Mitch S - Branching Convo 2

''CONTEXT'': Reiko and Ethan manage to escape an enemy-operated oil rig before the bomb they planted went off. However, Reiko had used Ethan as a distraction for enemy guards to buy herself time to plant the bomb. The fact that she fled on her own and merely waited for Ethan to catch up didn't help matters either. As Reiko, the player must reckon with the consequences of their leaving Ethan behind. "Ethan!" Reiko says upon spotting Ethan in the murky Atlantic water. She pulls him aboard the vessel they had used to near the oil rig and studies him from head to toe, his flesh wounds being conspicuous. "Guards sure gave you hell back there." "Uh-huh," Ethan says, "and where were you when I had to get them off my back? Some partner I picked." [[Hug him.]] [["We are partners. Why do you think I had you buy time for me to plant the bomb?"]] [["What matters is that we made it out of there in one piece, so quit whinging."]]

"Reiko," Ethan says, "do you think I'm just a means to an end?" [["Look, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have let you handle the guards all by yourself."]] [["Of course not! But what else was I supposed to do back there?"]] [["Ethan, stop."]]

Reiko wraps her arms around Ethan's neck and rests her chin on his left shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay." Ethan sighs. "You sorry as well?" [["Yeah."]] [["It was a tough call, Ethan. I didn't make it lightly."]] [[Remain silent.]]

Ethan covers his face and groans. "And it didn't occur to you to mention this before shoving me into harm's way?" [["Now that you put it this way, something tells me I royally mucked it up."]] [["It did, but time wasn't on our side."]] [["If I did, you would've objected to my plan."]]

"That's a load of bullcrap," says Ethan. "You know I'm happy to change tactics if need be. All you got to do is stop and think about what you're about to throw at me before doing so or backing down." [["I'm trying to do good."-> "I am trying to do good."]] [["Have I ever left you hanging?"]] [[Walk away.]]

Ethan hugs Reiko back. "Sorry if I sounded a bit harsh." [["I'm trying to do good."]] [["We're both here. That's what matters."]]

Ethan returns the favor by hugging Reiko. "You don't have to do this to yourself. Making tough calls like this." [["I know what I did back there. Not that I'm proud of it."]] [["How else would we have gotten this far?"]] [["Hugging isn't a tough call."]]

Ethan pulls away from Reiko. "Reiko," Ethan says, "do you think I'm just a means to an end?" [["Look, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have let you handle the guards all by yourself."]] [["Of course not! But what else was I supposed to do back there?"]] [["Ethan, stop."]]

Ethan pats Reiko on the back before letting go of her. "Where's the first aid kit again?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan places a hand on Reiko's shoulder. "You'll get there," he says. "Just need to go together to get that far." He lets go of Reiko and walks away. [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Ethan lets go of Reiko. "You know what I meant," he says. "Can't treat others like a burden." [[Hang your head in shame.]] [["I didn't say you were a burden."]] [["You should get yourself patched up."]]

"Doesn't mean we did so without a scratch or two," says Ethan. "Why am I always the one who looks worse for wear post-mission?" [[Hug him more tightly.]] [["Don't say that."]] [["There's a first aid kit by the door to the skipper's cabin."]]

Ethan pats Reiko's head. "Thou art forgiven," he says. "Not that there aren't some things you need to work on." [["I can't imagine the pressure you were under back there."]] [["Svalbard should've been a wakeup call."]] [["Tell me something I don't know."]]

"Well," Ethan says, "didn't seem like you wanted me to keep you company while you were planting that bomb." [["We're both here. That's what matters."->"We are both here. That's what matters."]] [["I'm trying to do good."-> "I am trying to do good."]]

Ethan shakes his head. "Where's the first aid kit again?" he says. Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "It's not just me who needs some patching up." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Ethan walks past Reiko. "It's not just me who needs some patching up," he says. [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Ethan sighs and pats Reiko on the back before stepping away from her. "Thanks for the hug," he says. [["I can't imagine the pressure you were under back there."]] [["Svalbard should've been a wakeup call."]] [["There is a first aid kit by the door to the skipper's cabin."]]

Ethan lets go of Reiko. "How else would you notice that I'm going through a lot?" [["Tell me something I don't know."]] [["Aside from the oil rig, have I ever left you hanging by a thread?"->"Have I ever left you hanging?"]] [["There's a first aid kit by the door to the skipper's cabin."]]

"No, Reiko," says Ethan. "//You// should stop. Stop and think about what you're about to throw at me before doing so or backing down." [["I'm trying to do good."-> "I am trying to do good."]] [["Have I ever left you hanging?"]] [[Walk away.]]

