05's Dorm
???: Knock knock knock.
Ivan: ...Someone was knocking on his door.
He was lying in his bed, covered in bandages on his body, arms, and face. The Destroyer had given him all of those after the...horrific trial. He kept asking the prawn to reverse fate. To bring Lotus back, and take him instead-- that stupid thing said it couldn't do that. He refuses to believe it.
He didn't want anyone to be here right now. He didn't want to be perceived, or heard, or anything. He didn't want to exist.
But whoever that is just keeps knocking.
???: Knock knock knock.
Ivan: "..."
Ivan: "The door's locked. I'm not getting up to open it." He yells.
???: Whoever's on the other side goes quiet for a moment.
???: And then, is heard fiddling with the lock in some sort of precise manner.
Ivan: (...What!? A-Are they lockpicking my door!?)
???: ...Creaak.
The door, eventually, opens.
MX-Z0: And in comes MX-Z0 and Tarnish.
"Greetings, Ivan. Apologies for the intrusion, but Tarnish insisted we check up on you."
Tarnish: "Correct. And look what I have brought, straight from the cramped kitchen fridge!"
He's holding a pot of mac and cheese, reheated and recheesed after the party flop a few days prior. "I once heard that mac and cheese helps with a flesh wound, and so I have provided! Take in the sight and smell of this gift, bird of the ancient lands!"
Ivan: "...What?"
Tarnish: "What do you mean what?"
Ivan: "...Tarnish," He sighed, both confused and with a guilty look in his eyes. "...I tried to kill you."
Tarnish: "I'm used to it!" He says, perhaps more carefree than he should. "Besides, you had a good reason, did you not? To protect those you love is noble, even someone as dark-hearted as I knows that!"
He places the bowl of mac and cheese on Ivan's desk.
MX-Z0: "...While I cannot say that you aren't being too forgiving here, Tarnish, you are correct. You were not baseless in what you did...even though I know many people still cannot forgive you."
Ivan: ...He was quiet, unable to face the idea of anyone forgiving him. It takes a second for him to respond, and he glances away as he does.
"Probably shouldn't stay in here for too long. Got a bad aura around me that tends to hurt, and neither of you want that."
MX-Z0: "...If that's what you want, Ivan. Tarnish, I heard that Stranger was looking for you. Perhaps you should go find him."
Tarnish: He nods. "Will do. Ivan, if you ever need my wonderful edible gifts, just let me know! Those injuries you've sustained are due to heal with ease!"
He runs off, leaving the bird and the robot behind.
MX-Z0: She walks to the still open door...and pauses. She looks back at Ivan.
Ivan: He still hasn't met anyone's gaze, his one eye looking duller then it's ever been before.
MX-Z0: "Ivan." She beeps.
Ivan: "...What?"
MX-Z0: "...Take as much time as you need to recover," She says, going to close the door, "but remember that you're still alive."
Her words have a sort of gentleness to them, one that seems to be trying to break through her robotic voice. She quietly shuts the door behind her.
Silence fills the dorm again.
Ivan: ...He's still alive.
She's right. He was still alive. He was breathing. He would continue to breathe, until something else finally snuffed him out.
He stared at the hot bowl of food next to him, and then to the empty floor of the dorm.
...He wondered what Lotus would be telling him right now...the hole in his heart felt a pang of longing, as he wished nothing more but to hug that flowery prota one last time.
Begrudgingly, he took the food he was given and slowly began to eat. He knew Lotus wouldn't want him to starve.