The Player groans while awakening to the sound of classical music playing in the background. His vision initial blurs and he sees his arms dangling over the floor with a trail of blood running down his arm.
He found himself hung upside with his feet tied together by rope and hung on a slaughtering line.
"...What? What the hell?" He weakly spoke while trying to piece together what was going on.
"...Pl...a...yer?" A familiar voice called out to him from the side, much weaker than his.
The Player looked over and sees Filia, Squigly, Umbrella, and Parasoul tied up by their feet as well. Before he could question it he looked to the opposite side and sees Beowulf, Valentine, Annie, and Feng in the same predicament. They were all strung up like livestock waiting to be slaughtered.
"Wait... What? Everyone. What's...going on?"
The sound of heels clicking against the metal floor could be heard from afar and before long Double walks into the room with a meat cleaver while humming an ominously slow tune.
Seeing her approach, the Player closed his eyes and pretends to be unconscious.
Double's humming drew nearer and her heels stop just in front of him.
Everything goes quiet but his vision was still black from his closed eyes. Double's heels walk down the assembly line of host and the humming continues.
The blade of her meat cleaver could be heard cutting the air followed by the wet squelch of pierced flesh.
'...What?'
He could hear the meat cleaver being forcibly pried from body of an animal before being swung back into it.
"Uuuuuggghhhh..."
There was a dreadfully weak yet painfully anguished groan from the second strike, making it clear that whatever was being skewered wasn't an animal.
'What the hell is going on?!'
A third sickening squelch and then a forth, the moaning became labored before a nasty crunch sounds off. The groaning was silenced and all that was heard was the sound of fluids dripping on the floor.
The Player slowly opened his eyes but then widen in horror as he watched Double dragged Filia's upper torso down the hall.
His expression was pure terror and shock, he was paralyzed in fear and sorrow seeing Filia's face frozen with her eyes wide and her face emoting hollow numbness - there was no life in her eyes as entrails and intestines leave behind a blood trail into a dark room.
Double's humming echoes through the slaughterhouse and the sound of butchering from the room could be heard.
Filia: Help me...
Her words ring in the Player's mind.
Filia: Save me...
The Player's breathing picked up to unstable panic.
Filia: You're the only one who can...
He breaks out into a hyperventilating episode and he hears his heart in his ears.
"Save us," everyone else said in unison. "You're the only one who can stop the pain. Save us."
His heartbeat was racing at a critical level and he breaks out into an uncontrollable sweat as his friends chant for him to save them from this terrifying scenario.
The Player closed his eyes but then the chanting stopped. Dead silence.
When he opened his eyes and looked around there was nobody there but him still hanging upside down. He checked his left and the right, but when he looked forward he sees Double sprinting out of the dark room toward him with eyes aglow and grabbing his head to pull him close to her.
"YOU CAN'T SAVE ANYONE!" She screamed into his face while her face terrifyingly morphs into a screaming eldritch collection of flesh and conjoined faces.
Before Double could go any further, the bindings on the Player's feet somehow unhooks and drops him. He falls to the floor but phases through the surface which caused reality around him to spiral in a way that ended in the Player lying on his back and bound to an operating table under a spotlight in a dark room.
The Player frantically shifts his eyes around to survey his surroundings because he couldn't move, it felt like he was paralyzed.
Brain Drain steps out of the shadows with a bonesaw and stands at the Player's side. "You thought this was over?" He inquired before stabbing jagged side of the surgery instrument into the Player's calf which got a muffled scream out of him. "I'm going to keep coming after you until I get everything I need. Now I'm going to see what makes you tick."
The Player couldn't open his mouth to scream, Brain Drain grips the handle and pulls the saw up from the wound and makes a larger cut only to retract the blade before pulling it up again.
Brain Drain continued the sawing motion with spiteful savagery to reach the bone.
The Player continued screaming through his closed lips but it meant nothing, he couldn't scream for help which left him to his fate. He closed his eyes tight to try getting through the ordeal, trembling and shaking knowing he was being dissected.
