Why would an editor... make the story go off course? No, that's basically the same thing right? [What's similar but not the same...] Why would an editor need it to go off course?
[Dehya nods.] Yeah, but not by themselves. According to Sika, making major changes require the troupe's power. There's only so much they can do without us working together... probably because we're the story.
Lavi will probably be disappointed in why she knows this but one thing at a time.] When you think about it that way, it's kind of like we have the power. Maybe we can't change the setting on our own, but we can decide what we want to change.
... Yeah, if a story could really rebel against you while you're trying to edit it that'd be annoying. [Is this still a metaphor or literal now.] Then you think Sika'd try to stop any huge changes to the story?
[It's okay, she knows Lavi is trying to communicate and not ignoring her. So it's probably related. Edit it again and again. They know about Sika's efforts to revive Mikaela by now, but...
...] Do you think Sika is lying outright, or "lying through omission"?
[ lavi might know where she's going with this and if he's right then hopefully this answer will help her with it. and if not, well, it still serves its purpose. ]
They've never lied to us but—the second option is closer to the truth.
[Closer to the truth but haven't lied to them. She didn't get the impression they did, either, so--] I mentioned yesterday that they told me they've been trying to escape, right? But they can't remember how any of the other shows ended.
I made a deal with them to end this show early in a way that lets us leave safely. [Her gaze flickers as she considers it.] But I didn't get the impression they were that worried about the story going off the rails. As long as they could keep Mikaela safe, they were fine with helping us just get out.
[All in all, they're not a very dedicated editor. Which makes sense when you consider that they seem to be trapped here, too, but.]
Wait. [She is giving Lavi a "tell me if I'm right" look.] Is Sika not the real editor?
[If the power comes from the story itself rebelling, then is Sika just another part of it playing the role of the editor?]
[ OH I SEE THE CRIMES THAT DEHYA HAS COMMITTED..... looks through the screen. this will be fun.
either way, lavi will listen to her explain herself and how she knows what she knows and there's something that snaps inside of him. the edges of his shadow become jagged and angular in ways that no one in the dorm has likely seen.
(only one person has seen him this angry.) ]
This is their sin. This story—
[ lavi's shadow silhouette grows larger against the wall just before he immediately shuts his mouth—ends whatever he was saying to say. there's the sound of a long inhale and an exhale before he speaks again. his silhouette returning to his actual height. his voice low and tense the next time he speaks. ]
[That's definitely not the reaction Dehya expects. She squares up her shoulders, looking equally ready to defend her choice.
She's similarly tense even when Lavi simmers down.] Of course we are! Annette's dead, and someone else is going to die, and someone else unless we end this!
[So what else could she do, when she at least had the power to create an exit through the editor?] So is omission still closer to the truth?
[ at least lavi has no desire to fight dehya, they're both aware (or becoming aware) of who their anger needs to be directed towards. the being that's responsible for putting them into this situation in the first place.
it's why lavi takes another moment to think about the way to answer. at the end of the day, what he knows (and remembers) is what he ends up going with. ]
Perspective.
When you're recording the events of something that's taking place, it's important to be aware of who is saying it and how they view it. [ the biased narrator, the history written by victors... ] There are multiple ways a person can "escape" from a situation.
[ well, that gets a single chuckle out of him. the definition of "healthy" and "whole" is being extremely generous.
he'll tap his foot as he tries to think of what it means in this context. there's so much overlap and ease to conflate the two but at the end of the day they're not direct substitutes for the other. ]
Definition alone, when you "shelter" someone then you're supplying them with some sort of refuge or a general safe place, and when you "protect" someone then you prevent anything happening from them. Whether it be something emotionally, physically, or whatever in-between.
Or, another way to look at it, if you're providing "shelter" for someone then you're opening yourself up as a place that will always welcome them and care for them. Protection is a bit more straight-forward.
[Dehya nods along. That doesn't sound off to her.] Right. And giving someone a safe place is a specific way of preventing something from happening to them, right? If you had to protect someone, surely sheltering them from harm would be part of that. But if your job is to shelter them, it doesn't mean you have to fight for them. That's how I thought of it, anyway. I'm used to taking jobs as an escort or bodyguard, so the expectations are a little different based on the threat, but...
Just because you're offering someone shelter, you're not guaranteeing them protection. If something were to happen to them while you're sheltering them and that's all that you've promised then you're free to decide if you wanted to step in or not.
[ okay, they're on the same page here. things are looking good, but he's curious to know where she's going with this. clearly she's building up to something. ]
Just wondering why Sika was so adamant on shelter instead of asking for more. At least, they do seem to think Father is a threat to them and Mikaela.
[But they outright turned down having Dehya protect them, even in a nebulous form.]
Anyway, I made sure to include the troupe as part of the contract. So my agreement is sheltering all of you too, and it doesn't say who has to request it.
[She's really set on protecting those she can anyway, but having it in writing makes her feel a bit better that she can't just be turned against everyone given everything that's been revealed after she made the contract.]
[ it's time for dehya to get shadow props because it's the easiest to explain this way. not that he needs to specifically point anything out in this situation presently.
but lavi will produce a "glove" with each finger looking as though they are representing a different member of a family. or, well, in this specific circumstance—a parent surrounded by children. ]
Mikaela is more important than Sika Madu.
[ casually said as lavi positions the parent fully in front of all of the children. his voice comes off as fond as he responds to dehya's clause to make sure to include the troupe. it's a pretty lax agreement but there might be a reason for that. ]
...but I'm not part of the Troupe anymore. I'm a Chorus.
Well, if you try to run Sika over we'll find out if there's a conflict. [She smiles a little.] But I don't actually need a contract to protect all of you. Chorus or not, I'm not giving up on getting you out of here either.
