Life and Death are just two sides of the same coin. Why enjoy love in one, and not the other?
[ The question does admittedly catch him a bit off guard, peering at the sky from where he's idly sitting rather than at Solomon himself, lips pursed for a few moments before they pry open again. ]
...I'm not going to say I don't have my grudges, you know. I talk big, but there's some people I wouldn't mind putting down without a lot of affection behind it. [ Back on the satellite, but for what reason? Because he was mad, but about what? Another frustrating, vexing sensation worming beneath his skin like all the wires, IVs, implants. ] I guess that depends on the point of view, doesn't it? Maybe there are, in some cases. Revenge for something that can't be taken back? The inherently evil, who don't want or care for love?
[ A pause. ]
...But if you think about it, there's also mercy in death. To me, I feel that's also a form of love.
[ Now, isn't that a thought? Yugamu's life has been death, death and more death; bringing death, loving death, accepting death. But life...
It brings to mind thoughts of one Eito Aotsuki, and a young assassin steeped in emptiness. ]
Inconceivably cruel. [ A smile returns, the brittleness at it's edges. ] Just the worst. Especially when you want to die; what's worse than having to live despite it all? No reprieve, no satisfaction.
[ ...A pause. ]
But sometimes those variables are too dangerous. I'd rather not get stabbed in the back a second time, you know?
Bingo. I know my heart is pretty big, but somebody has to do the dirty work sometimes.
[ He can be surprisingly pragmatic, for all that he is; after all, assassination isn't a job that preaches optimism.
Hm... ]
Not that I don't mind a bit of brain-picking, even if I do prefer the physical kind...[ One of those teasing smiles finally returns to his face, leaning more into the genuine direction. ] but am I getting extra credit for this assignment?
Sometimes it can't be avoided, but I agree. Some people are better off staying out of that life.
[ The laugh has Yugamu's eyebrows twitching nigh imperceptibly, one blue eye peering straight through the other man with a sudden intensity. ]
No, that's one of your charm points. You should just be careful you don't lose that nose sticking it in far nastier business than mine.... [ A hum. ] How about I answer yours, and you answer mine?
Hah. I wouldn't be so concerned. [The irony of the statement is not lost on him given his current appearance.] Even keeping to yourself can lead to unexpected consequences.
[Still, he shrugs easily at the suggestion, settling to a staggered seat - nearby enough to talk, but far enough that Yugamu doesn't need to worry about personal space.]
I don't see why not. You can even go first, if you'd like.
Mn. [He straightens himself up with a sigh, hands splaying on the concrete as he leans his weight back.] No, I doubt he would, either. When someone desperately wants something to happen... there is no limit to what they might do.
That's just human nature. Desire is natural, but it's just like hate and love; too much, and reason couldn't matter less. It's part of who we are.
[ He thinks back to Gabimaru's speech, replaying in his head for a moment before ]
No? Is it the fact we've shown what we're capable of, now? [ A side glance. ] You know what they say: one card out of place is all it takes for the house to fall. Who's to say this won't incite someone else's desperation?
If one will choose to kill, out of fear or opportunity, then it's only a matter of time. A deadline etched in stone. [Pinning down any supposedly new killers is only delaying what might as well be a forced inevitable, given the powers at play.]
I'd rather focus on the rest. Keep as many of you focused on the path forward, so that we do not lose any more than we must for the time being... and that we don't let those who might pass before us slip away as well.
It's not quite the same words, but it's the same principle. The speeches, the assurances, the graves in the schoolyard. A path they follow because there's little other choice, and they need something to lean on to push them forward...lest they let the stark truth crush them under it's weight instead.
Solomon is no Takumi Sumino, but he'd be lying if he said he couldn't hear some echoes of him. Just enough for his face to twitch at the corners. ]
It'd be nice if those words could carry enough weight to sink in for everyone, but I wouldn't hold my breath. We've got a stubborn and mismatched lot around here. [ That being said... ] Are you prepared to shoulder all that weight, Sensei? It's not an easy burden to bear, and if you're unlucky, it might just drag you under and hold you down.
[Humming, he withdraws an ink pen, black with an iridescent center, from his jacket - something he had at the trial and presented as owning, so it's not necessarily a new sight. But now he simply uses it as a fidget item between his fingers as they talk.]
If someone must, let it be those of us that know we can handle the worst of the responsibility, should it all take the most horrible turn. Maybe there are liferafts we can plant in that deep, dark ocean, to keep it from being a complete waste.
It feels like he's seeing just a piece of a Solomon he doesn't put out there often, blue gaze lingering as that pen twirls between his fingers.
...How convincing. It's almost dangerous. ]
In the dark ocean, huh... [ That twinges something, and when Yugamu leans back, it's with a small smile on his face. ] And let me guess. You'd take responsibility, even if they capsized?
[ Where has he heard this before? ]
You have to be a specific type of maniac to run headlong into something that could end horribly with your head held high. Then again, maybe I should call myself one, too, for being willing to follow along.
