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[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

Comments

[dielectrics]

Fine, I guess. I was gonna do it on my own even without your help.

[ Because clearly she's helping him, not the other way around. ]

CERES is the obvious place to start. It shouldn't be too hard to sneak in.

[flaredo]

How are you with computers? With all the glitch and code talk, that's probably where most of the information is.

[dielectrics]

I can use them, but I'm not nearly as good as my brother. Or as gross, though.

[ There's a beat. Then, he asks, probably in vain again. ]

Seriously, though, will you let me go now?

[ He's tolerated the hugging for like five whole minutes, isn't that enough?? ]

[flaredo]

[ "Gross"... huh. Yang allows a dubious noise to escape, but then she shakes her head. ]

In a minute. I'll be here for awhile, anyway.

[dielectrics]

[ Yang is fortunate; she hasn't seen Milluki's collection of moe moe waifu figures. Killua had to live knowing those things were in the same house with him every day. ]

You can stay, just quit it already. I'm not gonna fall apart if you let go. I feel stupid talking about this stuff while we're standing like this.

[flaredo]

That's because you're too easily embarrassed.

[ but she does release him, with one last defiant hair ruffle. ]

[dielectrics]

[ FREEDOM. He immediately retreats to one of the beds and takes a seat on it, putting distance between them. ]

It is not, it's because you're doing stupid things. Anyway, we could definitely use someone who's good with computers. What about someone who's already working for CERES?

[flaredo]

We're going to have to ask around-- I can't think of anyone off the top of my head. [ but she slides to the floor properly, resting her arms on her knees. ] But that'd be a lot easier than hauling a computer genius with us.

[dielectrics]

They'd have better access, too.

[ He's quiet for a moment, then glances down at her, expression unreadable. ]

Hey, Yang. Did someone you know disappear?

[flaredo]

Not people I knew very well, and the one I did came back. [ and she makes a mental note to speak to Edgeworth about it. ]

... But I know what it's like to have someone disappear without ever knowing why or how, and not even having a clue of where they are, how they're doing, that sort of thing.

[dielectrics]

[ His eyes narrow a little. That reeks of experience, not just from here, but something deeper, more personal than people she didn't know very well. ]

Who was it?

[flaredo]

[ In response, Yang tilts her head back a bit, smile flickering, but still faintly there. She'd had her phase of rashness and idiocy over it already. ]

My mother.

[dielectrics]

[ Oh, right. Other people actually care about their family members... He probably shouldn't say something like "you're lucky."

But he's sure thinking it. ]

What'd you do when it happened?

[flaredo]

Honestly? I didn't know for the longest time. She left right after I was born, and I didn't find out until the actual woman who raised me went on a mission and didn't come back.

[ she snorts, a tad derisively at herself. ]

After that, well... I was desperate to find out anything. I wouldn't stop searching for her. I wanted to know more about her, why she'd left me, and because of it, I overdid it. I took my little sister out in a wagon when I thought I had a lead, and I almost got the both of us killed.

Throwing myself into something like an idiot... nothing's worth almost losing the family you do have and care about.

[dielectrics]

You're right, you were an idiot.

[ He says it bluntly, matter of fact, but there's still a lack of any further judgment in his tone. She did something stupid; even now, after everything that's happened since he met Gon, he still has a hard time going into anything completely unprepared and without a plan. But he likes people who don't do what he does. What his family does.

There's just the barest hint of a smile curving his lips. ]

Well, whatever. We'll be a lot smarter about looking into things.

[flaredo]

Never let something control you to the point that you forget what else is important. [ and she'll hold up a finger, before her usual bright smile reappears. ]

But you're right. We're going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what, but we'll do it mostly like non-idiots.

[dielectrics]

Mostly?!

[ Ugh, why does he always end up falling in with the hotheaded think before you act types? ]

If you get in trouble, I'm not gonna go bail you out!

[ This is straight up 100% Killua lying through his teeth. ]

[flaredo]

[ Aww, Killua, it's like you care. ]

If I get the chance to punch certain people in the face, I'm taking it. That's all I'm saying.

[ Some people just deserve it. ]

[dielectrics]

[ Well, he doesn't exactly disapprove of this plan, but... ]

Which people?

[ He asks with a narrow eyed stare. ]

[flaredo]

The boss. I can't stand people who don't take responsibility for their own mistakes.

[dielectrics]

Hmmm.

[ Well, he's not the CEO's biggest fan either, but this really seems kind of counterproductive. Luckily, he's got an idea. ]

You can do it after he tells us what we need to know. Or if he won't cough up the info. Deal?

[flaredo]

... Okay, fine. I've waited this long.

[ she'll behave. ]

[dielectrics]

Great. Once we've got what we need from him, you can do whatever you want, as long as you don't kill him.

[ Hey, if it's the guy who's responsible for Gon's disappearance, what's a little torture among friends? ]

[flaredo]

I usually only punch to kill with monsters [ USUALLY ] so no worries there! But I say we come up with a game plan and crash tonight and then start computer genius hunting tomorrow.

[dielectrics]

Sure. I guess some sleep would be good.

[ Wait. Wait a second. ]

Wait, you're staying?!