[Ah. It hurts that she can't see his face, because she KNOWS about how tricky his voice can be... but there's no real way around it for the time being.]
My essential systems are operational, yes. There's... a lot left to be done. But I think she's made a good amount of progress.
[Haha... Yeah. Good luck, Luna. Akechi's voice is perfectly even now that he knows she's awake and not fucking dying. There's no telling what kind of face he's making right now.]
Will there be any remaining damages once she's done everything she can with the resources available to us?
[Hahah cool just like old times. She'll just look at the ceiling while she talks, then.]
I can't say. She seems optimistic... or perhaps she's just been stubborn. But I don't know many of the finer details of what she might have left. Only snippets. I've... I've been in and out of a low-power state to try and keep myself from overloading. I very rarely have this many errors at once.
... I should have told you about the gun. [Flatly.] There was no need for you to intervene. After last week, this is exactly the type of outcome I wanted to avoid.
[He is... somewhere. There's a pause before Luna hears his footsteps again, approaching her. A moment later, she will feel a very tentative touch on the back of her hand — like he isn't sure what to do with this at all.]
... All I need is one more week to break this cycle once and for all. I don't care what your directives say. You aren't allowed to die before then.
[She doesn't move to take his hand, partially because she is in so much pain and partially because she can feel how cautious his touch stays even now. So she'll simply extend her fingers, just enough to brush metallic knuckles against his hand; a delicate gesture, meant only to acknowledge, to try to reach out if he would let her.]
I know. I... I-I made a promise that I would try.
I don't want you to die, either, Akechi. I really, really don't.
[... It's hypocritical of him, really. But his instinctive response isn't to agree, or to vehemently deny that he's prepared to die. It feels like a lifetime ago at this point, but Phoenix... really was right to call him out all those weeks ago. What a joke.
In the end, his hand lingers for a moment longer before he retracts it.]
I want to see this through to the end. So, I'll... [Like pushing glass through his teeth.] I'll try as well.
[There's a hesitation, a visible surprise and disappointment in her body language as Akechi's touch withdraws. But she doesn't push it, leaving her own hand out a few moments before drawing it back to lay on her chest.]
I trust you, Akechi. Trying is... it's sometimes the only thing we can promise to do.
[...]
Could I ask you something?
Akechi is... it's your family name, isn't it? Would... um...
[This is, apparently, an important distinction he needs to make. It's not his family's name. It's his mother's. Given the memory he unwittingly shared with Luna several weeks ago, however, she may have a guess as to why he doesn't go by his father's name.
There is another pause before he adds:]
You may call me Goro, if that's what you truly want.
[She can't see his face, but he sounds a little... baffled. Like this isn't something that happens very often to him, if at all.]
[He's similarly silent for a moment, debating whether or not to indulge her curiosity. Then the moment passes, and Luna will hear a quiet exhale from his direction.]
... She died when I was very young.
[A quiet admittance. It seems like that's all he will say, but... After a beat, he continues.]
Apparently, my mother fell in love with a good-for-nothing man that abandoned her the moment he discovered she was pregnant. She was scorned by society for bearing a child out of wedlock, and my existence... was a burden she was forced to carry. Truth to be told, my most vivid memories are of the nights when she brought men home from work. [...] But, I don't resent her. She tried in her own way, as well. And all I ever dreamed of as a child was finding my father, so I could force him to apologize for everything my mother had to endure because of him.
[He huffs out a laugh, absolutely bitter.]
Obviously, that never came to pass. She fell into despair and died long before I could reach that worthless piece of shit.
[She'll keep quiet, letting him get through his thoughts. For Akechi to actually be opening up like this is such a rarity, she knows better than to interrupt. It's not the first time she's silently glad that her face is missing, because her chest tightens as he talks about his mother, leaving gaps that can only be filled with sad memories for someone who had only been a child.]
...I'm so sorry. I... I know your father was... [Well. He sure seemed to be several things, but. She is smart enough not to push that topic.]
...
Do you think she would be proud of how hard you're working, despite everything?
If you thought of her that highly, then... I assume, at the very least, that she cared for you very much. So I... I would like to think that maybe, somewhere, she might be happy you are still alive.
[Mmm. She makes a sound as though she's taking in a breath, a rattling, pained sort of noise.]
