PC: ACE 💀

[resumed]

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[resumed]

[ he seems to realize he overstepped that one because he's immediately backtracking. ]

Sorry, no, that's not...I didn't mean it like that. I just meant...it'll be really hard on some people and I...

[ well no nothing he says is going to be good, he's just fumbling instead. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ ACE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S WORST BEING TOLD IT'S GONNA BE HARD ON SOME PEOPLE OR THAT NICO IS GOING TO SAY IT ISN'T HARD ON HIM

oh man what if it isn't..... no not the time worms ]

... I get it.

[resumed]

[ there's a long pause. ]

...I don't want you to go. [ just to make that clear. ] But I don't want you to feel guilty about it when your hands were tied.

[selfimmolation]

... I'm a pretty messed up guy. [ he admits that softly, looking at the floor like it's a confession ] Even though I should feel guilty, and I don't want you guys hurt... Knowing you'd want me around enough to be upset by it, it kind of makes me happy.

[resumed]

[ he ends up laughing, even if it sounds watery and kind of broken. ]

You're such an idiot. You and Reigen both, I don't understand how either of you could ever think we wouldn't want you here with us. Or what you actually mean to people. It's not like we aren't all pretty messed up either. [ ... ] It's exactly why it hurts though, yeah.

[selfimmolation]

... He called me out on it, you know. A few times. And in his letter. [ hypocrisy!!! ] You guys... have been the best part of this place. You know?

[resumed]

Like I said, he's stupid, too, for never fully realizing how much we needed him. [ ... ] His letter was...hard to read, but I think he wanted to make sure we all knew in the end. But it's the same for me. This place is...awful and I want to go home but...you guys have been worth it. Figuring everything out, trying to find a way together. I didn't think...I'd meet other people who understood the way you guys do.

[ and that's maybe why it's so hard now. ]

[selfimmolation]

... You'll get home. I know you guys will figure it out.

[ because he thinks will and nico definitely, definitely deserve to go home. but. ]

A bunch of misfits ending up together... Pops would probably find it funny. It's the same thing he did.

[resumed]

And that turned out pretty alright for him. [ it gave ace a home. but he stops again, and this time he's staring right at him. ]

Don't say that like we're giving up on you guys already though. We're not leaving anyone behind, even if we're separated for a little while.

[selfimmolation]

... I know you wouldn't. And I'm not saying you should, either. [ he tilts his head a little. he'd be the same way, is the thing, so can he really blame nico for not wanting to think of the alternative? ] ... If there is another side, and there's anything I can do from there, I'll try too.

[resumed]

I know you will. [ because he knows ace is similar to himself that way. neither of them are great at giving up when they probably should. ] ...if you're really going where the rest are...you'll have Reigen. And Norma and Chiemi are there. Mika, too. Sigrun will likely help if you ask, even after all of this. And make sure to take care of Whisper. And see if Rocket's behaving.

[ there are others, too, but...you know.]

[selfimmolation]

... I'll keep track of everyone. [ if it's a thing, which he has trouble believing, but he won't share that. ] And... I'll see about those newspaper letters, too.

[resumed]

Thank you. [ but...he bows his head again. ] Not that it matters at all right now. None of that matters to me. You're still here, so...I want you to be able to spend time with us while you can. Even if it's still back here.

[ bookends, really. ]

[selfimmolation]

... It feels a little fitting, even if it's not where I'd want to spend that time.

[ he didn't need to say it but he did anyway. he looks through his pockets and. oh. hm... ]

Hey. Can I ask you a favor? [ he holds out the little sabo tamagotchi for nico to take ] Hold onto him for me? I know he's just a toy of something that wasn't real, but... I kind of got attached.

[resumed]

Guess we should just be glad they allow visitors, huh? I mean not that I think any of us would be stopped, but--

[ he does not get to continue that thought because. he. knows what that is? he knows what that is, and i knew you were going to give it to me, you asshole. he's pausing entirely...but he'll take the sabogotchi anyway to cradle in both palms a little sadly. ]

...it was real enough. So...yeah, obviously. I'll take good care of him so he'll be waiting here when you come back.

[selfimmolation]

You'd just end up stuck in jail again, if they tried to bar entry, huh.

[ a little teasing. he smiles at nico when he agrees to take care of his special toy <3 ]

He's kind of needy, and... I think you can ask him about stuff once, and he'll word vomit an encyclopedia at you. It's not really worth trying. [ sabogotchi is being slandered. anyway he carries so much junk in his pocket nico is also getting handed a grey magatama ] This thing's a little more useful. I don't know anyone's team powers, but if you break it, it'll double the effectiveness or length of one of those. If you can't use it, check with the others.

[ a beat ]

I'm done dumping junk on you now, though. Promise.

[resumed]

Yup. And then you'd have to come up with another good plan to get all of us out.

[ it's an attempt at teasing but the words sound. hollowish. because there's no escaping now, and he hates it. he's looking at sabogotchi on the screen because he's a cute lil guy in a fucking horrible hat, but he seems to be studying him. like he's really dedicating himself to taking care of it. i mean his demon's probably with will in the waiting area they've all convened in right now, he's decent at taking care of everything but himself, but it's fine. the magatama gets his attention though. ]

...I can probably use it. But if there's something better it can go toward, that's what I'll do. [ he can't quite bring himself to tell ace what his team power is, but he can at least know he'll look for the best option. the magatama goes into his pocket, but sabogotchi stays in his hands. ]

I don't mind if he's needy. [ "i kind of am too these days." ] I'll save my question for later. [ ...but he rolls his eyes. ] I can't even kick you for calling it junk, you're too far away.

[selfimmolation]

You say that like I came up with a single good one.

[ he's kind of been planless, this whole time. and look where that landed him woops. he looks incredibly touched at the way nico's handling little sabo, and in the end he shuffles closer to the cell bars like it's a joke. kick if you want. or whatever. ]

This help?

[resumed]

Again, your bad idea meant Datz texting us and all of us getting together here. I can't think of a single thing I regret about that.

[ babby sabo is in one hand and ace is close to the bars which means he can slip a hand through and punch him. it's light and in a space ace doesn't actually have injuries, more for show than anything. he doesn't pull his hand out of the cell immediately though. ]

Good enough.

[selfimmolation]

Ow.

[ there's very little space ace isn't at least a little injured but he bears it with only that mock complaint, using the closeness to slip his own hand close enough to squeeze nico's shoulder through the bars briefly ]

... I don't regret that either. But you know that.

[ he's still living without regrets, no matter what. ]

[resumed]

[ he ducks his head a little at that. ]

I do know that. Even now, huh? [ but he says that like he already knows the answer, and like he's not surprised. it's admirable in a way. even if he's not sure he himself could do it. ]

[selfimmolation]

I made my choices. Even if they led me back here... [ he pauses ] Well. If I were to go back, the only thing I'd change is writing things down so you'd definitely know in advance.

[ THANKS CYOA EFFECT ]

[resumed]

[ gods. he can't help but laugh just a little at that because that's so out of the realm of who ace is, but it's okay. ]

I'm not sure that's how that works but I can appreciate the sentiment. You know I like having answers.

[selfimmolation]

... Yeah. There's one we don't have now.

[ and he looks more sorry about that than he is about himself being voted for. he really did want to know who killed reigen :T ]

[resumed]

[ yeah...there is that. ]

...we're going to keep looking for that answer, too. I don't think any of us are going to stop until we do, if only to understand why they did it the way they did.

[ THE. HEART??? ]