inbox.text / audio / video / action / ringtone❝ Hello, you have reached Ushiromiya Lion. I apologize for missing your call.
Please leave a message, and I'll reply as soon as I can. Thank you. ❞code credit
[ They're just. Gonna stare into space for a moment.
This is their life now. These are their choices. ]
I won't be long.
[ And that's all Will gets for like... half an hour. However the reason for the delay will be readily apparent when there's a polite knock on the nebulously undefined medbay area that he's stuck in.
Because Lion, bless their heart, brought coffee. ]
[ The half an hour is fine, he spent it taking a page from the playbook of cats. Bored? Go into standby mode. Lion might even think he was asleep until the voice makes the eyes snap open. ]
Hey. [ Sitting up is fine but it still takes a couple of seconds to register the coffee. Is that allowed? Are the clerics gonna yell at him again??? Well, he doesn't know the answer, so it's not lying if he plays ignorant.
Besides... It was a gift. ] You didn't have to do that.
[ They did think he was asleep - it's what you do in hospitals, okay, you spend all of it unconscious because you'd be bored otherwise - but to their credit they don't flinch in surprise.
Also the clerics can fight them. They still can't help but feel guilty, so this is the easiest way to repay that debt right now. ]
No, I didn't. But I wanted to. [ And steamrolling past it before that can be commented on- ] And I had a feeling they were conveniently refusing to get you anything but water anyway.
[ It's a stab in the dark, admittedly, since they don't even know if he likes coffee. For their part, it's just a shitty to-go cup of Bender Coffee, coupled with a second one of that tea they somehow found for themself. ]
[ The steamrolling is spotted, but accepted, and the coffee is taken with a few dying laughs. ]
Yeah. Keep me here for monitoring, they said. Still gotta follow their rules though.
[ So not only is 'likes coffee' checked off, the zen expression after taking a swig turns it into 'likes really garbage basic coffee'. How even. ] Thanks.
[ Success!! They officially know A Thing About Will. Even if it's a... really tiny and kinda weird thing. Whatever, can't judge, progress is progress. ]
Well, you did get injured during a test. [ Look, they don't like thinking about it, but it was meant to be Challenging But Normal. And then they happened. Whoops. ] I'd imagine that startled them a bit.
[ And on that note, they're snagging the chair on the de-armed side of the bed. They'll move when the bracer comes up, but for now, they're gonna sit and enjoy their really weird tea. ]
[ Normally, that'd get a scoff. Some type of dismissing insult, dropping the subject, but the whole thing replays and even though the argument was about something completely different - on top of being paused - the root problem is still the same.
Also. Lion smuggled coffee into a hospital. He would murder the entire moon base if they asked. ] It wasn't that bad. They've said some horror stories. [ Wait. Bad. ] No one died.
[ abort abort abort- ]
Their healing spells don't work right on me. The monitoring is for that.
Yeah no. Just because he dodged the subject doesn't mean there isn't a second where Lion freezes over it, because their instinct is to rip the bandaid off and continue talking about how their mistakes nearly cost them their lives.
But.
The second topic, though. ]
... Healing spells don't work on you? [ But. They saw the coat, and he's not dead, so. ???? ] Is that something you knew about already, or...?
[ Not the best way to broach the whole "so we're 90% sure you're some kind of angel" thing, but it'll do. ]
[ Be honest with yourself Lion, they'll both just almost kill themselves with their own stupidity at some other near-death point. But hey, at least they'll live. Somehow.
That was a tentative way to approach the subject. The coffee cup is stared into for a second, drinking it as an extra few seconds to gather thoughts, before accepting the very base problem.
Lion has earned honesty. Or at least trying to be honest. ]
You remember enough. I'm like Erika. My Master has to make the repairs. [ And regardless of who the Master is that Lion puts in that box, they sure as shit aren't here. ] Lucky enough their spells work. Not well, but it works. It apparently caused problems before, so they're being paranoid.
[ Honesty is good. Honesty is appreciated. Honesty is kinda terrifying.
