label chapter_x9: window hide window auto #Naomi Arc Three play music 'audio/OST/you can_t sage here.ogg' fadein 2.0 scene livingroomdayalt show fang nonxmas pendant unimpressed at sleft show naser sad flip at sright with fade "What the fuck just happened?" "One second Naser and Naomi were talking{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "Now I’ve got a cripple brother looking more lost and confused than ever before." "And little miss ‘perfect life’ crying like a baby outside my house." show naser explanatory flip with dissolve Nas "M-maybe I{cps=*.20}...{/cps}{w=0.5} I should-" show fang nonxmas pendant angry with dissolve F "Naser for once in your life, do the smart thing and shut up!" show naser shocked flip with dissolve show fang nonxmas pendant sad with dissolve "I wince as I see Naser recoil at my harsh words." "Can’t fall back into bad habits now." show fang nonxmas pendant considering with dissolve show naser sad flip with dissolve "Think Lucy, Think! How do you unfuck this fuck-up?" show fang: xzoom -1.0 ease_cubic 1.2 xalign -0.8 show fang nonxmas pendant angry "I look out the window and watch as Naomi continues wailing." "Even though I despise the idea, Naomi needs someone to be there for her and support her now more than ever." "With the thought of what I’m about to do, I realize just how much Anon had really done for me." "But god damn it, I really don’t want to{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" show fang: xzoom 1.0 ease_cubic 1.1 xalign -0.4 show fang nonxmas pendant unimpressed with dissolve stop music fadeout 5.0 "I turn back to face my brother, who looks like he wants to jump from our house’s roof." F "I’m gonna go try and calm Naomi down." F "Stay here and finish cleaning." "Naser nods and takes up the broom Naomi set aside, distracting himself by sweeping up the rest of the trash on the floor." show naser sad flip: ease_cubic 2.0 xalign 0.5 pause .8 block: pause .4 ease_cubic 1.2 xalign 0.5 pause .2 ease_cubic 1.2 xalign 0.6 repeat "Easy part done." show fang nonxmas pendant neutral with dissolve: xzoom -1.0 pause 1.0 hide fang with easeoutleft "I take a calming sigh and walk out the door to the wailing idiot trying to wake up the whole neighborhood." scene home fang outside night show naomi sad flip at sleft: yalign -0.5 show fang nonxmas pendant neutral at sright: xzoom -1.0 with fade stop music fadeout 1.0 play ambient 'audio/OST/good faith leadup piano.ogg' fadein 3.0 F "So...{w=0.3}you...{w=0.3} okay?" show naomi sad flip: ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.5 "Naomi doesn't reply." # "Rather, she keeps on sobbing like her whole world is falling apart." "She only keeps crying like her whole world's falling apart." #naomi sobbing motion show naomi sad flip: ease_cubic 0.1 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.4 yalign -0.48 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.48 pause 1.0 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.3 yalign -0.5 pause 1.0 ease_cubic 0.1 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.1 yalign -0.48 pause 2.0 repeat show fang nonxmas pendant unimpressed with dissolve F "Naomi?{w=0.5} The fuck is wrong with you?" show naomi sad flip: ease_cubic 0.1 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.4 yalign -0.48 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.5 pause 1.0 ease_cubic 0.2 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.3 yalign -0.48 ease_cubic 0.1 yalign -0.45 ease_cubic 0.1 yalign -0.48 pause 0.5 repeat "Somehow, her sobbing gets louder, to the point that I feel my ears start to ring. Any louder, and she’s going to give me tinnitus." show fang: ease_cubic 0.23 xalign 0.45 show fang nonxmas pendant angry with dissolve with vpunch F "NAOMI!{w=0.2} Get a FUCKING grip!" show naomi sad at sleft with dissolve: yalign -0.5 "Naomi finally looks up to me with a tear-stained face." N "A break{cps=*.20}...{/cps}{w=1.0} N-Naser s-said he{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=1.0}he wants to take a break!" show fang nonxmas pendant angry with dissolve "I almost want to slap the bitch." "She’s putting on all the waterworks because Naser wants some time away from her?" pause 1.0 F "{cps=*.20}...{/cps}And?" show naomi angry with dissolve show naomi: parallel: ease_cubic 0.3 yalign 0.15 ease_cubic 0.3 yalign 0.08 parallel: ease_cubic 0.6 xalign 0.37 block: parallel: ease_cubic 0.12 yalign 0.065 ease_cubic 0.12 yalign 0.055 parallel: ease_cubic 0.14 xalign 0.39 ease_cubic 0.14 xalign 0.4 repeat show fang: pause .23 ease_cubic 0.33 xalign 0.85 "Naomi, who had still been lying on her knees up to this point, scowls at me with a face full of fire and fury before rising to her feet." N "What do you mean {i}‘and’{/i}?" pause 0.5 N "Naser and I are the perfect couple!" show naomi: ease_cubic 0.132 xalign 0.39 ease_cubic 0.132 xalign 0.4 repeat N "He is the perfect boyfriend!" N "And I am the perfect girlfriend!" show naomi: yalign 0.055 ease_cubic 0.13 xalign 0.392 ease_cubic 0.13 xalign 0.4 ease_cubic 0.18 xalign 0.395 ease_cubic 0.18 xalign 0.4 ease_cubic 0.28 xalign 0.397 ease_cubic 0.28 xalign 0.4 block: ease_cubic 0.23 xalign 0.397 ease_cubic 0.23 xalign 0.4 repeat N "We’re supposed to have the perfect life together!" N "Wh-why does he want us to take a break in our relationship!?" show naomi: ease_cubic 0.5 xpos -0.55 pause 0.1 hide naomi with easeoutbottom "Naomi buries her face in her hands and sits on the curbside. Thankfully, she doesn’t burst into more wails, which is at least an improvement." "Shit.