[Antithetical? He thinks it, yet he doesn't ask about it. Not for now, at least.]
No, I don't mind. I'd like to help if I can. I'm not sure if I'm the best equipped for it, since I have about as much technological experience as the average high schooler...
[It aches through him, as it always seems to at the most unexpected of times. If it weren't him that had been chosen... If it was Futaba that was here... Undoubtedly, she would be able to be the support that they need. She would know what to do.
But it isn't her here. It's Akira.]
...but I'm aware our options are limited. If there's anything I can learn that will help, I'll do it.
[He's a fast learner, and he doesn't quit easily. Whatever they need, he'll figure it out and make it happen. There doesn't need to be an unnecessary death if he can prevent it.]
Even if you were an expert in the field, you would struggle. It is akin to both learning another language and studying an alien biology... But we have people here who can fill in the gaps that you and I leave. But you are willing to act, and that is of far more use.
[ He has no doubt that Akira could learn to code as well, and surely he might try, but it changes nothing if he doesn't. He takes another sip of his coffee, closing his eyes briefly as he considers what it is he wants to say, before opening them once more. ]
You have something like an emergency stop button, or perhaps you could call it a pause button... If you can at least press it, then others will have time to act. And if they're unable to...
[ Dazai takes another slow sip, then sets his cup down. ]
[He's almost unaware of how his hand is tightening on the chess piece until he feels the ridges of it dig into his hand. Akira relaxes it with a breath, but he doesn't break eye contact with Dazai.]
I'd like to avoid that if we can. Unless there's no other option, of course.
[Dazai has killed. Maybe Akira has too, even though he doesn't know if the one here counts, and outside of here he wasn't the one to pull the trigger. Akira doesn't count it against either of them, even if the Phantom Thieves' motto is that they should never kill.
But it would weigh on him. And he doesn't want a weight on Dazai, even if he isn't sure that he'd notice it.]
That emergency pause button... Does that have something to do with the mark that was put on me?
[He isn't sure, but it's Akira's best guess. Lightly, he taps the back of his hand with the chess piece, even though it's faded away since she gave her powers up.]
Yes. You've been marked as her "master," and that gives you a certain amount of power. If not hitting the emergency breaks, then you could think of it like yanking on a dog's leash.
[ Dazai drums his fingers on the table. He can imagine why Akira was chosen, just as he can understand why he himself was tasked with ensuring a favorable outcome.
The thought that the slightest misstep could lead to his own death, too, makes his heart beat a little faster. He's terrifying both for his intellect and his ability, but he's frail; beyond salvation if mortally wounded. It could kill him.
He can't allow it, not yet, but it's a nice idea.
He doesn't feel anything in particular when it comes to the idea of killing the AI, his friend, nor searching for a way to dispose of her in just the right way that she can neither die nor revive.
Some things are better left unsaid. ]
... But, this is only after we've exhausted all other options. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I believe that we can stop it from coming to that.
[Maybe it's a cold assessment, and maybe Akira is cold for simply nodding, but it does the trick of illustrating what the mark does. More than anything, it's a relief to know that he has such a powerful preventative measure.
But it still may not be enough. He's used to certain victories failing terribly after the last hour, so it makes total sense to him to prepare for anything.]
I believe we can, too.
[They have the means to counter the biggest opposition they have, so that's where Akira must put all of his focus.]
What's our best method for strengthening her code?
[It seems like an uphill battle, with no technology here but the flip phones and maybe anything they manage to wish for, but...
Dazai believes there's a way, and Akira trusts him. They can work through this.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
No, I don't mind. I'd like to help if I can. I'm not sure if I'm the best equipped for it, since I have about as much technological experience as the average high schooler...
[It aches through him, as it always seems to at the most unexpected of times. If it weren't him that had been chosen... If it was Futaba that was here... Undoubtedly, she would be able to be the support that they need. She would know what to do.
But it isn't her here. It's Akira.]
...but I'm aware our options are limited. If there's anything I can learn that will help, I'll do it.
[He's a fast learner, and he doesn't quit easily. Whatever they need, he'll figure it out and make it happen. There doesn't need to be an unnecessary death if he can prevent it.]
no subject
Even if you were an expert in the field, you would struggle. It is akin to both learning another language and studying an alien biology... But we have people here who can fill in the gaps that you and I leave. But you are willing to act, and that is of far more use.
[ He has no doubt that Akira could learn to code as well, and surely he might try, but it changes nothing if he doesn't. He takes another sip of his coffee, closing his eyes briefly as he considers what it is he wants to say, before opening them once more. ]
You have something like an emergency stop button, or perhaps you could call it a pause button... If you can at least press it, then others will have time to act. And if they're unable to...
[ Dazai takes another slow sip, then sets his cup down. ]
Death is a type of hard reset.
no subject
I'd like to avoid that if we can. Unless there's no other option, of course.
[Dazai has killed. Maybe Akira has too, even though he doesn't know if the one here counts, and outside of here he wasn't the one to pull the trigger. Akira doesn't count it against either of them, even if the Phantom Thieves' motto is that they should never kill.
But it would weigh on him. And he doesn't want a weight on Dazai, even if he isn't sure that he'd notice it.]
That emergency pause button... Does that have something to do with the mark that was put on me?
[He isn't sure, but it's Akira's best guess. Lightly, he taps the back of his hand with the chess piece, even though it's faded away since she gave her powers up.]
no subject
[ Dazai drums his fingers on the table. He can imagine why Akira was chosen, just as he can understand why he himself was tasked with ensuring a favorable outcome.
The thought that the slightest misstep could lead to his own death, too, makes his heart beat a little faster. He's terrifying both for his intellect and his ability, but he's frail; beyond salvation if mortally wounded. It could kill him.
He can't allow it, not yet, but it's a nice idea.
He doesn't feel anything in particular when it comes to the idea of killing the AI, his friend, nor searching for a way to dispose of her in just the right way that she can neither die nor revive.
Some things are better left unsaid. ]
... But, this is only after we've exhausted all other options. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I believe that we can stop it from coming to that.
no subject
But it still may not be enough. He's used to certain victories failing terribly after the last hour, so it makes total sense to him to prepare for anything.]
I believe we can, too.
[They have the means to counter the biggest opposition they have, so that's where Akira must put all of his focus.]
What's our best method for strengthening her code?
[It seems like an uphill battle, with no technology here but the flip phones and maybe anything they manage to wish for, but...
Dazai believes there's a way, and Akira trusts him. They can work through this.]