Twelth Minute

[possibly_here]

[Honestly, at this rate it's insane that Kazuki even is allowed to have a room onboard the Chalice considering how much time he's had to spend in the infirmary.  This latest visit came from his newest skirting with the assimilation problem of Fafner pilots everywhere (except Canon, lucky bitch)... one he'd brought on himself when he asked for the Mark Sein's delivery during yesterday's mission.]

... And yet Siegfried still went up the mountain, knowing the dangers that awaited him.  And yet he was not afraid.

[Both his mind and his body have been pushed to the brink in recent months, and that's been unfortunate because of how Soushi still needed to be rescued and the Mobile Doll system still had to be yoinked from the Titans.  But in the time Kazuki's spent in the medical ward recently, he's been reading the story of Siegfried -a story he finally learned about thanks to not-Fafner Ryou- and it's proved therapeutic to an extent.  And when he finishes the story, he just closes his eyes and leans back in his bed, looking up at the ceiling.]

...

It was worth it out there.  Even if I'd died, it would've been worth it.

[Sorry Soushi, bros before homos.]

Comments

[nietzsche_waifu]

[Devon sneaks into the ward and leans against the doorframe. She gives Kazuki a long, serious look before finally saying that one sentence.]

It's just like Ryo...

[possibly_here]

[And hearing that... Kazuki frowns.]

And you're saying I shouldn't have? The Mark Sein made a big difference out there.

1/2

[nietzsche_waifu]

It'd be more sensible to retreat and wait for reinforcements.

... But I won't judge you. You made a decision - even if it was not an optimal one, it's still better than doing nothing.

2/2

[nietzsche_waifu]

Just...

[Devon is very quiet now, almost whispering.]

Take care of yourself. Don't end like Ryo did...

[possibly_here]

Believe me, I don't want to. I was looking at a reminder of what happened to Ryo for a good part of the battle.

[nietzsche_waifu]

Tch. What were the Inspectors aiming for, making copies of these machines specifically?

Because if it was to enrage us - they were successful.

[possibly_here]

They probably got more than they bargained for when I took control of the TSX though.

And they probably recreated the Adventus general machines just to showcase their strength while they were at it.

[nietzsche_waifu]

They attacked that Orsini Industries facility, and not White Chalice directly.

Did they know we would defeat them in a straight fight... or was the base their objective all along?

[possibly_here]

We probably won't know unless we can beat some answers out of them. That isn't very likely, all things considered.

Though considering what they sent at us, maybe they'd honestly thought they could take us.

[nietzsche_waifu]

I don't mind enemies who underestimate us. Their arrogance will be their downfall.