It's over and I'm going under, but I'm not giving up... Just giving in || MM Trial 6.8 || RE: Miyu, Clove, Miyu, ATN: Clove, ALL
Reiko was quiet as she listened to Miyu's explanation of the Resurrection Seed and it's nature. The thought crossed her mind 'well, what's really the difference if you're all dead anyway...?' but held her tongue. After that, the detective simply listened to her classmates - though her mind was going somewhere far, far else.
Oddly, it wandered to her first meetings with everyone at the station. Her introduction, looking back on it now, would probably get her current self to deck her person of the past. Though, ignoring that, her thoughts landed on her first discussions with Shizuka and Clove. The dynamic back when was so different then it was now that the thought alone nearly gave her whiplash.
She also thought of Genbu and, despite their differences, there was a time she felt accepted by them even with her plenty of faults and short-comings. Loneliness accompanied loneliness, she learned.
Other poignant moments of anger and warmth came into her mind's eye but were washed over with the bitter taste of loss. That's what they had accomplished here, wasn't it? Failure?
Everything they had to endure, fight for, and try their hand at fixing had essentially been for nought. Everything good and bad was bound to be washed away with the spin of a trinket. Part of her heart did go out to the ghosts and staff of this place who possibly only achieved closure because of people finally taking the efforts to connect with them. She also thought of the couples that were likely not to be back together under other circumstances and felt a deeper ache. However...
It's very clear they had their backs to the wall as their time was almost up. There was no more time to negotiate and no more time to wallow in their self pity. It was one of those situations where they simply needed to act, even with the knowledge this was likely their last moments - at least on this track of time.
Looking over the seed in her hand once more, she placed back into her pocket to be kept safe but no longer regarded.
"At this point, there's no other choice. 14 human lives, innocent lives, were lost and it isn't worth us throwing away the remaining 13. We can't fix everything, no matter how much we tried or how bittersweet it is. The most we can do is save our own skins and take that small victory as we may."
Reiko, as she had many times before, made her way over to the Byakko side of the room - still talking as she did so. If their timeline, or existences, or what have you were ending in t-minus a few minutes we all know where she wanted to be.
"We talked through whatever other possibilities that we could. We've tired out all of our options and, as far as we can see with dawn approaching, it's better to at least give everyone one more shot at living then to wait on this island like sitting ducks."
As this is said, the investigator reaches her significant other's stand and studies her defeated form for a few moments before sliding her hands over the Journalist's. She does her best to memorize the way Clove's palms feel against her own and the way their fingers intertwine. Is it cheesy to say they fit together perfectly...? Probably.
However, she works up the proper collection of nerves needed to meet her blue gaze with her green.
"...I won't say I necessarily disagree with you on the lose-lose situation, my love. But... If there's any consolation from this bullshit: if the ending of this means I might have a shot at falling in love with you all over again - I'll take it."
Reiko moves the knuckles of one hand to brush the blonde's hair away from her pretty face. She slightly struggles to find the strength to smile in the moment as she's instead left fighting a tremble at the corners of her mouth.
"There has to be a universe where the two of us can be happy... We just need to work a little harder to find it, I suppose."
If allowed, she cups the other girl's face and presses their lips lovingly together, holding that for a little longer than she should. Resting her forehead to hers, she takes time to breathe and mumble something only the two of them could hear.
[I don't know a lick of German but... have French for a try: 'Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point.'] Reiko smirks softly, still meeting the girl's gaze, [I don't care how long it takes, we will see one another again.]
Silently, she puts her fingers to the Time Turner and gently wraps it into her free hand. With the other, she holds Clove snugly to herself as she quietly motions for permission to take it - slowly lifting if off of the other's neck and holding it safely in her palm. Looking over to Kris, Mi-ke, or someone (who wasn't Miyu or Seiji) in the general vicinity, she takes a moment to turn the device over several times between her fingers before handing it off to them at request of Zoya receiving it. She didn't necessarily mind who it went to, but she knew who Clove was bitter against and didn't feel like stirring up her emotions further in this miserable state.
Eventually, she turns comfortably to face the rest of her classmates. It takes less effort now to offer them a wary, but determined smile.
"If we can't control the rest of what happens from here, we at least have a right to control the here and now. Let's... not delay this further than we have to - for everyone's sake."
Even then, her hold around the Journalist's waist tightens protectively. The multiverse may have to physically separate them, possibly, but it doesn't mean she'll give it an easy time.
