[Her expression twists, a noticeable change as she struggles not to argue, her eyes never leaving where her hand meets his. No, no one dying where she could have easily died is every the right option. It should never be the right option. But, at the same time... she thinks back to what Phoenix had written, of what others had said. She thinks back to Asch, and to Nic, and to Toi, and even to the young man in from of her now, who would have easily passed on from their injuries without medical assistance. She thinks of how often she was woken up in the middle of the night to attend to a wound, or to check up on someone, or to watch over an unconscious body.
...
Maybe... maybe they really did have a point.
She can't form her conflict into words. She can barely form it into thoughts.
[he knows that his speech won't soothe all of her wounds, all of her guilt, but at the very least. . . he hopes he can help her see things in a different perspective. a perspective that helps her pull her chin up and move forward, to keep fighting, despite the pain]
[his smile widens, and he gives her hand a squeeze with both of his own]
Thank you for everything you have done for us, Luna.
[There's still that slight, uncertain edge to her smile, when it finally comes. But it's still a smile, still genuine enough to reach her eyes as she returns the grip on her hand, looking up at him with eyes that are so, so tired, but frank and grateful.]
You're welcome.
I... feel I should be telling you, that, though. You're part of the reason we've even come so far in the first place.
All of us that were in line with Blue... we all knew we could rely on you to trust us and try to lead people in the right path. The week that we decided to make sure you weren't a monster, I... I'm pretty sure we all nearly fainted out of relief when we found out you were going to be okay.
I don't know where we would be if you hadn't believed in our cause as thoroughly and passionately as you did.
It's okay. Even those of us that were technically working for him didn't know what to think for a long time.
[Mmm, but that mention of Akechi...]
Goro is... complicated. But I think his heart is in the right place. Just... hurting.
I hope someday he can find a way to something better, where he doesn't have to lash out or belittle others or torture himself. But that's... that's something that he has to work towards on his own. So I think if he's lucky enough to have a friend like you at his side... he might be okay someday.
[Her lips thin as she thinks through something else, leaning over to put her other hand on top of both of Akira's. Hand pile.]
If... if there's any way we can give him a second chance, Akira, I... I would really like to find it. I think he deserves it more than he would ever want to admit.
He didn't tell me. I... I found out on accident, unfortunately. But...
I know there's good in his heart. Despite everything that's happened to him, and everything he may have done to fill... whatever hole his life has left behind.
[There's a heavy pause after that, because really, Goro Akechi is such a horrible, complex string bean of a human. But it hurts to think of him leaving this place completely unchanged. She hopes, at the very least, he doesn't feel so alone in the world.]
...A-anyway.
You wanted to know who it was that I chose. Could I ask why?
[Akira likes to think he has changed. . . like to think that he has observed those changes first hand during their time in the mansion. but that is a horribly complex subject, isn't it? so. . .]
[when Luna moves on, he does as well]
Oh-- right. It was mostly curiosity, and because I thought you might have felt guilty over not choosing correctly.
[he shakes his head]
I don't need a list or anything. So long as you take what I said to heart. . . then it's okay.
[There's an odd sort of relief, in not having to share her choices. It's not that they mattered anymore, of course, but her sense of priorities is far different than a person's.
Well... she would like to think so, anyway.]
I... I do feel guilty, in a way, but... mostly because more than once, I chose the correct person, and the correct type of attack... but the timing was wrong. That... that was hard. It felt really, really unfair.
We don't have to talk about it anymore. [not if it still stirs in her feelings of guilt and helplessness] From here on out, we can focus on what we can both do to send everyone home alive.
[It's more an apology of habit than anything else, since she doesn't shrink away afterwards. Her hands curl against his, taking in the warmth they bring, fingertips resting against skin far more worn and real, hands that tell a story in a single touch.]
I think that might be the only thing specific to me, I'm afraid. Certain items I was able to negotiate from the staff due to my position, such as the epipen of sedative and the luminol. But that's about all I was able to do. Anything else, I think Akechi would probably have covered.
That's... one of the other things I wanted to talk about, actually. N-not Akechi, but, um... going home.
[Even if she were to go home in one piece... she's locked in a building forever. And if she wasn't lucky enough to be able to go home alive... well... then maybe this really was hell after all, albeit a much nicer one than she imagined in the end.]
[oh. . . that's right, isn't it? Luna's future at her own home was--]
[. . .]
My offer still stands, you know.
[he says that so simply, so easily, without an ounce of hesitation. he had offered for Luna to accompany him back to his world should she choose to do so. and he wasn't about to retract that offer now]
[There's a broken happiness to how his name falls from her lips, one of her hands moving to press over her mouth for a moment.]
I'm... I'm so scared to, but I... I-I want...
[A pause. She swallows hard, her feelings all swarming inside her like a live circuit, overwhelming but not entirely unpleasant.]
