(It's fine, he's just used to getting in trouble and occasionally getting called out for it.
Closing the door! Also just going to lead her over to the spot that is his pod so she can sit. He's fine sitting on the floor. It's fine. He'll lay his bow down across his lap and the arrows next to him for now,)
[Compared to their last conversation, she's like a totally different person. She's not having that this time, dropping to her knees on the floor with him, planting her hands on her legs and looking straight at him.]
This can't be something everyone can know yet, okay? And you might already know it, cause I know you're good at asking questions.
But... we might be able to bring the "removed" people back.
(This is fine, they can both sit on the floor like the commoners they are!! Even if Claude isn't a commoner. It's fine he still remembers he's a noble don't read into this. Seriously. Oh no.
ANYWAY JUDGING BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE THIS IS... not something he knew.
(And yet, it's not the first time he's heard this idea tossed out))
What do you mean? That's... (UH) You can't bring back the dead.
My leader said the ones we lost here... they're not necessarily dead forever. Not completely. Their bodies are gone, but... their souls are still out there, in the Realm somewhere.
They couldn't make any promises on what exactly we'd have to do, and I... I don't want this making anybody think that taking somebody's life is a good idea just because they think it can be erased. I don't know if there's anything we can even do unless the Realm is fixed first. But...
I want to look into it. I know the dead can't normally come back, and that... that I shouldn't think stupid things like this without question. But this... isn't home. This place isn't home, and so many people here have already died, or thought they were going to die, or...
...
If a leader says there's a chance, even a little one, to bring all those people back... if their souls want to come back... [her mind flicks to virid, to kano, and it makes her flinch]... then I'm gonna believe them. And I'm gonna keep asking.
(What the heck? He's like... actually, genuinely shaken by this. It's one of his main beliefs. When you die, you die and there's nothing that can be done about it. It's not like the dead come back to life or anything, right? But...
He runs a hand through his hair, really thinking all of this through,)
The Realm is an incredible place. (Not in the positive, "Wow that's incredible!" kind of way but in an awesome, surprising sort of way,) If it can bring people from other worlds and grant wishes, and is as important as we're being led to believe, it makes sense that anything could be possible. Even bringing back the dead...
This isn't the first time I've heard of it but the other time, it was just wishful thinking. There was no proof or anything to support it. I think they still believe it, too so that's one more person on your side.
(... They'd probably work well together, he thinks.)
Of course, we need to be careful who we tell this to. The last thing we need is people thinking they can just take and throw away lives without consequence.
"Even if a life can be restored, that doesn't diminish the value of it, or the weight of death." [It's truth, even if it hurts to repeat. The last thing she wants is for someone to start killing and use the excuse of a possible miracle as justification.]
I don't think the leaders could give any proof either. But... sometimes you can't have the proof you want to make the choice you need. Just like regaining lost memories, or saving worlds.
You gotta have hope, even if hope seems like it's gonna be for something impossible.
I don't like taking unnecessary risk. (He's putting that out there right now.) And you really should be careful with who you trust, Hikaru.
(HE'S A SCHEMER, WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP TRUSTING HIM)
But I think it's in our benefit to trust our leaders. If this isn't true, we have nothing to lose that isn't already lost. (Which perhaps sounds a little cold but it's the truth. If this is all a faulty belief, then the people who are lost will just be gone forever.) But if its true, we have everything to gain.
I'll trust you. (A beat,) And your leader, this time.
[Oof. For once, her expression is very, very difficult to read. You are telling this to a girl who trusted the kid that just stabbed somebody with three scalpels.]
To trust someone is a risk I'm willing to take.
I'd rather do what I can to learn what's important to someone, and to believe in what they say, than to make assumptions and assume everyone out in the world is against me. That might mean I get hurt, if someone lies or uses me, but...
I have to make that choice. And just cause I choose to trust someone doesn't mean I wanna do it blindly.
[Not anymore.
...
A beat, as she ponders a choice.]
...
My leader is Goat-san. [And she'll raise both her hands before he goes nuts on her:] It's okay. We can talk about it if we do it very rarely. I asked right away.
(Claude is just... going to stare at her. Here they were having a moment and now he's just going to look out into the void wondering what in the world is happening)
I know I've been talking a lot about trust and all that but for some reason, having it turned on me like this is...
(Out of his control! Completely unexpected! And yet, he should have seen this coming eventually.
HE SIGHS,)
Sorry, I'm not going to tell you my team but I will say I'm not on yours. (So that's? A hint?) There's no reason for you to know right now but if the time ever comes... I'd like to tell you, too.
But I do trust you and at least, with this, I have no reason to not trust Goat.
It's okay. I... know better than to force something out that someone doesn't wanna give. [haha... pained expression aside]
All I can do is what I feel is right. And if it helps you, then I don't want to have to hide what Goat-san said. I trust Goat-san, and I feel we're fighting for similar things, but... you said you'd only trust them for now. I hope we can believe in them a little more than that, but you deserve time to make that choice for yourself.
