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[hallowedly]

MURMUR | ENCOUNTERS

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coming in hot and eating a lot of crow -

[salaryman]

[ Aaa -- is that how much Sleep wants to give? He'd rather not. He understands now what Seishirou meant, and he balks at the idea. Giving up his life is one thing; giving up as much as One did is another. His pretty face is nice, but if what's beneath it is hollowed out -- he shudders. But he shudders with a lot of emotions that aren't his. ]

I don't hate to say but I must... you were right.

[hallowedly]

( And this, the most marrow-husked, fatigued, depleted, entirely and unreasonably warped: )

...is that so?

[salaryman]

[ Ah... ]

Yes. ... I don't think I have it in me to be a good worshiper.

[hallowedly]

Now, now. Keep going.

[salaryman]

Isn't it enough I'm telling you how right you are?

[hallowedly]

No. Never quite. What did she want?

[salaryman]

She didn't tell me what she wanted.

She only wanted me to decide what I wanted to give... something precious enough to prove I'm worthy to tether to her.

[hallowedly]

She's an old-fashioned woman. Can't be helped that she wants to see your ring first.

[salaryman]

I suppose it can't.

I underestimated what she would want... here I thought a little bit of love would go a long way.

[hallowedly]

High-value women know their worth.

[salaryman]

But you're underestimating how cute I am.

[hallowedly]

Hardly so young anymore.

1/2

[salaryman]

I know... I'm an old, old man.

[salaryman]

Ah - I happened to find some cigarettes for you, though?

I wandered through some office buildings and rummaged through the drawers of the workers to acquire them. I can't speak on how good they are, but there is something nice about stolen goods, yes?

Although, I think everything we take is going to be considered stolen. [ Haha. ]

[hallowedly]

Don't you mean commandeered?

[salaryman]

Yes, that is what I meant.

[hallowedly]

Perhaps even morally requisitioned. We're only recycling.

[salaryman]

It would be a shame if these things weren't used, it's true.

[hallowedly]

Then I have an obligation to relieve you of these cigarettes.

[salaryman]

You do.

I can't promise the brand or anything are very good, but hope you enjoy them.

[hallowedly]

...what do you want?

[salaryman]

[ If he says nothing, he feels the lie will slip through their connection. Already something seeps beneath the surface of his actions.

So, he'll be honest -- ]

Your goodwill.

[hallowedly]

Are you... afraid of me?

[salaryman]

[ Hmmmmmmmmm -- ]

That's a difficult question for me to answer. If I had to answer yes or no, I suppose the answer would be more "no" than "yes."

[ Since he wouldn't whine to Seishirou about his poor decisions if he feared him as that would show weakness. ]

However, I do feel like I could've done more to help you all out before the Final Battle. I only poked my head out once from my cubicle, and that effort ended up pointless.

[ While he saved Nataku from death, Nataku chose death for itself later. However, in dying, another kekkai fell - so it just made his efforts pointless rather than meaningless. Pointless not meaningless. Another turn of phrase, he supposes. ]

[hallowedly]

As for the final battle... frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.