N-no. No, I... I talked to Galo about this. That... that sometimes you have to face your fear, and that if you push through it, whatever happens, a-at... at least you can be proud of yourself for giving it your all...
[Her eyes settle on his as best they can, fearful but wanting.]
I don't want to have regrets. I... don't want any more regrets... I don't want to die.
[Her jaw sets, eyes flashing with determination. Where the FUCK DID THIS COME FROM. Letting go of Akira's hands, she spins on her heel and whips around the island counter to stand face-to face with him, as though she has something extremely urgent that's come to mind. And yet she hesitates with a face blossoming an amusing shade of pink, blue eyes still fearful, wanting, trying--
No regrets. No regrets. Come on, Luna, what would Galo do....]
Akira! I-I...
I...
I-I'm going to kiss you, and it's Blue's fault, and I-I'm very, very, very sorry--!
[She doesn't wait for a response, taking two strides forward, cupping his face in his hands, and lifting herself up just enough to press her lips to his.]
[he waits patiently for her to puzzle out what she wants on her own, ready and willing to accept whatever conclusions she comes to. whatever choices she makes, by her own will, her own power, and her own freedom. he watches her quietly, fondly, fingers still playing with hers as much as she'll let him, growing used to and enjoying their weight against his hands]
[before he can do anything, she's on her feet, whipping around the table with speeds he has only seen from her one the scene of someone else's injury. his expression speaks his bewilderment plainly for him, features slack and eyes wide and mouth falling partially open until she's right into his personal space and there is no helping the rush of heat that blossoms onto his cheeks]
W-- wait, you're going to-- what--
[is. . . about all he has time to say, all he has time to comprehend (WHAT DOES BLUE HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING????) before her hands are on his cheeks and she leans in so close he can see the deep blue depths of her eyes, wide and open like the sky, like something he could fall into and lose himself in oh-so happily, and--]
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...You sound a lot like Phoenix. [aka she's gotten this speech before, or so she thinks.]
Sometimes I do, I suppose. It makes me feel like I'm... I'm useful that way.
It's just... much, much harder to focus on what I'm doing right than what I'm doing wrong. But I guess a lot of people have that struggle, though.
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Nick and I are on the same page, then.
[he doesn't stop moving his fingers, the tips trialing up and down the lines of her palm]
And you might be right in that a lot of people do have that struggle. But what I wanted to say is. . .
[he gives her hand another squeeze]
You haven't failed at what Blue asked of you. You weren't useless.
Because you were meant to save lives by being a doctor. By treating us when we're injured. By helping us recover from our mistakes.
Not by dying in someone else's place.
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...
Maybe... maybe they really did have a point.
She can't form her conflict into words. She can barely form it into thoughts.
But she will give a slow, conceding nod.]
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[his smile widens, and he gives her hand a squeeze with both of his own]
Thank you for everything you have done for us, Luna.
Everything.
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You're welcome.
I... feel I should be telling you, that, though. You're part of the reason we've even come so far in the first place.
All of us that were in line with Blue... we all knew we could rely on you to trust us and try to lead people in the right path. The week that we decided to make sure you weren't a monster, I... I'm pretty sure we all nearly fainted out of relief when we found out you were going to be okay.
I don't know where we would be if you hadn't believed in our cause as thoroughly and passionately as you did.
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[he ducks his head again, lifting one hand a bit sheepishly to tug at his bangs, fingers curling with his locks]
I didn't believe in Blue at first. It took me quite some time to get there.
But I always believed in you, and Nick, and-- [JUST. . . HUFFS, an amused noise escaping his lips] -- and even Akechi, in a weird way.
Despite him being aggressively himself.
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[Mmm, but that mention of Akechi...]
Goro is... complicated. But I think his heart is in the right place. Just... hurting.
I hope someday he can find a way to something better, where he doesn't have to lash out or belittle others or torture himself. But that's... that's something that he has to work towards on his own. So I think if he's lucky enough to have a friend like you at his side... he might be okay someday.
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I'll be there for him ever step that I can. I won't give him the answers, but if he stumbles or falls or needs a friend. . . then I'll be there.
[that's all he can do, isn't it. . .? the rest is up to Akechi himself]
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[Her lips thin as she thinks through something else, leaning over to put her other hand on top of both of Akira's. Hand pile.]
If... if there's any way we can give him a second chance, Akira, I... I would really like to find it. I think he deserves it more than he would ever want to admit.
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He already said he'd return home with me. He plans on turning himself in for the crimes he committed.
[. . . and his feelings on that are a bit. . . complicated. to say the least]
But since they were all committed inside of a world that isn't even supposed to exist, I don't think he'll remain in jail for long.
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I just hope that... whatever he chooses, that he can feel that he did the correct thing without any regrets for his future choices.
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[. . .]