"Telling me in advance that I'd have to lure guards away from you while you were planting that bomb, for starters!" Ethan says. "Christ, it's a good thing they focused more on abandoning ship than on doing me in when the fireworks started." [["You must be tired. Why don't you get some rest?"]] [["Now that you put it this way, something tells me I royally mucked it up."]] [["No point in dwelling on the past. Let's save the improvements for future missions."]]

"//Forced// me to handle the guards all by myself," Ethan says before sighing. "Obviously, time wasn't on our side. No wonder you used me as bait back there without a second thought." [[Slap him in the face for calling himself "bait."]] [["Aside from the oil rig, have I ever left you hanging by a thread?"->"Have I ever left you hanging?"]] [["Just get yourself patched up before you bleed to death."]]

Reiko slaps Ethan in the face and grabs both of his shoulders. "You are //not// bait!" Reiko says with teary eyes. "You hear me? You're my friend, so don't you //ever// call yourself anything else!" Ethan places his hand on the cheek Reiko struck. "Reiko..." Reiko sighs and lets go of Ethan. "First aid kit's by the door to the skipper's cabin. Don't bleed out on me, okay?" Ethan nods and walks past Reiko. He looks back and says, "Take good care of yourself too. If you want a shoulder to cry on, you needn't look far." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Reiko walks away. "Unbelievable!" Ethan says. "How'd you make it this far in life?" [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"You are," Ethan says before letting go of Reiko. "But so am I! Can't be doing all the hard work and shoving folks to the side." He glances at his wounded self. "Especially if it means pushing them into harm's way." [["Force of habit. Believe me when I say it's something I'm trying to shake off."]] [["If I knew you'd die, I wouldn't have gone ahead with... you know what."]] [["Nothing a first aid kit can't take care of."]]

Ethan pulls away from Reiko. "What matters is that we work as a team." [["Yes, I know that."]] [["Have I ever left you hanging?"]] [["You're not yourself right now."]]

"Kicking the can further down the road, eh?" Ethan says. "At some point, you'll have to pick it up and chuck it in the trash can. Anyway, where's the first aid kit again?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Speaking of improvements, take care of the leaking in the cabin. No putting it off, lest we sink." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Can't keep changing the topic like this," says Ethan. "Otherwise, how can you expect us to improve as a team? Plus, it's not rest that I need, but a first aid kit. Where is it, anyway?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Be glad I'm more forgiving than your average soul, Reiko. Most folks would've sought another partner by now." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Meh," Ethan says. "I wouldn't go that far. Besides, I'm still standing." [["Svalbard should've been a wakeup call."]] [["Tell me something I don't know."]]

"That you did," Ethan says. "Remember when you were on sniping duty and were to cover me from afar while I snuck into that warehouse in Svalbard?" [["I was short on ammo. I had to wait for those guards to get near that explosive barrel."]] [["Your point?"]] [["You were the one who left me hanging by not returning my radio calls!"]]

"Then act the part for once!" Ethan says before wincing and clutching one of his wounds. Reiko sighs and points a finger at a first aid kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "One of those days, you'll have to tell me what happened to your folks in that cave." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"And you're not my shrink," Ethan says while eyeing his bloodied self. "Not that they can treat bodily wounds." [["The more you talk, the more you bleed on the spot."]] [["There's a first aid kit by the door to the skipper's cabin."]] [["You must be exhausted. Why don't you get some rest?"]]

"Doesn't change the fact that you had me running a marathon for God knows how long while you were looking for that barrel," says Ethan. "Then again, that snowstorm was rather intense." [["Things happen, Ethan."]] [["I can't imagine the pressure you were under back there."]] [["Run a marathon? You were tiptoeing left and right while a battalion chased you!"]]

"My point being that this oil rig op is a repeat of what we— //you// did on that archipelago," says Ethan. [["Things happen, Ethan."]] [["I did my job. Nothing more to it."]] [["Minus the sub-zero temperature."]]

"It was meant to be a stealth op!" Ethan says. "Of course I had to keep my lips sealed and the radio volume low." [["What are you trying to get at?"]] [["So you're not denying the fact that you left me hanging."]] [["The more you talk, the more you bleed on the spot."]]

