pc catchall for shess (nonbelligerent)

[foodbin]

Comments

[nonbelligerent]

Sure. Something from the dead?

[foodbin]

[She nods. She moves forward to hand it to him, and as she does, he might notice the word discontent written on her arm. As for the bell, it contains a note that says:

You need both. Don't make it so bright that others are drowned in the light-- that's my only input. -S

It looks like there might have been something else written below that, but she's ripped it off so it's no longer attached.]

He's the only one who's responded so far. I thought it would be better for you to hang on to them, since you'll most likely be... You know.

[nonbelligerent]

... Well, I don't disagree with that wish. All right.

Shirasu?

[foodbin]

[She nods.]

It sounds like him, at least, and I can't think of anyone else it's likely to be that has a name that starts with an S.

[But.]

...That isn't the only thing I wanted to talk to you about.

[nonbelligerent]

What is it?

[foodbin]

Did Sol say anything to you about why we needed to have a trial, even though there were no corrupted to find?

[nonbelligerent]

I didn't ask.

[foodbin]

...Because it’s easier for corruption to surface and spread in people who have killed someone here. He said that’s why they had to purify Akane anyways.

[nonbelligerent]

... Makes sense.

Are you worried about yourself and North, then?

[foodbin]

Of course I am. I don’t know what to...

[What to do.]

I don’t want to hurt anyone. He said he couldn’t sense anything in me yet, but... He hasn’t been able to tell everyone else who was corrupted beforehand, either.

[nonbelligerent]

... So it's a matter of chance.

[foodbin]

Yes. But he said my chance might be higher than anybody else.

[She takes a breath. It isn’t hard to see how this, even more than dying, frightens her.]

Shess, I... I don’t know what to do.

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

I can carry out your request, if need be—but it's your decision.

[and... not exactly one to make lightly.]

Does Axel know?

[foodbin]

...I know. I just - it’s not like there’s a lot of places I can go for a second opinion. [...] Sorry.

[But - she shakes her head.]

I know he would try to stop me.

[nonbelligerent]

Don't apologize. It's a difficult choice to make, so I don't blame you. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

... Most likely.

[foodbin]

...I won’t keep you waiting. Is tomorrow too late to let you know?

[nonbelligerent]

[he shakes his head.]

Take your time. [...] But I'll have to let Milla know not to protect you this week, in that case.

[foodbin]

I wouldn’t want her to do that in either case.

[...]

It’s okay if you can’t answer, but - if you were in my shoes, what would you do...?

[nonbelligerent]

... I would take the risk and face the consequences for it. But that's also because, as cruel as it might be, I know I could live with myself even if I ended up killing someone against my will.

[you don't get far as a sura if you can't handle something like that.]

To struggle with that decision is part of what makes you human.

[and not in a bad way, either.]

[foodbin]

[She listens to that, and after a few moments:]

You didn’t see it... Did I ever tell you how I died back home?

[nonbelligerent]

[um.]

... No.

[foodbin]

You know the basic situation, right? Aliens taking over people’s bodies, piloting them around... That kind of thing.

[nonbelligerent]

Yes, I remember.

[foodbin]

There was someone that... I was close with. You remember the second memory you saw of mine, right? Where I saw him again, but he was - wrong.

[nonbelligerent]

[he nods.]

... It did feel that way, based on your emotional reaction.