ic inbox

[lingeringhope]

[Hope's voice is clear and clipped.]

If you would like to leave a message, you may do so here. I can't promise to respond. I have many demands on my time, and this sort of thing is far down the list. Still, if you would like to, you may.

Comments

[lingeringhope]

I can't say for sure, but whatever happens, I will do my utmost to protect you.

[cowardley]

A-All right. Thank you. [ this does not give her confidence in the future ]

[lingeringhope]

You're welcome.

voice; backdated to the 19th!

[torrefied]

Hope.

Sharon - the girl who's responsible for what's happening here - she's dead.

[lingeringhope]

Was that really necessary?

[torrefied]

[Boy howdy, is Mello ever tired of having this same conversation over and over.]

Yes. It was. I don't care if you approve, I just need to know if you can wait to bring her back until the lot of you have figured out how to contain her. I assume you are working on something to that effect, yes?

[lingeringhope]

We know how to negate the effects of her powers now, yes.

[torrefied]

Then why is this still happening? I thought - it should have stopped.

[When he. You know, killed Sharon.]

[lingeringhope]

It takes time and power to put these things into action. It'll be over very soon.

Please do not kill anyone else.

[torrefied]

I don't actually plan on it.

[Mello sighs loudly.]

I did try reasoning with her first, you know.

[lingeringhope]

That's good. I appreciate the effort you made, even if it came to nothing.

[torrefied]

You're probably the only one.

[If the reactions he's heard prior to taking action are any indication. Mello has no illusion about how this will be received by the population at large, especially since Sharon's death didn't stop the effects she'd caused.]

[lingeringhope]

Few of you appreciate what I do. Usually, I am blamed for all wrongs in this place. I would attempt to keep from doing the same to others.

Were you injured?

[torrefied]

That's incredibly stupid. I mean, I can't say I'm surprised, with this group, but you seem like the one who's taken the most active interest in our well-being.

[No doubt Hope stands to benefit from them the same as the others, but at least he's not, you know, making an effort to scare them, like Fear.]

No. I'm - [not fine, exactly] - she didn't fight me.

[lingeringhope]

I am.

[Simple and honest.]

I won't reward you for killing another human, but know that I appreciate the difficulty of what you have done.

[torrefied]

I wouldn't expect you to.

[Mello is very much aware of the concept of killing another person being a fundamentally bad thing - he's just also embraced the idea that bad things are sometimes necessary in service of the greater good. He knows he is a criminal, and he embraced that identity years ago, but he hasn't done the things he has because he enjoys them - he's done them because they were necessary. Just as he believed killing Sharon was necessary.]

But - um, thanks.

[The word of gratitude feels clumsy in his mouth, so infrequently used.]

[Video]

[mismanagement]

[Following this.

Maketh doesn't bother looking pleased. She's tired more than anything, and frustrated.]

I need Henry's armor replaced. It was destroyed and we have neither the skill nor the equipment to fix it.

Rage gave a price. It was cruel and would cause harm to others here.

You like to claim you're reasonable. So here I am. I'm willing to negotiate something if you will see it through.

[lingeringhope]

[He wasn't really expecting thanks, and isn't quite sure how to respond, and so falls back on basic politeness.]

You are welcome.

[Video]

[lingeringhope]

Arms and armor are not an area I have much experience in. I can try, but it will require energy and time.

Repair one of the bridges that cross the river, and I'll make you that armor.

[Video]

[mismanagement]

Very well.

[It hurts her almost physically to agree to this, but she needs the damn armor. So she'll hold up her end of the bargain.]

[text]

[mismanagement]

[A few days later following this, Hope will receive this text.]

It's been done.

[And indeed it has.]

[voice]

[circumitus]

When one of us dies, do you have to bring us back?

[text]

[lingeringhope]

[It takes him a few more days - this really isn't his area. But finally a suit of armor does appear on Maketh's doorstep, complete and reasonably well-made, closely resembling Henry's old suit. A few of the details are off, but nothing that would make it unusable.]

[voice]

[lingeringhope]

I do not have to, but I greatly prefer to. My true preference, of course, would be that you not die in the first place.

[voice]

[circumitus]

So if someone asks you not to bring them back and they are killed, would you honor that request?