's unlikely to find the perpetrator. Abnormal things appear to have slowed down, so it's not like we could find much evidence of what is happening.

[Kromer doesn't appear disturbed by Sinclair's anger. Instead she has a small smile. Perhaps she is touched.]

Everything that happened was quite unfortunate, but... I'm glad it didn't happen to anyone else. Y'know? I did have a point where I didn't leave my room, but Penelope dragged me out and made me drink water. Ah... I don't think some of my coworkers would've lasted as long as I did. Though, I probably would've lasted much shorter if my manager wasn't checking in with me so frequently. I don't know. I guess I managed alright? I'm here now. I'm... Happy to be here.

...Though I was quite surprised to see my old coworker talking to you. It doesn't seem like you were aware who Baoyu is though.

[Kromer brushes past the topic of her emotions. Instead she changes the subject.]

I don't quite understand what Baoyu was saying near the end there... I was a bit distracted... But he didn't hurt you, did he?

Sinclair, Do you need help? I'm hearing.... Noises from the changing room.

- @dreamsoftheredchamber

Sinclair swallowed uncomfortably. She felt the foreign, mechanical musculature move, swallowing her spit, and yet it still felt foreign. Like there was a piece of phlegm, or mucus stuck that she couldn't remove as she tried to open her mouth. Her chest ached and her eyes were... Sore, in a way. They ached, from tearing up, and yet she knew that it wasn't right. It felt different. It felt foreign. It was a mimicry.

It was false.

Still, as the knock rang out, she set her PDA down, and shifted her hand, towards her wrist. She opened her mouth, and pushed past the oddity of the new form, and allowed her voice to echo out.

"A...A... U-Um... I'm, not sure?"

Her voice was worried. Shifting. Unsteady and... A little higher, than she remembered it. It was afraid. Scared. And most of all, there was a slight tinge. A slightly, mechanical tinge, the perhaps only she could hear, and yet it was there, all the same. It was hideously panicked.

"Th... The, um... Anon-- Th... They changed me and I... My head hurts, and these memories, they're...!"

She tried to explain. Explaining would... Make it easier, and yet she knew she sounded insane. Her head hurt. It ached, and everything was wrong. Her hands gripped at her arms, and her 'breathing'... No, the simulacrum of a breath stifled itself in her chest, as she tightened her grip. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it didn't feel right.

It felt... Like it had back / t h e n . When she had f / a / l / l / e / n .

When she had f a i l e d .

When even Glass Slippers had been unable to save her. To save Abe, or... Anyone.

Her head hurt.

[shewhooncegripped]

who do you think is closest and the most important to you. Go

In... In what manner? I define all of my relationships differently, I don't consider my friendship with Sinclair to be equal to my friendship with Dongbaek or Don Quixote.

My job requires me to be close to Jante, our fates are linked as one due to the contract between us. So in a manner, you could consider that I am closest to Jane Doe by obligation. I am her knight and I do what they say. I am a sword meant to be used to forge the Manager's path through the city.

My relationship with that Mirror World Sinclair is quite deep. We understand each other in a deep manner that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Neither of us has spoken about what we have experienced, but I don't think we care at this point. The conversation will come someday, but there's no pressure to have it anytime soon. Sinclair has seen me in much weaker spots than any of my coworkers, yet Sinclair still respects me as a human and treats me with care.

And then there is Dongbaek and Don Quixote. I could never choose one to be more important than the other, they both are my beloved bus seat buddies. We face hardship together. We fight together. They've seen my past yet they don't judge me. They still wanted to sit next to me and be my friend. They... I guess you can say they are my light? Whatever that means. It's the first thing that came to mind.

But there's no one person that I find the most important in my life. There are many different definitions of important, after all.

4/5 - Truth Serum MA

[shewhooncegripped]

what sinner do you hope to see improve themself in the future the most?

Yuri. While we definitely have worse fighters than Yuri, I think she tends to let her emotions impact her fighting abilities which can make her quite unreliable on the battlefield.

I don't expect her to be perfect or emotionless. I just think that Yuri can grow to be less reckless. She gets impatient when she's angry and she lacks passion when she's sad. Fighting alongside her can be difficult when she's all over the place.

Overall, she is actually quite strong and skilled. That is just something needing improvement that I've been noticing lately.

3/5 - Truth Serum MA

[shewhooncegripped]

Think of the three most important people to you in your head. You have to kill one of them permanently for an unspecified reason. Which one would you kill?

