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You didn't need to wait for me in Snail.

Will you kill me again if I go back to what we discussed?

I thought that is where you were going to revive. I will admit, I didn't make the best decisions. I was panicking. I assume revivals would take a lot longer, so I'd make a little appearance to buy me some time.

Besides, staying in Snail was the better option. Even if that wasn't the reason why I stayed, had I left they would have gone to Cricket. Better to handle it there.

No. The same won't work twice, and I don't think your team or mine would be very forgiving if it happened twice.

... Mm.

When people die they reappear in the same place you arrived in. But people return with a voice in their head, demanding a violent act. I lost control of myself after reviving, so had I met you I would have likely tried to kill you.

I meant what I said. But I know why you can't trust it.

My emotions would not have betrayed me if I didn't believe at least a sliver of what you said. But you are right, I can't trust that type of hope again. I swore I never would.

You're setting yourself up for betrayal as well. These new friends of yours will discard you eventually. And violently. And I'm going to enjoy watching it.

And if they do, will you be there for me - will you pick up the pieces?

[The question clearly catches him off guard.]

Wow. You really are making me want to stab you again. I could almost applaud.

[Because the answer was 'yes'.]

Who else could I fully trust but myself? And if whatever I have that passes as a heart gets broken again, you can tell me "I told you so".

You could just skip all those steps and take my offer. You are just causing yourself more suffering.

Even if they don't betray me they'll still die and leave me behind. So no matter what you're right, it's just going to be painful.

... But for now, I still want to take whatever joy I can.

Do you like the people on your team?

[He makes a motion he will get back to that question in the moment.]

Do I get to call you mine? If the pieces are mine to pick up. You are the wind. I won't cage you.

[ SO MANY PEOPLE CALLING HIM HIS LATELY ... oh, but he likes that. That's dangerous ]

Even the wind cannot blow on forever. Whether you cage me or not, the freedom I earned for myself is still only temporary.

There are other people that are calling me "theirs", you know.

Insignificant mortals. Specks like grain, so small and meaningless in the epochs of time. They don't even know what the word means.

If you so wish me for me to pick up the pieces, make a vow to me.

For now, you can be my Herald, free as you are. And when your wanderings are at an end, I will give you a supreme gnosis, and you can be my equal.

[ ... oh. This really is tempting, and he feels like he's just a step away from sliding backwards ]

I don't need a Gnosis anymore. Some things are just never meant to be, and for me, that's something I have to give up on.

Does it feel lonely to have no one on par with you?

Edited 2023-03-10 21:13 (UTC)

"Who else could I fully trust but myself?"

[ So that's a yes. In the end, even after ascending to godhood he's still feeling lonely. He knows too well how that feels, and maybe that's why he can't just forget about him and let go ]

There are things that I'm hiding from you, and I cannot share yet. Do you still want me even then?

It can't possibly be worse than your clinging to 'Nothingness'.

Then I will vow to be yours, on one condition.

What?

A name is life's first gift.

You will either let me pick one for you, or decide on a new one for yourself.

Fine. But I get to veto anything I don't like.

[Does Mochi get one rename token, too?]

[ TYPES "BABYGIRL" ...

He said this but he doesn't actually know what to name him, oh no. ]

And I'm guessing "Senbei" is going to be vetoed.

Of course.

The terms of the agreement have been set. This naming is important to you. Come back to me with the name and the vow, and the pact will be complete.

[Let's be real, he's super touched, but just not saying it. He'll brag about it to anyone who'll listen later.

But he does pause for a moment.]

I never wanted someone on par with me. I just wanted someone. I'm sure that was the same for you.

[ oh ... he's quiet for a moment at that last part, thinking it over. And then he reaches for his hand, if he'll let him, putting it palm up ]

I have one. Haruki.

[ and he will write it on his palm, too, so he can know what characters he's thinking of too. 春輝 ]

[A quietness passes between them as he writes the letters.]

Haruki.

Fine. Haruki, it is. From this moment forward, Mochi, you will be my Herald. As I said, I won't bind you. You are free to travel to your heart's content, but at the end of your journey you must come back to me.

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