[ To Maya, the connection is dead silent, processing power aimed elsewhere, recording and filing details, notes, references, in a way she's never witnessed. There was never anything important enough to justify it. It also probably helps that it's untranslatable, both from how it's managed compared to humans and also because it's simply too fast.
It also means she doesn't get the thoughts behind it. Both from the short glimpse of a memory from before with that woman scolding her, and the memory's testimony now, there is no question on where she picked up her fear of abandonment. Her blinding need to be useful - because doing so is proof that she has value, and thus less likely to be abandoned. There's a lot of Yikes here. Especially the glimpses of how she's been raised. Extremely yikes.
Yet, here stands this moron with stupid hair, who she shoved away once and who came back anyway. With none of the pity that would come with hearing a sob story. It references against how Similar it is to home. No one would have taken her side. Sure, she's obviously innocent, there's no motive to Maya killing her own sister, but no one cares about the heart anymore. To take her case is suicide. To believe her case is sheer ignorance. Yet, all he needed to hear was her say she was innocent. And he went for it. Following the usual narrative tropes that come from this situation, and the fact Maya constantly sings his praises and, he most likely proved her innocent.
Normally, the verdict would be kept internal to gather dust in the archives for eternity. But this is a Bonding Moment, and this entire mission has just been metaphorically pushing an envelope further and further, seeing how far it gets before the memories of fear become actual fear. This kind of admittance doesn't even rate. ]
What a well-meaning idiot. Everyone thinks he's a rookie, so he picks up an impossible case? Because it's right? I'd kill for a successor like him.
[ it goes deeper than he knows, but yeah. maya herself doesn't even seem to realize the implications the memory's giving on how she was raised, because it's normalized to her, and that's even more yikes. ]
[ the memory fades out, and maya's left with a ridiculously fond look on her face. don't tell nick if he ever does show, will, she'd never live it down. ]
Told ya.
[ the memories of phoenix are bittersweet because she really, really, misses him, so it's just so nice to hear his voice and see his face -- even if it is a memory being displayed through a jellyfish. ]
He's always like that. Our cases are always impossible, we have to fight through loads of lying witnesses and evidence and jerk prosecutors... He always looks like he doesn't know what he's doing, he does some really dumb, crazy things...... he gets desperate, we're always flying by the seat of our pants, but.... he always comes through. That's why he's my partner.... he saved me, and sis asked me to take care of him, so..... I help him.
[ because she wants to save people, too. she loves working with him, being able to prove innocents innocent. ]
He is an idiot, but he can be pretty smart, too. .... But don't tell him I said that, 'cause it would go straight to his head.
So gonna tell him. [ There is actually enough inflection here to tell it's a joke. Your secret is safe with the murderbird, Maya. ] Still can't let 'im have the title without a fight. Part of the Rules.
[ The more she talks about him, the more it sounds like this idiot with the terrible hair and ridiculous parrot-questioning antics sounds more worthy of his Title than anyone else he's ever known. It's a last name, not a Title, so it's really just rolling with Maya's jokes than anything else, but it's a shame. At least he has Lion. Even if it's bec
Let's not think about that.
The worst part is the little things. From her words to her expression to even little things (and here he thought the phoenix's name was a bad pun), it must be killing her. With each month that goes by with more people turning up and getting their friends from home, Maya received her sister but not her Sun. And then you have certain idiots running around saying that their worlds aren't coming back. Yeah, it's fine to be skeptical, but to say it aloud is like saying to give up hope. Even now, he can hear some galaxy brain asshole going on about present versus past tense. Blah. ]
Oh, yeah? I have pleeeenty of embarassing things I could tell Lion, too. [ but it's just as obviously a joke. she giggles at him. ] Fight him all you want, but I'm warning you.... he loves making terrible puns with his name.
[ but yeah. it aches every day maya is without him, both because she misses him and because every day she's without him is another one where she has to tell herself to be hopeful that he's not really dead, that she didn't trade one dead family member for two. ]
... He is. I'm lucky to have him, too.