They haven't gone digging through the cat box in their head yet, for so many reasons - the sheer volume of trauma and horror contained inside is the main one - but they've seen enough for this conversation. Enough context is there for them to grasp the important bits. Will functions as an intermediary for "something" on a gameboard, so repairs have to be authorised by... something that isn't here. Logic checks out.
They don't agree with said logic, of course, but now is not the time or place for that fight. (Or at least not yet. The day is still young.) ]
... I suppose it's justified paranoia in that case. [ Rather then like. Trying to heal him later and discovering that it's not working only for him to die. Ha. Haha. ] It must be frustrating to deal with, though.
That's- that's just accepted? Like it's your own fault for not being able to be healed? That complete contempt for people's lives is justified?!
[ -now ya fucked up now ya fucked up now ya fucked up-
Deep breaths, Lion. Put the styrofoam cup of tea down before you spill it with a tirade over nothing, it's not befitting of the precious Ushiromiya heir. And besides, it's not Will's fault he's a suicidal jerk from a culture of complete sociopaths or anything.
-wait a diddly darn second. ]
--is. Is that why you keep trying to throw your life away. Because you don't think it's worth saving.
[ hey Will you remember that thing with Shannon where she was giving you a very obvious chance to not stick your foot in a bear trap- ]
[ it wasn't a question it wasn't a question it wasn't a question shit shit shit shit
He tries to cut in a few times in the short bits. Aborted "that's not it" and "calm down" before the target actually aims back at him. And now that the question is aimed at him, he goes still.
It was a direct and whole-hearted request from a human being.
shitshitshitsHITSHIT- ]
That's not how- [ But it is. ] I wasn't- [ You were. ] It had to- [ No it didn't. ] Nghh!
[ It's right around now Lion can pick up on the 'can't tell lies' thing as 'literally can't tell lies'. Even then, past the pain of it, he rallies. ] That's not true! It's because... I.
[ It clicks, alright. They'd already had somewhat of a theory about it already - little things here and there, even over the short time they'd known each other - so this was really just confirmation. An answer check, to continue the metaphor.
Normally it would be enough to make them stop. They hate causing pain, would never want to force an answer out of anyone.
But. ]
Then what. [ Their voice is still that same, scarily flat tone. Anything stronger risks disaster. ] Because that's- that's twice now. And before I could-- I could maybe see that it was necessary, but the test was my own fault.
[ ...Oh, Lion. Lion, you dense motherfucker. ]
You had no reason to- to do that. So why do you keep trying to die on me.
[ There's a loophole for this. Some sort of dodge or half-truth to get out of it, but the more Lion goes on, the longer he has to stare directly at the budget to-go cup Lion brought with his coffee. Not as a distraction, but to keep from accidentally crushing it. The cup doesn't deserve it.
Yet, it quickly arises like acid reflux, an irritation raised twice - over the same person even - and the grimace is split. A small part is the pain of having a branding iron held against your throat. Most of it is just the looming threat of one of those neurotic snaps he hates so much. Ah, the days where he could be furious but not slag off every thought that goes through his head. Be mad, but with focus, it's-
"You had no reason"
oh hell no ]
The reason was you! It was because you were worth saving, you God damned imbecile!
[ There is a moment of frozen silence here before the words replay. Register. Replay again to verify. Yep, just did that. Okay.
The coffee cup is absently being used to make the sign of the cross, then helf in front of his face as the eyes close. Whatever expression or reaction Lion could have had to that is immediately drowned out by sheer autopilot. The voice is barely above a whisper, mentally stumbling over a language that doesn't have an equivalent - until somehow it translates and the words Click.
'Forgive me, Almighty Father, for I have sinned. Thy servant has taken your holy name in vain. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have failed and offended thee, oh Lord, who art all good and deserving and whom I love above all.'
[ They catch the insult before they catch the rest of it, because of course they do. Why does he think they're an idiot this time, anyway, it's not like- ]
[ .... Yeah they've really got nothing to dispute this one. It's never been that they're insecure, per-say - they know exactly how good they are at most things, and not an iota more. But there's always been a trade-off, something of value gained in the exchange to make it worth it for whatever stupid mistake they end up making.