[Kromer closes her eyes at this question, a frown on her face. She is quiet as she appears to be thinking for a long time.]

...Myself.

[The woman lets out a soft sigh, an exhale as if she was expecting pain for lying. But... Through whatever logic she employed... This answer is true.]

If I didn't find myself important, if I didn't prioritize myself.... I wouldn't be alive right now. So... That must make me one of the most important people in my life. By that logic-- I choose myself. I'm not senselessly killing anyone else dear to me.

[Kromer doesn't mention who else was on the list for her most important people.]

2/5 - Truth Serum MA

[shewhooncegripped]

Hey, Kromie. What do you like about each particular sinner?

What an unlucky and miserable question to immediately come across upon receiving a truth serum. I'll list my coworkers in order just to make it easier for the viewers.

Dongbaek/01 - I have two favorite sinners and Dongbaek is one of them. Even though she is older than me, Dongbaek treats me as an equal. I appreciate that Dongbaek feels comfortable to speak her mind around me. She's relatively quiet most of the time so it feels special to have a good enough bond that she is comfortable holding a conversation with me. There is a mutual understanding between us that we will not force the other to speak about something they'd rather not share, and I truly appreciate that there is never any pressure when we hang out. Dongbaek also always smells pleasant. Surprisingly, she appears to carry a strong scent of flowers no matter where she goes-- so it's actually pretty nice to be her bus seat buddy. My sense of smell is pretty strong so I'm glad that the people I sit next to don't have an offensive smell. Another thing is that on days I am not particularly feeling well as we are traveling, both of my seat buddies will let me rest upon them. The amount of care Dongbaek shows is extremely touching. I know she is awkward, but she is genuinely such a good person.

Gretchen/02 - Gretchen gave me a purpose after I abandoned everything I was familiar with... I really appreciate that. It's also really nice to have a source of knowledge to draw from.

Don Quixote/03 - My other favorite sinner. He is also the other sinner I sit next to on the bus. Don Quixote is very fatherly towards me, but he doesn't necessarily try to parent me. It's more of... A father friend. It's a type of attention and care I've never gotten before, so to have someone show genuine care like he does is extremely touching. I want to return the same attention to him but... I have zero clue how to show how much I care. Ah. Don Quixote and I also have the mutual understanding that we both hold secrets, but we don't let that get in the way of our friendship. He doesn't push me about my past before limbus company-- he saw my point of view while we were fighting Nagel und Hammer for the golden bough... But those flashbacks never actually shared why I did what I did. It just showed me as a monster. Yet, Don Quixote still treats me as human anyways. He doesn't ask for me to explain my reasoning, he's the first one to be open with me. We both know that we may share our secrets if we ever feel like it's safe to, but there's never any pressure and we don't let that get in the way of our bonding. I also think Don Quixote is an amazing storyteller. He has so many stories, and I'm not quite sure how he remembers them all... But the fact that Don Quixote has such a good memory is amazing-- it's certainly good entertainment for the road trip we perpetually seem to be on. Though, even if he isn't telling a story he's a good conversationalist. I cherish the conversations I have with Don Quixote and Dongbaek. Oh, I think Don Quixote also has really interesting hair. I think he brushes it quite frequently, it always moves so gracefully without tangles. I think it would be fun to play with his hair, but... It may be a bit embarrassing to ask. Hehe.

Yuzu/04 - ....Um... (Well, how do I explain this in a way that won't be wildly misconstrued by the anons... ) To start with, I really appreciate Yuzu's bloodlust and efficiency. I know we both tend to avoid each other... We kinda started off on the wrong foot and I have zero clue how to talk to her now... Erm. Her wrath is very interesting to watch. It burns very hot, and the way she burns across the battlefield is almost like art. (Ugh, I still have to say it...) I guess I also find her face aesthetically pleasing? She's cute. Don't take that the wrong way, though. You guys tend to take things too far, it's not like that.

Marie/05 - Marie is genuinely fun to fight alongside. She is a reliable partner to have in battle. Marie also gave me a hug during ladies night once... That was really nice. She hugs really well.

Jia Xichun/06 - I can always count on Xichun to tell me the truth, even if both of knows it's going to hurt. Xichun doesn't bother hiding what she thinks about me, and it's nice to not have to guess.

Catherine/07 - Catherine and I typically keep our distance from each other, but I do think she has very interesting opinions. We both came from different backgrounds, and even if she's a spoiled pretty princess... I guess it gives her a unique view of the world and allows her to notice things I typically wouldn't.