[ this is gonna be hilarious later when will sees him being a dick. but for now, she nudges him gently. ]
You have no evidence. [ Read: no seriously even as a joke lion would never let him live it down. Also yeah, feel free to keep the above compliments on a backburner for when the memory of Nick being a jerk comes up and see how quickly they get redacted. Then when he shows up, he can get punched right in the face.
At the nudging there's still that moment of 'god what do i even show it's all terrible' quickly sliding off into finding excuses to run away from the whole thing. That is totally okay to do. Except it's not and he's being a coward. Hhhhhh- ]
Yeah yeah. Keep making demands. Nothing will play otherwise.
[ Don't threaten hand holding! Worst punishment. And the nudging is almost bolted away from on instinct, but gets caught halfway through the motion, ending up leaning slightly away from her but frozen in place. That's not even the problem. But explaining it is stupid.
But she deserves it explained otherwise she'll take it as him not having faith in her. The jellyfish is stared at like it holds the answer to speaking about your shortcomings like a normal being-holding-a-high-functioning-consciousness. The jellyfish floats listlessly back, as if saying 'no way dude i'm not getting involved in that shit'.
Yeah, thanks bud. ]
I know. Not that. It's... I have nothing worth showing. Aside from one or two moments, it's all the same thing. So nothing comes to mind.
[ Narrative-side, there's also the fun paradox even in human minds where the longer one lives, the less relevant any one moment seems to be, until it just reaches a blur of Existing. Alternatively, there's probably a joke here about outdated technology taking ages to find anything with the search function. Pick your flavor of metaphorical misery. ]
[ hand-holding already happened, and it may happen again. he better be prepared. she tilts her head at him when he pulls away, withdrawing her arms at his reaction ]
[ maybe it's a more sensitive topic than she thought before. maybe it'd be better to leave it alone...? ]
[ also the jellyfish is tired of will's shit. relatable. ]
There's gotta be more than one or two.....
[ like, he's gotta have multiple lion memories, at the very least. also: cat death. that's definitely worth showing!! ok no. ]
.... But, um, whatever you want to show me is fine.
[ so like, none is okay too. she's giving him an out. ]
[ (of course, that means he doesn't get any more of hers either. fair is fair! ) ]
[ "Maya, I'm a retired mass murderer" but the sarcastic response gets killed before happening. She said whatever. That means for once in your life try not to beat yourself up over not having a huge box of happy memories to throw in people's faces to pretend you're functional. Whatever is fine. ]
...I suppose s'as good a time as any. Our Contract has gone on long enough. ...There are two people you should be aware of.
[ She doesn't get hit with the worst one first. Well, kind of. The initial glimpse of the jellyfish flickers between scenes in some vain attempt to try and find a scene that isn't terrible. The first is a small child in a coat like his, lavender hair done up in princess curls, standing over an old man in handcuffs. It's immediately erased. The second is the same girl sitting next to him, sobbing into a teacup. That one's erased even faster.
The third one works. There's that strange violet haze of Not Right over everything, even worse than last time, like it's trying to rewrite some other scene into a way that translates to something Maya can see. It means things like the background has only vague details, quickly-sketched illusions to cover up holes. Generally, the memory is of an office. There is definitely the Will she recognizes there, but it's not the one she knows. The coat is the same, the hairstyle is different, but the expression is entirely heartless in a way that looks like someone else. Some faceless thing nearby continues to add more piles to the desk. The monster is minding its own business, accomplishing a neverending task, when the door gets thrown open with no remorse.
The girl's face is actually visible this time. It's the same lifeless gold eyes Maya's seen countless times. Her face is the apathy of a doll's, with the same quiet scraping of porcelain clanking together that would come with a doll's movements. In the background over the girl's shoulder, Maya can make out the face of a handful of others who look Scared Shitless. Everyone immediately goes back to their work, in the fashion of those trying really hard not to get murdered.
