How could I forget that? [It's. Sort of a serious statement because he's still aware Tamamo's a dangerous sort of creature when she feels like it.]
The only time I think we should see people dead is if they're a detriment to the goal or they're possessed. And even the former is iffy because we should try to minimize the damage as much as possible.
...besides, I don't want you to take more unnecessary risks, especially just for something I think. If you do kill someone and they find you, they won't hesitate to kill you, too.
... You are not wrong. I don't enjoy dying, either -- I'd attack anyone who'd come for me, even if they were justified.
[It's probably not wise to admit that the bloodlust would hit and she'd try to kill half of her shipmates in a rage, and thus perhaps she is the worst bomb Junpei needs to keep from detonating, but.
The evening has been poor, and she has alcohol. Junpei has a terrible habit of loosening her tongue as well. Tamamo reclines in her seat, tails twitching]
Very well, I'll keep my claws to myself. Aizawa is dead, so there's no one I have a particular need to claw to pieces, anyway.
...anyone who would blame you has never faced a threat of dying in their life. [Just saying.] I don't blame Escha and I wouldn't blame you. Living is something that doesn't come easily, and I'm not letting someone else take that choice from me. I wouldn't expect anyone else to either.
[Plus he's definitely ended a few lives of his own, but whatever. There's a pause and he holds out his hand for Tamamo's glass. He could drink from the bottle she brought, but no.]
But I do need you to hold it together with me until we figure out what to do next. [...though.] Did you ever suspect him before now?
[Sliiiding that glass right over to him, quiet during the exchange as she mulls over his words. Hold it together, huh? Well she's good for that if nothing else, ha.
Her eyes glance up to him at the question]
No; I barely exchanged pleasantries with him, as I said during the trial. At best I noticed how he and Shiraishi seemed to have a good relationship.
-- But Escha-san was one of the few lives that I cared for, here. [Drumming her fingers on the table] Same as most of us.
[He takes a sip, small and slow and mostly to clear the tight and dry feeling in his throat.]
I plan to ask Shiraishi about that myself. [But he frowns.] It was hard not to like her. She was one of the few people on this ship that really didn't deserve to be here, and now she's paying the price for someone's mistake. It's...[A little too uncomfortable for him to think about, but it angers him.] I feel like there's something more that should have been done, but I can't figure out what.
Unless there is a rule -- or some sort of loophole -- that can still be exploited, I can't think of what might have gone differently.
[...]
I spoke to her already. If nothing else, she seems set in the choices she made. So I will respect her decisions, even if the outcome isn't what I'd hoped for her.
[Pulling the bottle close, and drinking directly from that. The burn helps to reorient her]
There is... someone waiting for her on the other side, after all. [Even in her foul mood, Tamamo's eyes grow soft] That was enough to put a smile on her face.
...I know there's nothing, but that doesn't--[He doesn't complete the sentence because saying "that doesn't stop it from hurting" isn't really helpful. He takes another sip from the glass while Tamamo takes the bottle.
If Escha is really alright with this, what else can be done? He has to respect her decisions, too, even if he'd change the outcome if he could.
...at the same time, though...]
...sometimes I think she was happiest with Logy anyway. It almost works out better because separating them felt too cruel. This shouldn't have happened to either of them, but together is better. [He lets his finger slide over the rim of the glass.] The distance could drive a person crazy, if you think about it.
[... Tilting her head some, watching Junpei once she puts the bottle down. Her tails continue to sway a dance behind her, though it's without their erratic energy. ]
And you, Master? Do you feel crazy, being this far away from your loved one?
[He's aware it's a risk to answer truthfully, but he's quiet as he taps his finger against the glass.]
...yes. Sometimes. [He may as well be honest.] But sometimes I feel crazy being near her, too. I think I understand exactly how Escha feels. She...told Dick and I that recently, Logy had to leave to go back to Central where he was from. He was gone for a long time, and she didn't get a chance to say anything to him. But right when they reunited again, she came here.
But he was from the wrong point of their timeline. So she decided she would do what it took to protect him.
[His answer doesn't seem to have offended her. Tamamo asked, and he receives a quiet smile for his troubles, along with a shake of the head at that last bit]
That girl has put up with so much, I'm impressed she didn't lose herself to despair... Well. Wherever their spirits end, I hope they remain together from here on out.
[Resting a cheek into her hand, oddly subdued and soft]
You as well, Master. You've already worked twice as hard as some of us, and this after being pulled from a similar dilemma. I pray your efforts will be rewarded in due time.
Escha isn't the type to lose sight of herself, even if things make her sad. She's stronger than any of us gave her credit for. I can't think of many people who would be able to accept a fate like this without much of a complaint.