And then this asshole happened. ]
I was-- um, I mean, [ Like. How do you respond to that without spontaneously combusting. If anyone figures it out, please let them know. ] You...
[ "actually mean that", except the words can't make it past the lump in their throat. Wow. Um.
.... if they start crying they'll never recover and he'll think it's because they're upset again, um. shit, distraction-- ] Are- you okay. You keep repeating that.
[ The prayer switches to something else while Lion's having their breakdown, mentally counting off beads, but it's going too fast and too quiet to catch some of the words. Even if His voice is gone, he knows the time limits, the customary punishments. He was a high position so maybe he'd get off easy - except no he wouldn't, he's retired and he remembers what happened to Knox- Lion's talking. Pay attention to the more important thing.
Wait wait, the penances is the important one. The words cut off, swapping it to a mental meditation sequence, but the speech is still distracted. ] Infractions of the third commandment result in capital punishment. Stoning took too many from their work stations, so it's a timed nail bed now.
[ Angels.
Well, at least Lion can compose themselv- ]
Sorry for getting upset. You get off-track sometimes.
[ There are two roads this thread can go down. One, in which they continue to flip out over cultural differences and everything turns into a shitshow. The other, in which they continue to flip out over feelings and everything turns into a shitshow.
Both roads lead to their mutual demise. This is fine. Everything is fine. ]
I-- I don't see how I'm the one getting off-track here. You're the one praying over... u-um. [ this was a mistaaaaaaake. ] E-either way, you have nothing to apologise for.
[ Maybe if they aggressively pretend everything's fine, then they won't have to confront the looming spectre of What Just Happened just yet. ]
[ He has everything to apologize for, but the ones to Lion are internalized. Better that it results in the brat getting flustered and dropping the subject forever than ruining what's here. The internal prayers waver, switching from one apology to another, from a swear to a selfishness.
But it's fine. Being this close is good enough.
More importantly, there's a script to keep to. So Lion gets snapped at. ] I'm not getting off track! Just because humans get to ignore the commandments doesn't mean we can! And you shouldn't ignore them anyway! Do you know how much trouble you can get in for dodging those?! The genocide still happens, Lion! Take them seriously!
[ For a second there they were content to go along with the argument switch and confine thinking about That to later, when they can actually think through it and everything and not stuff their foot in their mouth again like an idiot. Especially since - to be fair - the current topic is interesting and important and they need to kick his ass on it eventually.
But. That was way too coherent for a proper Will rant, soooooo into the pit we go. ]
... You know, for someone who just yelled at me for missing the point, you're awfully pre-occupied with dodging it yourself.
[ The narration would wax poetic about certain actions being forbidden, but the narration is still busy laughing at Lion's face roughly matching Will's dumb hairstreak right now. ]
W-Which isn't really fair. I thought we established that we needed to, um, be on an equal footing about things...?
What a splendid kid. Truly. Like the sun. It's more than anyone deserves. ]
It's... [ Yes i No, the logic stands. ] I'm not dodging.
[ At least Lion can be content, because being called out so bluntly means he looks away. There's no second attempt, because already got caught, dodging further is going into farce. So he does the sane thing and down what's left of the coffee. It's mostly dregs, more grinds than coffee, and for one brief moment the acid sensation and the constant arguing of clerics coalesces into something almost like home.
But then Lion starts setting up the chess pieces for an argument and while it's not home, it's actually better. ] Yeah. I know. It was just an unthinking outburst.
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This is their life now. These are their choices. ]
I won't be long.
[ And that's all Will gets for like... half an hour. However the reason for the delay will be readily apparent when there's a polite knock on the nebulously undefined medbay area that he's stuck in.
Because Lion, bless their heart, brought coffee. ]
Ah, Will? It's me.
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Hey. [ Sitting up is fine but it still takes a couple of seconds to register the coffee. Is that allowed? Are the clerics gonna yell at him again??? Well, he doesn't know the answer, so it's not lying if he plays ignorant.
Besides... It was a gift. ] You didn't have to do that.