Everything blacks out and seemingly puts an end to the scene.
'No...! NO! Stop! STOP!'
Poorman Apartments
May 9th, 2:28
The Player's face was covered in sweat and tightly grasping at his covers while groaning.
"Player?" Filia was sitting on her knees beside the couch as he shifts through some rough and panicked sleep patterns, which were getting worse over time.
"N...o! Sto...p! S...top!" The Player's breathing accelerated while talking.
It was clear he was having a terrible nightmare which instilled concern for the overprotective Filia who couldn't bear to watch him suffer any longer.
"Player! Wake up. Come on," she initially shakes him gently but became more stern each time.
After a few good shakes, the Player's eyes shot open and he jumped up with a desperate gasp for air. "GAH! Huuu! Huuuu! Oh fu-! Where?!" He looked around the room, carrying over the horror from the dream to reality.
"Hey, hey! It's okay. You're okay, look at me," Filia gently cuffed his face and focuses his attention on her so that they were looking at each other. "You're okay. You were having a really bad dream."
Seeing Filia brought the Player to his senses and he gulped heavily. "F-Filia... Oh my god," he was still short of breath and sweaty.
He was so overwhelmed that he couldn't give a proper response to seeing Filia despite how relieved he was to have her with him.
The Player was already having difficulties with the aftermath of escaping Brain Drain's clutches and it had only been a few hours since he returned home.
Since his body was still roughed up, the girls arranged to sleep downstairs with the Player for the next couple days so they would always be close in case he needed something.
Squigly and Leviathan were asleep on the loveseat and Filia's futon was just off to the couch's side.
As the Player further composed himself, Filia felt her heart drop seeing him so distressed, she was visibly upset knowing he wasn't in a good spot mentally.
"...Sorry, Filia. I didn't mean to worry you. I was just-"
"You have nothing to apologize for, it's okay," she used her pajama top sleeve to wipe the sweat off his face.
"I know. I just... I just-" he tried explaining himself but couldn't, and in a fit of frustration exhales through his nose and closed his eyes.
The Player shook his head at the situation and out of Filia's hands so that he could look aside in defeat.
"Hey," Filia placed her hand on the side of his face and turned his gaze back to her so that she could gently cuff his face again.
She immediately rests their foreheads together to support him and looks deep into his troubled eyes.
"I'm here now, it's okay. I've got you," she promised
She spoke softly and her touch was comforting, she put ease back into the Player and his breathing found a steady pace.
There was a delay but the Player ultimately nods against her, careful not to disrupt their foreheads being together.
"Thank you," he closed his eyes and rests against Filia.
Filia faintly smiled and affectionately nuzzles into him as he relaxes. "You're welcome."
Following the rescue, the Player had a rough time adjusting to having a normal life again because of the haunting memories of what he went through.
Whenever he tried getting sleep there was a nightmare that kept him from getting through the night, and it wasn't just Brain Drain that was on his mind, but his encounters with Double and her horrifying forms.
To make matters worse, beyond all of that, was fear of the others getting hurt because of him.
Seeing half of Filia being dragged off by Double with that lifeless expression was cemented in his head, and knowing all the others would soon follow because he 'CAN'T SAVE ANYONE.'
Filia, Squigly, Carol, Umbrella, Valentine, Beowulf, and Annie have all nearly died fighting for a common cause; the Player. They may have pulled through every ordeal, but only by the skin of their teeth.
What if that was only postponing the inevitable?
The reality that he had to keep facing these challenges, as the player, with the same risk of his partners getting hurt for him added to the frequency of the nightmares.
Filia, Squigly, Leviathan, and in his own little way, Samson were there for the Player when he struggled with sleep, reassuring him that he was safe and comforting him to the best of their ability in hopes of getting him a few more hours of rest before his next episode.
The support his friends gave through the week helped and things did get better thanks to their care, but the issues beyond the nightmares haven't fully healed.