"Willard. You did not answer my LETTER."
There's something wrong about her speech. The voice is quiet and innocent, but the last word goes to a pure robotic monotone. A computer skipping in place. The intern tries to shoo her out, but she effectively ignores him and walks straight up to the desk. She barely reaches the top.
"Did you not receive IT? If so, I will repeat the MESSAGE."
The intern attempts to make her leave. She does not move. Will does not answer. Two robots and an accountant in a single room.
"... Gertrude said one day could be PERMITTED. Please come to my office for CHRISTMAS."
He doesn't look up, but not out of rudeness. There is only the autopilot of a machine working. The girl sighs, expression turning slightly more apathetic before one arm raises and slams down in a loose fist.
There is no longer a desk, only two large scraps of wood cleaved down the center and papers tossed to the air, slowly falling down like confetti. The faceless intern hisses in aghast horror and bolts from the room before death takes him. The Absolute Monster in her friend's face has gone from no expression to the type of shocked offense your average scolded cat has. How dare??? The Doll responds with the cat expression of 'yeah i just knocked over ur fuckin coffee waNNA GO??'
"...Good afternoon, Knox."
"I want a day OFF. You are coming and that is FINAL."
"Fine."
"Very GOOD. For your information, it is the twenty-fourth of DECEMBER."
"...Coming."
It's a generally disarming scene. The girl continues to chirp about cases she's had, how she hates doing paperwork, transfer more high-profile cases to her division so she can actually fight someone, she wants his opinions on a new method of interrogation and see if it works as well in practice, you know. Basic coworker things. The actual Will gives a vague gesture at this small child. ]
This is Head Inquisitor of the Seventh District, Dlanor A. Knox. Should you ever see her, she is one of the few trustworthy people from my reality.
[ it's a good thing will showed restraint, or he would have gotten sassed into next week. she knows he has good memories and neutral ones, not just murder and getting murdered! ]
[ maya's eyes flick in between all the scenes shown, just watching quietly as he finally settles on one to show her. his environment is so weird, it's so far from what she would have guessed angels would be like. apparently, they're just office workers. ]
[ heartless will sends a little chill down her spine, but she's quickly distracted by the girl. ]
She's so cute!
[ of course that would be her first reaction. robotic monotone nonwithstanding. ]
[ it's especially cute the way she bullies will. maya approves. even heartless will is no match for her. ]
And tough, too! I like her. I bet she keeps you on your toes.
[ and she feels a very strong pride that he has a friend. he can feel how proud of him she is. this is dumb. ]
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no subject
It also means she doesn't get the thoughts behind it. Both from the short glimpse of a memory from before with that woman scolding her, and the memory's testimony now, there is no question on where she picked up her fear of abandonment. Her blinding need to be useful - because doing so is proof that she has value, and thus less likely to be abandoned. There's a lot of Yikes here. Especially the glimpses of how she's been raised. Extremely yikes.
Yet, here stands this moron with stupid hair, who she shoved away once and who came back anyway. With none of the pity that would come with hearing a sob story. It references against how Similar it is to home. No one would have taken her side. Sure, she's obviously innocent, there's no motive to Maya killing her own sister, but no one cares about the heart anymore. To take her case is suicide. To believe her case is sheer ignorance. Yet, all he needed to hear was her say she was innocent. And he went for it. Following the usual narrative tropes that come from this situation, and the fact Maya constantly sings his praises and, he most likely proved her innocent.
Normally, the verdict would be kept internal to gather dust in the archives for eternity. But this is a Bonding Moment, and this entire mission has just been metaphorically pushing an envelope further and further, seeing how far it gets before the memories of fear become actual fear. This kind of admittance doesn't even rate. ]
What a well-meaning idiot. Everyone thinks he's a rookie, so he picks up an impossible case? Because it's right? I'd kill for a successor like him.
no subject
[ the memory fades out, and maya's left with a ridiculously fond look on her face. don't tell nick if he ever does show, will, she'd never live it down. ]
Told ya.