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Also the clerics can fight them. They still can't help but feel guilty, so this is the easiest way to repay that debt right now. ]
No, I didn't. But I wanted to. [ And steamrolling past it before that can be commented on- ] And I had a feeling they were conveniently refusing to get you anything but water anyway.
[ It's a stab in the dark, admittedly, since they don't even know if he likes coffee. For their part, it's just a shitty to-go cup of Bender Coffee, coupled with a second one of that tea they somehow found for themself. ]
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Yeah. Keep me here for monitoring, they said. Still gotta follow their rules though.
[ So not only is 'likes coffee' checked off, the zen expression after taking a swig turns it into 'likes really garbage basic coffee'. How even. ] Thanks.
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[ Success!! They officially know A Thing About Will. Even if it's a... really tiny and kinda weird thing. Whatever, can't judge, progress is progress. ]
Well, you did get injured during a test. [ Look, they don't like thinking about it, but it was meant to be Challenging But Normal. And then they happened. Whoops. ] I'd imagine that startled them a bit.
[ And on that note, they're snagging the chair on the de-armed side of the bed. They'll move when the bracer comes up, but for now, they're gonna sit and enjoy their really weird tea. ]
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Also. Lion smuggled coffee into a hospital. He would murder the entire moon base if they asked. ] It wasn't that bad. They've said some horror stories. [ Wait. Bad. ] No one died.
[ abort abort abort- ]
Their healing spells don't work right on me. The monitoring is for that.
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Yeah no. Just because he dodged the subject doesn't mean there isn't a second where Lion freezes over it, because their instinct is to rip the bandaid off and continue talking about how their mistakes nearly cost them their lives.
But.
The second topic, though. ]
... Healing spells don't work on you? [ But. They saw the coat, and he's not dead, so. ???? ] Is that something you knew about already, or...?
[ Not the best way to broach the whole "so we're 90% sure you're some kind of angel" thing, but it'll do. ]
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That was a tentative way to approach the subject. The coffee cup is stared into for a second, drinking it as an extra few seconds to gather thoughts, before accepting the very base problem.
Lion has earned honesty. Or at least trying to be honest. ]
You remember enough. I'm like Erika. My Master has to make the repairs. [ And regardless of who the Master is that Lion puts in that box, they sure as shit aren't here. ] Lucky enough their spells work. Not well, but it works. It apparently caused problems before, so they're being paranoid.
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They haven't gone digging through the cat box in their head yet, for so many reasons - the sheer volume of trauma and horror contained inside is the main one - but they've seen enough for this conversation. Enough context is there for them to grasp the important bits. Will functions as an intermediary for "something" on a gameboard, so repairs have to be authorised by... something that isn't here. Logic checks out.
They don't agree with said logic, of course, but now is not the time or place for that fight. (Or at least not yet. The day is still young.) ]
... I suppose it's justified paranoia in that case. [ Rather then like. Trying to heal him later and discovering that it's not working only for him to die. Ha. Haha. ] It must be frustrating to deal with, though.
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[ what ]
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[ now ya fucked up- ]
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[ -now ya fucked up now ya fucked up- ]
That's- that's just accepted? Like it's your own fault for not being able to be healed? That complete contempt for people's lives is justified?!
[ -now ya fucked up now ya fucked up now ya fucked up-
Deep breaths, Lion. Put the styrofoam cup of tea down before you spill it with a tirade over nothing, it's not befitting of the precious Ushiromiya heir. And besides, it's not Will's fault he's a suicidal jerk from a culture of complete sociopaths or anything.
-wait a diddly darn second. ]
--is. Is that why you keep trying to throw your life away. Because you don't think it's worth saving.
[ hey Will you remember that thing with Shannon where she was giving you a very obvious chance to not stick your foot in a bear trap- ]
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He tries to cut in a few times in the short bits. Aborted "that's not it" and "calm down" before the target actually aims back at him. And now that the question is aimed at him, he goes still.
It was a direct and whole-hearted request from a human being.
shitshitshitsHITSHIT- ]
That's not how- [ But it is. ] I wasn't- [ You were. ] It had to- [ No it didn't. ] Nghh!