At the end of the following week, Umbrella was back to visiting her friends in New Meridian after making a full physical recovery and getting through Parasoul's safety tips of managing stairs.
Poorman Apartments
May 15th, 6:14pm
The Player, Filia, Squigly, and Umbrella were just getting back to the apartment after spending the day at the movies.
"-we have to see part 2 when it comes out!" Umbrella furthered the conversation just as she walked in behind the Player after he unlocked the door, grabbing Butterscotch in the process to keep him from running out the door.
"Yeah, the movie was definitely pretty hype," the Player concurred, holding the door open for Filia and Squigly.
"Squigly, we have to catch you up before the next one drops. You have an entire saga to get through," Filia said.
"I didn't have much trouble following along without any prior knowledge," Squigly replied, being the last to enter.
"It doesn't matter, the movie will hit harder when you get caught up with all the characters and understand their motives," Umbrella said.
"That makes sense. How many movies are there?"
"About 20 or so."
"Oh my, that's a lot."
"A lot of fun," Filia corrected.
"Out of all the characters you've seen in Endless Wars, who was your favorite?" Umbrella asked.
"Hmm... That's a good question," Squigly poked her cheek while thinking.
"Me, personally, I like Arachnid Guy," the Player pitched his answer.
"The Tungsten Gentlemen is so cool with all his crazy battle armor!" Umbrella followed after the Player with her answer. She carried on by mimicking some actions she saw in the movie; holding up one hand and making laser sound effects with her mouth as if she were firing projectiles from her hand.
"Lieutenant Canopy and the Summer Marine are probably my favorites, they're so handsome," Filia answered.
The group walk into the front and remove their spring jackets, Squigly still didn't have an answer.
"Uuuuh, I... I don't know. I liked them all," Squigly replied.
"Ha, scrub," the Player nonchalantly whispered over to Filia and Umbrella.
"Hey!" Squigly smirked while giving the Player a challenging stare.
Leviathan strokes his chin while thinking back on it. "Gotta say, I'm a fan of Physician Abnormal. The way he uses magic is quite entertaining."
"Uuuh. I still don't know, I'm more curious as to how they're going to beat Thanatos."
"These knockoffs are killing me inside," the Player flatly stated having gone numb to all the names he suddenly remembered throughout.
"What do you mean?" Umbrella asked while looking up to him.
"All right, ladies!" The Player smacked his hands together and moved the glass table from the center of the living room, avoiding Umbrella's question. "Mental Meeting. Let's go."
"Wait, Mental Meeting?" Umbrella questioned.
"We like to close out our Sunday with group meetings to make sure we're doing okay up here," Squigly explained while tapping the side of her head.
"A brilliant idea that originated from the MVP, Leviathan," the Player said while sitting down four floor mats.
Samson rolled his eyes at the Player's comment. "Get off his di-" Filia cuts him short by throwing up her index finger onto his lips knowing he was going to say something smart.
"I figure it'd be a nice way to prepare for the new week," Leviathan said with a smile at Umbrella. "It helps clear your mind rather than carrying it and having it fester. Or at least that's what I figure."
"You guys never did that with me before!" Umbrella pouts.
"That's because we try to get you back home before it gets too late," the Player explained. "But after what happened on the island last week I felt it would've been a good idea to have you join us, which is why we're starting early."
The pouting ceased almost immediately and her eyes shimmer. "Aaaaw! You were thinking about me! What a gentleman. When it's my turn to rule the kingdom, you'll have diplomatic immunity to all the candy in Canopy. All you can eat!"
There was a sudden tone shift that silenced the entire room.
"...Not quite how that works, but, hey, keep trying, Your Highness," the Player gave his best impersonation of a smile.
They all choose a mat and sat in a circle at the center of the room.
Umbrella gives him a disapproving squint. "Don't call me that."
"Why do you hate your title so much?"
"I don't, I just hate it when you call me that. You're my friend! When you address me by title it feels like you're serving me and it undermines what we have. The people Parasoul hire to look after me when she's working use 'Your Highness,' or 'Princess Umbrella,' so it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
There was actually a reason behind Umbrella's title preference and it genuinely surprised the group.
