Crowned

Arc 1, Chapter 4: "Im a monster..."

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Microphone was out on a walk as the sun began to set. All the yelling coming from inside the hotel was getting too stressful. What happened from season 2 still lingered in the back of her mind.

The path was long, and lead past the two orange trees OJ had replanted to match the hotel's aesthetic, even though it didn't really make sense all things considered. The surrounding forests consisted of evergreens and thick bushes. Orange trees also weren't really accustomed to this sort of environment, so all of the oranges tasted more bitter than even the ones at the store could buy. But, it was better than driving an hour across the island to reach the town. The path split in two, one leading to the town, and one to the forest, which was dustier and more unkept than the other. It looked more like a hiking trail than anything, probably because it was.

Microphone didn't bother even looking at the other path, and set off down it. At a time like that, she'd wished she invited soap, or Pickle to walk with her. It likely would've been less awkwardly silent. Even hanging out with Cheesy would've made her feel more at-ease.

The stars above began to form, and she tried to ignore the rattling of the window from the higher floor. The dusty path beneath her feet passed beneath her as she walked calmly down the road. Her feet dodged sharp rocks, she didn't need stitches with all the current stress of the hotel. God forbid how much lecturing Paper and OJ would've pestered her with if she had to go to the shitty hospital on the island. The doctors there didn't really like them all that much. In fact, most of the town didn't. It was one of those old-fashioned country towns. They didn't really appreciate minorities as much as most places. Meaning they were socially stunted as a whole. Microphone really didn't want to accused of overreacting because she's a 'women'. She hated that. Who didn't? The hotel was really the only safe place for them. The police especially made their life hell, they kept visiting the hotel every month looking for the SMALLEST reason to take the lot of them away. And by far hotel OJ was definitely not the safest place, but that didn't stop OJ from somehow talking his way out of things.

Microphone didn't want to think about how horrible things could go if they asked or knew about the show. Season 2 was also less than safe, and Mephone wasn't reliable in the negotiation process. He likely would say the wrong thing, and screw everything up. Then she'd have to move back to Japan. Which would've really bummed Microphone out, because she liked the people here. And wanted to take the university on the mainland, which OJ promised to pay for her if she helped around the hotel. Her parents were very happy for her, and frequently sent postcards. Microphone appreciated them.

But Season 2... It made her have anxiety about anything she'd ever heard... was Knife also being true? Pickle? Soap...? She didn't know anymore... Reality felt too stressful to think about in truth. At least she had something outside of it to fall back on. It would've been catastrophic if there wasn't... It felt strange however. Like there wasn't supposed to be. But she ignored the feeling. On top of anxiety, she didn't really need an existential crisis. Nope!

She was still mad. She had the right to be angry...

She had the right to not be ready to forgive her for what happened...

Right?

She walked along the forest edge. The calm environment if the thicket helped her calm down. The near silent rustling of the trees and crunch of the twigs and dry leaves beneath her feet. It felt nice... It had calmed her quite the bit, but, it reminded Microphone of her. And she still hasn't gotten over it... Which was reasonable, she felt used and casted aside. Was anything she said real? Who was true and who wasn't? Her mind spiralled as she tried to avoid any and all pieces of her mind that tried to drag her back down. She was happy to have a moment to breathe at last.