animus_network | six ✾ video; partially filtered

I need some assistance with acquiring a set of fighting fans - they'll only be used for defense and monster-fighting when the administration feels the need to take away our powers. I'd like a set of metal ones with either sharpened edges or hidden blades.

I've been told by Diarmuid Ua Duibhne that I should speak to a Thorin Oakenshield about this? I'm not sure where I'd get the metal, but I trust both of you on this one.

There's...something else.

[And she takes a deep breath.]

People with violet collars are quite possibly in for some trouble, because unless something happened after I -

[The long pause is probably telling. Yes, she died.]

- I failed to stop him from taking it, there's a tank of your collar fluid in Sephiroth's hands. It's probably fairly obvious what I mean by 'failed'. Considering he's not above either mind control or killing other people, I don't really think I have to say a lot more.

filtered to the Investigation Team, Commander Shepard, and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne:

Remind me that when my gut tells me something is a bad idea, that it is generally right. My gut was telling me to get one of you guys last night when I was - and I swear, I was not down there to get in trouble, I was just curious since I'd gotten two collar checks, which I cooperated with, last week. I wanted to take a look. I didn't know...I didn't know what would happen.

I happened to be down there when the door was open, when it had been closed or protected the entire week, and...it ended badly. I didn't know if I'd have time to get backup, as much as my gut was screaming at me to get it, and I'll be frank here: I died trying to stop Sephiroth. I knew having anything in his hands was a bad idea.

I thought someone would - anyway, what should I do, when someone I thought I could trust because of mutual friendship because of...well, Yu trusts him. I thought I could too, and I would have done something, and yes, it probably would have ended the same way. I still would have done something if he was the one getting attacked. It was...not good, to say the least, to learn that it doesn't go both ways. I don't know what to do now. I didn't call him out or anything, because I don't know what happened after I died and I know it's not fair to call someone out like that, but I don't know what to do now.

private to Ryoji Mochizuki:

[And it's here that Yukiko chokes up, starts to shake a little trying to keep her tears in.]

...I won't ever be as stupid as that again. I just didn't want anything - I know your collar is violet and I just didn't want anything related to it or to you in any way in the hands of someone who's hurt you, and I just wasn't fast enough, and...I'm sorry I couldn't stop Sephiroth from killing me. I'm so sorry.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It wasn't - it wasn't your fault -

[And then she shakes again and isn't able to look at the screen for a few moments.]

Terminal closest to the second floor dorms.

[He doesn't answer to the video. What would he even say? He knows that Sephiroth attacked her partly because of her connection to Ryoji. He has to accept part of the blame.

But his guilt isn't the issue right now. What is important is that Yukiko is hurt, and Ryoji has to try to make sure she doesn't have to suffer this without support. He's at the terminal in an instant, pulling Yukiko into his arms. He doesn't speak just yet; he can't find the words.]

[Yukiko doesn't say anything, either. What can she say? She doesn't know. If it's a matter of balancing guilt, she doesn't feel like she can say anything that doesn't put all of it onto her side. It's where it belongs, in her opinion.

Instead she lets Ryoji pull her close, wrapping her arms around him in return, and she buries her face into his scarf. She's taken to doing that when she's scared or upset, and she's not sure what it is about it that helps, but something does. It's enough to keep her from breaking down entirely, at least, even though she can't help a few short sobs.]

[Ryoji's grip tightens and voice softens with every sob escaping Yukiko's form. He runs fingers through her hair, like he always does when she needs comforting, and he just keeps offering reassurances, partly to drown out her crying, partly to distract her from where she believes all the guilt should go, though it's a lie, and partly just to keep himself calm.]

Shh... it's alright, Yukiko. I'm so sorry. You must have been so afraid. I won't let this happen again, I promise... I'm so, so sorry.

six ✾ video; partially filtered

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