dragonhearted.

it can provide hope, it can bring back remnants of what was lost, but is never quite enough. it cannot fix a broken heart, it cannot fill the voids left by natural loss - our doctor knows this & yet still holds hope that she could manipulate those laws for others. she's a miracle worker, after all. one of her miracles sits before her now ! he sits before her . . . telling her that regardless of the work put in, those laws are not bending to her will.

yet somehow in his response, our angel does as she does best & finds a silver lining -- a glimmer of hope. she all but snatches it in her hand. her voice is soft yet the conviction in it is undeniable ; she speaks a truth she wholeheartedly believes in.

&. yet what would come of it? phantom pains have been soothed, his rage quelled, &. the dragon no longer lives for the end of his duties to the organization. when diplomacy has failed in the past, it was answered with fear, gunshots, &. yet more death. it was a path without end; the world is far bigger than the dragon alone, &. in spite of his new lease on life, that recovery has inflicted agony upon others. upon her.

in spite of the tumultuous whirlwind of his thoughts, finally his eyes settle on hers. his gaze is focused, unerring… yet it's a confidence that rings hollow. just behind the glassy lens of his artificial optics, there's a fear &. an uncertainty that's equal parts for him &. those around him.

they've spent so much time fighting null-sector &. talon. he's heard the stories of the war robots in eichenwalde, lived to see the uprising in london. there's just a part of him that wonders.

what will I do if I become the enemy?

will I hurt those I care for?

he hopes she cannot see it.

"there is little left of me that is still human, I am afraid."

he laughs as he says it, but the smile doesn't reach his eyes.

change pronouns and adjust as needed.

you will be so much more than that.

demons have always haunted our world.

that duty falls to you.

that victory is within your reach.

that's not even a real number.

there's no water in these.

how can you be late?

i didn't even get to finish my ramyeon!

why do they always interrupt our snacking?

they will face my wrath!

now you gotta die.

ugh, you came at a bad time.

you just crossed the line.

i understand you are weak.

and you dare to mock me with it?

i'm not here to mock you.

i'm here to help you.

it's time for a new strategy.

what makes you think that could work?

you've never done a single thing that didn't serve yourself.

that was weird.

we already have plans.

i can't wait to eat kimbap and stare at the ceiling.

sounds super boring. i'm so down.

we literally just sat down.

i can handle this. i'm not having a nervous breakdown.

you always say no.

you sound exactly like her.

no. we gotta hide and fix it.

earthy and herby. smells legit to me.

hurry, before someone sees us.

in order to heal a part, we must understand the whole.

you have a lot of walls up.

watch yourself.

they're not even that cute.

i'm gonna throw up.

no, it's too public.

don't eat that!

let's go kill these guys.

hard to say goodbye when we're having fun.

make it stop.

wow. did you really follow us here?

we're not here to fight.

whoa! mind the face.

surprisingly, your plan is working.

it's a lot more serious than i thought.

is that bird wearing a tiny hat?

wow, i wasn't expecting a hug, but ...

i thought the mannequin was gonna be a fun icebreaker. but i see i was wrong.

hey! i just wanna talk.

but first, i wanna talk about those pants.

you were supposed to be dead.

i could've told your friends what you are.

that's none of your business.

i know what it feels like to have them.

is that what you think?

you're not good enough for them.

you know you can tell me. i'll understand.

i'm nothing like you.

denial. i get it.

i'll be here when you're done pretending.

there won't be a next time.

are you a prisoner too?

thanks for having my back.

we keep meeting like this.

i didn't think you liked sharing.

should i tell them?

i'm gonna tell them. eventually.

are you whispering?

your secret's safe with me.

i'm helping myself.

i'm pretty good at reading people. actually, i'm kind of an expert at it.

i just can't shake this feeling that you're keeping something from me.

i'm not keeping anything rom you.

sorry, i sound nuts.

yeah. eternal suffering. sounds fun.

you made me come all the way out here so you could jumpscare me?

i'm glad you'er finally ready to talk.

you could've picked somewhere nicer for a date.

you're so old.

this is strictly a business meeting.

i am a mistake. have been since the moment i was born.

excuse me? i'm everyone's type.

i see why you're single.

see? we'd never work.

go find yourself a better boy.

this one's hopeless.

that's the funny thing about hope. nobody else gets to decide if you feel it. that choice belongs to you.

for what it's worth, i don't think you're a mistake.

i just want you to know i'm here for literally anything you need.

seriously, what is your problem?

not everything is about your insecurities, [name]!

what's with the long faces?

you killed your family.

don't forget about our deal, [name].

i'm kind of a difficult person.

something's wrong.

i knew it was too good to be true.

don't leave!

say you didn't do this. how could you do this?

it was all a lie.

it was real! what we had was real. i know it was.

i just needed you to trust me. that's all.

that's right, i lied to you.

i thought i could fix it all.

thi sis what i am.

why can't you look at me?

why couldn't you love me?

you come here like this?

you can't even fix yourself.

i'm sorry for everything.

i wanted to set you free.

you gave me my soul back.

this feels amazing.

see what you've been missing?

i'm so happy you didn't, like, die.

wow, [name], way to be super literal.

she never minded being alone for all those hours. she would never expect anyone, the physicians under her management or otherwise, to work as she does. it would be unfair -- our doctor's standards are not meant to be met by normal people. angela is used to being the only presence in the lab. ( the only presence in the medical wing. ) but on a rare occasion, she's lucky enough to have another unusual person around.

conversations with genji are always a treat but especially so when he can keep her company during the wee hours of the morning. over two cups of burnt coffee, their conversations vary in topic constantly. his more spiritual perspective on the world always interests her. tonight is more personal than usual -- vulnerable.

@ryuhart says . . . ❝ I have this dream of being whole, of not going to sleep each night, wanting. ❞ from x

his admission sends hairline fractures through her heart. she can't help but hurt for him though our angel is smart enough to know that any expression of pity would be terribly received. the adjustment to his new body is going to take a long time, they've discussed it at length. even just his extreme change in diet during these early stages would be enough to drive a normal person crazy. having to adapt to an entire new way of living, of feeling the world around him . . . angela reaches out, gently placing her hand on his in an attempt at comfort. she wishes she could do more but hopefully physical touch soothes him.

the methodical work of the doctor fascinates him. sometimes the processes she goes through alone are enough to capture his attention &. inspire an unending curiosity. perhaps that's exactly the thing that draws him to her — the promise of something greater than mind, body &. soul. something greater than death.

"I have this dream of being whole."

of course the words would be more painful as they break through coffin wood &. dirt. he contemplates backpedaling, rebuilding walls brick by brick with fake reassurances — but he doesn't. even as ocular implants fall to the coffee before him, long since grown cold; even as he inspects his scarred, mangled reflection; he lets her in. he misses his mask. she's one of few he feels safe showing his haunting visage.

he tries, he tries so hard to conjure up something to say that could salvage the situation, avoid speaking of a tragedy &. a fate narrowly avoided, but as his silence grows longer and longer, he finds himself for once incapable of playing the perfect patient. why do his hands feel so cold? a shimada should never be this weak.

as her hand settles upon his, he visibly settles. tense muscles lax, &. he releases a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. the deafening sound of mechanical whirring enters the air, as flesh &. metal rotate to tenderly cradle her hand. comfort.

"I.. I am grateful, angela." he begins, "I truly am grateful. these cybernetics allow me a freedom I otherwise wouldn't have had. I owe you a debt greater than I could ever repay."

he lets his words hang in the air. even to him, he can sense the 'but' coming. he swears he can feel her hand in his, in spite of cold &. lifeless metal. he was warned of this.