[Kotako] - For Enter/Emeric

[red_pleather]

I clear my throat, not that I need to. I guess it's just one of those things that was programmed into us. So we would appear more sympathetic, more human. Oh, I'm so nervous. I don't know if that's programmed into me, but I'm definitely very nervous.

I tap the connection.

I hope he's there.

"E-Emeric?"






[ooc: am too lazy to make a separate journal for her]

Comments

[interpolate]

"That's very sweet of you." I hate it when she sounds upset. I don't even know who to blame anymore.

Myself, I suppose.

"But this isn't exactly like a broken window or a stolen piece of candy. Everyone is in danger. And Eti doesn't want me back."

[red_pleather]

"I'll talk to him," I say firmly. "You two have fought before, Emi. It will be all right. You just have to trust me."

[interpolate]

I give a halfhearted smile even though she can't see it.

If it keeps her busy. If it makes her happy.

"I do trust you, chérie. You do whatever you think is right."

[red_pleather]

"I will, my darling Emi," I say lovingly. "And I'll come to see you, too. I'll fix everything."

I touch the screen, running yet another computation in my head to come up with an estimate of what he might look like now. Like Etienne, of course, but not exactly. They've never been one hundred percent identical. Not to me, or Takosawa, or each other.

"I love you."

[interpolate]

I don't see that happening any time in the near future... Or ever, but it's not my place to shatter her illusions. She's upset enough as it is.

"I'm sure you will." False hope. I guess I'm no better than Hiromu after all.

I close my eyes and sigh again. "I should go, chérie. I have things to do. I'm not sure when we can talk again." If we can talk again.

[red_pleather]

I don't want him to go. My voice gets very small.

"Can I see you on the screen, at least?"

[interpolate]

I've never been able to say no to her, damn it. I shake my head before she can see it, then with a tap of a few keys I turn on the visual feed.

Of course, she looks exactly the same. What was I expecting, her to be taller?

"Just for you."

[red_pleather]

I hear buttons being pressed, then he appears on the screen. My mouth icon turns up at the edges, then up some more.

"Emi," I say happily. "You look wonderful. Thank you!"

[interpolate]

She's smiling. Well, at least I could do that for her still.

"Thank you for the compliment," I say quietly, a reflex she had instilled in me when I was younger. "I really should go, though. Before..." Before anyone finds out. Before the Go-Busters track me here. Before I hurt her any more.

[red_pleather]

Such good manners, still. I don't know what's happened to him, but he's still a good person.

"You go if you have to," I tell him hastily. "I'll see you soon, okay? And I want a full explanation about everything when I do!"

[interpolate]

"Oui, oui, oui," I can't imagine her ever making it out of their base. There's no way Etienne will let her, at the very least. "Of course, I'll tell you everything then."

It'll probably be in the afterlife, but at least I can rest assured that chances are we'll at least go to the same one. The underworld for machines.

If such a thing even exists.

"And, Ko-ko..." I smile into the camera for her. "Je t'aime."

[red_pleather]

"You'd better," I say happily. I want to sound all punish-y because I've only just got him back, sort of, and I need to look after him! But I can't. I'm just so happy to see him and talk to him, even if I can't hug him yet.

....awww.

"Me, too," I say softly. "Very much."

[interpolate]

"Adieu, ma chérie." My voice drops to a whisper right before I cut the connection.

I'm still not crying. I guess that's not something I can do after all.