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[The voice that of the message is probably not the one you expect. And if you're Gilbert, probably causes traumatic flashbacks. It's certainly Break's voice, but a bit high pitched and more comical...]

Hello, this is Emily! You're obviously an idiot who can't even come see someone in person if it's important, but I'll take pity on you anyways. Leave a message and I'll tell the wonderful and charming Mr. Break about it if it's worth it!

[are you sure you even want to leave a message now]

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[ This is bad, and Sharon knows it; her voice will give out if she keeps yelling like this, but she squeezes the last bit out anyway, because dammit, he is going to listen to her. ]

Why can't you believe in me a little more?!

[ Gilbert, he could yell at. He could fiercely defend his point, because as much as Break knew that his actions were too extreme and that he had gone too far, he would never find fault in his intentions. It was stubborn of him, the ideals of a foolish knight trying to cling to the sense of selflessly protecting others, even if his actions had become twisted from the ideal of the white knight the longer he had lived. Break looks up as she begins to yell at him, but his face is almost expressionless as he listens, because they're criticisms he had already given himself, at least until that last part.

The last part is what makes him frown, and his face finally twists from grief and a dull ache of sadness, but it's into a slight look of irritation. He doesn't yell, but though his voice is soft, there's conviction to his words as well. ]

—It's not that I don't believe in you, Sharon. That is... That could not be further from the truth. [ He pauses, and the expression shifts to a look of bitterness, because he can't explain this well, and he knows it from the start. ] I don't wish to justify what has happened in any way, but I simply could not sit around waiting complacently any longer. The people around us keep disappearing, being tortured, dying, and for what? For another set of people we know to flood in? To watch each other slowly die?

[ He shakes his head ] I believe in you, Sharon. Returning home...truly reminded me of that. You're no longer a little girl any more, and you somehow become a strong, capable woman without me noticing, and that is why I made my choice. I want to see you, Reim, and everyone else return home, safe and free from the whims of God-like men who only seem to want to watch us suffer. I thought—

[ Here, Break pauses, and his voice falters too, because he was so sure that he could secure some kind of benefit. Something more than a cake sent as if some kind of cruel joke to remind him of what a grave mistake he had made. Sharon was right that he tended to want to do everything alone, and while he had made some progress to learning that lesson, things still just tended to turn out well for him. But, finally, it seems that his luck had run out. He ducks his head, because a feeling wells forth that hadn't made an appearance in years, not since Break had watched Sharon's mother slowly slip away until she drew her last breath. Illness had taken Shelly, so there was no one to blame for her death, but for Sharon's? It was only himself. It's a hot, angry grief, and while one eye no longer has the ability to do so, Break can feel the other burn with tears, though he presses a hand to it in shame to hide it. ]

—I thought I could do something to help. But instead I've repeated my mistakes twice-over.

[ She wants to ask, desperately, how, what forming an agreement with the very same people behind the torture of so many of their friends, the permanent loss of numerous residents of the underground bunker, and their captivity could possibly have accomplished. Joining with them wasn't the right path, and just when she thought she could make a difference, fight back in her own way--

There are so many things about his decision that Sharon can't even hope to understand, but she'd known that she and Break weren't always going to view things in the same way. And now, of course, he's trapped in an even worse way, and so is she. Until she finds a way to destroy that contract, she knows he'll keep following their orders. For her. To keep her safe.

... What a stupid, idiotic, utterly hopeless brother. It's a thought only cemented when she stares up at him, only to realize why he's hunched like that with one hand protectively over his eye.

It's an impulsive movement, the way she reaches out to grasp that hand, to tug it away. ]

Then amend them. Stop shutting people out.

[ The yelling has certainly taken its toll, as she'd expected. Her voice is all too quiet and fragmented, made even worse by the burning thickness in her throat. ]

It's going to take my idiot of a brother the rest of his life to make this up to me, so don't you dare think you can shake me off so easily. You're still my responsibility, after all.

[ Strong words for someone who was still crying, but she'd ignore that much for now. ]

[ There's a moment where he instinctually resists Sharon pulling his hand away, because he's stubborn and so guarded with his emotions, but... It's Sharon. It's with reluctance, but he relaxes, and Sharon is able to pull his hand away, only to see something that she hadn't seen in an even longer time, if she had seen it at all. Break could count the amount of times he'd cried since he had left his birth name behind on one hand, so he stares back at Sharon with a bewildered, almost frightened sort of expression. It's partially out of a sense of embarrassment that anyone else would see that sign of weakness, because he can't help of think of it as such for himself, but it's mostly because of what she says. ]

...Make... it up? [ He repeats that phrase softly, like he can't believe that she's said it. He'd still very much like to hide his eye, but he doesn't pull against her. ]

You would still keep me at your side?

[ Sharon nods, doing her best not to stare, to stay firm-- because she needs to be. Right now, when Break is crying... she needs to stand strong. ]

That's the only way I'll forgive you. You need to stay right where you are. Do you understand?

[ It's shocking to him, because even if he had hoped for this, he had never expected it. He thought himself undeserving of such forgiveness, so in the face of it... He's humbled. His head droops, but it's not to hide his face so much as his head just suddenly feels heavy. ]

I— [ He hesitates with a rueful smile, because he's finds himself so undeserving of such grace. ] I understand, milady.

[ And with that, Sharon releases his hand to wipe almost defiantly at her own watering eyes. This much is fine. She's still hurting, and so is Break, in his own way, but they've reached the point she'd been fighting for.

The rest can come later. ]

Good. S-see to it that you don't forget.

[ His head droops again with a small, defeated little laugh, but truly, he's only grateful. ]

I will never forget it. I don't deserve it, so I could never forget it.

You can dwell on what you do or don't deserve later, unless you'd prefer I leave you be for now.

[ that kind of wore her out. ]

[ She shakes his head ]

...If it is not too selfish to ask, I'd like you to stay, actually.

... Temporarily. If it doesn't trouble Reim, of course.

I think that just this once, he'll be lenient.

[ Break looks up to Sharon, and he still looks tired, but better. Marginally. ]

I asked Gilbert and Reim to give you a message, but I'd also like to give it myself. I'm sorry, Sharon. More sorry than I can say.

[ She's glad they hadn't said it. It wouldn't have meant as much, coming from a messenger, no matter how close she was to them.

And now-- she nods, mutely, before the tears get the better of her and she has to hide her face in her hands. ]

Sharon...

[ It breaks his heart to see this, and he wants nothing more than to stand up and come to her side. He wants to wrap his arms around her and hug her, like a big brother is supposed to, but he's not sure if it's a gesture that would be appreciated or accepted. He pauses awkwardly, but then pats the seat next to him on the couch. She won't be able to see it, but she'll at least hear it, hopefully. ]

Come sit with me. [ er... ] If that's alright.

[ She will, even though it takes her a minute to compose herself, safe within the darkness of her palms before she lowers them and moves over to seat herself beside him. ]

I-it's acceptable right now.

[ He hesitates, his hand faltering, but then he reaches around to put his arm around her shoulders. He wants to comfort her, but at the moment, he's unsure how. ]

Then stay here for a while. If you want to, you can rely on your useless older brother for a while. [ He pauses, then adds: ] And I'll rely on you.

Then at least you've improved in one respect...

[ but she sighs, leaning a little more against him. ]

[ And really, he's never been happier for that. It almost makes him flustered at how much it pleases him. ]

...I'm trying, at least.

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