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Yeah. When you're ready. I don't wanna make you upset or something 'cause you're remembering something sad or whatever.

[She understands stuff like that and she'd never tell him to spill something unpleasant and heavy if he was uncomfortable!]

Yeah! So, I guess we really aren't, that's a bummer.

[....but... hm. Does she... spill all now or... There's definitely some quiet contemplation she's doing here.]

They hadn't done that to anyone else, just made them fess up to some really nasty stuff they did.

[While he was surprised that she seemed to pick up on that, he appreciated that she wasn't pushing him to say anything. He gives her a nod in the meantime, but it was definitely a conversation they could have down the line.]

Huh. Then that probably ain't them, right? Sounds hella weird to me if they was mixin' things up outta nowhere.

[.........you know what, fuck it we ball. She's just gonna say it.]

Well... I guess there's another reason. No use not saying anything while I'm here. [There's a deep breath, and a looooooong exhale.] It's 'cause I'm one of 'em. I'm their Oracle. I was definitely tooting my own horn with the calling card, but that took a lot of work.

[...........he did say that he'd listen to someone if they said they were wanted for crime, sooooo....]

[The realization that dawns on Beat's face is a slow progression.]

[His brows begin to uncrease, shooting up his forehead—]

[And eyes growing in size—]

[Curious interest slowly evolving to complete and utter shock.]

[Futaba was part of these Phantom Thieves?]

[Huh? Since when? Does that even matter considering they aren't from the same timeline?]

[Wait wait wait wait wait, let's back it up for a minute here, Beat.]

[So they... Steal hearts and stuff. And their names are Phantom Thieves and they stole the hearts of terrible people. That's what she said right?]

[He has SO many questions, his head is starting to hurt.]

[Okay, take a second to gather your thoughts, Beat. I'm sure you'll figure out what to say—]

You's part a' these Phantom Thieves, Shorty? For real? And you guys steal hearts?

[Or you'll blurt the first thing out of your mouth, as you usually do.]

That's the part I don't really get, yo. How'd you guys do something like that? It's not like something you guys are pullin' it outta them and stickin' it back in right?

[His imagination is going WILD right now.]

Yep. [Just matter-of-factly, there.]

It's... complicated, but think of it as... us going into someone's dream world, I guess. That's the easiest way to explain it. I even asked them to help me, but that... can probably wait 'til later too, heh.

I might be able to dreamwalk it if I tried, but the more someone... well, not in my case, but the longer they just didn't get caught and let their ego grow, their mental state would build up what we called a Palace, a big ol' place to shield themselves and a mental something that kickstarted their whole bad streak. We'd take that but we'd tell them we were going to take their heart. Once we took the treasure, we'd book it out and wait for a change of heart. That usually happened not long after and they'd confess to their crimes.

[...that might be too much for poor Beat right now.]

Edited (html is my nemesis.) 2023-02-25 11:18 (UTC)

[OKAY NO MORTAL KOMBAT. GLAD TO CLEAR THAT UP.

But this is too much for Beat right now... Regardless, he tries to listen! It's the making sense of things where he fails.

But he does understand one thing.]

Okay... All that sounds like you guys was doing a good thing though, especially if they was shitty people to begin with. Like you guys even captured them. [Beat shakes his head from side to side.] It don't sound like you guys was doin' anythin' wrong to me.

Yeah... we did have to be careful though, because if we weren't we could cause them harm in the real world... or worse. Usually if we... kinda roughed them up a little— and yeah, they fought back, like a big boss battle— [how very meta here] we could usually get them to see reason.

But someone did frame us by killing someone to pin the blame on us. So I guess I'm technically a wanted criminal, but we didn't kill anyone. I can say that as truth.

[She pauses for a moment, and though she had said all of that with conviction and while looking right at him, she gets a little nervous.]

That... doesn't change how you see me, does it?