[And yet he's worried because there's no way she's just 100% okay with this.] It's because it was a similar dilemma that I'm working the way I am. I have to get home to Akane and bring Carlos back, and...I made you a promise. I'm honoring that.
[Still, something about what Tamamo says reminds him of something.] I've heard a rumor that there's an island all of the deceased go to. I don't really know how to get there, but it's closer than we think. I think it might be why the ocean keeps rejecting us. Escha and Logy will be together...and Carlos and Polly should be watching over them.
[There's the mention of his promise, the one thing that binds them together, and Tamamo doesn't react -- doesn't even blink as she looks his way, before continuing on without comment]
-- An island? Interesting. So that is where the dead sleep.
[Her fingers drum on the table again]
Do you know if they will be saved? Carlos-san made mention that he would work to make it happen, but I don't know if progress has been made. There are many secrets aboard this ship that we must work through first.
I don't really know. I want to believe they will, but believing isn't going to be enough. We have to do everything we can on this side of things to help. [He sets the glass down.]
Oh. I think he'd like that. [And that's all he seems to say on that, already lost in his thoughts again.] It's possible, you just have to send him a picture.
Yes, I realized it during the trial. I had thought for some reason that Carlos-san and Polly-san would be unable to communicate with us because they were watching the dead, but...
I see him once or twice a week when I can, but I know he's busy. [He still misses him a lot, but he's trying not to be needy.] I thought you knew, sorry. That's why I didn't say anything before now.
...you know I'll tell you everything possible. I don't like holding information from you, but sometimes the things I hear from people on this ship are so hard to believe it takes time to process them myself. I wish I had an extra day to compile notes and information but between murders and exorcisms and the weird stuff that happens here it's getting harder.
Master, that was not permission for you to beat yourself over any perceived shortcomings. It is fine.
[Just handwaving his explanation away, tails giving a faint twitch as she reaches for the bottle again]
And besides, the last time we had this conversation, you were so fearful of my reaction that you distracted me for the rest of the night. It seems I can't be openly cross with you without you running around in panicked circles.
[She's just. saying.]
In any case... it's the theory that for each demon we kill, another is formed?
I'm not. [...he just sighs and slumps down.] Sorry, never mind. It's not really that.
[He doesn't explain though because it's sort of that. Anyway.]
But right. That theory. For each demon we take out, we're inviting more in. It's not something I'm happy with and something I'm trying to put a stop to but so far we're not hitting any solid ideas. But it explains how the first group went from thirty-three to twelve in four weeks.
Naturally that would prove a problem for us as well... we struggle already with keeping morale high.
[Taking a swig directly from the bottle bc someone stole her glass]
While I doubt most of us would simply roll over for the demons, we'll be easier to pick off if the situation begins to feel hopeless. Multiplying demons will certainly do that.
Right, exactly my point. The more despair people feel about being here, the easier the demons can sneak in when we aren't looking and settle in to a new host. We won't be able to even tell the difference but they'll feed off of that power...if you believe in stuff like that, I guess. Some people still don't.
But if they can multiple, we're going to end up outnumbered faster than we can stop them. So what do we do?
... It's speculation on my part, but I did once engage in a war against beings called Demon Pillars. 72 of them, all horrifically strong. While my side was forced to do battle with them all, our hope was to defeat their master, and thus send them into chaos.
If we had a way to narrow our focus onto their leader -- assuming there is one -- that would simplify things for us.
[Though the natural argument is what happens if they don't have such a luxury]
72...[Dear god no. That's so many. But he gets what Tamamo's saying and he shakes his head in response.] I don't know if there's a core, but Wei Wuxian and I talked about the idea that it's possible the ship itself is an entity that's binding us and the demons here. It'd explain how the different effects get to us each week, wouldn't it?
If that's true, the only way to then defeat it is unlock all of the ship's secrets.
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The only time I think we should see people dead is if they're a detriment to the goal or they're possessed. And even the former is iffy because we should try to minimize the damage as much as possible.
...besides, I don't want you to take more unnecessary risks, especially just for something I think. If you do kill someone and they find you, they won't hesitate to kill you, too.
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[It's probably not wise to admit that the bloodlust would hit and she'd try to kill half of her shipmates in a rage, and thus perhaps she is the worst bomb Junpei needs to keep from detonating, but.
The evening has been poor, and she has alcohol. Junpei has a terrible habit of loosening her tongue as well. Tamamo reclines in her seat, tails twitching]
Very well, I'll keep my claws to myself. Aizawa is dead, so there's no one I have a particular need to claw to pieces, anyway.
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[Plus he's definitely ended a few lives of his own, but whatever. There's a pause and he holds out his hand for Tamamo's glass. He could drink from the bottle she brought, but no.]