[Even if Sika couldn't promise it. You can't make anything happen if you give up and the start.] Especially since Sika's side of the deal isn't just for the troupe.
[Does this mean Extras could take their leave, theoretically yes, but frankly maybe they're better off for that too.]
[ he should have expected to hear that by now given everything that they've gone through and experienced together, but it's still new every time. just like how apple always cared and worried for lavi.
something something get cared for. in this specific situation, lavi is grateful that his facial expressions aren't visible. ]
I'd want you all to get out of here too. [ genuinely. ] Whatever Sika Madu wants to do, they should do it on their own.
But I'm not going to test you or Louis by attacking Sika Madu.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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huh. so that didn't make it through. interesting... what she says isn't perfectly lining up with what he's thinking but— ]
Almost there.
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maybe. it is a reach but...maybe???? ]
You think that Sika Madu may be able to help us.
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sort of. the last bit are semantics but this is the right direction. the last bit shouldn't be too hard. (hopefully.)
lavi will throw his arms in the air and make a circle with them. ]
Right!
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Lavi will probably be disappointed in why she knows this but one thing at a time.] When you think about it that way, it's kind of like we have the power. Maybe we can't change the setting on our own, but we can decide what we want to change.
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something something bonded, biased, defensive, and obsessed with fridges. ]
An editor can't control the whole narrative, and if the story deviates too much, they'll have to start again.
[ ...maybe this last bit might close the circle. what she's proposing isn't anything he'd reject. ]
If what you say is true, as an editor, I'm not sure I'd be happy.
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sorry dehya. he hears you but— ]
I'd edit it again and again. Starting over when I need to.
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...] Do you think Sika is lying outright, or "lying through omission"?
[She also has someplace she's going with this.]
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They've never lied to us but—the second option is closer to the truth.
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I made a deal with them to end this show early in a way that lets us leave safely. [Her gaze flickers as she considers it.] But I didn't get the impression they were that worried about the story going off the rails. As long as they could keep Mikaela safe, they were fine with helping us just get out.
[All in all, they're not a very dedicated editor. Which makes sense when you consider that they seem to be trapped here, too, but.]
Wait. [She is giving Lavi a "tell me if I'm right" look.] Is Sika not the real editor?
[If the power comes from the story itself rebelling, then is Sika just another part of it playing the role of the editor?]
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either way, lavi will listen to her explain herself and how she knows what she knows and there's something that snaps inside of him. the edges of his shadow become jagged and angular in ways that no one in the dorm has likely seen.
(only one person has seen him this angry.) ]
This is their sin. This story—
[ lavi's shadow silhouette grows larger against the wall just before he immediately shuts his mouth—ends whatever he was saying to say. there's the sound of a long inhale and an exhale before he speaks again. his silhouette returning to his actual height. his voice low and tense the next time he speaks. ]
Collateral damage.
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She's similarly tense even when Lavi simmers down.] Of course we are! Annette's dead, and someone else is going to die, and someone else unless we end this!
[So what else could she do, when she at least had the power to create an exit through the editor?] So is omission still closer to the truth?
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it's why lavi takes another moment to think about the way to answer. at the end of the day, what he knows (and remembers) is what he ends up going with. ]
Perspective.
When you're recording the events of something that's taking place, it's important to be aware of who is saying it and how they view it. [ the biased narrator, the history written by victors... ] There are multiple ways a person can "escape" from a situation.
[ ... ]
I'm "healthy, whole, and safe".
[ if you think about it. ]
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[Nothing about being a waking shadow... car... thing is healthy or whole to her.]
Okay. [She breathes out.] What do you think is the difference between "sheltering" and "protecting" someone?
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he'll tap his foot as he tries to think of what it means in this context. there's so much overlap and ease to conflate the two but at the end of the day they're not direct substitutes for the other. ]
Definition alone, when you "shelter" someone then you're supplying them with some sort of refuge or a general safe place, and when you "protect" someone then you prevent anything happening from them. Whether it be something emotionally, physically, or whatever in-between.
Or, another way to look at it, if you're providing "shelter" for someone then you're opening yourself up as a place that will always welcome them and care for them. Protection is a bit more straight-forward.
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[ okay, they're on the same page here. things are looking good, but he's curious to know where she's going with this. clearly she's building up to something. ]
What are you thinking?
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[But they outright turned down having Dehya protect them, even in a nebulous form.]
Anyway, I made sure to include the troupe as part of the contract. So my agreement is sheltering all of you too, and it doesn't say who has to request it.
[She's really set on protecting those she can anyway, but having it in writing makes her feel a bit better that she can't just be turned against everyone given everything that's been revealed after she made the contract.]
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but lavi will produce a "glove" with each finger looking as though they are representing a different member of a family. or, well, in this specific circumstance—a parent surrounded by children. ]
Mikaela is more important than Sika Madu.
[ casually said as lavi positions the parent fully in front of all of the children. his voice comes off as fond as he responds to dehya's clause to make sure to include the troupe. it's a pretty lax agreement but there might be a reason for that. ]
...but I'm not part of the Troupe anymore. I'm a Chorus.
[ written out of the story. ]
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[Even if Sika couldn't promise it. You can't make anything happen if you give up and the start.] Especially since Sika's side of the deal isn't just for the troupe.
[Does this mean Extras could take their leave, theoretically yes, but frankly maybe they're better off for that too.]
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something something get cared for. in this specific situation, lavi is grateful that his facial expressions aren't visible. ]
I'd want you all to get out of here too. [ genuinely. ] Whatever Sika Madu wants to do, they should do it on their own.
But I'm not going to test you or Louis by attacking Sika Madu.