ACE

[ballies]

(pirate noises)

Comments

[ballies]

That I'm probably not going to like what I hear. [ and then she asks anyway, but at least she's being ✨ self aware ✨ while she does it. ]

[selfimmolation]

But you ask anyway...

[ballies]

I do… it’s a crippling character flaw that comes up around friends I’m worried about.

[selfimmolation]

You know I'm an adult, right. You don't need to worry about the childhood stuff.

[ballies]

Yes, I’m aware. It’s kinda built into me to worry though. [ especially when he goes idek my eye’s gone but i’m fine as an adult ]

[selfimmolation]

... Like, literally...?

[ballies]

[ ....... ]

A little bit. Mental health support was one of my specific functions, but I developed it more than I think they initially assumed I would.

[ lmao lol ]

[selfimmolation]

[ sort of doing that kind of mini head tilt of "idk what mental health means but im gonna accept it", which, listen, there are no therapists in one piece, it's not his fault

anyway ]

So they underestimated you?

[ballies]

[ there are no mental health therapists anywhere and this is why she has stress ulcers. ]

I don’t think anyone fully knows how AI will grow until it does it. They might’ve wanted me to have a focus on that, buuuut how much they thought I’d do that over developing as an investigational partner, I don’t know.

[selfimmolation]

[ barely knows what ai is even after all this. its a person who isnt fully real and then becomes a tamagotchi... ]

So which do you end up doing more?

[ballies]

[ she is way more interesting that a tamagotchi but also lmao yeah this is a tamagotchi. aitsom i love you you weird little series you. ]

Honestly? Both.

[ gestures at ryuki. ] Being a psyncer is a stressful job. It’s practically a requirement to have mental health support for something like that. ABIS takes on much darker cases than regular law enforcement.

[selfimmolation]

Yeah. I kind of noticed.

[ a little. wry. An Adventure ]

[ballies]

[ an adventure and a half ]

Yeah. Now times that by however long you’re employed by them. Psyncers know what they’re getting into to a point, but— well. Experiencing it is different, as you know.

… It’s not a “who suffered most” competition or anything, but just an idea of what a regular agent can go through over 30, 40 years of service. And why they need the kind of support they get.

[selfimmolation]

[ turns his widdle tamagotchi over in his hand ]

Support, huh... [ hmm ] Guess that makes sense. [ imagine being given support on issues???? sounds fake ]

[ballies]

[ his little pardner... that beeps to be fed. ]

Mmhmm. No one can do everything alone.

[selfimmolation]

[ sorry distracted by feeding this little buddy and cleaning up its poop while looking at it like its Precious ]

Sure. [ it is a sentiment he agrees with and then very rarely actually applies to himself hes so dumb ]

[ballies]

[ while he’s distracted feeding this little buddy he can’t see tama giving him a ‘that’s what i thought you’d say pirate man’ look ]

[selfimmolation]

[ he can when he looks up and she is staring at him like that ]

... What?

[ballies]

[ yeah ]

Just thinking about how you'd absolutely run off and try and do everything on your own...

[selfimmolation]

That's--

[ thinks about his entire life leading to this point ]

Uh...

[ballies]

[ YEAH, ACE?




YEAH? ]

[selfimmolation]

I can't remember. [ USING HIS BRAIN SOUP TO HIS ADVANTAGE ]

[ballies]

[ uh huh. ]

Nice dodge. [ she Knows she's not wrong. ]

[selfimmolation]

I got exploded, be nice to me.

[ the fact that he wouldn't use this as an excuse otherwise except to dodge a true accusation ]

[ballies]

I'm always nice.

[ except for when she isn't. ] Maybe I'm just convinced you're avoiding admitting I'm right.