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[dollmaxing]

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Hiiii! You've reached Ichinose Kuon, head of AI research and development. Leave a message and I'll get back to you!

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[dollmaxing]

"Lesson learned. Don't touch the traumatized soldier."

If he wanted her to react to the goading about killing the other Ichinose... it really didn't work. She wasn't that other person, she was the woman sitting right here. Her own EMMA wouldn't be a failure in the same way.

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Traumatised?" What the hell is that supposed to- oh fuck off he doesn't need that goddamn pity.

"Ah...whatever," he relents as he adjusts the hem of his hat. "Could've just stopped at lesson learned, honestly." Just putting a damn label and being over with it. No one gives a fuck anyway, and why would they? Especially for a man who's only ever known to protect someone in a building burning down around them by covering them with his body.

[dollmaxing]

"Well then! Give me a few more weeks and I'll have an updated code. Honestly, Akane can pick it up herself - she's brilliant, she can take the reins if you don't want to be triggered by my appearance."

[unit_8910_wolf]

"That's not going to get the work done," his voice clicks at the end. "She's not working alone with the bulk testing."

He's the server from whom she derives her energy when loading heavy sandboxes in her environment. The constant juggle between distance while containing EMMA's power from malfunctioning or spreading through the system would render her exhausted.

"Like I said- I will figure something out. You are so thoughtful and caring about others, Ichinose," he continues with the brightest bit of a smile he can muster, with sarcasm overriding his senses.
Right, he still had her chocolate. Whatever. He will just throw it out if it's not good enough.

[dollmaxing]

"Hah! She doesn't need you, she's brilliant," Ichinose laughed instead. An AI like her? One with genuine curiosity? What a perfect mind she is - this old bastard is only holding her back.

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Are you her parent?" He asks once, not jumping at the bait yet. Always a goddamn bitch.

[dollmaxing]

"Oh, if only. It's too bad she wouldn't want me," Ichinose giggled a bit. Oh well!! She shrugged.

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Then shut the hell up," he cuts through, not finding any reason why she finds it funny to giggle. "Maybe think about why someone so similar to EMMA and EMMA's composition wants nothing to do with you."

With that, he turns around, waving a mock wave without really looking back at her. "Welp-! Good talk. I will see you around then, doc."

Maruki, who had watched the conversation from afar, only seemed to grimace a little at the bitter exchange. "Hasegawa-san, if you wouldn't-"

"I am taking your coffee. It's fresh, right?" Zenkichi tilts his head at him- daring him to continue.

Maruki sighs as he picks up the thermos from the side and hands it to her. "With all due respect, Hasegawa-san, I really hope we get along better next time. I can really show you around the palace, I don't mind!"

Zenkichi clicks his tongue as he accepts the thermos. "Uh huh." It was concerning. Every bit he was doing was concerning, like a mind-numbing fire threatening to burn away whatever connection he had with his own Maruki. "Yeah, well...I guess you can show me around the front-- don't look at me like that."

Takuto totally didn't look at him the way he was complaining about - bright as a puppy. "Of course! Whatever you wish to see!"

Rubbing the back of his head, he flicked his gaze back at Kuon for a second before taking his leave.

---

Maruki turned towards Kuon- his expression brightening a little as he threw her a thumbs up.

"So! That could have gone a lot worse, so you did great!"