IC Inbox

[threelayers]

[A tinny, electronic voice comes on the other line. The message recorded is very obviously a 'default' setting of the fluid, available to any user. It displays no name or identity.]

The person you're trying to reach cannot answer the phone right now. Please leave a message with your name and number after the beep and we will return your call.

[What? Were you actually expecting her to record a voice message?]

Comments

[undermoonlight]

[Atsushi is hesitant to continue. His hand is actually shaking. Hopefully, she'll deny everything and he can try to sweep these rumors under the rug. If she confirms them... He isn't sure what he'll do. Except prove Mother Superior was right.]

Text is fine.

I saw some things written around town

about you.

I want to know how true they are.

I know you don't owe me an explanation, but if you could find the time for it

Please.

[threelayers]

Ah, so it's about that.
I suppose I shouldn't be entirely surprised.
I don't know if you saw the post I made earlier last month after all.
Some of those rumors are a bit public already.

But you may ask.

[undermoonlight]

It said you murdered people.

And wanted to kill others.

I'm not here to judge

[He is 100% full of judge.]

But I want to understand.

[He doesn't want to understand. He wants her to deny it.]

Is that okay to talk about?

[threelayers]

It's ok to talk about, but you're beating around the bush a little.
So, let's get to your questions. What exactly do you want to know?

Do you simply want to know if I've ever killed anyone? Yes. There's blood on my hands. But I doubt you just wanted to know that. So, go ahead and ask.

[undermoonlight]

[Her question startles him. What does he want to know? Atsushi had suspected that the rumors might be true already; That wasn't really what he wanted.]

I don't want to hate you.

[That isn't a question, though. Atsushi tries again.]

Killing is wrong. You agree with that, right?

The rumors must upset you to see too. I want to know your side of the story.

I need to forgive you.

[threelayers]

That's sweet of you.
So, don't. I don't hate you.

[She also hadn't quite brought herself to care about Atsushi yet, but she didn't dislike him at all. He seemed sensible enough.]

That depends upon a great many things, Atsushi.
Some would say to kill in self defense is wrong.
Some call it murder.
Some call it justified.
I've never been especially good at philosophy.

But I know a thing or two about forgiveness.
To forgive someone, you must have been wronged by them.
Have I done anything to harm someone that you care for?

Or perhaps I should just be blunt: Is Ruby Rose a friend of yours too?
I wouldn't judge you if the answer is yes.
You wouldn't be the first to ask me not to make them decide between us.

[undermoonlight]

[She has good points, he can't disagree there. It's not as if he hasn't been in a situation or fighting against someone who made things "kill or be killed." But that's also not something he wants to dwell deeply on.]

You haven't. You've done nothing to hurt me here.

And I don't know Ruby Rose. I know you.

[What she says about forgiveness, though... That cuts him to his self-righteous core.]

You're right. It's not my place to forgive you.

I think I'm trying to make sure I never have to make that choice. To forgive or not.

[Because deep down, he knows he isn't a very forgiving person.]

[threelayers]

Well, I can clarify your concern here, and now, for me.
There is only one person that I 'want' to kill in this town, and I will admit that I've been having second thoughts.
It is my place to forgive her.
It is her place to forgive me.

But that is between us.
If you aren't involved, then I wish you and yours no harm.
I used to work as the bag girl of a man who wasn't afraid of a little violence.
But he's gone now, and even if I'm very good at what I do?
I don't do it except for someone I love generally.

So, you're in no danger.
Your friends are in no danger.
And for the moment, Ruby Rose and I have a truce.
But that doesn't mean I didn't try three times before that truce was called.
And for now, I'm trying to keep my distance from her.

Any other blood on my hands here?
I lay at the feet of an event that was messing with people's minds.
It wasn't really my plan to get caught up in the native's affairs.
But some folks weren't in full control of themselves.

[That was... actually bullshit. She'd been lucid when she was there, but she could still phrase it carefully there. Blame the event and say how people had been out of their minds. A lie of omission.]

[undermoonlight]

[Atsushi can't respond immediately. He needs to sort through his thoughts, his prejudices, and how much he hates Mother Superior. Very little of this had anything to do with Neo at all. But by the end of reading and re-reading her message, he feels much better.

Again... Poor Neo. This was more about a selfish hero boy and his hatred of masked nuns.]

Thank you, Neo.

I understand.

I'll let you go, then? I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time.

[threelayers]

[Pffft. She didn't deserve sympathy points. She was a killer who was simply choosing not to kill. But, she did prefer to keep too many from coming after her for the moment.]

It's fine.
This has bee more civil than some conversations.
We'll speak again, later.

[undermoonlight]

Yes. Talk to you later.

Thank you very much!

[And with that, Atsushi will stop replying.]