But I do need you to hold it together with me until we figure out what to do next. [...though.] Did you ever suspect him before now?
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Her eyes glance up to him at the question]
No; I barely exchanged pleasantries with him, as I said during the trial. At best I noticed how he and Shiraishi seemed to have a good relationship.
-- But Escha-san was one of the few lives that I cared for, here. [Drumming her fingers on the table] Same as most of us.
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I plan to ask Shiraishi about that myself. [But he frowns.] It was hard not to like her. She was one of the few people on this ship that really didn't deserve to be here, and now she's paying the price for someone's mistake. It's...[A little too uncomfortable for him to think about, but it angers him.] I feel like there's something more that should have been done, but I can't figure out what.
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[...]
I spoke to her already. If nothing else, she seems set in the choices she made. So I will respect her decisions, even if the outcome isn't what I'd hoped for her.
[Pulling the bottle close, and drinking directly from that. The burn helps to reorient her]
There is... someone waiting for her on the other side, after all. [Even in her foul mood, Tamamo's eyes grow soft] That was enough to put a smile on her face.
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If Escha is really alright with this, what else can be done? He has to respect her decisions, too, even if he'd change the outcome if he could.
...at the same time, though...]
...sometimes I think she was happiest with Logy anyway. It almost works out better because separating them felt too cruel. This shouldn't have happened to either of them, but together is better. [He lets his finger slide over the rim of the glass.] The distance could drive a person crazy, if you think about it.
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And you, Master? Do you feel crazy, being this far away from your loved one?
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...yes. Sometimes. [He may as well be honest.] But sometimes I feel crazy being near her, too. I think I understand exactly how Escha feels. She...told Dick and I that recently, Logy had to leave to go back to Central where he was from. He was gone for a long time, and she didn't get a chance to say anything to him. But right when they reunited again, she came here.
But he was from the wrong point of their timeline. So she decided she would do what it took to protect him.
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That girl has put up with so much, I'm impressed she didn't lose herself to despair... Well. Wherever their spirits end, I hope they remain together from here on out.
[Resting a cheek into her hand, oddly subdued and soft]
You as well, Master. You've already worked twice as hard as some of us, and this after being pulled from a similar dilemma. I pray your efforts will be rewarded in due time.
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[And yet he's worried because there's no way she's just 100% okay with this.] It's because it was a similar dilemma that I'm working the way I am. I have to get home to Akane and bring Carlos back, and...I made you a promise. I'm honoring that.
[Still, something about what Tamamo says reminds him of something.] I've heard a rumor that there's an island all of the deceased go to. I don't really know how to get there, but it's closer than we think. I think it might be why the ocean keeps rejecting us. Escha and Logy will be together...and Carlos and Polly should be watching over them.
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-- An island? Interesting. So that is where the dead sleep.
[Her fingers drum on the table again]
Do you know if they will be saved? Carlos-san made mention that he would work to make it happen, but I don't know if progress has been made. There are many secrets aboard this ship that we must work through first.
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When did you talk to Carlos about this?
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Though I do plan on contacting him later this week, if it's at all possible.
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[Apparently that wasn't the case]
Then you've been in contact with him regularly?
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[... glancing down at the table, her thoughts veiled]
Besides, I told you already that I will not question your decisions to withhold information, if you deem it necessary.
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Have you heard the theory of the hydra yet?
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[Just handwaving his explanation away, tails giving a faint twitch as she reaches for the bottle again]
And besides, the last time we had this conversation, you were so fearful of my reaction that you distracted me for the rest of the night. It seems I can't be openly cross with you without you running around in panicked circles.
[She's just. saying.]
In any case... it's the theory that for each demon we kill, another is formed?
[Or something along those lines]
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[He doesn't explain though because it's sort of that. Anyway.]
But right. That theory. For each demon we take out, we're inviting more in. It's not something I'm happy with and something I'm trying to put a stop to but so far we're not hitting any solid ideas. But it explains how the first group went from thirty-three to twelve in four weeks.
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[Taking a swig directly from the bottle bc someone stole her glass]
While I doubt most of us would simply roll over for the demons, we'll be easier to pick off if the situation begins to feel hopeless. Multiplying demons will certainly do that.
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But if they can multiple, we're going to end up outnumbered faster than we can stop them. So what do we do?
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... It's speculation on my part, but I did once engage in a war against beings called Demon Pillars. 72 of them, all horrifically strong. While my side was forced to do battle with them all, our hope was to defeat their master, and thus send them into chaos.
If we had a way to narrow our focus onto their leader -- assuming there is one -- that would simplify things for us.
[Though the natural argument is what happens if they don't have such a luxury]
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If that's true, the only way to then defeat it is unlock all of the ship's secrets.
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