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[pedagogies]

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[pedagogies]

You may not like the answer.

Are you sure?

[girlybruiser]

[ It's in the way that her heart skips a beat that—

Haru doesn't know.

But knowing the truth is probably far more important than her feelings.

... she tells herself, but swallows anxiously as she slowly presses each key. ]

Yes.

[pedagogies]

[ qifrey is an excellent teacher. well-versed in magic, skill, ability.

but his greatest power lies in this: he knows the scorch of revenge. ]

Even if you win a battle with Akechi, that is not a victory. Because it has not ended. He still exists in your thoughts, in your mind. He has a space there, one you have yet to resolve.

And . . . I do not believe you got Akechi to yield. If you had, perhaps then you would be more at peace.

cw: violence + blood mention

[girlybruiser]

[ Ah, this is another reason she had been afraid to message him.

Qifrey seems to know how to rattle her in a way not many others can.

Not that many have tried in this world. ]

No, I'm sure he yielded. If anything, he hasn't tried to come for me since.

[ In her head, she is the one who walked out of that room the real victor; Akechi, who had poked and prodded her that whole time, who couldn't help himself but stir unwanted conversations, had finally been silenced around her.

Was that not a victory of its own?

Did she not see that acknowledgement in the frenzy of his gaze, that she wasn't some delicate puppet for him to play with anymore? When she had pinned him to the floor, his own blade to his throat, the spatter of deep red on his clothes, her own, the knife itself coated and dotting his neck— ]

It's not so simple anyway.

[pedagogies]

I would never say it is.

But he doesn't need to. Because he's still right here. Your thoughts on him are not silenced. Because I believe you know that too. You know it's not done.

[girlybruiser]

What would that ending look like?

[ It's already done back home anyway.

It doesn't linger in the way it does here. That's all that should matter... right? ]

[pedagogies]

That I do not know. What sort of ending it takes is up to you.

But I do not think it would linger so strongly if it was resolved.

[girlybruiser]

I'm not sure there is a resolution for the kind of pain someone inflicts on you, even if there were other forces at play.
A resolution that involves forgiveness is not on the table.

[pedagogies]

I was not planning on suggesting it. And you're right. There may not be a neat resolution to this.

But how much of yourself are you going to give to it? Will he always be there?

[girlybruiser]

[ November.

The engine room.

A heavy metal wall. Splitting the world into two.

Joker says something to Crow. Nobody can parse it.

Noir is still bewildered by everything that's transpired, trying to absorb this new information that the Black Mask was Crow all along, meaning he was the one who took her father's life at the behest of Shido.

But in the midst of all these intense emotions and revelations, there's something between Joker and Crow.

She can't grasp it at all. Sometimes she wants to, other times she feels almost disgusted by the thought, but then there are times she accepts it's not for her to understand.

It's a world shared between the two. It's a reality in which suddenly Akechi Goro never disappeared in that engine room.

Whose wish was that?

Why does Haru feel so sick to her stomach? ]

He's important to the people I care about.
So he must remain.

[pedagogies]

And so he must.

But I'm asking if he has to remain in your thoughts as well.

cw: death/murder mention

[girlybruiser]

It's not on purpose.
Just sometimes... it happens. Like Sleepr, I guess.

[ Ah... but Qifrey doesn't know what happened between them.

What really happened. ]

It's not so easy, unfortunately.
When the person who helped take your only beloved parent away suddenly reappears.

[pedagogies]

[ so that's it. oh akechi. the fool. qifrey is no stranger going to extreme lengths. and yet, this one creates more obstacles than pathways. ]

It'll never be easy.

But the choice and the journey is yours.

[girlybruiser]

Of course. I'll try my best.

[ She refuses to let her life be ruled by it, but there are far too many things happening in this land that make it hard not to overthink— over feel at times. ]

You know, he said something strange to me that night. In the hotel room, I mean.
I wonder... what strange things he's said to you as well.

[pedagogies]

Oh he says a lot of nonsense.

I usually just tune it out. Until it's relevant to point out his flaws.

[girlybruiser]

[ Oh, she likes Qifrey. ]

Pointing out he was also a victim isn't a flaw, but he certainly treated it like one. Or an insult, rather.
... it really doesn't bother you? Any of it?

[ What kind of patience does this man have... ]

[pedagogies]

Of course he would. That would deride his assumption of complete control. Victims are helpless. A label he would very much hate.

But no, it doesn't bother me. Why would it?

[girlybruiser]

[ Victim don't have to be helpless, she realizes.

Maybe she had said the wrong thing at that time.

Perhaps she had to acknowledge they were both survivors, rather than mere victims. ]

Not to be blunt, but... didn't you mention a stabbing?
Did he hurt you?

[pedagogies]

Not me. A . . . friend of mine. At least a simulacrum of him.

I was quite cross at the time.

[girlybruiser]

Right. You had mentioned an illusion back then...
Well, I am sorry to hear that happened still. It's unfortunate that anyone would have to deal with such behaviour to begin with.

[pedagogies]

It's all right. I've put it behind me.

[girlybruiser]

You seem so... calm.

[ bruh ]

[pedagogies]

It was quite a while ago and it wasn't my friend.

So it's easier.

[girlybruiser]

Have you forgiven him, then?

[ Does he believe in forgiveness? ]

[pedagogies]

I suppose you can say that. Those circumstances were easier to let go of.