Did I ever tell you I was once required to be a child's mother?
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...I thought someone might be here.
Is that you, Akechi? [Her voice is still very, very messed up, but at least she doesn't sound like a speaker that's about to set itself on fire.]
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Yes. Has Brilith-san stabilized you?
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My essential systems are operational, yes. There's... a lot left to be done. But I think she's made a good amount of progress.
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Will there be any remaining damages once she's done everything she can with the resources available to us?
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I can't say. She seems optimistic... or perhaps she's just been stubborn. But I don't know many of the finer details of what she might have left. Only snippets. I've... I've been in and out of a low-power state to try and keep myself from overloading. I very rarely have this many errors at once.
It's... very, very painful.
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[There's a pause here. Perhaps he's choosing his next words carefully...? Eventually, all he says is:]
You should return to your low power state, then. It's pointless to stay in pain if you can avoid it.
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[...]
Have you come to scold me for my decision, Akechi?
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Is that something you want to discuss right now?
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I just expected it, I suppose. I knew it wouldn't make you happy.
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He's quiet for a long, long moment. When he speaks up again, his voice is flat.]
Were you prepared to die for Nicolas?
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When I understood what was happening, and that I had enough time to either intervene or save myself... my choice was obvious.
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[...]
You... really were worried about me dying, weren't you...?
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She will hear his footsteps, but it doesn't sound like he's leaving. Just... moving around.]
Mammon-san and Phoenix-san both died two weeks into our partnership. It's been two weeks since we started working together, Luna.
[So maybe he thought Luna would die this week, because being a cursed child is just like that sometimes.]
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[Weakly, she'll extend her hand off the end of the table, reaching out vaguely in his direction. Where the fuck is he. Who knows.]
...I'm still here, Akechi.
Please. Don't blame yourself for my decisions.
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... All I need is one more week to break this cycle once and for all. I don't care what your directives say. You aren't allowed to die before then.
eh fuck the robot icon time for default
I know. I... I-I made a promise that I would try.
I don't want you to die, either, Akechi. I really, really don't.
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In the end, his hand lingers for a moment longer before he retracts it.]
I want to see this through to the end. So, I'll... [Like pushing glass through his teeth.] I'll try as well.
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I trust you, Akechi. Trying is... it's sometimes the only thing we can promise to do.
[...]
Could I ask you something?
Akechi is... it's your family name, isn't it? Would... um...
Would I be allowed to use your first name?
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[This is, apparently, an important distinction he needs to make. It's not his family's name. It's his mother's. Given the memory he unwittingly shared with Luna several weeks ago, however, she may have a guess as to why he doesn't go by his father's name.
There is another pause before he adds:]
You may call me Goro, if that's what you truly want.
[She can't see his face, but he sounds a little... baffled. Like this isn't something that happens very often to him, if at all.]
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... Could you tell me about her?
p5r spoilers y'all don't look
... She died when I was very young.
[A quiet admittance. It seems like that's all he will say, but... After a beat, he continues.]
Apparently, my mother fell in love with a good-for-nothing man that abandoned her the moment he discovered she was pregnant. She was scorned by society for bearing a child out of wedlock, and my existence... was a burden she was forced to carry. Truth to be told, my most vivid memories are of the nights when she brought men home from work. [...] But, I don't resent her. She tried in her own way, as well. And all I ever dreamed of as a child was finding my father, so I could force him to apologize for everything my mother had to endure because of him.
[He huffs out a laugh, absolutely bitter.]
Obviously, that never came to pass. She fell into despair and died long before I could reach that worthless piece of shit.
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...I'm so sorry. I... I know your father was... [Well. He sure seemed to be several things, but. She is smart enough not to push that topic.]
...
Do you think she would be proud of how hard you're working, despite everything?
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Like I said, she died a long time ago. I don't know what she would think... or if she would even care at all.
[He doesn't think she would be proud, anyway. But he's thrown himself enough of a pity party for one night.]
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[Mmm. She makes a sound as though she's taking in a breath, a rattling, pained sort of noise.]
Did I ever tell you I was once required to be a child's mother?
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VLR spoilers Andie Don't You Dare Look
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SPOILERS FOR ZERO ESCAPE IN GENERAL SORRY ANDIE
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