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[doomfire]

Leave a message and I'll get back to it as soon as possible.

[ no introductions, nobody's going to call him unless they have business anyway!

or will they

who knows ]

Comments

[integrous]

[ It wasn't even meant as a jab, honestly. She's just worried about her friends, and pretty specifically about him too since she did fail him last time. ]

I won't get hurt. [ it sounds pretty determined. ] I have too many people I can't let down.

[doomfire]

Just don't push yourself. [ he tells her that a lot, but he feels like he needs to say it whenever this sort of thing happens ]

[integrous]

[ it's needed, pretty much. asahi's the type to just keep going until she faints if it's for a good cause.. ]

I'm fine, aren't I? I haven't passed out or anything like that.

[doomfire]

[ his mind is going "yeah, you haven't YET"... ] That doesn't mean you won't. We can't afford to lose people.

[integrous]

D.. don't say it like I'll die or anything, since I won't! I definitely won't!

[ not because she's that overconfident, but just since she knows that she can't let down a lot of people like that. ]

[doomfire]

[ ...god, Asahi, don't worry him like this all over again ]

...Good. But don't get ahead of yourself either.

[integrous]

[ she's good at worrying people without meaning to.. the curse of being reckless and all. ]

I'm just helping out, that's all! A lot of people are counting on me.

[doomfire]

Think about them, then.

[integrous]

I already am! Why do you think I'm fighting so hard, I.. I have to make sure everyone ends up okay in the end!

[doomfire]

[ this might come out harsh to her, especially after what happened almost two months ago now. but it does need to be said ]

...If something happens, you can't blame yourself. We'll need everyone we can get.

[integrous]

[ .. ngh. She knows why he's saying it, that's what makes it so difficult to just swallow. Since he died, and since she thought that was her fault - she only told him it in that much detail, after all.. ]

I know that. [ But she sounds a little like a grumpy kid that's just relunctant to agree - and if they do, it's only for the sake of agreeing. ]

[doomfire]

Good. Just keep a cool head and you'll be fine.

[ at least he hopes she'll be ]

[integrous]

...

[ she ponders for a moment whether she should ask it, but.. after some good moments and a deep breath, she manages to force it out. ]

You trust me, right..?

[doomfire]

[ ...that's an odd question. but he understands why she'd ask it ]

I do.

[integrous]

I'll do better this time. [ 'this time' since.. well, this is a subject she can mostly talk only with him about, after all -- she respects him a lot, not to mention that she still feels like she owes him big time, so.. ]

.. I promise..

[doomfire]

[ ...and she's still torn up over that. Admittedly, he's tried to brush it off himself, knowing they'd have to fight again like this- but it's still hard to talk about ]

You did fine back then. You'll do fine now.

[integrous]

[ asahi never forgets, okay!! or rather, she's just way too hard on herself always. ]

No, I have to do better than that! If I don't, then-.. then people might die again..!

[doomfire]

[ one of the more frustrating people he's ever met, right here. but also one of the best ones, probably. ]

...I've told you, you didn't do anything wrong there. Don't think about that now.

[integrous]

... [ There's a 'nngghh' sort of sound, as if she's trying to convince herself - since she knows he's right, she really does - but it's just.. difficult. ]

Fine. I'll.. just try to not think about it. Just this once. If that means I'll be able to do my best more..

[doomfire]

It will. You've got to keep a cool head, and you'll be fine.

[integrous]

That's difficult in the middle of all this though. I mean.. it's not just a normal battle, this is a real war, right..? Even though they've been talking about it all this time, it's still different when it actually happens.

[doomfire]

[ finally his experience comes in handy ] Right. You don't know when the enemy will attack, so you've got to be able to take any factors into account.

[integrous]

Compared to you I don't know much about this kind of thing at all, huh?

[doomfire]

It doesn't matter now. We'll all have to take it, whatever we know.

[integrous]

.. You better be trying extra hard to not die though then, got it?! If you do, then I'll.. I'll.. [ there's a strange sound that almost sounds like a near-sob, except she's not really crying.. ] .. I'll kick your ass to hell and back myself, okay?!