"And others don't," Ethan says. "The things within our control and that need to occur if we're to stick together. Anyway, where's that first aid kit again?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Don't keep both eyes on the prize. You can spare one of them for me." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"You can say that again," says Ethan. "Actually, don't. Can you instead tell me where the first aid kit is?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan places a hand on Reiko's shoulder. "You're not a bad agent," he says. "You just need to let me have some agency out there." He lets go of Reiko and walks away. [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Ethan facepalms and sighs. "Unbelievable. Why do I even put up with you?" He walks right past Reiko. "Don't bother telling me where the first aid kit is. I'll find it myself." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Just—" Ethan sighs. "Just try to see things from my own viewpoint. Nothing more. Anyway, where's that first aid kit?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "I'm happy to have your back, but teamwork isn't a one-way street." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Right now," says Ethan, "I'm more concerned about you detaining me here while I'm bleeding to death. Where's that first aid kit again?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Happy to resume this convo... with our case officer." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Ethan sighs and says, "How can you expect us to improve as a team if you keep this up? Plus, it's not rest that I need, but a first aid kit. Where is it, anyway?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Be glad I'm more forgiving than your average soul, Reiko. Most folks would've sought another partner by now." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Okay," Ethan says, "I'll give you that. But how can you expect us to improve as a team if you keep this up? Plus, it's not rest that I need, but a first aid kit. Where is it, anyway?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Be glad I'm more forgiving than your average soul, Reiko. Most folks would've sought another partner by now." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"I know," says Ethan, "but you haven't really told me before why it's a thing in the first place." [["Can you keep a secret?"]] [["It's... a long story."]] [["That's something I should deal with myself."]]

"Well," says Ethan, "that's a relief. What would be especially comforting is you putting a stop to such leaps of faith. At some point, you— //I// will stop sticking the landing." [["I don't mind trading places."]] [["Svalbard was worse than this, and yet you're still with me."]] [["Thinking about the future like that is what'll truly break your streak."]]

Ethan sighs before saying, "At least tell me where that first aid kit is." Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "No shame in asking for help." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"So long that I run the risk of bleeding out?" Ethan says. "Suit yourself. Anyhow, where's that first aid kit again?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Unlike my wounds, you should try to open up more." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"We're secret agents, Reiko," says Ethan. "What do you think?" Reiko nods and whispers in Ethan's ears. By the time Reiko pulls away from Ethan, both of the latter's brows were raised. "Jesus." [[Shed a tear.]] [["Can I have a moment?"]] [[Walk away from Ethan.]]

"That's the issue," says Ethan. "I'm still with someone who doesn't seem to have learned anything from our mission there. Unlike our coats post-operation, I'm not one to be left hanging." [["You were the one who left me hanging by not returning my radio calls in Svalbard!"->"You were the one who left me hanging by not returning my radio calls!"]] [["You must be exhausted. Why don't you get some rest?"]] [["I can't imagine the pressure you were under back there."]]

"No one has to be put through the wringer like this," Ethan says. "I'm just thankful that nary a soul at HQ knows about your... tactics, but they'll start asking questions if either of us comes back home looking like roadkill." [["There's a first aid kit by the door to the skipper's cabin."]] [["Things happen, Ethan."]] [["The more you talk, the more you bleed on the spot."]]

Ethan hugs Reiko. "It's okay," he whispers. "I... I know the feeling. Hang in there." He lets go of Reiko. "Know where the first aid kit is?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan places a hand on Reiko's shoulder. "You've come this far," he says. "You'll give your woes the slip in due time." He lets go of Reiko and walks away. [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Of course," Ethan says. "By the way, do you know where that first aid kit is?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "I'll be in the locker room if you need some company." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Reiko walks away. "You need to seek help, Reiko!" Ethan says. "Not walk away from it." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Okay," says Ethan, "it's clear that you need some space. Just tell me where the first aid kit is and I'll be on my way." Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "Keep your chin up. That's the first step toward seeing your partner eye-to-eye." [[Restart convo.->Start]]

"Yeah," says Ethan, "running away from guards on that oil rig felt like a repeat of our time up north. Least you remember Svalbard, same of which I can't say of other past missions. Anyhow, where's that first aid kit again?" Reiko points a finger at the kit by the door to the skipper's cabin. Ethan places a hand on Reiko's shoulder. "Hey," he says. "Least you know you need to improve. Not even my past partners would admit it." He lets go of Reiko and walks away. [[Restart convo.->Start]]

Ethan says, "What matters is that we work as a team." [["Yes, I know that."]] [["Have I ever left you hanging?"]] [["You're not yourself right now."]]

"You are," Ethan says. "But so am I! Can't be doing all the hard work and shoving folks to the side." He glances at his wounded self. "Especially if it means pushing them into harm's way." [["Force of habit. Believe me when I say it's something I'm trying to shake off."]] [["If I knew you'd die, I wouldn't have gone ahead with... you know what."]] [["Nothing a first aid kit can't take care of."]]

Ethan walks past Reiko and says, "I don't mind tough calls. Just tell me in advance when you're about to make one." [[Restart convo.->Start]]