[A yelp! And he drops the cookie. FAREWELL. He's still sore from his energy drain and he's trying to defend himself by scooting the FUCK AWAY and taking the cookies with him.]
It's not a mockery, I didn't even know how to SHIFT until like a few hours before I came here! [SO!!!] It's kind of a new thing, and I kind of thought I already did! The memory of mine that you saw was one of the different timelines. [Just. WAVING HIS HANDS?] I have died a lot, Tamamo. I'm the version of myself that's managed to jump into a timeline where me and the others are all alive and I just remember the other timelines because of the Morphogenetic Field.
If nothing else, she's gotten the frustration out of her system by this point and brings her hands back to her lap. He's moved out of pummeling distance anyway.]
And with that ability, you've been able to find the timeline where you'll truly be happy.
Gatling gun, acid showers, explosive collars, poisoning...[It's. It's a lot.] The Decision Game was designed that way.
[He doesn't move much further now that she's calmed down, but he sort of just...shrugs.]
The timeline that I was SHIFTing too before I came here is the one where we have to find the fanatic to stop them before they start the nuclear war that'll kill eight billion people. But after that, sure. There's a chance to be happy. Akane and I aren't officially engaged in that timeline yet, but we both remember so it counts enough.
[Mouth setting into a line when she hears all the ways he has died, but it is a moot point if he's already experienced them, isn't it? She sighs and settles her weight on the wall behind them]
Ha... That is good then. I dislike sad endings.
[More than anyone. So to hear Junpei gets what he wants soothes her heart.]
...I do, too. [Because that's just how it is. For as prickly and irritable as he seems sometimes, how shady and dodgy he can be to protect himself, he's still someone fairly soft-hearted who wants a happily ever after for himself and the people he loves the most.]
[Still a tiny bit salty that this happened. To think this was easily fixed by just a casual conversation -- but she supposes this is what they get for never talking about themselves outside of dire situations. They are too alike in all the ways that matter.]
... I still consider it a poor idea. [crossing her arms] At best, you are the equivalent of a highly specialized mage, and I can think of many ways that would still pose a problem.
[... But saying it's a "poor idea" is not the same as "no", either. Her ears peel back]
Well... You spoke correctly before: I have no right to tell you what to do or how to feel, so... do as you wish, I suppose.
[That's practically her blessing so he seems to perk up a little at the idea. He has no idea how he's going to do this but he has time to figure it out. Determination and spite have often served him well. He will find a way to save her.
For now though...he turns to crawl a little closer and plant a loud, smacking and overexaggerated kiss to her head.]
[Wanting so badly to roll her eyes at that kiss, Junpei is so much... but she's a creature of affection and her tails smack against the ground as they wag. Two days' worth of anxiety finally starts to melt away.]
[... She moves away, but it's only for a second. Tamamo reaches and abruptly digs for something hidden inside her bow, before gently placing it on Junpei's lap, amongst the cookies.
It's a tiny hairpin shaped like a bell, one that rings with a clear, sweet note.]
... I've had history itself turn against me, so I insist on being prepared for the worst.
[...]
So even if you can't find a way now, and this Tamamo no Mae disappears, you may use that to summon me in the future.
[...oh. He doesn't reply immediately, but he does pick up the bell and lets it jingle quietly. He thinks of what she's just given him and what she's said, and while he leans against her he hums in thought.]
...will you still remember me and everything about us if this version of you disappears?
[Spoken firmly, if tinged with melancholy. After all, she's more a projection of the real Tamamo no Mae. A summoning would only summon another version of herself, not unlike the multiple Junpeis in their doomed timelines.
... But--]
Well... technically it shouldn't be possible. Even so, I've heard and seen other Heroic Spirits who swear they remember things they shouldn't, of lives beyond their lore. [A pause, and she finally leans back against him, her head resting on his shoulder] Of people that they have technically never met, but which to be reunited with again.
[A miracle on top of a miracle, is what is required. She shouldn't be telling him this. But her first wish is near impossible to start.
... She supposes there is no shame in adding another to her list]
[He lets his head lean against hers. They can cuddle on the floor like this, it's fine.]
...sounds similar to having access to the field. Deja vu is a form of access to the Morphogenetic Field, too. Even if you don't remember everything, a part of you might be reminded of other timelines. [...],/small> There are a lot of things in a lot of universes that shouldn't be possible. But like I said. In at least one universe, they are.
[Hope can still exist if you know how to play the universe just right.]
Hmmm, does this mean you're going to find our perfect universe then?
[She means it teasingly -- or, no, that's not quite it. Better to make a slight joke of something so dramatic. Trust is no easy thing for her to offer, especially to a human.