"Wow. Okay, noted," the Player smiled.
"Thank you, butler" Umbrella arrogantly inclined her head, playfully showing her Canopian side.
The Player paused then grits his teeth at her when her comment registered. "Why you little-"
"And with that said," Squigly held her hand out in front of the Player to keep him from jumping at Umbrella with a laugh "who wants to go first?"
"Umbrella," the Player volunteered her.
"Wait, what? Me?"
"Yep. You're new so it'd make sense you get the first go."
"But...what am I even supposed to say?"
"Whatever's on your mind," Leviathan said. "If there's anything bothering you that you want to talk about, just lay it down and speak. No judgement here. We're here to listen and support."
"Hmm. Well, I guess... Things with sis has slowly been going back to the way they were before we patched things up. That's kind of annoying. We had that big breakthrough about sisterly love and then she goes back to working 24/7 after having that argument with the Player about your Parasites."
Hearing about the Renoirs having issues again made the Player lower his head in an inconspicuous manner so that he didn't draw attention to himself or his shame, feeling that he was the cause of this new rift.
"I know she doesn't mean to go back on everything we've been through, I'm pretty sure she's just trying to distract herself from the fact that there was a fight to begin with, but she won't listen to me and she won't talk to me about it."
"It's been over a month, she needs to get over it," Samson flatly said.
"Samson," Filia, Squigly, and Leviathan call his name and either roll their eyes or head.
"Harboring Parasite hosts is big deal in this worl- uh, kingdom, right?" The Player asked the group, getting their attention. "As the leader of a nation it makes sense that she'd be upset with me committing a crime."
"It's not even that," Samson interjects. "There has to be more to this than being mad about Filia having me. She doesn't even know about Leviathan, but even so that doesn't change the fact that ever since the Skullgirl attacked and we saved her sister she became a close ally. Can any of you deny that?"
The Player, Filia, Squigly, Leviathan, and Umbrella look among each other and visually communicate with their expressions, none of them could respond with a no.
"She trusted us with Umbrella on multiple occasions," Filia said.
"She offered me a well-paying job as an Egret and was willing to provide 1-on-1 training so I could get an advanced leg up in the ranks," the Player added.
"Not to mention she used to regularly call to make sure we were doing okay," Squigly was the last to chime in.
"...Am I the only one who remembers the Halloween stuff?" Umbrella mumbled.
"And after all that crap about friendship and bonds, actually getting to know us, she draws the line at Filia being a Parasite host?" Samson questioned incredulously. "We all risked our lives to save her sister and in doing so helped them fix their relationship. You mean to tell me after that, after all that, she overlooked everything good that happened and turned her back on us because jackass over here gave Filia a home? That's bullshit. There has to be more to it than that."
"I really wish I knew," the Player said with a sigh. "Also, to hell with you," he casually fired back with a retort to Samson's quick insult.
"Why don't you ask?" Umbrella suggested.
"I wanted her to tell me when she was ready to reach out. I didn't want to jump at the chance to reconnect when she's still sore. It might just make things worse."
"Sis probably doesn't know you want to talk."
"I guess it goes both ways," Squigly said, now looking at the Player. "If she isn't willing to talk then you should take the initiative and show you want to fix things. Showing her you care to get beyond all this."
Umbrella nods in agreement. "Not to mention Parasoul is bad at communicating her feelings. On top of that she's stubborn, way more than I am. I should be the big sister."
"I guess," the Player looked down, evincing thoughtful consideration to the idea.
"I just want things to go back to the way they were," Umbrella brought her knees to her chest and hugged her legs. "When we were all together and happy. It's not fair that we're separate like this. I feel sis needs to be here, and I mean truly be here so she can be part of these meetings and tell us what's wrong. She's been like this for, well, as long as I can remember, so there's no telling how damaged she truly is inside. She needs us but she chooses to be alone, and I don't know why. More than anything I want to know so I can be the one to save her for once."
