the sum of our parts is greater, but a few of them might have been broken

[overworker]

[Immediately following the strange insanity that took place in the aftermath of that trial, Towa decides that enough is enough-- she has to attempt to do what she can do. For too long she's let herself be daunted by her own abilities or lack thereof... but she can't do that anymore. If she can support everyone, even in any small way, then she's going to do that now.

Before they're dismissed she calls out to the group--]

I'm going to prepare the lounge for a proper meeting. It'll take me a little bit to get everything set up but please... I want everyone to come. We have a lot to talk about and I don't want anyone shouldering this burden alone.

[And as soon as that's done, she gets to work. Coffee, tea, soup, cookies... she prepares a small, but fairly simple collection of foods as quickly as she can and works to make the space as comfortable as possible. It feels like a lifetime ago she did this the first time. A lot has changed but some things really haven't. If anyone would like to help, she certainly wouldn't turn away the help.]

Comments

[biddentodance]

[The needle?]

She... She kept it. Auntie.

[katzenpfote]

Who is 'Auntie'?

[biddentodance]

Agent I had the most contact with.....she was nice. Kept fussing over me, trying to make sure I ate enough.

[katzenpfote]

... Is she on the train?

[biddentodance]

[Headshake.] Only met her in person in Menahoven. Had contact through a mirror.

[katzenpfote]

Ah. The mirror you had earlier.

... I am proud of you.

[biddentodance]

Yeah.....cracked when they....abandoned me, for lack of a better word.

[He's sure there is a word for it, when an organization sends someone on a suicide mission, but it's not coming to mind.]

.....You- You are? Why?

[katzenpfote]

There were many times you could have revealed secrets, or you could have simply given up during the trial. But you waited for the right time.

... And it must have hurt, keeping secrets. You... are more of an honest person than I am, I think.

[biddentodance]

....They wanted me to....tell them, about everyone on the train. Did...spy. Why I followed into the Stations in the shadows. Didn't tell them, though, didn't feel right.

[Keeping secrets isn't in his nature, but isn't hard... Promises on the other hand, and trust. If someone entrusts a secret to him he will take it to his grave.]

Have to keep SEES business secret, so...not like it's new. Doing things unnoticed. Finding ways out while no one's looking. Not letting on that I'm up to....less than innocent tasks.

[katzenpfote]

Some of my group are subtle. Some are... very much not.

You've carried a large burden. You can set it down now, or at least let us help.

[biddentodance]

Some of SEES is less subtle, but.... Mitsuru-senpai's family basically owns the city, can silence anything we need to.

Can't rest yet...have to keep going. Don't get to stop. [He will keep moving steadily forward, even though he knows he's headed for destruction, because what else can he do?]

[katzenpfote]

I'm not saying stop entirely. But you have other people willing to help carry it. You need not be alone in this.

[biddentodance]

.....How?

[Was he even really sharing the burden with SEES it's....hard, to rely on others, after so many years of being alone and unwanted.]

[katzenpfote]

... We need to discuss what you know. With everyone, so we can all make a decision on that information.

[biddentodance]

Right. Hopefully what I got is actually useful... Recon, gathering intel, not really a thing I had to do much of.