duel 5. ( anon text. )

[puzzlingly]

You know what fucking sucks?
The Speakeasy
The owner is never around.
Just Who Does SHE Think She Is?!?!?!
She can't do shit right around here.
WE HAVE NEEDS!
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO STAND THIS HEAT WITHOUT MY BOOZE?!

「Hey, hey, Rey's friends... yeah, he's calling you out, come defend your friend, come show you care about her! He needs you... She needs you. Please.
The clock is ticking.

Yep, this is ruse. It WAS HARD, OK?! He feels terrible. It had to be done.」

Comments

video. private

[puzzlingly]

「You know what... that works.

There goes nothing.」

What if it meant defending her from herself?

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

[Suddenly, their face is revealed; they have switched their communication mode from text to video. It startles him enough that there is a noticeable pause before he responds, his tone guarded.]

What do you mean?

[video] private

[puzzlingly]

「He's not surprised in the slightest that they don't turn on the feed themselves, it's fine. He knew what he was getting into when he did this, the mistrust he'd get from the very beginning. It's all worth it.」

You seem to know her, but you haven't seen her lately, have you?

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

It is as I told you: she has taken a leave of absence to focus on her recovery. She has largely remained indoors.

[video] private

[puzzlingly]

「He doesn't really like how this guy speaks, so... squarish. It doesn't give him much to work with.」

But have you seen her?

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

No. I have not seen Miss Rey during her respite.

[It would seem that she has remained in the private dwelling she shares with Mr. Valentine; that much he is aware of.]

[video] private

[puzzlingly]

... Maybe you should.

「That's a perfectly logical assumption. Actually...」

She's at her home, in case you were wondering.

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

[The young man has thrown him.]

... If you are in fact acting in her best interest, then might I suggest a more amiable approach?

[video] private

[puzzlingly]

Sorry if I caused you any trouble, but it had to this way.

「For maximum effectiveness!」

Hmm... What is going on with Rey, I'd rather explain in person if possible. Unless you'd rather just go in blindly, and if you do that, I'd wish you luck.

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

[Oscar objects to the notion; this approach is more harmful to Miss Rey than it is helpful.]

... Very well. Where should we meet?

[video] private

[puzzlingly]

I'm at the bar.

「Ironically.」

[audio] private → [action]

[onlyanautomaton]

[Fine.]

I will make my way over there now.

Goodbye.

*

[Oscar enters the establishment just a few minutes later. There aren't many people here at the moment, so finding the young man poses him no challenge. He walks over to him without delay, coming to a halt next to his booth. Then, softly:]

I'm here.

[puzzlingly]

「Excuse him while he just stares.

It's not so hard to guess this is the individual that was chatting with him not so long ago, but somehow he expected the slightly metallic voice to be a thing from the communicators... It is not incredibly surprising, given that back home he had to face a few AIs, but none of them had such humanoid vessel (he is still a little unaware of rey's nature).

This is new.」

... Hey...

「And there is a little more staring before he makes a gesture to the seat in front of him.」

You can sit if you want...

[onlyanautomaton]

[Oscar is certain that the staring is due to the mechanical nature of his appearance; his initial interactions with many people have been tempered by the same stunned silence. On this occasion, other than turning his head slightly, he doesn't react to it.

He gives a short nod and sits when he is invited to do so. He then waits for the young stranger to speak.]

[puzzlingly]

「It's true that Atem cannot help but stare for a moment more, but in truth, he's thinking a little more of what his friends would say about Hadriel and its people if he told them about it, and less about the appearance of this guy. Which is admirable on its own.

He gives a little silent sigh, right, focus.」

May I ask you something about yourself first?

[onlyanautomaton]

[He obliges the request. It is important that he attempts to dispel any possible fears or doubts regarding what he is as quickly as possible before moving on.]

What would you like to know?

[puzzlingly]

Can you feel sympathy for others?

「Atem is aware it might be a cruel question to ask, if... this person felt as any other human being. But it's somehow important in this context. He already replied to the post, expressing concern, if not, a logic response to someone he knows being attacked, but he still needs to know.」

[onlyanautomaton]

[Oscar lowers his head a bit.]

You can be certain that I am nothing like the Null.

[puzzlingly]

What are... 「He didn't want to ask that way but.」 That's not what I asked...

[onlyanautomaton]

If I couldn't feel sympathy, I would not have engaged you on the network as I did, nor would I have agreed to come here to learn what it is that you know.

[puzzlingly]

「That's good enough, no, it is perfect.」

All right...

「He sighs slightly, it's not easy to just begin talking about it.」

About Rey, she... she's not doing well. Something happened that's made her lose herself. She... she needs help, from her friends, from the people she knows and knows her enough, not just anyone. I guess you're one of them.

[onlyanautomaton]

...In truth, I do not know Miss Rey that well. Most of what I know about her has been learned through my interactions with those who are familiar to her and through my own observations.

...But I think I may know what has happened.

I do hope that I'm wrong.

[He falls silent. He is of course thinking of Dr. Undine Valentine. What would she have wanted him to do?]

[puzzlingly]

「He sees that, it's strange but he can still see something in there. Not as clean as other's thoughs have been but, it's there. Who is that? Valentine... Is she related to Nick in someway?

No, hold on, he didn't put this thing on to snoop into people's minds... no matter how strange this one is.」

Can you tell me?

「Maybe he doesn't have to force his way into this guy's HDD after all.」

[onlyanautomaton]

...If she neglected to inform you of this herself, then she probably does not want other people knowing about it.

[He bows his head a little, apologetic. He fears that Miss Maketh did not simply disappear from Hadriel. Mr. Hope may not have had power enough to revive her...]

[puzzlingly]

「That makes him chuckle, it is not an amused one, however.」

She's not sharing much at the moment anyway.

「He shouldn't sound so bitter but, it hasn't been easy. He shouldn't complain, it's not like she's making him do anything either...」

Look... I don't... 「No, it's not that he doesn't care, but whatever information he has, it's not going to help him.」 If you can help her, just do it.