{w=0.5} Why am I the one who has to fix this mess?" "I’m probably the least qualified person when it comes to relationships." "Still{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}not like Naser’s going to be any better at this." "Fuck{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}guess it really comes down to me{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" window hide window auto show naomifangcg with dissolve play ambient1 ['audio/OST/good faith leadup drums synth.ogg', 'audio/OST/good faith leadup drums synth.ogg'] fadein 5.0 "I sit down next to Naomi on the curb." "My presence makes her tense up, which also results in her shutting off the waterworks to at least appear more dignified." F "So Naser wants to take a break." F "Big fucking whoop!" F "It’s not the end of the world. It just means{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}you two have some things to think about{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "I know my words are directed at Naomi, but a part of me can’t help but feel they are also applicable to me." "After all{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}I’m still trying to figure out what’s really going to happen between Anon and myself{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "What is there to think about!?{w=0.3} Naser and I were supposed to be together!" N "I was going to take care of him every day!" N "Cook dinner!{w=0.3} Clean the nest!{w=0.3} Romantic nights out!{w=0.3} Children running around the house!" N "What am I going to do now!?{w=0.3} I already told my parents that I’m moving out!{w=0.3} Where do I go!?{w=0.3} What do I even do!?" "I find myself scowling at Naomi’s words{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" pause 0.5 F "So, this is what all this shit’s about?" F "Your {i}‘perfect’{/i} little plan falling apart before your eyes?" stop ambient1 fadeout 4.0 F "You haven’t really changed in the last year{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "Naomi's head snaps toward me, her eyes baleful and teary as she glares daggers at me." N "E-excuse me!?" N "W-w-what’s that supposed to mean!?" F "You heard me." F "I mean you were, are - and if you keep this up, will be - a total fucking bitch ‘til the day your ass turns back to dust." "Naomi’s brows furrow." "She grits her teeth so tightly that for a second, I think she’s going to make her gums bleed." N "F-Fu-Fuck you, you{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}you discount-brand guitarist!" F "Insult me all you want. You know I’m right." N "Naser and I are a-absolutely perfect for each other! Not like with you and A-Anon!" "This asshole. She’s lucky I don’t have anything blunt I can use to beat the shit out of her." "I cross my arms and give Naomi a flat look." F "Perfect for one another? I’m not the one with a broken relationship after a single fucking night!" F "Me and Anon{cps=*.20}...{/cps} yeah, we fight, but we always come out of it stronger." F "We’re taking a break{cps=*.20}...{/cps} but that doesn’t mean our relationship’s over." F "Unlike yours{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "At first, Naomi gives me a look of absolute rage." "Her hands curl into fists and her face turns a bright red." "But that expression doesn’t last long as her eyes again fill with tears and her shoulders slump." pause 0.5 N "Why{cps=*.20}...{/cps}?" F "Why what?" N "Why talk to me?" N "If you hate me this much, why are you wasting your breath even acknowledging my existence?" N "You really get a rise about kicking me when I’m at my lowest!?" N "Do you want to hit me again like you did before prom!?" F "You offering? Because I can oblige!" "I give Naomi a smug grin in an attempt to liven the mood a bit, but my attempt at humor goes completely unnoticed." "She only stares at me with absolute contempt." "Naturally, I glare right back at the bitch." "Still, seeing Naomi like she is now, a part of me can’t help but pity her." "At the back of my mind, I remember a certain memory." "One that I’ll always treasure:" A "{alpha=0.5}{i}All that matters is her.{/i}{/alpha}" play ambient1 ['audio/OST/good faith leadup drums synth.ogg', 'audio/OST/good faith leadup drums synth.ogg'] fadein 5.0 "I sigh and let all my anger fade away." "Anger isn’t going to do anything right now." F "I’m not here to kick your ass{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}even if you deserve a beating." F "I just{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "I look toward the window and see Naser still sweeping, his shoulders hunched and wings drooped." "God damn it." F "Naser’s kicking himself over this." F "Y’know the kinda guy he is." F "At least you should, anyway." N "B-but-" F "He worries.