Quoted By:
>Benedict has officially joined the Facility. While not an official employee, he can be assigned to work orders all the same.
>Due to his cooking expertise, he might be able to create dishes that other employees or chefs might not. Giving him expensive or anomalous ingredients might be able to create unique dishes.
"I'll handle him from here. Benedict, it's over, you can rest." "Mmh."
You get up. Well, that was exhausting but you still have another interview to go. You take a couple steps over to where Ranger Cloud is. Aside from your little interruption earlier, the two have been having a decent conversation. Alas, you're gonna breach it.
"Excuse me." You step closer. The two Rangers look at you with an equal amount of tiredness visible in them. Bags are underneath Zero's eyes and Cloud? Cloud doesn't look like he's a young kid anymore. There's <span class="mu-r">barely a hint of life in his eyes.</span>
[HOPELESS WRECK] you don't like that look. it reminds you of yourself.
"What do you want?" Cloud mutters. Well, that's a warm welcome if you have ever heard one.
"Just a talk. It'll be quick and easy then I'll get out of your hair, okay?"
[BOUND BY DUTY] Quick? A lie. Easy? Also a lie.
"Fine." The kid curtly responds. You take this moment to grab a chair to sit across from him. You rather get the really, really dark question you have out of the way so...
"So. In our fight, I saw you took some Boosters. Is that correct?"
"Yeah?" Cloud tilts his head. "Why wouldn't I? It was a fight."
"You took six doses of a combat drug. I'm not the most knowledgeable person but you had to know that would've fucked you up even you won." You lean forward to stare him right in the eyes. You want straight answers, no deflections.
"Why?"
A bitter, humorless giggle escapes from Rox- Zero's mouth. "You killed five of his teammates. What do you think?" Ranger Cloud nods along, not even having the energy to laugh.
"If I was going to die, it was going to be on my terms. That is that." There's not even the vaguest hint of hesitation in his answer. No emotions, just a matter of fact statement. "Would've blown my brains out if you didn't restrain me."
[HOPELESS WRECK] A HOPELESS DESPERADO. I WONDER WHAT OUR LIFE WOULD'VE BEEN AS ONE.
"...If you need help, we have a shrink you can talk t-"
"Save the sappy shit for someone else." Cloud spits at the ground. "You won. I don't need your pity. The chef might, but I don't."
[DYING LIGHT] The drugs are meant to numb all senses of pain. Could they numb emotional ones as well? Is there a Lack in him?
[HOPELESS WRECK] ARE WE REALLY GOING TO LISTEN TO SOMETHING CALLED A FUCKING GRAVEDIGGER? KID'S FUCKING MENTAL, NOTHING MORE.
"Yet you're still here with us." You state.
"Yet I'm still here." Cloud responds.
"Guess I suck at dying too, huh? Guess I'm not worth shit." Cloud closes his eyes. "I've known that for a while. Sucks to have it confirmed, though."
[DYING LIGHT] He's been feeling this long before the fight.
