[That's...a very tall order, Tamamo. He's quiet, thinking about her words and debating the pros and cons of letting her be feral versus keeping it together. He's not stupid enough to not realize he's part of the reason she's behaved as well as she has. He's also not stupid enough to not realize that the ship's starting to fall apart, including himself.]
...I want you to try your best. [It's what he says first and it's diplomatic and calm for the moment.] With only a few days left, we have to trust each other and we have to really work together to get the ending we've been fighting for this whole time. Even if the stories the demons told us aren't true, there are things we have to avoid. Turning on each other is one.
If something happens to me...help the others find out what happened. Don't make rash judgments. [A wry grin.] And when you find my killer, tear them apart. But then and only then.
[... She wants so badly to match his wit but she's not like herself tonight, and simply makes a grab at his hand, to anchor herself for a moment.]
Knowing who the demon is... it doesn't matter anymore, does it? The point is to use what time we have, to give the dead a chance to find a better ending.
[...]
I am sorry, Master, about Beck-san. I know she was... important to you.
[It's just a jumble of words, really, like she only half-heard his response]
[She may be surprised to find he holds on tight, pulls her closer to his chest and lets an arm hover like he wants to hug her and not let go for a while. He doesn't, though, and instead he braces himself.]
...it matters enough if we have to have a back-up plan. If we still have to vote, I'd prefer voting for the demon themselves than struggling at the end. But it's nine hours in trial, and nine hours for the dead to compile their notes.
[At the mention of Beck though, she'll also find that the hand he's holding trembles just a little. "Important" is an understatement, it seems.] ...all she wanted was a happy ending, and now I don't know if we can even give her that.
[... She almost tells him about the girl's fortune, one without a Future, but -- no, as she has already implied, she is not that cruel when given a choice. And fortune can be easily overturned in the right hands.
She lets go of his hand and wraps her arms around his waist instead, a feeble attempt at comfort.]
You will still try for her sake and the others. I know you will. [His heart is soft. That is not such a bad thing]
... You trust me, yes?
[Has she ever asked for his trust? No, Tamamo doesn't think so. And she almost laughs but--]
[It's not like he isn't familiar with doomed timelines and lives ending, but somehow, here, it feels more unfair than usual.
It's why he's immediately latching on when she wraps her arms around him, barely giving it a second thought.]
Not a lot of other options but to try. [...but hm.] I've always trusted you. I wouldn't have made the pact if I didn't think I could.
[Which may come as a surprise to her, but Junpei's not a moron when it comes to alliances. "Assume everyone you meet is a thief." He doesn't always give trust so easily.]
If Edelgard-san's source is to be trusted, then we already found the demon.
[Assuming there's only one. And at this point, Tamamo would not be surprised if Junpei already knows, he has a tendency to have his finger in every pie, but--]
It is unwise, but... I don't know how much longer I can stand by idly while more of our rank keep dying.
And I was planning to simply do as I pleased, truth be told. I almost didn't come to see you at all. [This is not an easy thing for her to admit]
... I suppose I am just as tired of watching people die as the rest of you, and thought perhaps... it would not be such a terrible thing to die selflessly, for once.
[...well. On the one hand, he's a little too emotionally wrung out to really be upset with her and instead lets some of his body weight sag against her while he holds onto her. Instead, he lets his mind drift for a moment to think of those possibilities.]
...I hope you know how much I love you and how grateful I am you chose me. [This has been a very taxing week which means he's allowing himself to be a little more open than usual.] Humans are ugly and messy creatures but you trusted me anyway. I wanted to thank you for that.
Just...if you're really going to do this, be careful. You've fought a lot of things here before now, but I don't want this to be the week your luck runs out.
[Ah... and then of course he says that when she's already so vulnerable and tired, afraid that Higekiri will leave her and she'll be made into some grudge-filled demon, an enemy of humanity again.
Never before has she been so glad that he can't see her face; she presses it against his shoulder and he'll likely feel his shirt grow wet with moisture. In that time, Tamamo doesn't say anything.
She just nods quietly, forcing herself to breathe while she clings to him.]
[...he didn't exactly mean to make her cry, but he doesn't mind either. Instead, he tightens his arms around her, holding her steadily and resting his chin in her hair so she can cling and calm herself at her own pace. It helps that she can't see his face either. That way she won't have to know how utterly wrecked his own expression is right now.]
... You're such a cheat, Master. I should beat you to death for that.
[A deep, steady sigh, half mumbled against his shoulder. If she weren't so afraid that a sob would escape her, she'd be laughing instead. This is exactly why she hates being so vulnerable.