{w=0.5} He always worries." F "Constantly.{w=0.5} Naser can’t help himself." "It’s like my words are stabbing Naomi in the heart as she starts to shrink more and more." F "I think it’s how he shows he cares." F "That he’s willing to take everyone’s issues and ignore his own." N "I{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}but he said{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "He said he wanted to take a break! Just like you and Anon!" N "You had to have put him up to this! You! You-" N "You HOME WRECKER!" "I can’t help but roll my eyes at her words." F "God, you’re so fucking stupid." F "No, I didn’t put him up to this shit. Hell, I didn’t even tell him that Anon and I went on break!" F "Naser{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}did you actually TELL him how you set me and Anon up from the very start?" "The dumb bitch blanches at that." "Nailed it." F "That’s another thing about my brother, y’know{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "He can be stupidly dense." F "He probably didn’t even know you were trying to move in with him." N "T-then how do you know?!" "Ha.{w=0.5} Called it." F "You and your stupid plans." F "Would it kill you to just, I don’t fucking know, tell someone?" "Naomi sags and whimpers." N "I was going to move in with him." N "Go to the same college and graduate together." N "We would have a perfect life together{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "I facepalm at her words." "Perfect this. Perfect that." stop ambient1 fadeout 5.0 "I can’t fucking stand Naomi’s bullshit anymore." "I stand up and for once look down on the salmon-toned asshole." window hide window auto hide fang scene home fang outside night with dissolve show fang nonxmas pendant angry at sleft with easeinbottom: xalign -0.2 F "For fuck’s sake, get over yourself!" F "You’re. {w=0.5}Not. {w=0.5}Perfect!" N "E-excuse me!?" show naomi angry flip at sright with easeinbottom: xalign 1.2 "Naomi stands up, her previous sadness supplanted by anger." show naomi: ease_cubic 0.4 xalign 1.0 N "I’ll have you know that I’ve dedicated my whole life to being as perfect as can be!" F "That’s complete bullshit, and you know it." F "Before you and my brother started bumping uglies you were just some meek nerdy bitch." F "Mostly harmless." F "But then you became{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}whatever this is." "I motion to her whole being." show fang: ease_cubic 0.4 xalign 0.1 F "You became a bossy, machiavellian perfectionist BITCH with plans on top of plans like you’re some kind of chessmaster!" F "You never actually cared about Naser in the first place, did you?" F "You only wanted him for the prestige it would bring you!" show naomi: ease_cubic 0.23 xalign 0.56 pause 0.22 play sound 'audio/effects/slapstickPunch.ogg' show naomi: ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.7 show fang: ease_cubic 0.2 xalign 0.0 ease_cubic 0.3 xalign 0.1 with hpunch "FUCK! Ow!" "I can feel a searing heat on my cheek." "Surprised she had it in her." show naomi: ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.8 "Naomi isn’t looking me in the eyes, but she’s huffing as she cradles her hand to her chest." N "I LOVE Naser! He actually cared about a useless girl like me! So I had to become his perfect girlfriend!" "I rub my cheek and do my best to keep my temper under control." "Though I want to, jumping on top of the bitch and beating the shit out of her is not the answer right now." F "Does a ‘perfect girlfriend’ intentionally try to secretly manipulate her boyfriend’s family without even telling him?!" "Naomi’s breath hitches." show naomi: ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.9 F "How do you think Naser would react to finding out what you did?" N "{cps=*.20}...{/cps} He{cps=*.20}{cps=*.20}...{/cps}{/cps}" "Naomi shuts her mouth as fast as she opens it." show naomi considering flip with dissolve F "Probably wouldn’t like it, would he?" F "Aaron Fuckwingham was way too protective of my retarded ass to approve." F "And he clearly did care about you, too." F "It wasn’t even that you didn’t care to know how Naser felt. You knew and actively disregarded that information." show naomi sad flip with dissolve N "Shut up{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "No way, I’m-" N "I know already{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" show naomi sad with dissolve "The dumb bitch shifts her head to the side, trying to hide her eyes." N "P-please, couldn’t y-you let me just{cps=*.20}...