[ the memories of phoenix are bittersweet because she really, really, misses him, so it's just so nice to hear his voice and see his face -- even if it is a memory being displayed through a jellyfish. ]
He's always like that. Our cases are always impossible, we have to fight through loads of lying witnesses and evidence and jerk prosecutors... He always looks like he doesn't know what he's doing, he does some really dumb, crazy things...... he gets desperate, we're always flying by the seat of our pants, but.... he always comes through. That's why he's my partner.... he saved me, and sis asked me to take care of him, so..... I help him.
[ because she wants to save people, too. she loves working with him, being able to prove innocents innocent. ]
He is an idiot, but he can be pretty smart, too. .... But don't tell him I said that, 'cause it would go straight to his head.
[ she misses him so much. ]
no subject
[ The more she talks about him, the more it sounds like this idiot with the terrible hair and ridiculous parrot-questioning antics sounds more worthy of his Title than anyone else he's ever known. It's a last name, not a Title, so it's really just rolling with Maya's jokes than anything else, but it's a shame. At least he has Lion. Even i
f it's becLet's not think about that.
The worst part is the little things. From her words to her expression to even little things (and here he thought the phoenix's name was a bad pun), it must be killing her. With each month that goes by with more people turning up and getting their friends from home, Maya received her sister but not her Sun. And then you have certain idiots running around saying that their worlds aren't coming back. Yeah, it's fine to be skeptical, but to say it aloud is like saying to give up hope. Even now, he can hear some galaxy brain asshole going on about present versus past tense. Blah. ]
He seems like a wonderful partner.
no subject
[ but yeah. it aches every day maya is without him, both because she misses him and because every day she's without him is another one where she has to tell herself to be hopeful that he's not really dead, that she didn't trade one dead family member for two. ]
... He is. I'm lucky to have him, too.
[ this is gonna be hilarious later when will sees him being a dick. but for now, she nudges him gently. ]
Your turn.
no subject
At the nudging there's still that moment of 'god what do i even show it's all terrible' quickly sliding off into finding excuses to run away from the whole thing. That is totally okay to do. Except it's not and he's being a coward. Hhhhhh- ]
Yeah yeah. Keep making demands. Nothing will play otherwise.
no subject
I have all the evidence I could ever need! [ so don't mess with her, will. she looks at him expectantly, nudging him once more. ]
[ she knows what he's thinking, and what he's worried about ]
Come on, you don't have to hesitate. I can handle it, remember?
[ don't make her hold your hand again, will ]
no subject
But she deserves it explained otherwise she'll take it as him not having faith in her. The jellyfish is stared at like it holds the answer to speaking about your shortcomings like a normal being-holding-a-high-functioning-consciousness. The jellyfish floats listlessly back, as if saying 'no way dude i'm not getting involved in that shit'.
Yeah, thanks bud. ]
I know. Not that. It's... I have nothing worth showing. Aside from one or two moments, it's all the same thing. So nothing comes to mind.
[ Narrative-side, there's also the fun paradox even in human minds where the longer one lives, the less relevant any one moment seems to be, until it just reaches a blur of Existing. Alternatively, there's probably a joke here about outdated technology taking ages to find anything with the search function. Pick your flavor of metaphorical misery. ]
no subject
[ maybe it's a more sensitive topic than she thought before. maybe it'd be better to leave it alone...? ]
[ also the jellyfish is tired of will's shit. relatable. ]
There's gotta be more than one or two.....
[ like, he's gotta have multiple lion memories, at the very least. also: cat death. that's definitely worth showing!! ok no. ]
.... But, um, whatever you want to show me is fine.
