[ His blood boils when he hears her say that, less because she called him disposable so much as he knows Rita would never think people can be used like that. And he knows what that fake version of her meant to Rita before.
But he doesn't say anything. He just clenches his hands into fists to fight the urge to punch her for coming back. ]
[It's an idea that Rita would normally find abhorrent, but today, it's practically her way of life. Using people as tools in her research--she doesn't have the slightest bit of remorse.
She figures she's shut him up for now, and the house is coming up ahead. She directs him with a simple, cold-]
[ He feels his heart sink when she says that, and closing the door... She really isn't going to be careless. He suddenly wishes more people disturbed them when they're in the study together. ]
...Right.
[ And he walks stiffly over to the stairs to start climbing them, looking out for Riou and the others as they go. ]
[Her lips curl into a bit of a smirk. Maybe he's starting to be afraid now. Rita herself is looking forward to getting started as she climbs the stairs after him...]
[ He really wants to kick her down the stairs, but there's no guarantee that'll do anything other than anger her. If he's going to break her neck, he has to do it directly.
...But even knowing this isn't really Rita, the thought of wrapping his hands around her neck again is horrifying. They reach the top floor in due time, and without Estelle, the floor is vacant save the two of them. ]
[Although she doesn't believe he can possibly win against her, that doesn't make her too careless: she keeps a close eye on him, and as they arrive at the top of the stairs, she points sharply to a chair.]
Sit.
[She says it almost as though he were a disobedient pet.]
[ Well, hearing her say that could almost make him laugh if he weren't feeling sick with anxiety. His eyes follow her around the room until she steps behind him.
And goes for his right hand. He resists the urge to yank his arm away. She's going to try to take it away from him? It rejected her the last time, so he hopes it rejects her again. This Rita can't even love; it wouldn't want her. ]
[ Oh, she is not. Not this Rita. Her words go completely through him as he starts to panic. The chair shakes as he tries to lift his arms up to protect his neck. ]
I'm not going to bite you, so leave my neck alone!
[ He gasps sharply and pulls his head back in an attempt to get the belt away. It's so close - it's so close to strangling him. He tries to calm down some, but his heart is racing now. ]
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