{/cps}{w=0.2} g-grovel h-here?" "Naomi’s words are coming out haphazardly. It’s clear that she’s having a hard time forming thoughts." "She’s already pretty fucked up. But she needs to hear what comes next, even if it hurts her." show fang: ease_cubic 0.5 xalign 0.6 F "You know what your problem is, Naomi?" F "You’ve stayed stuck in your own little world with your own little plans, thinking that everything you do is always going to turn out just like you planned." F "Well guess what? The world doesn’t revolve around you!" show naomi considering flip with dissolve "Naomi raises an eyebrow at me at first." "She then grimaces before fixing me with a look that I can only describe as disgust." show naomi sad flip with dissolve "Yet as the seconds tick by, Naomi’s expression changes." play ambient1 ['audio/OST/good faith leadup drums synth.ogg', 'audio/OST/good faith leadup drums synth.ogg'] fadein 5.0 "Her grimace slowly vanishes, replaced instead with a thousand-yard stare." N "You’re{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" pause 0.5 N "{cps=*.20}...{/cps}You’re right{cps=*.20}{cps=*.20}...{/cps}{/cps}" N "I{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}I haven’t changed one bit{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" show naomi: ease_cubic 0.8 yalign -1.5 pause 0.2 hide naomi with dissolve "She grabs hold of her head and once more falls on her knees." N "Ever since I{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.4}I stopped being a meek nerdy girl, I became obsessed with perfection{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}to the point that I{cps=*.20}...{/cps} I wound up becoming some kind of coral castellan." N "Did I work hard to get there?{w=0.5} Yes." N "Should I have worked so hard when it led to where I am today?" N "... I{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}I don’t know anymore{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "All I know is that{cps=*.20}...{/cps}{w=0.2} aside from your brother{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}nothing's ever really made me happy{cps=*.20}...{/cps}." N "...Nothing{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" pause 0.5 window hide window auto hide fang with dissolve hide naomifangcg blur show naomifangcg with dissolve "Against my better judgment, I kneel next to Naomi and put a hand on her shoulder." F "Hey, just because you’re a manipulative fucking bitch doesn’t mean that you haven’t done some good." F "I mean{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}you did bring me and Anon together." F "Also{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}you did make my brother happy{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}even if it was under your authoritarian thumb{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "I kinda feel sick saying that." "I shouldn’t be praising her manipulative bitchiness, but I can’t deny that Naser was genuinely happy being with Naomi." "Even if most of that happiness was a side-effect and not a direct result of a healthy relationship{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "Maybe{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}maybe a break is what you two need now more than ever." F "Time away to think." F "Time away to contemplate what the two of you really mean for each other." F "Time to really figure out what the two of you mean to each other{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "Once again, though my words are meant for Naomi, a part of me can’t shake the fact that they’re applicable to me as well{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "Y-you really think so?" "I shrug my shoulders." F "I don’t fucking know." F "Maybe this break’s what the two of you need to really start a new phase of your relationship." F "Or maybe this is it{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.2}and maybe you two will go your separate ways{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "I almost feel myself tearing up as I say those words." "I don’t want to admit it, but a part of me fears that my words may turn out to be prophetic in regard to Anon and Myself{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "Naomi is eerily quiet as she absorbs my words." "I keep my hand on her shoulder. I’m not entirely sure why though." "Maybe as a sign of support?" "The fuck did I know." "Still, being there for Naomi - even if most of me still hated the bitch - felt good{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "So{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}What{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.5}What am I supposed to do now?" "The question really struck me harder than it should have." "What was next?" "I don’t know any proper answer." "But the one thing I can do is try to bury this hatchet with Naomi once and for all{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "So I spoke with Naomi. Truly spoke to her." "For the first time, we talked on a common ground." "Even though both our voices were already dry, we just kept letting it out for hours." "Every insult and begrudging compliment we’d ever thought of each