[His brows furrow. The serious scowling has started not being so bad on the eye.]
I want Justice to win. I think he’s best suited... Being young, being so willing to try, to listen. The problem is, he’s... naive because of it. I’m... afraid some of the others will take advtanage of it, like how they bullied him into splitting you all evenly. [He looks up slowly, and then he looks to the fox, away again. Distantly.] He’s young enough to not be set in traditions... ones perpetrated over and over.
You have a lot on your side, though. If Yu can convince enough people to join you...
The other thing to consider, Sasuke, is that this game is changing us. I worry about some of the others taking advantage of him, too, but likewise I worry about him taking advantage of some of you because of his age and naivety.
[…] There was a man I knew once in my old life. No one suspected a thing because he was meek and clumsy and kind of one of the worst detectives ever. As it turned out, because he was playing the long game he was a serial killer who was responsible for a string of murders and murder attempts in my home. In Inaba. [In this place, where they are.] If you really think he's best suited, I'll support your choice, but I wanted you to understand why I have my own reservations even though I think he's a very sweet kid.
I only have one more than Justice. I'm worried Yu-senpai will actually hurt more than help with the way he's going about this. And I can tell you this. Justice has had members come and go multiple times, but I've never gained any. I've lost, but it's because they're people who were hit with a power, or people who were killed. The people who've joined me are those who aligned with me originally.
The only one who can convince people is me. And that's what I'll do. [There's a pause as she thinks.] …it's a new world. Who's to say we won't create new traditions of our own?
I don't care if you create new traditions. As long as they're good traditions. Ones that don't harm innocent people for the sake of following them. One that don't cause war and hatred.
[He finds himself looking back to Love again. He can see... why Itachi would choose her. Why, even if Itachi defected so many times as he did, Itachi would still be loyal anyway. More than likely.
Everything else... He'd only be arguing endlessly over a difference of opinion, so:]
You said Yu might hurt more than help. [He can't say Yu is terribly rash except, apparently, when very angry about the suffering of others, but...] Tell me what I can do to change that.
Despite how this game's going I'm pretty sure none of us actively want to hurt people, tradition or no. Most of us come from worlds where we wanted to change injustices. [But she can see why Sasuke would bring it up anyway.
At the mention of Yu though...she sighs softly.]
He needs to practice some more self-preservation. [...] I don't know if you've heard, but...we know each other. You know, from the old life. I'm worried about that being used against him if he tells the wrong person.
He did seem more familiar with this wing than anyone else. Tch... That damn idiot. [He's going to knock those stupid glasses off Yu's face.] He wanted to apologize to Goro and the rest, too. I told him to keep his mouth shut, but I don't know if he did.
Yeah. We moved to Inaba about the same time...we were only there for about a year though. I know he's excited to see home, but it's still...troubling, I guess? I know he can take care of himself but some people might not care.
...I think he'll listen to you. I don't want to hurt him, but considering everything else that's happened in this game. [Drinking trial milk. Getting lost for days. Etc.] He's a very honest person, too. And in a game like this people might not appreciate that.
[Sasuke frowns a little at this. Even he can tell that's true. Yu is a good boy... probably better than someone Sasuke would ever be, and he knows there may be a few still left who would take advantage of that kindness.
He might have been one of the ones to do it himself... if not for some of the people he's met.]
He needs to be more careful. I know he's... happy. About this place. About you. I can see why he's with you. You must mean a lot to him. [Sasuke doesn't want to say he wouldn't want to ruin Yu's happiness because......... gross, feelings.]
[Sasuke's grown soft and that's very sweet...but thank god someone else notices.]
...we're kind of dating? [Shrug. It's a weird and complicated situation, and she apparently doesn't care that Sasuke knows at this rate since he's helping her.] In my old life, I loved him. That never changed, but I've changed. That's why he needs to be extra careful.
But I'd appreciate it. [A beat.] ...Indulgence's dumb rule means that I owe you a favor though. What would you want in exchange?
[Whether he looks a little bewildered about the dating or being put on the spot for a favor, it doesn't matter. He just looks surprised anyway.
Suddenly, he's... not so sure what he'd ask for. This rule hasn't bothered him so much as making him vulnerable to giving stuff back, but more... he isn't sure what to ask for when it's his turn. Everything... he's worked himself to get. Always. He's never asked for anything because... he never thought he deserved it unless he earned it. Nothing was ever handed to him.] I...
[Hm. He wants... to tell Itachi he's changed his mind, he thinks, but... No, he'll save it. He wants to say it himself. At the end. Before they go back.]
I don't know how far your powers can go. If you can... give him a picture of his family. [Sasuke is full of Doubt all the time, though, so:] If you can't...