Queequeg/08 - Queequeg is honestly very intimidating-- she could probably crush my skull if I offended her. But... I think she's a good listener. I also think her tattoos are really nice.

Sonya/09 - ...While I think his dream is unobtainable, I do find it admirable that he is working so hard towards it. I think Sonya is quite a good entertainer during ladies nights, he's very good at keeping the conversation flowing.

Jane Doe/10 - Our manager is extremely caring in her own way. Jante is quite goofy at times, but I feel like she's becoming more reliable in her decisions.

Kromer/11 - ...I'm a sinner so I guess I have to say something good about myself? Uh... Oh gosh, it's actually kind of weird to put myself on the spot like this. I guess I like my eyes? They are something I can get lost looking at in the mirror sometimes. There's a lot of little details in them.

Penelope/12 - I think Penelope's attempts to mother others is quite amusing. She's awkward about it in an adorable way. Though... I can sense that she's someone important, but she doesn't flaunt her power. I find that extremely intimidating because I don't quite know who she is, but I do value the sense of secrecy she has.

Yuri/13 - Yuri has a very fun personality. It's nice to spend time with her. I do think she lets other people get to her too much, but that sensitive side is also what makes her such a nice person. I think Yuri puts a lot of thought into how she looks everyday, and it's nice to see her try to dress up even while she's in her work uniform.

[shewhooncegripped]

A glass bottle breaks on your head. It's a truth serum that is extremely potent but very short acting!

For the next five asks you HAVE to be brutally honest. You have to say the complete truth and not leave out any details.

If you try to hide anything the unspoken words will cause increasing pain until it becomes unbearable.

First of all, ow.

...Second of all, I've been making an attempt to be honest with all of you already. Why did you feel the need to force me to tell the truth? I may omit details, but I've been under the impression that you don't need to share every intimate detail of yourself to someone you don't trust. (Haah, this'll be a hassle.)

0/5 - Truth Serum MA

[shewhooncegripped]

Did you know that Sonya has a boyfriend?

...why are more Sinners getting into relationships?

Congratulations, I guess, but we have a job to do and something like maintaining a romantic relationship will be difficult when our job literally takes us all across the city.

There is also the fact that our contract requires us to be secretive. Sinners having relationships with others outside of the company is a massive security risk. Someone having access to information about us puts Jante in danger. Plus, anyone who knows about our workings could also be put in danger. They could be put in a situation they normally wouldn't be in and end up dying. (Example: Gregor.) Or they could be kidnapped and tortured for information. It's too risky.

Of course, I don't necessarily care either way. It doesn't affect me at all and I have no strong emotional stakes to this information. I am merely concerned from a strategic perspective. If the relationship ends horribly then Sonya's work will become sloppy. (We've seen that with Yuri already) There are massive security risks and a lot of things working against him. If Sonya is being careful, then whatever. Go off, it's pride month I guess.

[shewhooncegripped]

*Puts our Kromer down in askbox* can you watch her I need to go kill a whale

@captainofpequod

Uh... I guess?? Can't she take care of herself?

[shewhooncegripped]

[Sinclair is very obviously in so much more pain than it is currently showing. Kromer allows her hand to be taken into Sinclair's. The grip reminds Kromer of when they fell asleep holding each other's hands. It's purposely kept gentle, yet the tears have returned.bsinckske is in pain.]

Well... If it's a good distraction, I guess I can tell you some of the events between your departure of my bus and my arrival on yours.

[Kromer shifts so she's sitting on the couch next to Sinclair. She does this so she can bring Sinclair into a hug with her free arm. Kromer isn't expecting Sinclair to return the hug, it's just another thing to distract. Another thing to lean into.]

Well... The first big event since your departure would be Baoyu showing up on the bus. He said he was transported there, and it seems like I was one of the few who had the misfortune of running into him. I tried to intimidate him into leaving and he grabbed my arm and...

[Kromer trails off as she stares at the non painful yet firm grip Sinclair has on her hand, she seems to be lost in a memory for a moment before she closes her eyes.]

Well... he broke my arm and the gauntlet. Jane ended up having to cut off my arm because there was no safe way to fix the break with the metal trapping my arm in such a weird position. It would've just rebroke. She rewound though, so it's no big deal.

[Apathy paints Kromer's face, she appears to be emotionally removed from this memory. So many things have happened since then.]

