foo_bar | office hours: round 1.

[ That's not what she wanted to hear. Rebecca shakes her head and takes a step back, to try and pull away. ]

They have to be. Please, they can't be real. You have to tell me they aren't real.

[he pauses in the doorway of the general office, knowing his is towards the back.]

What did you get...?

Please!

[ Her voice is choked, desperate. She's just behind him. A hand's in her pocket, trembling. ]

It can't be. I can't... [ And yanks it from her pocket, holding it so if he turns around...he can see it. ] This can't be real!

[well he sure-- looks absolutely taken aback]

W--What? I--

[he looks a little at a loss for words and, well. he has to admit]

We didn't fake that.

[ Her grip on the photo tightens, wrinkling it. ]

No... No, I... I can't be... I can't be dead. That's not p- possible, sh-she can't have...

[ "I'll try." God, that belief of Viral's is misplaced, and she hadn't even known, at the time. ]

She...?

The fucking ghost!!

[ She screams it, she doesn't care. ]

The curse, the stupid letter I- I told Belle wasn't...didn't mean anything!

[oh... oh no.

Han doesn't know what to do for a split second, and he puts his hands on her shoulders.]

Rebecca. Hey, hey. It'll be alright.

[he could offer meaningless comfort, when push came to shove.]

Just-- take a second. Walk me through it.

[ She shakes her head. These last few days, she's cried so many tears. She doesn't feel like herself, she doesn't feel like anything but a weak punching bag. ]

It can't... It can't be, I- god, I sound just like her. [ Serves you right, a voice in her head hisses. Serves her right for ignoring, for dismissing, for shouting and letting Isabella die.

Shut up. Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut ]

I... I need to sit down, I'm- I can't breathe, I--

[ ...Yeah. Now she'll...kind of stumble forward a little, probably bumping into him but not really caring. Maybe somewhere to sit is better than just standing here. ]

[he takes the opportunity to guide her to one of the many chairs in the office, and he kneels beside her.]

Do you want some water? Coffee? No, actually, no coffee. I've got some snacks in my office.

[ Another shake, face pale. Her trembling hand still clutches the photo. ]

I can't. I can't eat, I can't drink, I- I f-feel sick. Crivvens, I c-can't... H-Han, I'm dead.

Hey. Right now, you look alive to me.

[he's Trying, but he doesn't know what to do. After all, he KNOWS she doesn't trust him. and he couldn't give her the one thing she wanted him to say.]

Because I'm here. If I were home, I...

[ ...wait.

wait wait wait. waaait shit. Her eyes go wide and she cups a hand to her mouth. ]

You can do it. You- you can bring people back, I'm proof.

I-- I can't speak to that. I'm sorry.

[he purses his lip-- this feels like a dangerous topic.]

How else would I be here?! You said that's not fake, and if- if I'm dead then this is the only way, isn't it?!

[ The light in her eyes. This is what she can do. This, she--

Belle, I'm sorry. I'll fix it. I will! Everyone, I'll fix it! ]

I know! I know what you're getting at-- but look. I don't know anything about that.

[he's a little worried about her sudden fixation, and yet... he honestly can't blame her]

Rebecca, don't give them an easy incentive for you to kill.

[he's pleading]

[ That shocks her. Like she's been slapped, she stares at him, mouth agape. ]

I wouldn't... I'm not... I wouldn't do that! I couldn't...

[ Ashton would never-- No.

No, she would never forgive herself. ]

Don't even put it on the table.

[he sounds serious when he looks up at her, since he's still kneeled beside her.]

If we find anything out, that's fine... but this would be...

So what am I supposed to do, I- I can't not want this.

I won't just give up!

I'm not saying give up, just... Don't make this easy for them either.

Here. I've got something you might want-- that the students might want.

I wouldn't rise to their bait.

[ Honestly it's a little annoying that he'd even think that! ]

I- fine, what? What is it?

[he didn't think anyone would take the first motive-- this is considerably more.

Still, he stands up and waves her to his actual office-- he'd rather be out of the area where the head was.]

[ Okay, fine! ...Through pure ire she stands, following and...shoving the picture back in her pocket. ]

Come on. Out with it.

[he opens his laptop, and honestly-- it's strange but.

He's not really interacting with it, just moving his eyes across the screen, and the interface is reacting.

it pulls open a large document. it is literally everything he could steal from a medical database.]

Here, take a look at this.

Huh...? What... [ Her eyes widen before she even finishes the question. ] Is this...on that...that thing, that hijacking?

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cw: graphic violence, brain matter, dislodged bone, crushed head, eye trauma

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