The gang look at Umbrella as she spoke and were astonished by how mature and analytical she was being.
"Despite how the media perceives the 'Great Renoirs,' we're a dysfunctional family that can't communicate under the glamour and...that makes me sad."
The Player, Filia, Squigly, and Leviathan's reactions go from pleasantly surprised to sympathetic heartbreak in an instant. Samson, however, inclined a brow and was more impressed that Umbrella knew what a dysfunctional family was
When Umbrella noticed their attention she released her legs and casually sat back. "So, uh, yeah. That's all I've got I guess."
"Aaaaw! My poor baby!" Filia wrapped her arms around Umbrella and brought her into an overly affectionate hug, smothering her head into her chest. "Don't you worry your pretty little head. Everything will work out and Parasoul will come around."
"Ghhh! I-I know, Filia! I never doubted that!" Umbrella tried speaking with her face squished against Filia.
"And just know that we'll always be here for you, right gang?" Filia turned her gaze to the Player and Squigly with a confident smile.
"Of course," Squigly nods.
"Hmm. Y'know, I think this one is starting to grow on me," Leviathan muttered to Squigly in reference to his disdain for the Renoirs.
"Again; I never doubted that, Filia!" Umbrella continued to mummer.
While everyone else was showing goodwill and faith, the Player was visibly distracted.
His mind was locked on the realization that his strained relationship with Parasoul had unfairly effected Umbrella which meant he was the source of another problem.
Umbrella managed to pry herself out of Filia's arms and exhales in relief now that she was free.
"That was a good first session. How do you feel?" Leviathan asked with a smile.
"...Hm. You know, now that I said all of that, I actually feel a lot better!"
"And that's why we're here. Now, who wants to go next?"
"Samson?" Filia angles her head on a slight incline.
"Hmm?"
"Anything you want to share?"
"Actually, yes."
"...You do?" Filia, Squigly, Leviathan, and Umbrella questioned in surprise.
"I've been having these terrible nightmares lately and it's been getting harder and harder to deal with them."
The Player inclined his head at Samson's comment, showing interest.
"I don't show that I'm tormented by them because I feel, at this point, the dreams are inevitable. It's something I'll have to deal with even when I don't want to. It's expected of me, it's something everyone expects me to accept and live with. 'Take it like a man,' but how do you 'just take' what you're afraid of?"
Filia, Squigly, Leviathan, and Umbrella all look amongst each other, shocked to hear Samson go this deep into his psyche.
The Player's expression softened, empathizing with Samson's confession.
"How do you overcome something you aren't confident you'll conquer when it's expected of you? How do you go on living knowing there is a potential that something you dread is on the way and there's nothing you can do about it except be prepared to suffer through it? Looking down the barrel of a loaded gun and anticipating when it'll fire."
"...My goddess, Samson," Umbrella could hardly muster the words after hearing all of that.
"I had no idea you were going through all of that," Squigly said.
Leviathan wasn't all too sure and doesn't say anything, but he shows a look of cautious concern; cautious because this was Samson they were dealing with and being concerned that he had these feelings in relation to something.
"Samson, the first step to confronting your issues is being able to acknowledge them, and I'm so happy you were able to share that with us," Filia spoke with a comforting softness that supported Samson's plight.
"Yeah, well, it's been going on for a while," Samson somberly adds. "I guess I kept a candle of faith that things would eventually get better, but it never did. It keeps growing with each day. It's something I'll just have to get used to."
"Don't put that on yourself," Squigly replied. "Expectations from others can be bothersome, but forcing yourself to appease the expectations of others is worse because you're doing everything that makes you unhappy."
"Exactly!" Umbrella nods in agreement.
Samson briefly goes quiet for a moment, thinking of Squigly's words. "...So what you're saying is, I don't have to conform to the expectations among my peers? That I'm free to openly express myself without having to worry about what others think or feel about my choices?"