Haha... Well, in this instance, I feel I might. Call it force of habit, if you want. [He taps the end of the pen to his lips coyly, before continuing.] That said, I know I'm only human. In a more humbling way than I'm used to, in fact. So... even if my heart wants to take it all, I know it's not realistic.
I hope you can forgive me, should I forget. [His smile tugs at the edges.] And that I might rely on you, should something happen to me too soon.
There are less destructive habits you could indulge in, you know? [ Although, there's little seriousness in the quip; he'd be pretty hypocritical if he was being serious, after all. ] But there are also worse ones. At least you know it isn't realistic...that's a point for you.
[ The request...hm, he can't say he likes the implications, but he settles for keeping that one to himself. ]
I could always try and give you a little something to help you remember. The side effects wouldn't be too bad. [ A subtle, careful jab. Don't do anything stupid. ] But if you're going to rely on me, at least do it before. I'm not the type who likes cleaning up someone else's mess without warning.
[Pft.] I'd rather not resort to drastic measures just yet, if it's all the same.
[...
But he holds up the pen, and his tone smooths over to something just slightly stricter.]
Yugamu.... If I am to be found dead? You find this on my person, and you take it. Make sure it stays in the hands of someone trustworthy.
I cannot explain what it is, and I cannot explain where it came from. Any information I give in front of the others will be a lie that I have to follow until we're free.
But if I am not here, it cannot fall into the wrong hands. And I know you are, if nothing, thorough with the bodies.
[ Yugamu is not too sure what he expects here. Solomon is somebody who both seems easy to read, and yet has things beneath the surface even Yugamu struggles to grasp with those sharp fingers.
It's this reason the request throws him off guard enough to show on his face, before his features harden somewhat. ]
...And you're willing to just tell me this?
[ Sure, he had been anticipating something, but it wasn't this. ]
You know what I am. Who's to say I won't just up and keep it for myself, sate my curiosity? We assassins can be selfish. Or maybe I'll just get rid of it, if it's as dangerous as you say.
Whether or not you're telling the truth, are you really willing to leave something you consider that important in the hands of a killer you met barely two weeks ago? [ Or more specifically- ] Or should I say, do you really have enough faith in me to keep up your lie by holding onto a potential ticking time bomb?
[ He hasn't said 'no'. But Yugamu Omokage is nothing if not pragmatic. ]
Think of this as... the knife to free the ropes, should they not sail as planned. I don't know if it will become inactive, or even vanish, were I not to be here. But I'm not willing to take that risk with someone who would turn it on another in a worse case scenario.
And, unless you've fallen madly in love for someone in two weeks? I do not believe that will be you, will it?
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[ The question does admittedly catch him a bit off guard, peering at the sky from where he's idly sitting rather than at Solomon himself, lips pursed for a few moments before they pry open again. ]
...I'm not going to say I don't have my grudges, you know. I talk big, but there's some people I wouldn't mind putting down without a lot of affection behind it. [ Back on the satellite, but for what reason? Because he was mad, but about what? Another frustrating, vexing sensation worming beneath his skin like all the wires, IVs, implants. ] I guess that depends on the point of view, doesn't it? Maybe there are, in some cases. Revenge for something that can't be taken back? The inherently evil, who don't want or care for love?
[ A pause. ]
...But if you think about it, there's also mercy in death. To me, I feel that's also a form of love.
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Would it be crueler, then, to condemn the unforgivable to life, instead of ushering them to their peace in death?
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It brings to mind thoughts of one Eito Aotsuki, and a young assassin steeped in emptiness. ]
Inconceivably cruel. [ A smile returns, the brittleness at it's edges. ] Just the worst. Especially when you want to die; what's worse than having to live despite it all? No reprieve, no satisfaction.
[ ...A pause. ]
But sometimes those variables are too dangerous. I'd rather not get stabbed in the back a second time, you know?
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[Mmm. He does enjoy picking Yugamu's brain. And some of the ideas he has...
...]
How about I present you with a hypothetical, and you can tell me your thoughts?
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[ He can be surprisingly pragmatic, for all that he is; after all, assassination isn't a job that preaches optimism.
Hm... ]
Not that I don't mind a bit of brain-picking, even if I do prefer the physical kind...[ One of those teasing smiles finally returns to his face, leaning more into the genuine direction. ] but am I getting extra credit for this assignment?
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[The question does earn pause, his laughter light like bells despite how physically rough he looks.]
You can always say no. Call your teacher a nosy one and leave it at that, if you think I'm poking around too much.
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[ The laugh has Yugamu's eyebrows twitching nigh imperceptibly, one blue eye peering straight through the other man with a sudden intensity. ]
No, that's one of your charm points. You should just be careful you don't lose that nose sticking it in far nastier business than mine.... [ A hum. ] How about I answer yours, and you answer mine?
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[Still, he shrugs easily at the suggestion, settling to a staggered seat - nearby enough to talk, but far enough that Yugamu doesn't need to worry about personal space.]
I don't see why not. You can even go first, if you'd like.