[ so like, none is okay too. she's giving him an out. ]
[ (of course, that means he doesn't get any more of hers either. fair is fair! ) ]
no subject
...I suppose s'as good a time as any. Our Contract has gone on long enough. ...There are two people you should be aware of.
[ She doesn't get hit with the worst one first. Well, kind of. The initial glimpse of the jellyfish flickers between scenes in some vain attempt to try and find a scene that isn't terrible. The first is a small child in a coat like his, lavender hair done up in princess curls, standing over an old man in handcuffs. It's immediately erased. The second is the same girl sitting next to him, sobbing into a teacup. That one's erased even faster.
The third one works. There's that strange violet haze of Not Right over everything, even worse than last time, like it's trying to rewrite some other scene into a way that translates to something Maya can see. It means things like the background has only vague details, quickly-sketched illusions to cover up holes. Generally, the memory is of an office. There is definitely the Will she recognizes there, but it's not the one she knows. The coat is the same, the hairstyle is different, but the expression is entirely heartless in a way that looks like someone else. Some faceless thing nearby continues to add more piles to the desk. The monster is minding its own business, accomplishing a neverending task, when the door gets thrown open with no remorse.
The girl's face is actually visible this time. It's the same lifeless gold eyes Maya's seen countless times. Her face is the apathy of a doll's, with the same quiet scraping of porcelain clanking together that would come with a doll's movements. In the background over the girl's shoulder, Maya can make out the face of a handful of others who look Scared Shitless. Everyone immediately goes back to their work, in the fashion of those trying really hard not to get murdered.
"Willard. You did not answer my LETTER."
There's something wrong about her speech. The voice is quiet and innocent, but the last word goes to a pure robotic monotone. A computer skipping in place. The intern tries to shoo her out, but she effectively ignores him and walks straight up to the desk. She barely reaches the top.
"Did you not receive IT? If so, I will repeat the MESSAGE."
The intern attempts to make her leave. She does not move. Will does not answer. Two robots and an accountant in a single room.
"... Gertrude said one day could be PERMITTED. Please come to my office for CHRISTMAS."
He doesn't look up, but not out of rudeness. There is only the autopilot of a machine working. The girl sighs, expression turning slightly more apathetic before one arm raises and slams down in a loose fist.
There is no longer a desk, only two large scraps of wood cleaved down the center and papers tossed to the air, slowly falling down like confetti. The faceless intern hisses in aghast horror and bolts from the room before death takes him. The Absolute Monster in her friend's face has gone from no expression to the type of shocked offense your average scolded cat has. How dare??? The Doll responds with the cat expression of 'yeah i just knocked over ur fuckin coffee waNNA GO??'
"...Good afternoon, Knox."
"I want a day OFF. You are coming and that is FINAL."
"Fine."
"Very GOOD. For your information, it is the twenty-fourth of DECEMBER."
"...Coming."
It's a generally disarming scene. The girl continues to chirp about cases she's had, how she hates doing paperwork, transfer more high-profile cases to her division so she can actually fight someone, she wants his opinions on a new method of interrogation and see if it works as well in practice, you know. Basic coworker things. The actual Will gives a vague gesture at this small child. ]
This is Head Inquisitor of the Seventh District, Dlanor A. Knox. Should you ever see her, she is one of the few trustworthy people from my reality.
[ Read: awwwww he had a friend ]
no subject
[ maya's eyes flick in between all the scenes shown, just watching quietly as he finally settles on one to show her. his environment is so weird, it's so far from what she would have guessed angels would be like. apparently, they're just office workers. ]
[ heartless will sends a little chill down her spine, but she's quickly distracted by the girl. ]
She's so cute!
[ of course that would be her first reaction. robotic monotone nonwithstanding. ]
[ it's especially cute the way she bullies will. maya approves. even heartless will is no match for her. ]
And tough, too! I like her. I bet she keeps you on your toes.
[ and she feels a very strong pride that he has a friend. he can feel how proud of him she is. this is dumb. ]