"Absolutely," Squigly nods. "You're entitled to your happiness. It should never be anyone's role to ensure the happiness of others at the expense of their own."
"I see. Heh, after dreading what was to come in the future... I guess it won't be so bad now that I've heard that."
"Did we... Did we just make a breakthrough?" Filia questioned in a whimsical tone.
"I think we did," Samson nods.
"Wow! That's awesome! Hooray for us!"
"Yep. So, what that means, Filia, is that even if you become romantically involved with that clown over there," he pointed his tendril at the Player "I'm going to continue being the best asshole I can be to him!"
"Yeah, that's great. You'll definitely-"
And then his comment registered amongst the group making them all freeze and collectively give a deadpan "what?"
"Don't give me that. I know all of you have seen it; Filia and that clown are close. Closer than I would've liked, but it is what it is. I've been dreading this since last year and they keep getting closer. I can't stop it, and considering this group keeps getting bigger, I thought I was going to have to fall in line and just accept it, otherwise I would've had to deal with everyone's shit. But now I don't have to fold for anybody! All I need to do is focus on myself and what makes me happy, and what makes me happy is being a dick to whoever Filia wants to date. I needed that clarity."
"Samson, you son of a bitch," Leviathan broke character thinking Samson was having a genuine emotional moment with them.
The Player's expression dropped like a rock as well, showing a dead look of hollow contempt.
"Bite me, worm."
"I am so close to doing it, you have no goddamned idea. These group sessions are meant to be taken seriously. We're not here to play any of these idiotic games with you."
"I wasn't playing, you guys actually helped me and I'm happier knowing I can keep being an ass to him."
"You... You really are a piece of work," the Player completely deflated from the conversation, he had no energy to clap back.
"Don't you start. Besides, it's nothing you're not used to. It's our dynamic at this point."
The Player rolled his eyes and groaned, shaking his head because...of course, how could he expect anything else from Samson? He was gently brushed against from the side and turned to see that Filia had scooted over and playfully eased her shoulder against his arm.
"Don't mind him," she smiled affectionately.
The Player looked back at her and forced himself to try smiling back which he ultimately does, seeing his smile caused Filia's smile to blossom into a grin.
Squigly, Leviathan, and Umbrella watch them having disengaged with whatever Samson had going on.
"I swear, that idiot," Leviathan rubbed his head using the tip of his tail.
"At least he seems...happy now, so I guess it really did help him," Umbrella noted.
"The end doesn't justify the means," Leviathan had to shoot down any positive links to Samson's behavior.
"Whatever the case, Filia's going to have some competition. I'm not giving up on getting sis a boyfriend and the Player is still on the table so she better watch out," Umbrella snickered devilishly.
Squigly gives a flat smile if anyone could even call it that.
"With the repulsive riffraff out of the way, does anyone else want to go?" Leviathan asked the group.
"I'm fine," Squigly answered.
"How about you? You been okay?" Filia asked the Player.
"Me? Oh, yeah. I've been okay. The dreams don't show up as often. I've been able to get a reasonable amount of sleep."
"Dreams?" Umbrella questioned.
"Yeah, unlike Samson, I've been having real nightmares since the whole island fiasco. It's been hard getting sleep when you remember everything."
"O-Oh," Umbrella lowered her head before perking up. "That's...rough. I should've known you would have issues after all of that."
"It's cool. I had Filia and Sienna keeping me company throughout the week so I've been okay. I'm surprised you haven't had any nightmares, little miss. All the fighting you were doing."
Filia cringes at the thought of Umbrella fighting and looks at her. "Goddess, I hate knowing you were there."
"Nah, Umbrella was great. She held her own," the Player assured with confidence.
"Yeah. I was pretty amazing," a bit of childlike vanity kicked in as Umbrella proudly boasts. "But I have had a nightmare or two about that freaky bio thingamajig, but it wasn't too bad."
"Yeah? Color me surprised," the Player chuckled.
