resumed | PC: ACE 💀

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. ]

... 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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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. ]

[ 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. ]

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 ]

[ 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.

... 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 ]

[ 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??? ]

... For Reigen's sake... It's probably too much to hope it was some kind of freak accident, huh.

[ the. the heart thing. ]

It might've been. [ he says tiredly, but contemplatively. ] There's only a few answers that make the most sense, and...the thing is...when you know how to really use your powers, you know how much effort to apply when you want to. So. Now it's about figuring it out and going from there.

... Sorry I can't help you guys with that. [ he should probably stop apologizing for things. he can't quite help it right now. ]

[ fuck off, he's just trying to grab his hand now. ]

A tip — if you feel the urge to apologize unprompted, just pause and think about whether you need to. It’s surprising how often you don’t. [ it's quiet, and also said more like he's quoting someone else. ]

[ ah. of course nico can grab his hand. ace hesitates before he holds it back ]

... Speaking from experience?

[ okay he's going to hold onto this just because he's very fully aware by this time tomorrow ace will be gone forever, sorry. a rueful little smile follows though. ]

Nope, it's something Tama told me a few weeks ago that she wanted me to keep in mind, so I'm passing it on to you. [ ... ] So maybe a little experience.

Tama's already lectured me enough fine on her own, you don't have to add on to it. [ it's teasing, though. he... likes the contact. he's not going to complain. ] ... It's hard not to feel like I messed up somewhere, seeing you guys like this.

Even if it's stuff you should hear anyway? [ he shakes his head. but...well. ]

I get it. I've...apologized for a lot of things after seeing people's reactions. Including apologizing for killing someone and hoping I didn't poison my friendship with people because of it. [ he just comes out to say it. ] You know it was a choice you had to make at the time, but it's still something you have to learn to live with when other people's reactions are more obvious.

But I don't know. I wouldn't call this messing up, Ace. Did you blame Reigen and say he messed up for wanting to live when Yae Miko came after him?

[ that makes him smirk a little, lightly ]

... I did... really want to punch him, at the time. For not telling us. [ and it was not hypocrisy because the mg gods let me go ofc ace wouldve told people if it wasnt for those pesky brain problems. ] Think that counts?

No, because that's for not telling us, not for doing it and being stuck in a bad situation. Those are two different things. [ are they. ]

[ of course they are. ace can't help it, he laughs a little. it's probably not appropriate for the moment, but he does ]

Yeah. I guess that's true.

[ he sort of grips his hand a little when ace laughs. ]

The point is...you didn't mess up. You would've messed up if you'd done to Sigrun what someone did to Reigen. If you'd been cruel in her death. But that's not you.

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