Huh. [ Alice in Wonderland isn't quite on the radar for him, so he doesn't understand the significance - but he has to agree with Belph's judgement there. ] That sounds useless.
[ and leaves Belph pretty defenseless, on the whole. His defensive posture from before has eased, now; he peers at him again, seeming uncertain, but in a less suspicious and more awkward way. ]
You believe in me. Enough to tell me things like that.
[ that's more than enough cause for thanks. Even if Hikage can't return to the world of the living, he's glad that he got to meet Belph here, though their time together will be brief. He's too proud to apologize for how defensive he was; the least he can do is show gratitude for how receptive Belph was nonetheless.
[ that's not the answer he wants to hear, and he frowns. ]
No. [ for a moment, his hand floats to his hip, where his pistol is still holstered; he considers, very seriously, giving it to Belph. But he hesitates. His face is up on the tapestry this week. His assumption is that makes him a target. A living person's soul is undoubtedly worth far more than his ever could be - Belph deserves to survive more than he does - but Hikage has always been a selfish person. In the end, he's not willing to go that far for him. Not yet. ] If they come for you, kill them before they can kill you. Do you have a weapon?
[ he says the words dismissively... he can't imagine it would be much good in a situation like this, where a good number of people have real weapons. ]
I have a second gun. I'll give it to you. [ a beat. ] It has no bullets, but your opponent doesn't have to know that. Fear can be more than enough.
I might be dead, but even I want to continue existing. It would be stupider not to find ways to defend yourself here.
[ BELPH!!
anyway, he lets him into his and Steph's room, which he's already familiar with - it looks the same as it did before, minus the Steph. The only other difference is the presence of an ornate hand mirror sitting on top of a nightstand, which Hikage glances at briefly before retrieving the second pistol from one of its drawers. ]
Obviously. If one of us goes, the other does, too.
[ but he knows that isn't what Belph means. For the time being, Steph's accepted him. Still, something about her feels so unreliable. Maybe it's because she seems different from him - or maybe it's because he can't read her heart, the way he could in the manor. He has so much room to doubt her. ]
... I might need her, but she doesn't need me.
[ after some time, he admits it, his voice dark. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I can check the exact time of death of one person each week. Hasn't really helped me out much.
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[ and leaves Belph pretty defenseless, on the whole. His defensive posture from before has eased, now; he peers at him again, seeming uncertain, but in a less suspicious and more awkward way. ]
... Thank you.
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[ that's more than enough cause for thanks. Even if Hikage can't return to the world of the living, he's glad that he got to meet Belph here, though their time together will be brief. He's too proud to apologize for how defensive he was; the least he can do is show gratitude for how receptive Belph was nonetheless.
He looks at him seriously. ]
Don't die. [ a pause. ] ... Please.
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another time, he might've made a flippant remark. but he can feel it gnawing at him, and so...]
You know I can't promise that, Hikage. I thought you hated liars?
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[ his fists clench. ]
... Or if you have to lie, turn your lie into the truth.
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[he pauses, before smiling wryly.]
Try not to miss me too much if anything happens. Your partner still needs you, after all.
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No. [ for a moment, his hand floats to his hip, where his pistol is still holstered; he considers, very seriously, giving it to Belph. But he hesitates. His face is up on the tapestry this week. His assumption is that makes him a target. A living person's soul is undoubtedly worth far more than his ever could be - Belph deserves to survive more than he does - but Hikage has always been a selfish person. In the end, he's not willing to go that far for him. Not yet. ] If they come for you, kill them before they can kill you. Do you have a weapon?
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I have a knife. Shirasu's been teaching me how to use it.
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[ he says the words dismissively... he can't imagine it would be much good in a situation like this, where a good number of people have real weapons. ]
I have a second gun. I'll give it to you. [ a beat. ] It has no bullets, but your opponent doesn't have to know that. Fear can be more than enough.
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[ also, it disappeared from his room for like a week and then an owl brought it back?? that was weird. but whatever. ]
It's in my room. Come with me.
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[but sure, he'll follow hikage.]
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[ taking him away to the water dorms, woohoo... ]
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[he says it light-heartedly, though, so whatever. woohoo, water dorms!!]
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[ BELPH!!
anyway, he lets him into his and Steph's room, which he's already familiar with - it looks the same as it did before, minus the Steph. The only other difference is the presence of an ornate hand mirror sitting on top of a nightstand, which Hikage glances at briefly before retrieving the second pistol from one of its drawers. ]
Here.
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... This is really not how I expected this conversation to go, but thanks?
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[ Hikage doesn't know what he would do, and he doesn't want to find out, either. ]
You got what you wanted out of me already. Let me do this.
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[partly a joke, but.]
I mean... there's a lot of things I want from you, and I don't know if that was at the top of the list?
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[ he already told him his role power... ]
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For you to keep it together even if I'm not here anymore. For you to believe in your partner and work with her.
[he shrugs.]
And, ideally, no wishing for everyone's suffering or whatever, but I know that's a tougher one.
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Why are you so concerned about me and her?
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[for once, it doesn't sound like he's teasing.]
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[ but he knows that isn't what Belph means. For the time being, Steph's accepted him. Still, something about her feels so unreliable. Maybe it's because she seems different from him - or maybe it's because he can't read her heart, the way he could in the manor. He has so much room to doubt her. ]
... I might need her, but she doesn't need me.
[ after some time, he admits it, his voice dark. ]
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