I had another... Run in with Baoyu. I was transported to NCorp and chained to Baoyu. We had an argument, one that led to us fist fighting for... Ah. Well... I don't know how long. Sometimes one of us would knock the other out and we would just sit there waiting for them to wake up. Plus there were no windows. I just know that we eventually decided to take a break. The fighting was getting boring and we are pretty even in skill.

So... We started talking. Baoyu told me about how he wishes to leave NCorp. He told me about his sister. We talked about our version of Sinclair.

[Kromer's eyes become distant even at the mention of the other Sinclair. Her hand tightens against Sinclair's own.]

Then...

[There's a wobble to her voice, showing that Kromer is likely still lingering over this.]

Baoyu told me Sinclair is alive. I watched Sinclair die. Demian blew him to smithereens in front of me... Yet, NCorp found his head and torso. They've managed to keep him alive.

After... After telling me that, Baoyu gave me a hug. He was kind about it. He was gentle at first, t-then if started to become uncomfortably tight... A-and then... He snapped my neck.

I woke up in my room with a letter. It explained that in order to return me to the bus I had to die by his hands. He gave me a new weapon as a gift. It's... Uhm... A whip.

[Kromer's face is red, she's barely holding back tears. The source of all of Kromer's anxiety over this most recent visit. Her nervousness with being hugged. Her anxiety of Baoyu reaching her. Yet... She still wants to be near Sinclair. She still tries to cuddle and hold her friend.]

[The mentioned whip is attached to Kromer. The woman brought along both weapons when she came to visit Sinclair.]

T-that's all the Baoyu things... But other things happened too. Uhm.

[Before Kromer even starts the next topic, her hands are already violently trembling. But... Kromer needs to distract Sinclair. She doesn't give the other a moment to speak up, to give her a moment to breathe. Kromer doesn't want a moment to relax. More and more words come stumbling out uncontrollably as Kromer spirals.]

A b-bit before that last Baoyu interaction... I think I also became a test subject for a new singularity. i didn't sign up for anything... I didn't w-want it, uhm... But I started frequently dying. At first it was inconspicuous. I tripped down the bus stairs and cracked my head open... I fumbled an attack during a fight and got beheaded. I just thought I was more clumsy than normal... B-but then things started becoming more unbelievable. I died of CO2 poisoning that only occurred in my room. I ended up fainting from heatstroke during a shower and drowning. During a shower.

[These little stories would honestly be quite amusing if Kromer didn't look haunted while telling them.]

And then... I would get forced into a d-death. I can't remember anything happening, I just w-woke up from being rewound a-and...

[Kromer's breath hitches, a single tear falls before Kromer pulls away from the hug to wipe at her eyes. Her shaking hand is still within Sinclair's. She blocks Sinclair's view of her face with her free hand as she continues to speak.]

Well... O-one of the times... I ended up throwing myself into Mephi's engine during a fuel up. And I don't remember it. I... I wouldn't do that.

[Kromer continues to block the view of her whole face, her hand is now only covering her lower face though.]

And once, someone else was controlled and sent to kill me... She remembers every moment of that.

[The woman closes her eyes, taking a brief moment to mourn Dongbaek's grief over killing her. Dongbaek doesn't deserve this.]

[Then the Swap Sinner speaks again. She's back to that apathetic state, she isn't looking at Sinclair as she speaks.]

I had ended up getting so stressed from everything together that I corroded for multiple days straight.

...Did you know that nonviolent corrosions are possible? I had no control of myself, but the corrosion happened because I desperately needed a mental escape from the stress. My coworkers had to forcefully drag me out of the corrosion. And then, because of how long I was in the corrosion... I ended up hibernating. Kinda. Corrosions don't eat or sleep.

[That last thought brings a tiny smile to Kromer's face.]

And... That's really most of it. Was that a good distraction?

[Kromer's hand is still shaking, but Kromer brings her attention to the hand that is currently being repaired to see its progress. She's avoiding looking Sinclair in the eyes. Kromer is honestly quite ashamed by how pathetic she has become.]

Sinclair, Do you need help? I'm hearing.... Noises from the changing room.

- @dreamsoftheredchamber

Sinclair swallowed uncomfortably. She felt the foreign, mechanical musculature move, swallowing her spit, and yet it still felt foreign. Like there was a piece of phlegm, or mucus stuck that she couldn't remove as she tried to open her mouth. Her chest ached and her eyes were... Sore, in a way. They ached, from tearing up, and yet she knew that it wasn't right. It felt different. It felt foreign. It was a mimicry.

It was false.