1/2
[ Yugamu is Watching, and while he wouldn't have minded him sitting closer, he does appreciate the respect for space. ]
If you insist. Let's see... well, if there's something I'm just deathly curious about—
2/2
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Except Solomon seems completely unphased. Blinking, as though confused.]
Oh.
Was I hiding it?
[Here he thought playing dumb would just be a fun thing to do.]
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[ Yeah, he can buy Solomon just playing dumb for the hell of it. Even so, really? ]
If you were coming here, you certainly weren't headed off to fix yourself. I didn't take you for a masochist.
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We just sentenced a boy to death, after all.
[A smart move? Hell nah. But he sounds like he's made up his mind about it.]
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I don't like the idea of dancing in the palm of someone's hand. [ Pointed nails tap against his cheek. ] But I don't think he'd want to be pitied.
[ After all, they are kindred spirits, one way or the other...even if their methods clash. ]
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But he's not my main concern.
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[ He thinks back to Gabimaru's speech, replaying in his head for a moment before ]
No? Is it the fact we've shown what we're capable of, now? [ A side glance. ] You know what they say: one card out of place is all it takes for the house to fall. Who's to say this won't incite someone else's desperation?
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If one will choose to kill, out of fear or opportunity, then it's only a matter of time. A deadline etched in stone. [Pinning down any supposedly new killers is only delaying what might as well be a forced inevitable, given the powers at play.]
I'd rather focus on the rest. Keep as many of you focused on the path forward, so that we do not lose any more than we must for the time being... and that we don't let those who might pass before us slip away as well.
no subject
It's not quite the same words, but it's the same principle. The speeches, the assurances, the graves in the schoolyard. A path they follow because there's little other choice, and they need something to lean on to push them forward...lest they let the stark truth crush them under it's weight instead.
Solomon is no Takumi Sumino, but he'd be lying if he said he couldn't hear some echoes of him. Just enough for his face to twitch at the corners. ]
It'd be nice if those words could carry enough weight to sink in for everyone, but I wouldn't hold my breath. We've got a stubborn and mismatched lot around here. [ That being said... ] Are you prepared to shoulder all that weight, Sensei? It's not an easy burden to bear, and if you're unlucky, it might just drag you under and hold you down.
crawls back here hello
[Humming, he withdraws an ink pen, black with an iridescent center, from his jacket - something he had at the trial and presented as owning, so it's not necessarily a new sight. But now he simply uses it as a fidget item between his fingers as they talk.]
If someone must, let it be those of us that know we can handle the worst of the responsibility, should it all take the most horrible turn. Maybe there are liferafts we can plant in that deep, dark ocean, to keep it from being a complete waste.
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It feels like he's seeing just a piece of a Solomon he doesn't put out there often, blue gaze lingering as that pen twirls between his fingers.
...How convincing. It's almost dangerous. ]
In the dark ocean, huh... [ That twinges something, and when Yugamu leans back, it's with a small smile on his face. ] And let me guess. You'd take responsibility, even if they capsized?
[ Where has he heard this before? ]
You have to be a specific type of maniac to run headlong into something that could end horribly with your head held high. Then again, maybe I should call myself one, too, for being willing to follow along.
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I hope you can forgive me, should I forget. [His smile tugs at the edges.] And that I might rely on you, should something happen to me too soon.
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[ The request...hm, he can't say he likes the implications, but he settles for keeping that one to himself. ]
I could always try and give you a little something to help you remember. The side effects wouldn't be too bad. [ A subtle, careful jab. Don't do anything stupid. ] But if you're going to rely on me, at least do it before. I'm not the type who likes cleaning up someone else's mess without warning.
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[...
But he holds up the pen, and his tone smooths over to something just slightly stricter.]
Yugamu.... If I am to be found dead? You find this on my person, and you take it. Make sure it stays in the hands of someone trustworthy.
I cannot explain what it is, and I cannot explain where it came from. Any information I give in front of the others will be a lie that I have to follow until we're free.
But if I am not here, it cannot fall into the wrong hands. And I know you are, if nothing, thorough with the bodies.
Understood?
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It's this reason the request throws him off guard enough to show on his face, before his features harden somewhat. ]
...And you're willing to just tell me this?
[ Sure, he had been anticipating something, but it wasn't this. ]
You know what I am. Who's to say I won't just up and keep it for myself, sate my curiosity? We assassins can be selfish. Or maybe I'll just get rid of it, if it's as dangerous as you say.
Whether or not you're telling the truth, are you really willing to leave something you consider that important in the hands of a killer you met barely two weeks ago? [ Or more specifically- ] Or should I say, do you really have enough faith in me to keep up your lie by holding onto a potential ticking time bomb?
[ He hasn't said 'no'. But Yugamu Omokage is nothing if not pragmatic. ]
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I did mention lifeboats, didn't I?
...
Think of this as... the knife to free the ropes, should they not sail as planned. I don't know if it will become inactive, or even vanish, were I not to be here. But I'm not willing to take that risk with someone who would turn it on another in a worse case scenario.
And, unless you've fallen madly in love for someone in two weeks? I do not believe that will be you, will it?
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