...
You said you'd never been a brother before, right?
[There's a warm burst to her expression, one that seems to, at least momentarily, drown out what weighs on her with the simple happiness of not being alone.]
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Closing the door! Also just going to lead her over to the spot that is his pod so she can sit. He's fine sitting on the floor. It's fine. He'll lay his bow down across his lap and the arrows next to him for now,)
What's on your mind?
(What's so important she waited for him?)
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This can't be something everyone can know yet, okay? And you might already know it, cause I know you're good at asking questions.
But... we might be able to bring the "removed" people back.
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ANYWAY JUDGING BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE THIS IS... not something he knew.
(And yet, it's not the first time he's heard this idea tossed out))
What do you mean? That's... (UH) You can't bring back the dead.
(THIS GOES AGAINST ONE OF HIS BELIEFS)
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My leader said the ones we lost here... they're not necessarily dead forever. Not completely. Their bodies are gone, but... their souls are still out there, in the Realm somewhere.
They couldn't make any promises on what exactly we'd have to do, and I... I don't want this making anybody think that taking somebody's life is a good idea just because they think it can be erased. I don't know if there's anything we can even do unless the Realm is fixed first. But...
I want to look into it. I know the dead can't normally come back, and that... that I shouldn't think stupid things like this without question. But this... isn't home. This place isn't home, and so many people here have already died, or thought they were going to die, or...
...
If a leader says there's a chance, even a little one, to bring all those people back... if their souls want to come back... [her mind flicks to virid, to kano, and it makes her flinch]... then I'm gonna believe them. And I'm gonna keep asking.
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He runs a hand through his hair, really thinking all of this through,)
The Realm is an incredible place. (Not in the positive, "Wow that's incredible!" kind of way but in an awesome, surprising sort of way,) If it can bring people from other worlds and grant wishes, and is as important as we're being led to believe, it makes sense that anything could be possible. Even bringing back the dead...
This isn't the first time I've heard of it but the other time, it was just wishful thinking. There was no proof or anything to support it. I think they still believe it, too so that's one more person on your side.
(... They'd probably work well together, he thinks.)
Of course, we need to be careful who we tell this to. The last thing we need is people thinking they can just take and throw away lives without consequence.
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I don't think the leaders could give any proof either. But... sometimes you can't have the proof you want to make the choice you need. Just like regaining lost memories, or saving worlds.
You gotta have hope, even if hope seems like it's gonna be for something impossible.
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(HE'S A SCHEMER, WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP TRUSTING HIM)
But I think it's in our benefit to trust our leaders. If this isn't true, we have nothing to lose that isn't already lost. (Which perhaps sounds a little cold but it's the truth. If this is all a faulty belief, then the people who are lost will just be gone forever.) But if its true, we have everything to gain.
I'll trust you. (A beat,) And your leader, this time.
(Because they were the ones who told her.)
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To trust someone is a risk I'm willing to take.
I'd rather do what I can to learn what's important to someone, and to believe in what they say, than to make assumptions and assume everyone out in the world is against me. That might mean I get hurt, if someone lies or uses me, but...
I have to make that choice. And just cause I choose to trust someone doesn't mean I wanna do it blindly.
[Not anymore.
...
A beat, as she ponders a choice.]
...
My leader is Goat-san. [And she'll raise both her hands before he goes nuts on her:] It's okay. We can talk about it if we do it very rarely. I asked right away.
Don't tell unless you think it's important. Okay?
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(Hikaru what the actual fuck)
(Claude is just... going to stare at her. Here they were having a moment and now he's just going to look out into the void wondering what in the world is happening)
Hikaru. (Please.) Why are you telling me this?
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[Simply said, no hesitation.]
And so you can decide if you want to trust what my leader said or not.
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(Out of his control! Completely unexpected! And yet, he should have seen this coming eventually.
HE SIGHS,)
Sorry, I'm not going to tell you my team but I will say I'm not on yours. (So that's? A hint?) There's no reason for you to know right now but if the time ever comes... I'd like to tell you, too.
But I do trust you and at least, with this, I have no reason to not trust Goat.
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All I can do is what I feel is right. And if it helps you, then I don't want to have to hide what Goat-san said. I trust Goat-san, and I feel we're fighting for similar things, but... you said you'd only trust them for now. I hope we can believe in them a little more than that, but you deserve time to make that choice for yourself.
...
You said you'd never been a brother before, right?
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(A quiet smile,)
That's right. I'm an only child.
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Umi-chan and Fuu-chan, they're kind of like my sisters, but... I... think it might be nice, to have a brother, too.
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(Ah, this feels wrong. He's sorry. Whoever they are, he's so sorry.)
I'll do my best, Hikaru.
(He'll look out for her. He promises.)
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I'll do my best for you, too... Onii-chan.