...then give him a picture of his family here. The one he's made with Goro, Madoka, and Mizuki.
I think in the end everyone deserves better. And maybe if there was a good world, people wouldn't be as lost. [But it's a thought.] Thank you for finally coming to see me. I was afraid we'd never get to talk.
[The bowing of his head is more of a departure than anything modest or embarrassed. He offers the fox one last glance, feeling a strange pang of something familiar in his chest. He's glad he's not linked to Senri this week.
It's not a true goodbye, but this time as he turns to leave, he says:] Another time.
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I want Justice to win. I think he’s best suited... Being young, being so willing to try, to listen. The problem is, he’s... naive because of it. I’m... afraid some of the others will take advtanage of it, like how they bullied him into splitting you all evenly. [He looks up slowly, and then he looks to the fox, away again. Distantly.] He’s young enough to not be set in traditions... ones perpetrated over and over.
You have a lot on your side, though. If Yu can convince enough people to join you...
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[…] There was a man I knew once in my old life. No one suspected a thing because he was meek and clumsy and kind of one of the worst detectives ever. As it turned out, because he was playing the long game he was a serial killer who was responsible for a string of murders and murder attempts in my home. In Inaba. [In this place, where they are.] If you really think he's best suited, I'll support your choice, but I wanted you to understand why I have my own reservations even though I think he's a very sweet kid.
I only have one more than Justice. I'm worried Yu-senpai will actually hurt more than help with the way he's going about this. And I can tell you this. Justice has had members come and go multiple times, but I've never gained any. I've lost, but it's because they're people who were hit with a power, or people who were killed. The people who've joined me are those who aligned with me originally.
The only one who can convince people is me. And that's what I'll do. [There's a pause as she thinks.] …it's a new world. Who's to say we won't create new traditions of our own?
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[He finds himself looking back to Love again. He can see... why Itachi would choose her. Why, even if Itachi defected so many times as he did, Itachi would still be loyal anyway. More than likely.
Everything else... He'd only be arguing endlessly over a difference of opinion, so:]
You said Yu might hurt more than help. [He can't say Yu is terribly rash except, apparently, when very angry about the suffering of others, but...] Tell me what I can do to change that.
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At the mention of Yu though...she sighs softly.]
He needs to practice some more self-preservation. [...] I don't know if you've heard, but...we know each other. You know, from the old life. I'm worried about that being used against him if he tells the wrong person.
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He did seem more familiar with this wing than anyone else. Tch... That damn idiot. [He's going to knock those stupid glasses off Yu's face.] He wanted to apologize to Goro and the rest, too. I told him to keep his mouth shut, but I don't know if he did.
I'll talk to him.
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...I think he'll listen to you. I don't want to hurt him, but considering everything else that's happened in this game. [Drinking trial milk. Getting lost for days. Etc.] He's a very honest person, too. And in a game like this people might not appreciate that.
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He might have been one of the ones to do it himself... if not for some of the people he's met.]
He needs to be more careful. I know he's... happy. About this place. About you. I can see why he's with you. You must mean a lot to him. [Sasuke doesn't want to say he wouldn't want to ruin Yu's happiness because......... gross, feelings.]
I'll remind him to be more cautious.
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...we're kind of dating? [Shrug. It's a weird and complicated situation, and she apparently doesn't care that Sasuke knows at this rate since he's helping her.] In my old life, I loved him. That never changed, but I've changed. That's why he needs to be extra careful.
But I'd appreciate it. [A beat.] ...Indulgence's dumb rule means that I owe you a favor though. What would you want in exchange?
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Suddenly, he's... not so sure what he'd ask for. This rule hasn't bothered him so much as making him vulnerable to giving stuff back, but more... he isn't sure what to ask for when it's his turn. Everything... he's worked himself to get. Always. He's never asked for anything because... he never thought he deserved it unless he earned it. Nothing was ever handed to him.] I...
[Hm. He wants... to tell Itachi he's changed his mind, he thinks, but... No, he'll save it. He wants to say it himself. At the end. Before they go back.]
...I want you to do something for Senri.
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Okay. I think that can be arranged...what kind of something?
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...then give him a picture of his family here. The one he's made with Goro, Madoka, and Mizuki.
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[He can’t say he feels much better after talking to Love, but... he can admit (to himself) it was needed.]
...Thank you for accepting Itachi. He... deserved better. He deserved... a world like the one you want to make.
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[The bowing of his head is more of a departure than anything modest or embarrassed. He offers the fox one last glance, feeling a strange pang of something familiar in his chest. He's glad he's not linked to Senri this week.
It's not a true goodbye, but this time as he turns to leave, he says:] Another time.
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