>STATUS (IC Inbox)

[notsogrimreaper]

Hi there! You've reached Mushi. Please leave your requests for dates and professions of love here, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

((You heard him. Leave a message!))

Comments

[embellishes]

[ that's a good wish. she expected nothing less from Mr. Blackbird. ]

What if the witch lied to you to get you to make that wish, though?

[ she's not subtle. her wording alone might raise flags here, but it's clear that she's experienced the witch tricking someone into signing their name away, because her head tilts just so. enough for her to make eye contact with him -- her eyes are clear. her words are genuine. what if you were lied to, Mushi? ]

[notsogrimreaper]

...That's not possible. I... I'm going to be working here for the rest of my life. My wish has to be granted. Please don't scare me like that. It's impossible.

[Mushi isn't a very confrontational person, but if someone did lie to him about the safety of the people important to him, he would have to do something. He'd have to fight.]

[embellishes]

[ clasping her hands together, she thinks back to how Tsubasa misinterpreted her gravely, and Tsukuru looks to the side, lost in the memory. it already happened. she can't stop it now. ]

I met someone, and he said his sister was here. The witch told him, but he remembered her name. The witch didn't tell him the truth.

[ her voice droops a bit, tone slowing as she considers. if she's vague... ]

A friend of mine. The witch came to him when he was weak and got him to sign that way.

[ it's vague enough that she thinks Mushi won't know it's Kimo. as for Gray, he isn't here anymore, so it's fine. ]

...What do you think?

[notsogrimreaper]

...I don't know what to think.

[It's possible, of course. It's definitely possible that people were lied to in order for the witch to get more workers. It's possible that she told people things that were not true, took advantage of their weaknesses... maybe even agreed to a wish that was impossible to grant.

But...]

I-If my wish was a lie, what would be the point of bringing me back to life?

[He sounds choked up, near tears. He doesn't know if he can handle living on when he knows he won't ever make up for his mistakes and give the people who deserve life that freedom.]

[embellishes]

Hm, Mushi-kun, I'd bring you back to life if I could. No matter what.

[ it isn't said to comfort him. it's just a bland, blunt statement. she doesn't think Mushi needs a reason to be alive, Tsukuru would just like him to be. with a gentle smile, she raises a hand to place it just over his chest. her hand hovers where his heart would be -- she could touch, but she doesn't. she's only reaching out to him, leaving Mushi to decide if he wants to meet her. ]

I like having Mushi-kun here. It's not a mistake. She told me that... everything is for a reason.

[ no one is here on a mistake. they're all here for a reason. ]

I want to understand that. Why Mushi-kun is here. Why I'm here... There's a reason for it, so I want to know, to find out the truth.

[notsogrimreaper]

I know you would. You're... you're a good friend. But there's no point in the Witch bringing me here just to lie to me and put me to work. She could have found plenty of people who were actually alive.

[He hesitates at her motion, but she seems to be looking for something, and so after a moment, he steps forward. His heartbeat is very faint, if it's there at all-Shadows have no need for the same human organs, but who knows what Minako was capable of?]

...If you say there was a reason, then I'll believe you. And... I'll help you find the truth. Even if I'm not sure I want to know what it is.

[It's important to her, so... it's important to him.]