ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[ballies]

[ ... ]

If that's the criteria, I should've be someone's target because I can just go home anyway and have my memories restored right back to the way I was.

[ because if that's how they're arguing it, she'd have been a better target than norma, chiemi, satan, yae miko, janeway, whisper, reigen and sigrun combined. ]

Even if it doesn't seem logical, I don't think anyone feels like you were an acceptable sacrifice for this. I don't. [ she'd wanted to find another way. ] Dead or not, you know how many people care about you.

[selfimmolation]

I picked someone who could fight back. It was the closest it felt to... fair.

[ but at that last part, he kind of bends his head down low, tearing up ]

... Yeah. I do. [ he sounds choked up ]

[ballies]

[ ... well fuck that's going to set her off in a moment too. she'll just start tugging on his arm like-- get closer so she can hug you through unyielding metal, you idiot. ]

...


I know. She took her knife, Temenos said that meant she thought it wasn't a dire situation.

[ it was one she felt she had a good chance of winning in. a fair chance.

murder is murder. but there's something that sits so wrong in her stomach that reigen's heart was splattered over a roulette tablet, and all they could do was catch someone who was just trying to save his home in the fairest way he could.

when she laughs, it's entirely humourless. and it sounds a little teary too. ]

Dammit, I didn't come here to make you cry. What the hell-- [ aaaaaaah. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ THEY CANNOT BOTH BE CRYING IN THIS CHILLI'S (JAIL) ]

Would've happened eventually. [ he's got a kind of teary smile ]

[ballies]

[ THEY CAN AND THEY WILL (cue waterworks) ]

Stoooop— [ aaaah. she thumps her head on his shoulder and squeezes her eyes shut. ]

…

I hate this place so much. [ the situation they’re put into, people having to die, the weight of punishment being on their shoulders and at the end of it all it just ends up in more death. ]

You can’t spend the whole night crying in a jail, that’s too much. [ that’s too upsetting. ]

[selfimmolation]

I wasn't planning to cry the whole time.

[ first. he lets her clutch as much as she can through bars, but... he admits with a bit of a wet chuckle; ]

Sorry. The truth is, I'm messed up. They're kind of happy tears. [ ... ] I'm hurting a lot of people, but... I can't help being happy you guys care.

[ballies]

... Idiot. Of course we care.

[ men. ] It took all this for you to believe it?

[selfimmolation]

I never said I was smart.

[ it's not that he disbelieved it. but... it's not the kind of thing he can take for granted either. ]

[ballies]

There's not being smart and then there's wandering around with your eyes closed, Ace.

[ just. spoken into his shoulder i guess. ]

... I'm glad you figured it out though, even if it was at the last minute. [ the idea of him going into execution tomorrow still not willing to fully believe they care would've been heartbreaking. ]

[selfimmolation]

I only got one of those, give me a break.

[ IS THIS THE TIME??????? ]

... I knew. Part of me knew. But...

[ he just. trails off. ]

[ballies]

[ FLICKS THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD. but like. lightly. ]

You adapted pretty well, you could've spotted it.

[ this is man is going to die tomorrow AND YET they are bickering. ]

I can say it bluntly, if that's what it takes. Like telling you I'm glad I know you. I'm glad you're my teammate. [ she's done this once before and she'll do it again!! ]

[selfimmolation]

[ don't say stuff like that because when he ducks his head this time it's to hide tears. again. ]

... I'm glad, too.

[ballies]

[ tough. she's not done. but she does pat his hair when he hides his face. ]

And. I care about you, idiot.

...

We'll try and find a way out of this. And... I'll keep an eye on Nimona.

[selfimmolation]

... Thanks. She'll need people.

[ he looks guilty, there. ]

[ballies]

Yeah. But I think she’s like you — I don’t think she fully gets how much she’d loved either.

[selfimmolation]

[ ... ouch on that callout, but, ]

Yeah, well... she never has been before. It's new to her.

[ballies]

[ yeah well apparently they got it through to him in time for you to weaponise it ]

I'll make sure she knows. I'm not going to take any risks with her.

[selfimmolation]

[ :3? ]

... Thanks. I... I didn't mean to leave her behind like this.

[ballies]

[ >:(

... ]

I know you didn't.

[ she sighs. ] She'll be okay. It won't be easy, but... she will be. [ they'll be keeping an eye on her. ]

[selfimmolation]

I know. She might not think it, but... she's got a lot of good people looking out for her.

[ballies]

Yup. She does.

She'll be sick of us by the time we're done not-leaving-her-alone, ever. Don't worry about that.

[selfimmolation]

I don't think she could ever be sick of you guys.

[ it is technically doxxing nimona but also is it doxxing if its obvious ]

[ballies]

I don’t know, we can be very annoying.

[ doxx her doxx her. ]

[selfimmolation]

Yeah. [ don't AGREE ] But she's put up with me this long, so.

[ballies]

[ w o w. she pokes him in the side. rude. ]

Right. She’s had plenty of practice. [ NYEH ]