[Since the first time they met, Futaba has never given Beat a reason not to believe her. So when she asks him that question, there's the briefest of pauses before he starts to laugh. The edges of his eyes crinkle and his shoulder begins to shake together with his laughter.

It isn't malicious either, not in the least, but by the end of it, Beat lets out sigh of relief. His all too familiar lopsided smile grows on his lips.]

Tha's what all this was 'bout?

[He sounds incredulous, utterly surprised by her question. Another chuckle escapes him as he shakes his head once more.]

Nah, course it don't, yo. Hell, it sounds like you guys were tryin' to do good for others, even if you was framed. If you say you guys didn't do it, I believe ya.

[Without so much as a second thought, he reaches out across the table and places his hand on hers, giving it the gentlest of squeezes in reassurance.]

'Sides, it don't matter if you's a Phantom Thief, yo. You still Shorty to me.

Edited 2023-02-25 14:49 (UTC)

W-well yeah! It's hard to be like... "so hey I'm totally a wanted criminal but I was framed and I can't really be caught" and not wonder if someone's gonna be like...

[In her best Disappointed Sojiro voice:]

"Well if you're actually a criminal I want nothing to do with that."

So it was a little... scary, you know? And... yeah, I even asked them to help me before I joined them and I'm still here— uh but it wasn't because my ego got out of control or something! That can... come later, heh. [No reason to bring up her mom beyond a happy memory tonight.

His placing his hand on hers gets her to flush a little, and his words are a good thing to hear and it gets her to smile.]

Heh. Thanks Bones. I'm glad it didn't change things, it'd be kinda weird if it did, but I'm glad you trust me.

[...there's a glance down to her things, though... will that all change when she shoves chocolates at him? Ughhhh... 50/50 chance, hopefully it's the good chance.]

[The impression that she does gets a laugh out of him that he doesn't even try to hide. It's obvious that she's really trying and it's a tone of voice that he recognizes all too well. Beat had heard it from his parents enough times for him to consider that their default when it came to talking to him.]

That supposed to be your old man or something? 'Cause that sure sounds like somethin' a dad would say.

[With a shrug of his shoulders, he shakes his head from side to side. ]

Course I trust ya. It ain't like yous done anything to make me think differently, Shorty. 'Sides—

[But he cuts himself short. There's more than he wants to say. That it would take a lot for things to change between them. But the more he thought about it over the past few weeks, he knew that things could change between the two of them. That lingering thought had been something that put his stomach in knots and he was feeling it once again being alone with her.

Seeing the blush spread across her cheeks also made him realize what he had done, feeling her much smaller hand underneath his. For the briefest moment, he thinks about pulling it back, but he knows he doesn't want to. Not just yet. So he gives it another squeeze when he notices her looking away, taking that opportunity to divert course in the meantime.]

'Sides, looks to me that ain't the only thing you worried 'bout.

Yeah, my best impression of Sojiro. He was pretty disappointed when he found out, but he ended up supporting us in the end. But if he hadn't... it might have been like that.

[But Sojiro knew. He knew that they were doing the right thing and that he believed in them too. He was a good dad, not just to Futaba but all of the Phantom Thieves.

His words do catch her off-guard, but... well, maybe it was time.]

Y...yeah, a little. [As much as she doesn't want to pull away from him... she does need both hands to grab what she has with her. There's some hesitation but her hand does eventually slip away from his to pull out a bag and place it on the table.]

H-here.

[Once opened, Beat will find a skull with a crown on it— not filled with dice but crowned skull chocolates.]

Th... they're not... g-giri choco... Th-they're honmei choco...

[He finds it hard not to pout when she pulls her hand away from his but he doesn't fight it, instead curiously watching her as she places a bag on the table between them.]

[Beat looks over at Futaba tentatively, unsure at first if it was for him. Reaching out, he takes it and opens it to reveal the contents, knowing immediately what they are when he sees the contents within the skull vessel.]

[A blush immediately blooms across his cheeks.]

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1/I'm sorry

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done

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1/21 I think?

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