other was put out to air." "When we run out of words we just lay in silence." "I nearly drift off to sleep on the sidewalk when a car pulls up in front of us." "Oh, Naomi must’ve called a taxi." scene home fang outside night show naomi sad flip: xalign 0.7 ease_cubic 0.8 xalign 0.5 pause .2 ease_cubic 0.8 xalign 0.3 pause .2 ease_cubic 0.8 xalign 0.15 pause .2 ease_cubic 0.8 xalign 0.0 with fade "I crank one eyelid open and see Naomi hesitantly moving to get in the backseat." show naomi sad with dissolve: xalign 0.0 "She stops with her hand on the handle." N "Fang?" F "{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "This is probably just me being deliriously exhausted, but{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "I{cps=*.20}...{/cps} {w=0.4}I enjoyed this talk we had." F "You better. Not everyday I pour out my soul to anyone that isn’t Anon." show naomi neutral with dissolve "Naomi actually laughs at my humor this time." "Progress{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" N "Hanging out might not be so bad sometimes{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "She goes quiet. Before she can muddy up her thoughts with something else, she gets in the taxi." N "See you around{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" show naomi neutral flip with dissolve pause 0.1 hide naomi with easeoutleft "She shuts the door before I can say anything and is gone within seconds." "Yeah, I can probably hang around with Naomi again{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "{cps=*.20}......{/cps}" "I need to get up from this curb." stop ambient fadeout 5.0 stop ambient1 fadeout 5.0 show black with fade "A few of my feathers have bent and gotten stuck to the concrete from being pressed into it for so long." "The door was still unlocked, luckily." scene home fang night show dimmer_lighter show dimmer_darker behind dimmer_lighter show dimmer_darker2 behind dimmer_darker with fade "Good thing I don’t live in Skin Row." "My place would probably be down to the foundations by now." "{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" "Dragging myself up the stairs, I remember Naomi and Naser didn’t even really get to say goodbye." "He took it about as well as I expected." "Judging by the loud music coming from his room he’s still upset." "He’ll probably stop crying by the time he’s leaving in a few days." scene fangroomfuture show dimmer_lighter show dimmer_darker behind dimmer_lighter show dimmer_darker2 behind dimmer_darker show fang nonxmas pendant unimpressed behind dimmer_darker,dimmer_darker2 at scenter with fade play music 'audio/OST/good faith.ogg' fadein 5.0 "I sigh into my pillow." "This shit is definitely not my style." "When I turn over to the cool side of my pillow my fingertips brush against the corner of my phone." "A break{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" show fangphonevideocall call_ended_bg call_ended behind dimmer_lighter at scenter with easeinbottom: yalign -0.045 "Before I can think otherwise, my fingers tap the number I’ve memorized by heart." show fangphonevideocall bgnight anonsad with dissolve "It takes a few seconds but the screen changes to display Anon’s tired face, barely lit by his shitty phone’s screen." show fangphonevideocall bgnight anonconcerned with dissolve A "Lucy? It’s three in the morning{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "I know, but{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" A "You okay?" F "Yes. I just wanted to see you." A "Hm{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" F "Anon, I know we’re on break." F "But I want to see you." A "You mean, like, visit?" unknown "Oi! Shut the fuck up I’m trying to sleep!" show fangphonevideocall bgnight anonneutral with dissolve pause 0.5 A "Damn it." A "If I could I would-" F "When’s your next break?" A "What?" F "When. Is. Your. Next. Break?" A "Err, a couple months?{w=0.5} July I think?" F "Text me the date." A "Yeah sure, but why-" F "I’ll buy the ticket in the morning." F "If you can’t come see me then I’ll just visit." unknown "ANON I SWEAR TO GOD!" show fangphonevideocall bgnight anonangry with dissolve with vpunch A "EAT A PLATE OF PENISES YOU COPPER PRICK!" "I can see his face start to turn pink." show fangphonevideocall bgnight anonneutral with dissolve A "R-right! Yeah, I’ll give you the date and address." F "You better!" A "I guess I gotta go now." F "Good night Anon." A "Night Lucy." window hide show fangphonevideocall call_ended_bg call_ended with dissolve pause 3.0 show fangphonevideocall call_ended_bg_black call_ended_poff behind dimmer_darker2 hide dimmer_lighter with dissolve pause 0.5 window auto hide fangphonevideocall with easeoutbottom "My screen fades to black and drops down onto my sheets." show fang nonxmas pendant happy behind dimmer_darker2 at scenter F "I love you." "It’s just a break after all." "{cps=*.20}...{/cps}" window hide stop ambient fadeout 2.0 stop music fadeout 3.0 pause 3 scene black with fade pause 1 return