Catch-all; Taichi

[momming]

Comments

[momming]

... [ Honestly she's surprised but it's layered beneath all the sorrow and tiredness. ]

Why didn't you say anything?

[goalsides]

Would it have really mattered? [he wouldn't exactly have treated her any differently, and it's not like he would tell other people to get her voted for. he doesn't know how he could have helped even if he said so to begin with.] I wasn't entirely sure for a little while, and maybe I tried to convince myself it wasn't true. But...I don't know if it would have changed anything.

[momming]

You could have had me killed a lot sooner, I suppose. Though I wouldn't want to put that on your shoulders, either.

[ She's. So tired. ]

[goalsides]

[a pause.]

I did vote for you yesterday. [there's a tinge of guilt even still, but...he didn't miss the look. he didn't misread what she was asking for, he thinks.]

I don't know if I would be strong enough to kill you myself though.

[please no.]

[momming]

... Thank you, for doing that. I...

[ She closes her eyes, pained. ]

I don't know what will happen anymore. All I can do is try to keep helping where I can, until someone decides to take matters into their hands.

[goalsides]

...do you think someone will really come after you the way they went after Byleth?

[don't like that.]

[momming]

I can't discount it. It's a very real possibility.

[ And she sounds resigned. ]

[goalsides]

...I know you've accepted it already but I just...[frowning.] I don't have to like it. I don't know if I will.

[momming]

I don't exactly want to die, either. As selfish as that might be.

[ She sighs, a little softly. ]

Just-- if there's anything you need from me this week, don't hesitate to ask, okay?

[goalsides]

I need you to be okay. But I don't know how to ask for that.

[it's kind of said immediately, like a thought he's been sitting on and couldn't find a way to put into words.]

...I know it's for the best for you so you don't have to do this anymore. But I don't want you to leave either.

[momming]

[ ... Oh.

Her gaze softens, turns fond. ]

I don't want to leave you. I mean that.

[goalsides]

[emotionsharing is still activated so it means she gets a little sense of fondness and a little sense of worry and a little sense of a protective streak.]

...you were really just trying to do what had to be done. And as soon as one of your numbers leaves, someone else is going to have to take that job. Even if they do kill you, that cycle won't stop.

[there's a pause.]

How can I help you now?

[momming]

Keep doing what you're doing. The sooner we can figure out the source of... well, the problem, the sooner we can end this.

[ That's really all she can ask. ]

... But also don't risk yourself trying to protect me, either. No matter my reasons or the truth of what you said, I still took a life. Murderers have always been punished.

[goalsides]

[he's not happy with that answer, even if he understands it.]

...would you say the same thing about a murderer who was possessed and controlled to kill someone, Otome-san?

[momming]

I wouldn't say it about anyone, because I normally don't believe in taking a life at all. No matter the reason. I don't think it should be a life for a life.

[ Which is why she hates this!! ]

But I know not everyone would agree. I'm just prepared to face it, if it comes to that.

[goalsides]

[...just...calmly thinking this over.]

I don't know if I can see the difference between a kill that's meant to help us and an execution anymore. That's all.

[momming]

... Well, one of them is done entirely against someone's control. So I would say it's more similar to a possessed kill.

[goalsides]

Answer me this honestly, Otome-san. Do you actually really have a choice in what you're doing?

[momming]

Yes.

[ Well. Her emotions are troubled, but still. ]

[goalsides]

[....]

So you could choose not to do this and there would be zero consequences.

[mother?]

[momming]

... To me, yes.

[goalsides]

Then...tell me how it's actually different. If there really was a choice, you wouldn't have to be worrying about hurting yourself or hurting other people.

[momming]

...

[ She closes her eyes, wearily. ]

Shall we just agree that this hasn't been the ideal situation for anyone?

[goalsides]

...I think we can definitely all agree. [there's a mild sense of frustration there, but. that goes without saying.]

But it has to be almost over. It's spring already.

[momming]

... I hope so. I've been through a lot back home, but this is... nearly beyond my limit, it feels like.