[ It's right around now Lion can pick up on the 'can't tell lies' thing as 'literally can't tell lies'. Even then, past the pain of it, he rallies. ] That's not true! It's because... I.
[ The silence isn't helping. ]
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Normally it would be enough to make them stop. They hate causing pain, would never want to force an answer out of anyone.
But. ]
Then what. [ Their voice is still that same, scarily flat tone. Anything stronger risks disaster. ] Because that's- that's twice now. And before I could-- I could maybe see that it was necessary, but the test was my own fault.
[ ...Oh, Lion. Lion, you dense motherfucker. ]
You had no reason to- to do that. So why do you keep trying to die on me.
1/2
Yet, it quickly arises like acid reflux, an irritation raised twice - over the same person even - and the grimace is split. A small part is the pain of having a branding iron held against your throat. Most of it is just the looming threat of one of those neurotic snaps he hates so much. Ah, the days where he could be furious but not slag off every thought that goes through his head. Be mad, but with focus, it's-
"You had no reason"
oh hell no ]
The reason was you! It was because you were worth saving, you God damned imbecile!
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The coffee cup is absently being used to make the sign of the cross, then helf in front of his face as the eyes close. Whatever expression or reaction Lion could have had to that is immediately drowned out by sheer autopilot. The voice is barely above a whisper, mentally stumbling over a language that doesn't have an equivalent - until somehow it translates and the words Click.
'Forgive me, Almighty Father, for I have sinned. Thy servant has taken your holy name in vain. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have failed and offended thee, oh Lord, who art all good and deserving and whom I love above all.'
It just keeps going. ]
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That's a thing. ]
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And then this asshole happened. ]
I was-- um, I mean, [ Like. How do you respond to that without spontaneously combusting. If anyone figures it out, please let them know. ] You...
[ "actually mean that", except the words can't make it past the lump in their throat. Wow. Um.
.... if they start crying they'll never recover and he'll think it's because they're upset again, um. shit, distraction-- ] Are- you okay. You keep repeating that.
[ #nailed it. ]
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Wait wait, the penances is the important one. The words cut off, swapping it to a mental meditation sequence, but the speech is still distracted. ] Infractions of the third commandment result in capital punishment. Stoning took too many from their work stations, so it's a timed nail bed now.
[ Angels.
Well, at least Lion can compose themselv- ]
Sorry for getting upset. You get off-track sometimes.
[ Or not. ]
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Both roads lead to their mutual demise. This is fine. Everything is fine. ]
I-- I don't see how I'm the one getting off-track here. You're the one praying over... u-um. [ this was a mistaaaaaaake. ] E-either way, you have nothing to apologise for.
[ Maybe if they aggressively pretend everything's fine, then they won't have to confront the looming spectre of What Just Happened just yet. ]
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But it's fine. Being this close is good enough.
More importantly, there's a script to keep to. So Lion gets snapped at. ] I'm not getting off track! Just because humans get to ignore the commandments doesn't mean we can! And you shouldn't ignore them anyway! Do you know how much trouble you can get in for dodging those?! The genocide still happens, Lion! Take them seriously!
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But. That was way too coherent for a proper Will rant, soooooo into the pit we go. ]
... You know, for someone who just yelled at me for missing the point, you're awfully pre-occupied with dodging it yourself.
[ The narration would wax poetic about certain actions being forbidden, but the narration is still busy laughing at Lion's face roughly matching Will's dumb hairstreak right now. ]
W-Which isn't really fair. I thought we established that we needed to, um, be on an equal footing about things...?
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What a splendid kid. Truly. Like the sun. It's more than anyone deserves. ]
It's... [
Yes iNo, the logic stands. ] I'm not dodging.[ At least Lion can be content, because being called out so bluntly means he looks away. There's no second attempt, because already got caught, dodging further is going into farce. So he does the sane thing and down what's left of the coffee. It's mostly dregs, more grinds than coffee, and for one brief moment the acid sensation and the constant arguing of clerics coalesces into something almost like home.
But then Lion starts setting up the chess pieces for an argument and while it's not home, it's actually better. ] Yeah. I know. It was just an unthinking outburst.
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