So long as I survive. Which is no guarantee given everything we're up against, but I wanted to make that clear, so that you do not lose yourself to despair.
...[There's an uneasy sort of...attempt at a laugh. It probably sounds weird.]
This was almost expected. I think...he's been dying for days and someone just finished him off instead. [So why is he even that upset? People die. Carlos himself has died because of Junpei's choices in another timeline. He knows the answer but...]
...would he be the same? Or a different Carlos? We. [Hm.] We can't SHIFT if there's no living body to SHIFT to. If he's dead here, I don't know if he can go back because there won't be a place for his other self to trade into.
[her voice is calm. She's not here to make any judgments on his state of mind, just watching him quietly as she speaks]
I am a goddess -- or was. And so I dictate my own rules as I see fit. Lifting his soul from this dimension would be an easy feat.
[...]
Though no, I cannot... promise if he would be the same, or different. Death changes the soul I am afraid. It leaves a mark, just as life does.
[...]
I only offer it as a potential workaround, though if we are able to triumph tomorrow in trial, then my offer won't even be necessary. I still have hope for that.
Then what the fuck does that say about my soul, Tamamo? [Someone who has died a lot and cheated death by jumping to new histories. Carlos did the same.] ...would a mark hurt him?
[There's a lingering pause.] ...I want to believe we'll find a better solution tomorrow. That our friends over there will figure something out, but if they just lost their hosts too...it's probably just as chaotic.
[Arching a brow at him] Has a mark hurt you? It is true that you have died many times, and I assume the same as him. But you continue to live on, do you not? I believe the same for Carlos-san as well, if we bring him back.
[Folding her arms]
We'll have no way to know until tomorrow comes. And it is possible we will have to sacrifice someone to see our wishes come true. Kagachi-san has already offered. I will also if he is somehow not eligible.
[... voice softening a little]
Regardless, we have nine hours to decipher what happened, and move forward, as we always have.
I really need both of you to stop sacrificing yourselves. We're going to find another option that doesn't include that. We're not losing more people than necessary. [Just to address that, but he's chewing his lip.]
...nine hours always feels like so long until you're actually living through it. What if it's not enough?
Ha? Me? Sacrifice myself? I volunteer because I am virtually unkillable. A ship filled with demons will not change that.
[Never mind that she has already admitted she will kind of die because of how Heroic Spirits work but anyway--]
And we will make it enough. We've little choice, yes? And besides, this group is quite resourceful. Have we not successfully captured the demons who have crossed our paths? The stakes are higher, but our goal to escape has not changed. We've merely reached the finale.
[He remembers. He remembers what she's said before and it's just another thing that has him rattled, but he doesn't say so. Instead, he watches her quietly. and thinks of an answer.]
...yeah. [He doesn't have it in him to argue anymore. The fight's not over, but he grows silent again for a moment except for a cough.] We'll just have to work harder than usual tomorrow or something to see it through.
[...] Thank you for the offer. I don't remember if I said.
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Alright. A moment of his time it is. He stifles a cough in his throat but otherwise seems to stare right through her. It's fine.]
...what's up?
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I can bring him back from the dead, you know.
[Frankly]
So long as I survive. Which is no guarantee given everything we're up against, but I wanted to make that clear, so that you do not lose yourself to despair.
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This was almost expected. I think...he's been dying for days and someone just finished him off instead. [So why is he even that upset? People die. Carlos himself has died because of Junpei's choices in another timeline. He knows the answer but...]
...would he be the same? Or a different Carlos? We. [Hm.] We can't SHIFT if there's no living body to SHIFT to. If he's dead here, I don't know if he can go back because there won't be a place for his other self to trade into.
no subject
I am a goddess -- or was. And so I dictate my own rules as I see fit. Lifting his soul from this dimension would be an easy feat.
[...]
Though no, I cannot... promise if he would be the same, or different. Death changes the soul I am afraid. It leaves a mark, just as life does.
[...]
I only offer it as a potential workaround, though if we are able to triumph tomorrow in trial, then my offer won't even be necessary. I still have hope for that.
no subject
[There's a lingering pause.] ...I want to believe we'll find a better solution tomorrow. That our friends over there will figure something out, but if they just lost their hosts too...it's probably just as chaotic.
no subject
[Folding her arms]
We'll have no way to know until tomorrow comes. And it is possible we will have to sacrifice someone to see our wishes come true. Kagachi-san has already offered. I will also if he is somehow not eligible.
[... voice softening a little]
Regardless, we have nine hours to decipher what happened, and move forward, as we always have.
no subject
...nine hours always feels like so long until you're actually living through it. What if it's not enough?
no subject
[Never mind that she has already admitted she will kind of die because of how Heroic Spirits work but anyway--]
And we will make it enough. We've little choice, yes? And besides, this group is quite resourceful. Have we not successfully captured the demons who have crossed our paths? The stakes are higher, but our goal to escape has not changed. We've merely reached the finale.
no subject
...yeah. [He doesn't have it in him to argue anymore. The fight's not over, but he grows silent again for a moment except for a cough.] We'll just have to work harder than usual tomorrow or something to see it through.
[...] Thank you for the offer. I don't remember if I said.