...]
I love you as well, you know? I know nothing is certain here, but even still... please do not die.
Thought you liked me because I cheat. [A friendly reminder, but he squeezes her close again, just briefly. He's not going to let her go until she's ready, apparently.]
...I promise that I won't leave you until you're ready for me to leave. I don't like leaving behind the important things. [He'd said as much earlier to Edelgard during the meeting. This applies to Tamamo, too.]
I think you like that I spoil you. [As if he doesn't like doing it himself and like his gifts aren't actually pretty cheap and dumb. He doesn't care. They're special to the two of them and that's what he remembers most. He listens to the way she calms herself but doesn't rush her to separate, nodding along with her words.]
I don't think I could even if I wanted to. I'm pretty content myself. [In this timeline, he's hers and she's his. That, too, is all that matters.]
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...I want you to try your best. [It's what he says first and it's diplomatic and calm for the moment.] With only a few days left, we have to trust each other and we have to really work together to get the ending we've been fighting for this whole time. Even if the stories the demons told us aren't true, there are things we have to avoid. Turning on each other is one.
If something happens to me...help the others find out what happened. Don't make rash judgments. [A wry grin.] And when you find my killer, tear them apart. But then and only then.
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Knowing who the demon is... it doesn't matter anymore, does it? The point is to use what time we have, to give the dead a chance to find a better ending.
[...]
I am sorry, Master, about Beck-san. I know she was... important to you.
[It's just a jumble of words, really, like she only half-heard his response]
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...it matters enough if we have to have a back-up plan. If we still have to vote, I'd prefer voting for the demon themselves than struggling at the end. But it's nine hours in trial, and nine hours for the dead to compile their notes.
[At the mention of Beck though, she'll also find that the hand he's holding trembles just a little. "Important" is an understatement, it seems.] ...all she wanted was a happy ending, and now I don't know if we can even give her that.
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She lets go of his hand and wraps her arms around his waist instead, a feeble attempt at comfort.]
You will still try for her sake and the others. I know you will. [His heart is soft. That is not such a bad thing]
... You trust me, yes?
[Has she ever asked for his trust? No, Tamamo doesn't think so. And she almost laughs but--]
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It's why he's immediately latching on when she wraps her arms around him, barely giving it a second thought.]
Not a lot of other options but to try. [...but hm.] I've always trusted you. I wouldn't have made the pact if I didn't think I could.
[Which may come as a surprise to her, but Junpei's not a moron when it comes to alliances. "Assume everyone you meet is a thief." He doesn't always give trust so easily.]
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If Edelgard-san's source is to be trusted, then we already found the demon.
[Assuming there's only one. And at this point, Tamamo would not be surprised if Junpei already knows, he has a tendency to have his finger in every pie, but--]
It is unwise, but... I don't know how much longer I can stand by idly while more of our rank keep dying.
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...are you going after him then? [Just. Tell him the truth, Tamamo.]
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At least if someone else dies, I will ensure it is not you.
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[A pause.]
And I was planning to simply do as I pleased, truth be told. I almost didn't come to see you at all. [This is not an easy thing for her to admit]
... I suppose I am just as tired of watching people die as the rest of you, and thought perhaps... it would not be such a terrible thing to die selflessly, for once.
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...I hope you know how much I love you and how grateful I am you chose me. [This has been a very taxing week which means he's allowing himself to be a little more open than usual.] Humans are ugly and messy creatures but you trusted me anyway. I wanted to thank you for that.
Just...if you're really going to do this, be careful. You've fought a lot of things here before now, but I don't want this to be the week your luck runs out.
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Never before has she been so glad that he can't see her face; she presses it against his shoulder and he'll likely feel his shirt grow wet with moisture. In that time, Tamamo doesn't say anything.
She just nods quietly, forcing herself to breathe while she clings to him.]
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[A deep, steady sigh, half mumbled against his shoulder. If she weren't so afraid that a sob would escape her, she'd be laughing instead. This is exactly why she hates being so vulnerable.
...]
I love you as well, you know? I know nothing is certain here, but even still... please do not die.
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...I promise that I won't leave you until you're ready for me to leave. I don't like leaving behind the important things. [He'd said as much earlier to Edelgard during the meeting. This applies to Tamamo, too.]
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[a bit of light teasing herself, as she calms her breath again]
... As long as you do not wish to send me away, I am content to remain with you.
[there are many timelines, after all. Tamamo thinks it's fine if she is selfish for a couple of them]
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I don't think I could even if I wanted to. I'm pretty content myself. [In this timeline, he's hers and she's his. That, too, is all that matters.]