[phone call, to Yotsuyu Naeuri on October 30 at 9:56am]

[hardtoignore]

[At first, all that can be heard is rushing water and breathing. Harsh breathing. Honestly, not the best start for any conversation but Clarence has been trying to get ahold of his emotions for the past hour and it's all just started to crumble to hell anyway, so this is the best he could hope for until he can talk to someone about this. When he finally speaks, he can be heard over the water, but just barely.]

Yot-tsuyu? I'm... I need some... advice. I'm sorry! I'm, you're working but... please.

Comments

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence responds with a humorless huff of air that may have tried to be a chuckle.]

Evil people attract one another, huh? Sorry, but I can't see you being a bad person.

[He pauses to think.]

I think... your words make sense. I don't like to think I'm just destined to stay stuck in some way, no matter how my life works out. That makes effort doing anything feel useless. And if that's the case, why care about art. Or friends. Or anything.

[darkenedmoon]

Darling, that is a compliment, but you do not have my memories. [Which show Yotsuyu that, if nothing else, she was not the nicest of people, if they have also raised more questions...]

Precisely. Or, even if that is what your other self's memories have showed you? You do not need to consider yourself trapped there. You are still you.

[Though she gives a light chuckle there, as well.] I've no need to be cruel or bad, if the ones I care for are all happy, now, do I?

[hardtoignore]

And you don't have mine. You don't know the things I've done. Or what I've felt. There, or here. [The truth was he was certain he wasn't a good person, no matter how much he tried. He may not be a murderer but that didn't mean he wasn't capable of it. Or hadn't considered it before.]

... But what if you wanted to be bad because the ones you loved were hurt by someone? What if you wanted to make them pay? Would you do it?

[darkenedmoon]

[The smile Yotsuyu gives Clarence is not one that might settle his soul; not at all. If she actually had more memories of her other self, the answer might be different. But she responds to him, anyway.]

I would. In a heartbeat, and without remorse. And if I could find a way to do it without being caught? So much the better. But I do not think I'd care if I were caught. If I could draw it out and heighten their pain? It would only please me more.

[hardtoignore]

[He stops, considering, and finds himself feeling... validated.]

So... if I could do it... you’re saying I should?

[darkenedmoon]

[That gave her a moment of pause, and she narrows her eyes, then, in thought. Not that that transfers over the phone, but Yotsuyu is silent for a few excruciating moments.]

What is this tangent about, Clarence? Perhaps this is something best dealt with in person.

[Only part of her might be concerned about who might be listening in to this...]

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence is quiet for a while. A long while. Then he takes a deep breath and his voice is soft again, somewhat strained.]

Um... Maybe, yeah.

... Yeah.

[darkenedmoon]

Perhaps tea? Or lunch somewhere? Within the next day or so? [She'd rather talk this over as soon as possible--and not within his fosters' earshot. What they don't know cannot hurt them.]

You may pick, and I shall pay.

[hardtoignore]

Tea maybe? There's some nice cafes in the area...

[darkenedmoon]

I did say you could choose, dear. You tell me, I can find it. That or we can motor there in my car. We'll just arrange it with Kris and Phil.