[slowly, the surprise fades into understanding, and Akira nods]
Mmm. Those are the ones. Even his father wasn't convicted on those charges; only the crimes he had committed in the real world.
[his eyes slip shut]
I honestly think him turning himself in will be the start of Akechi finally walking his own path.
[instead of one already chosen for him, a la Masayoshi Shido]
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I know there's good in his heart. Despite everything that's happened to him, and everything he may have done to fill... whatever hole his life has left behind.
[There's a heavy pause after that, because really, Goro Akechi is such a horrible, complex string bean of a human. But it hurts to think of him leaving this place completely unchanged. She hopes, at the very least, he doesn't feel so alone in the world.]
...A-anyway.
You wanted to know who it was that I chose. Could I ask why?
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[when Luna moves on, he does as well]
Oh-- right. It was mostly curiosity, and because I thought you might have felt guilty over not choosing correctly.
[he shakes his head]
I don't need a list or anything. So long as you take what I said to heart. . . then it's okay.
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[There's an odd sort of relief, in not having to share her choices. It's not that they mattered anymore, of course, but her sense of priorities is far different than a person's.
Well... she would like to think so, anyway.]
I... I do feel guilty, in a way, but... mostly because more than once, I chose the correct person, and the correct type of attack... but the timing was wrong. That... that was hard. It felt really, really unfair.
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We don't have to talk about it anymore. [not if it still stirs in her feelings of guilt and helplessness] From here on out, we can focus on what we can both do to send everyone home alive.
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[It's more an apology of habit than anything else, since she doesn't shrink away afterwards. Her hands curl against his, taking in the warmth they bring, fingertips resting against skin far more worn and real, hands that tell a story in a single touch.]
I think that might be the only thing specific to me, I'm afraid. Certain items I was able to negotiate from the staff due to my position, such as the epipen of sedative and the luminol. But that's about all I was able to do. Anything else, I think Akechi would probably have covered.
That's... one of the other things I wanted to talk about, actually. N-not Akechi, but, um... going home.
[Even if she were to go home in one piece... she's locked in a building forever. And if she wasn't lucky enough to be able to go home alive... well... then maybe this really was hell after all, albeit a much nicer one than she imagined in the end.]
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[. . .]
My offer still stands, you know.
[he says that so simply, so easily, without an ounce of hesitation. he had offered for Luna to accompany him back to his world should she choose to do so. and he wasn't about to retract that offer now]
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She didn't even have to ask?
...]
I... I know it's selfish of me. I need to be home, even... even if home means I don't get to exist. My programming says I need to be home. But I...
...
I... want to be able to live.
[Said gingerly, as though she feels it's something horrible that she's admitting.]
To... to go back with you to Tokyo...
Would you really be okay with that?
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[and if he stiffens slightly when she mentions her programming. . . well. that might just be a trick of the light, right?]
What you need is whatever makes you happiest, Luna. That's all there is to it.
[he says that as firmly as he can, as though he'd argue with anyone who dared suggest otherwise]
If you want to live, if you want to come back to Tokyo with Akechi and I-- then you'd be more than welcome.
1/2
[There's a broken happiness to how his name falls from her lips, one of her hands moving to press over her mouth for a moment.]
I'm... I'm so scared to, but I... I-I want...
[A pause. She swallows hard, her feelings all swarming inside her like a live circuit, overwhelming but not entirely unpleasant.]
N-no. No, I... I talked to Galo about this. That... that sometimes you have to face your fear, and that if you push through it, whatever happens, a-at... at least you can be proud of yourself for giving it your all...
[Her eyes settle on his as best they can, fearful but wanting.]
I don't want to have regrets. I... don't want any more regrets... I don't want to die.
And I...
...
2/2
No regrets. No regrets. Come on, Luna, what would Galo do....]
Akira! I-I...
I...
I-I'm going to kiss you, and it's Blue's fault, and I-I'm very, very, very sorry--!
[She doesn't wait for a response, taking two strides forward, cupping his face in his hands, and lifting herself up just enough to press her lips to his.]
1/2
[and then]
[her expression flashes]
2/3 actually
[and for some inexplicable reason, he feels a small shiver of fear course through his spine]
3/4 IT KEEPS GETTING LONGER I'M SO SORRY
W-- wait, you're going to-- what--
[is. . . about all he has time to say, all he has time to comprehend (WHAT DOES BLUE HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING????) before her hands are on his cheeks and she leans in so close he can see the deep blue depths of her eyes, wide and open like the sky, like something he could fall into and lose himself in oh-so happily, and--]
[then she's kissing him]
[and he sort of. . . freezes]
DONE
this is the stupidest thing we've ever done and im so happy
claps hands together in delight
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1/2
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well it was nice while it lasted
LIES DOWN ON THE FLOOR............. I REGRET AKIRA'S STUPID MISTAKES
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