... But Junpei already asked for it and she gave him her answer. She won't take it back, either, not for the world.]
Well... I'll look forward to seeing how far you get.
[RIP my HTML. Anyway...he turns to bury his face in her hair for a second.]
Yeah. It's out there, so...I'm not gonna give up. [It's his own answer and a promise to make to her. Her hairpin's cradled in his hand, careful and gentle but he's also not pulling away from her yet either.] Stay with me as long as you can then. That's the only request I have for you right now.
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I tried to tell you when I asked what it took to anchor you. [Just. Gently pointing that out.]
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NO???
She gives into her need to shriek and turns to him, immediately pummeling his arm]
I would have argued less if I had known you can casually make a mockery of Magic by jumping into different timelines at will!
[AAAAAAH]
Exactly why didn't you mention being an esper before, Master?! And this entire time I thought I'd put your life in danger!
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It's not a mockery, I didn't even know how to SHIFT until like a few hours before I came here! [SO!!!] It's kind of a new thing, and I kind of thought I already did! The memory of mine that you saw was one of the different timelines. [Just. WAVING HIS HANDS?] I have died a lot, Tamamo. I'm the version of myself that's managed to jump into a timeline where me and the others are all alive and I just remember the other timelines because of the Morphogenetic Field.
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[That's. hm.
If nothing else, she's gotten the frustration out of her system by this point and brings her hands back to her lap. He's moved out of pummeling distance anyway.]
And with that ability, you've been able to find the timeline where you'll truly be happy.
[What a cheat. It's a little commendable.]
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[He doesn't move much further now that she's calmed down, but he sort of just...shrugs.]
The timeline that I was SHIFTing too before I came here is the one where we have to find the fanatic to stop them before they start the nuclear war that'll kill eight billion people. But after that, sure. There's a chance to be happy. Akane and I aren't officially engaged in that timeline yet, but we both remember so it counts enough.
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Ha... That is good then. I dislike sad endings.
[More than anyone. So to hear Junpei gets what he wants soothes her heart.]
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Do you understand why I was so mad now, at least?
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[Still a tiny bit salty that this happened. To think this was easily fixed by just a casual conversation -- but she supposes this is what they get for never talking about themselves outside of dire situations. They are too alike in all the ways that matter.]
... I still consider it a poor idea. [crossing her arms] At best, you are the equivalent of a highly specialized mage, and I can think of many ways that would still pose a problem.
[... But saying it's a "poor idea" is not the same as "no", either. Her ears peel back]
Well... You spoke correctly before: I have no right to tell you what to do or how to feel, so... do as you wish, I suppose.
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For now though...he turns to crawl a little closer and plant a loud, smacking and overexaggerated kiss to her head.]
Do you still trust me?
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Of course I do, Master.
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Then trust me when I say I'll do everything I can to try and find a way.
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It's a tiny hairpin shaped like a bell, one that rings with a clear, sweet note.]
... I've had history itself turn against me, so I insist on being prepared for the worst.
[...]
So even if you can't find a way now, and this Tamamo no Mae disappears, you may use that to summon me in the future.
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...will you still remember me and everything about us if this version of you disappears?
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[Spoken firmly, if tinged with melancholy. After all, she's more a projection of the real Tamamo no Mae. A summoning would only summon another version of herself, not unlike the multiple Junpeis in their doomed timelines.
... But--]
Well... technically it shouldn't be possible. Even so, I've heard and seen other Heroic Spirits who swear they remember things they shouldn't, of lives beyond their lore. [A pause, and she finally leans back against him, her head resting on his shoulder] Of people that they have technically never met, but which to be reunited with again.
[A miracle on top of a miracle, is what is required. She shouldn't be telling him this. But her first wish is near impossible to start.
... She supposes there is no shame in adding another to her list]
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...sounds similar to having access to the field. Deja vu is a form of access to the Morphogenetic Field, too. Even if you don't remember everything, a part of you might be reminded of other timelines. [...],/small> There are a lot of things in a lot of universes that shouldn't be possible. But like I said. In at least one universe, they are.
[Hope can still exist if you know how to play the universe just right.]
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[She means it teasingly -- or, no, that's not quite it. Better to make a slight joke of something so dramatic. Trust is no easy thing for her to offer, especially to a human.
... But Junpei already asked for it and she gave him her answer. She won't take it back, either, not for the world.]
Well... I'll look forward to seeing how far you get.
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Yeah. It's out there, so...I'm not gonna give up. [It's his own answer and a promise to make to her. Her hairpin's cradled in his hand, careful and gentle but he's also not pulling away from her yet either.] Stay with me as long as you can then. That's the only request I have for you right now.