"It must've been quite the harrowing experience. Are you sure you're okay?" Leviathan asked the Player, wondering if it was only bad dreams that was effecting him after all of that.
"Yeah, I'm good. I'm good," the Player nods.
"Look at you, big tough guy," Umbrella teased with her arms crossed.
"Huh?"
"All that stuff that happened to you and you're already doing better. Guess you aren't as soft as I thought."
"Girl, hush."
The group, except Samson, share a quick laugh
"I guess that only leaves you, Miss Filia," Leviathan spoke up after the laughter ends. "Anything you want to talk about?"
"Hmm. Uh, well, I suppose there's one thing."
"That's new," Samson said.
"The Player disappearing has...really done a number on my nerves, and hearing how he was in actual danger, on top of Umbrella getting mixed up in the madness, kinda put me on edge. It all happened so fast, and right under our noses."
"It effected all of us," Leviathan lowered his head, disappointed in himself for not being more cautious or aware of the attention they were bound to attract.
The Player read the room and watched as his friends slowly drop into a pit of worry. "Hey, now. Don't look so sad. We've been in bad spots before and we've always come out on top. It's not like it was my first time being kidnapped, remember the Medicis my second day here?"
"Yeah, but, you've been...experimented on for a week," Filia hands slowly ball up into defensive fists the more she thought about it. "I just... I don't want to live life being worried all the time, but I can't be as laxed anymore. When I'm at work I'm always worried something may have happened to you. In my heart I know you're safe but my head is always telling me I need to be there."
"...I've kinda been feeling the same way," Umbrella admits.
They weren't the only ones, Beowulf, Annie, Valentine, Nadia, and Feng have all been calling to make sure he was doing okay, their busy schedules didn't allow them to visit as much as they would have liked, but it showed they cared for him as his friends.
The Player was touched they were as concerned as they were, but at the same time his inability to defend himself leads to them worrying out of their minds and that was the last thing he wanted.
"Ladies, it's fine. Nobody wants to hurt me, I'm the player, right? I'm just a target of interest. I don't worry about it too much because I know that whatever opposing forces are out there, they don't want me dead. There's no gain if the player can't benefit their goals. Not only that, I have an entire squad of kickass women and a brother in arms who'll come to my rescue if I need it."
Filia, Squigly, and Umbrella look at each other and agreeably nod to confirm that he was right about that, excluding everyone else, those three were absolute in their mission to protect him at all costs.
"All that aside, however, that just means I have to start pulling my weight. I have to find some way to be more prepared for situations like that. Synchronizing is one thing, but I need to do better for myself so whenever any potential danger comes at me I'll be ready to handle it. I don't like being helpless and I don't...want to be a burden to you guys."
"You're no burden, that's not what I meant," Filia reached her hand out to his forearm for a reassuring touch.
"You already have a lot going on, don't stress about what you aren't capable of," Squigly joined in the support.
"...I hear you, but at the same time it's because I'm not doing well as 'the player' that I'm just causing everyone more problems."
Umbrella throws herself at the Player and flops onto him, wrapping her arms around him for a hug. "You don't cause us problems because of your struggles."
"What? I did cause most of-"
Squigly moves closer to him, opposite from Filia, and placed her hand on his back. "We worry about you because we love and care for you just as you do for us. Remember what I told you? Doing the best you can is enough. Whatever you can't do we make up the difference, and whatever we can't do you make up difference."
"...But-"
The Player wanted to protest because he couldn't redirect the blame but he feels something heavy on the side and sees Filia resting her head on his shoulder.
Whatever he didn't see in himself his partners saw.
With Filia resting her head on his shoulder, Umbrella hugging him, and Squigly patting his back, it made him feel at ease.
If they felt he was okay, flaws as 'the player' and all, then maybe there really was no need to sweat his failures, and yet the feeling of inadequacy was still lingering somewhere in the back of his mind.
At the end of the day, whatever problems the girls were facing it linked back to him in some form and he couldn't get beyond that. But, for now, in their loving support he exhales and found his smile again.