[the determination doesn't leave his face, though he does nod once in reply to her question.]
Then we'll just have to do our best to make sure that the cat doesn't get away with making this the final decision. ...But for now, no matter how this situation is looked at, it's weighing so many lives against others, right? So if you think you could be of more help to those waiting for you back home than those of us here, I won't press the topic any further than this.
[Ema takes a few steps away from Kaoru and sits on the ground, idly picking a flower and twirling it in her hands as she seriously considers the proposal. If she were to approach this like a scientist--and she is one--the numbers strongly suggest that she go with the idea. Going home to be with her sister and Mr. Wright seems selfish, since it only helps a handful of people. In contrast, there are countries here with millions of lives at stake. Somehow. She's not entirely sure how the countries work, but she has no reason to believe they're lying to her.
There's also the fact that this is allowing them a possible chance to trap the cat. Maybe Kaoru can persuade it to reverse things somehow and bring back the dead characters or something. If not Kaoru, then definitely Athena and Mr. Gavin--she's seen them at work, and they would be extra determined and less likely to sacrifice themselves because Ema died. The cat would be hard-pressed to say no against them. It shouldn't be possible, but none of this really has been so far. Then everyone would be saved.
And if it turns out that the cat can't bring the dead back... well, Lana would go nuts without Ema, there's no doubt about that. But as things are, Lana's dead. So in a way, she's helping Lana by doing this even if Lana wouldn't understand. Maybe Kaoru can give a message to Maya to give Lana. Say she's sorry and that she did this to save her and that she loves her.
And, finally... she doesn't want to die, but she'd rather everyone else die less. The last thing she wants is for someone to give their life for her. She's had that happen to her before. It feels awful. The reasoning is selfish, but it's there, and it resonates with her.
There is no good, easy, right answer here.
But maybe this answer is okay enough.
After several minutes of silence as she thinks all of this through, she finally looks up at Kaoru. Her expression is still determined, but there's also a sense of sadness, fear, and resignation there.]
You... you can make it fast enough that it won't hurt, right?
[he doesn't put any pressure on her the entire time she's thinking; in fact, he's wandered off a little to give her any room that she might need, since he has a little difficulty reading this reaction and isn't quite sure until she looks up whether it's a positive one or a negative one.
but then there's that, and she speaks, and that's really all there is to it, isn't there? one down - one less person for them to need to vote off, and he won't have to resort to force. in the end, maybe his half-baked plan will work, too; even if it's not for the sake of Ema or anyone else in this place, he hates, hates, hates the idea of that smug, awful cat getting the last laugh, playing them all like puppets on a string from start to end. he wants desperately to get back to Chizuru, true enough - but he also very much wants to see that cat suffer, too. if he can bring everyone back in the process, fair enough.
he'll allow a brief look of surprise to appear, but there's a solid, strong determination that follows that's very real. in the end, he has to believe that this is the best thing he can do for himself. to trust in his own choices, because he can't trust in anyone else's—
he nods once.]
I can... if that's the option you're choosing to take.
[She stops to write something in her notepad--a letter to her sister. She folds it in half twice, writes "LANA" on the outside, and holds it out to him.]
Promise to give this to Maya and ask her to give it to my sister? Mr. Wright will know how to get it to her.
And... tell everyone I'm sorry. Please do that, too.
[they're amenable terms, so he'll nod once more as he reaches out to take the folded paper, tucking it securely into place on the inside of his jacket.]
I'll do both, and I'll also do my best to ensure that as many people make it out of this as possible.
[his hand then strays to his side, where it rests against the scabbard of the sword he's been wearing nonstop since before his own trial.]
[the look that he gives her seems to be vaguely contemplative, but he nods soon enough. taking one step back, his hand moves up to the hilt of his sword as he starts to withdraw it from its sheath.]
Then... I'll end this quickly for you. The one thanking anyone here should be me, so... thank you. I'll do my best to make that cat pay.
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Then we'll just have to do our best to make sure that the cat doesn't get away with making this the final decision. ...But for now, no matter how this situation is looked at, it's weighing so many lives against others, right? So if you think you could be of more help to those waiting for you back home than those of us here, I won't press the topic any further than this.
no subject
There's also the fact that this is allowing them a possible chance to trap the cat. Maybe Kaoru can persuade it to reverse things somehow and bring back the dead characters or something. If not Kaoru, then definitely Athena and Mr. Gavin--she's seen them at work, and they would be extra determined and less likely to sacrifice themselves because Ema died. The cat would be hard-pressed to say no against them. It shouldn't be possible, but none of this really has been so far. Then everyone would be saved.
And if it turns out that the cat can't bring the dead back... well, Lana would go nuts without Ema, there's no doubt about that. But as things are, Lana's dead. So in a way, she's helping Lana by doing this even if Lana wouldn't understand. Maybe Kaoru can give a message to Maya to give Lana. Say she's sorry and that she did this to save her and that she loves her.
And, finally... she doesn't want to die, but she'd rather everyone else die less. The last thing she wants is for someone to give their life for her. She's had that happen to her before. It feels awful. The reasoning is selfish, but it's there, and it resonates with her.
There is no good, easy, right answer here.
But maybe this answer is okay enough.
After several minutes of silence as she thinks all of this through, she finally looks up at Kaoru. Her expression is still determined, but there's also a sense of sadness, fear, and resignation there.]
You... you can make it fast enough that it won't hurt, right?
no subject
but then there's that, and she speaks, and that's really all there is to it, isn't there? one down - one less person for them to need to vote off, and he won't have to resort to force. in the end, maybe his half-baked plan will work, too; even if it's not for the sake of Ema or anyone else in this place, he hates, hates, hates the idea of that smug, awful cat getting the last laugh, playing them all like puppets on a string from start to end. he wants desperately to get back to Chizuru, true enough - but he also very much wants to see that cat suffer, too. if he can bring everyone back in the process, fair enough.
he'll allow a brief look of surprise to appear, but there's a solid, strong determination that follows that's very real. in the end, he has to believe that this is the best thing he can do for himself. to trust in his own choices, because he can't trust in anyone else's—
he nods once.]
I can... if that's the option you're choosing to take.
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It is.
[She stops to write something in her notepad--a letter to her sister. She folds it in half twice, writes "LANA" on the outside, and holds it out to him.]
Promise to give this to Maya and ask her to give it to my sister? Mr. Wright will know how to get it to her.
And... tell everyone I'm sorry. Please do that, too.
no subject
I'll do both, and I'll also do my best to ensure that as many people make it out of this as possible.
[his hand then strays to his side, where it rests against the scabbard of the sword he's been wearing nonstop since before his own trial.]
...Would you prefer to wait?
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[She shakes her head when he offers to postpone.]
I... I think the longer I wait, the worse it'll feel...
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Then... I'll end this quickly for you. The one thanking anyone here should be me, so... thank you. I'll do my best to make that cat pay.
[also to bring everyone back, that too.]
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[It's weird to be thanked for being willing to die.
She sees that he's readying his sword, so she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and tries not to think too much about what's going to happen.
She doesn't expect to hear Maya's voice just then...]