compnetwork | 03 - [Action/Video]

[Action- in front of Daemoniac Inc. Cancer District]

[Walk through the Cancer Ward, and you will probably spot the large building in the middle of it, a state-of-the-art structure that reflects the technological wizardry of the area. One might marvel at it, and the locals do seem to be doing so as their eyes wander over it, but there is one person who does not seem to be marveling at it at all.]

[You might look over this young man sitting on a chair outside an internet cafe, with his disheveled appearance and general unkempt hair that scream "possibly homeless or worse", but his gaze, strangely enough, never seems to leave the building. Look closer, and you'll see that the knuckles on his hand grasping the cup of water before him are white, he's grasping the thing so tightly. And his stare holds a level of malice that contrasts harshly with his general harmless appearance...]

[This is not the image of a man who is happy about what he is looking at, at all.]

[Video]

[Sam Erstwhile appears on screen, frowning sadly- while everyone is busy with the hubbub of the tournament coming up, it seems like he'll be the only person who will always be miserable, no matter what.]

Look, um...I hate to ask this, because it's totally unrelated to anything about the tournament, but I felt I really needed a answer to the question as soon as possible.

[He lets out a sigh as he scratches his shaggy head.]

W-what's the best way to get rid of nightmares?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That sounds dangerous, really.

[And he tilts his head like a curious bird.]

Venting through games? What, like sharing your feelings through a video game or something?

Sometimes.

[Though he does laugh at the last part.]

Not exactly - more like play a game to de-stress. Stress usually seems to be the thing that triggers nightmares for me, anyway.

[Usually, but other instances even he hasn't figured out yet.]

Yeah, stress can be bad...but I dunno, I think I'm just getting these nightmares because some things have happened which have reminded me of some really nasty memories.

And now they just keep repeating, and I want to forget them all over again but I can't....

Actually, I can relate in a sense. In that case, I just do my best to keep my mind occupied. Easier said than done, I know, but won't know until you try.

Basically keep yourself distracted? That's what you're saying?

...And what if that doesn't work? What do I do then?

Yeah. I mean, don't make yourself sick or whatever, but at least try to keep busy so you don't have to end up worrying about it.

[Masamune that is the worst advice ever and you should feel horrible.]

Find someone who's willing to listen, I guess. Probably not what you want to hear, but it does help if all else fails.

Hmmm...alright. I guess if I try to keep my mind off of it, maybe I won't dream about it so much. But...you know, it's hard, because the thing that prompts it is always in front of me whenever I pass through that place, in the Cancer Ward, so it's hard to miss.

[A sigh.] I think I've found somebody by now, but yeah, I still don't think that's entirely the best option. What will talking do for me, really?

[Masamune makes a face.]

Yeah, physical reminders probably don't help at all. There any way you can take an alternate route or something?

Catharsis? Relief knowing that you don't have to hide something? That's what I get out of it when it comes to that.

[And he will always be grateful to Kojuro and Shigezane for being there for him like that, especially during the transition phase after his old man kicked it.]

I could try, but honestly, I do like the technology in Cancer Ward, so it's hard to just bypass it completely.

[He scratches the back of his shaggy head.] But what if I want to hide it? I don't want people to think bad of me, so why give them the opportunity to do that?

Okay, fair point there.

[He can't talk beyond that, he goes to the arcade when he's not busy most of the time.]

If you got someone you trust, it's not gonna matter. There's good and bad in just about anyone, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying out their ass. It's a part of being human.

...I see.

[A long sigh.] I guess you're right. It's just a matter of finding someone who won't take advantage of you, really.

There are more of those people than you think. Not saying some people aren't assholes, but there are some decent people out there.

I guess, but...I just don't know who to trust anymore, really.

That's something you gotta figure out on your own. Trust your gut, hasn't steered most people wrong, from what I've gathered.

[His voice is a murmur.]

The last time I trusted someone, he ruined my life...

Then you get back up and keep trying.

[Masamune's smirk drops for a split second.]

There's no point in giving up, even if you get hurt in the process.

But how many times can you try if every time just leads to failure?

I mean, there's only so many times you can get hurt...

In that case I'd probably start looking at my approach rather than others'.

Huh? What could be wrong with my approach?

03 - [Action/Video]

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