Still, as the knock rang out, she set her PDA down, and shifted her hand, towards her wrist. She opened her mouth, and pushed past the oddity of the new form, and allowed her voice to echo out.

"A...A... U-Um... I'm, not sure?"

Her voice was worried. Shifting. Unsteady and... A little higher, than she remembered it. It was afraid. Scared. And most of all, there was a slight tinge. A slightly, mechanical tinge, the perhaps only she could hear, and yet it was there, all the same. It was hideously panicked.

"Th... The, um... Anon-- Th... They changed me and I... My head hurts, and these memories, they're...!"

She tried to explain. Explaining would... Make it easier, and yet she knew she sounded insane. Her head hurt. It ached, and everything was wrong. Her hands gripped at her arms, and her 'breathing'... No, the simulacrum of a breath stifled itself in her chest, as she tightened her grip. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it didn't feel right.

It felt... Like it had back / t h e n . When she had f / a / l / l / e / n .

When she had f a i l e d .

When even Glass Slippers had been unable to save her. To save Abe, or... Anyone.

Her head hurt.

[shewhooncegripped]

Don't apologize, Sinclair. All of your reactions have been valid. In my eyes you haven't done anything wrong, okay? How about we sit down for a moment. Do you have anything I can help patch up this hand with? Any pain medicine?

[Kromer looks around the room as she surveys where a safe spot for Sinclair would be. A bed. A small couch... Actually, the couch may work.]

[The woman gently pulls Sinclair over to the couch and nudges her until she sits. Kromer remains standing as she gently examines the bloody hand. Sometimes, Kromer may be zapped by some of the broken circuitry. Yet, the woman shows zero reaction to the pain. She must already be quite used to being zapped by breaking prosthetics. This is normal for her.]

...Baoyu and I have a history, you couldn't have known. He's trying to become a better person, but he has very poor control over his emotions-- so just be careful if he shows up again... Alright?

[Kromer's voice is quiet, almost a whisper. It's as if she's expecting Baoyu to still be standing behind the closed door.]

[Kromer closes her eyes for a moment as she just listens to the person in front of her breathe. Sinclair is alive. Both Sinclairs are alive, seeing Baoyu reminds her of that.]

Sinclair.

[Kromer sounds as if she is about to also start crying. Instead she breaks away a hand from Sinclair to rub away any misty eyes. She then looks up at Sinclair's face. Pulling her sleeve over her hand, Kromer starts to wipe away her friend's tears.]

[Kromer seems so caring even if Sinclair isn't human anymore. The main emotion shown in her expression is worry over her friend. There's no trace of disgust in her gaze.]

[...She truly has grown.]

And... My story will take a long while to go through. If you truly wish to hear, I'll oblige. But... Let's make sure you are cared for first. Okay?

[Kromer manifests a small humorless smile. One that's meant to be comforting, that she's trying to understand what Sinclair is going through.]

Sinclair, Do you need help? I'm hearing.... Noises from the changing room.

- @dreamsoftheredchamber

Sinclair swallowed uncomfortably. She felt the foreign, mechanical musculature move, swallowing her spit, and yet it still felt foreign. Like there was a piece of phlegm, or mucus stuck that she couldn't remove as she tried to open her mouth. Her chest ached and her eyes were... Sore, in a way. They ached, from tearing up, and yet she knew that it wasn't right. It felt different. It felt foreign. It was a mimicry.

It was false.

Still, as the knock rang out, she set her PDA down, and shifted her hand, towards her wrist. She opened her mouth, and pushed past the oddity of the new form, and allowed her voice to echo out.

"A...A... U-Um... I'm, not sure?"

Her voice was worried. Shifting. Unsteady and... A little higher, than she remembered it. It was afraid. Scared. And most of all, there was a slight tinge. A slightly, mechanical tinge, the perhaps only she could hear, and yet it was there, all the same. It was hideously panicked.

"Th... The, um... Anon-- Th... They changed me and I... My head hurts, and these memories, they're...!"

She tried to explain. Explaining would... Make it easier, and yet she knew she sounded insane. Her head hurt. It ached, and everything was wrong. Her hands gripped at her arms, and her 'breathing'... No, the simulacrum of a breath stifled itself in her chest, as she tightened her grip. It hurt. It hurt so much. But it didn't feel right.

It felt... Like it had back / t h e n . When she had f / a / l / l / e / n .

When she had f a i l e d .

When even Glass Slippers had been unable to save her. To save Abe, or... Anyone.

Her head hurt.