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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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[ So everyone did get something. At least Break doesn't sound irritated when he answers (for once), but his answer is short. There's not much to explain about it, after all. ]

My sight. I can see again.

Oh? [ Cecil answers, genuinely surprised. It's possible, of course. He's seen Kida's letter, after all, that gifted him with immunity. And had heard of Junko being given a sort of immortality before. But for Break to have gotten his sight, that means... ]

That is a strong step forward from stale cake. I wonder what you must have done to have earned a reward like that.

[ He sighs heavily at the reminder of the cake, since he's still a little annoyed by that... ]

If it had been more cake, I would have given it to you. [ His logic is that Cecil would probably enjoy it. But he pauses before he addresses the rest. With others, he might tiptoe around the subject, but there's no need with Cecil. ]

...I can only assume that my "cross-section" was adequate. I was rated above average, in any case, though considering the circumstances, it's nothing to be proud of.

[ Since we are on the network still, Cecil's voice is bright and enthusiastic, despite the circumstances. ] "Above average!" Wow. That is something to be proud of! Or ashamed of. But pride seems like the Safer feeling. After all, you're moving in the right direction in the corporation, with a rating like that. I'm jealous, actually. I was only rated 'average' myself.

But. If what you did is not something you are proud of, then... Why did you do it so well?

Because of what you told me.

[ He answers that much quickly, and in a surprising amount of frankness, continues to be quite honest. ]

If there's a possibility that other people I care about could be brought here because of my lack of action... The number of people that would qualify is limited to only two people, now. And I will do everything I can to assure the safety of Sharon's mother and grandmother.

[ A soft, but heavy sigh ] I can do little here, that much is clear. But I will protect who I still can. Even if I have to do such loathsome work for it, my role is clear. I cannot falter, so I won't.

[ Because of what you told me. Break says. And Cecil does not answer at first. He is in a shocked silence, because... That's not what he had intended. And of course, Break has that right. He has the right to do what he thinks he needs to do. He has the right to try, to keep the ones he loves safe.

But what about the ones he took? The ones who also have someone who loves them? ]

I cannot blame you. ...No. I can blame you. But... I will not. You are a good man, Break. You are a man of good intentions. But there is a line you will have to draw. And when your toes come up to that line, what then?

"The Yao Corporation does not condone discrimination," is what my evaluation said. Because I tried to choose people who wanted to be chosen. Because I tried to protect good friends. "Specimens are to be treated equally" was their answer.

[ He asks, not intending Break to actually answer, because he is asking the same question of himself, and has no answer for it, either. ] When your toes come to that line and you are told not to discriminate, what then?

[ He exhales softly with a sound that almost sounds like a laugh, but it's tired and heavy. He's thought of this question already and many times before, so his answer doesn't take any thought. ]

Then I will make enemies. I'll become the enemy of this entire town, if I must. I'll throw away my useless emotions and use everything and everyone available.

[ He almost wants to laugh, to say that, because it was what he had told Gilbert a decade ago, by now. It was how he had convinced him to tread down a dangerous, unhappy path, but Gilbert was always going to turn out better for it than Break had. He had seen that goodness in him very early, and had steered him away from making the same mistakes that he had, however subtly. ]

If it were only my life... I would throw it away. And I suppose I have, twice in the past week, but who knows how much those deaths count when we're so quick to return? I'm an old man who has lived too much, and before I came here, I had no more than a month or two left to live. If it were just me? My death to free those I care about would be something I would offer without hesitation.

[ He pauses, since that was quite resolute, and clear that it's an answer he's already had in mind. But the second part is more reserved and calm. ]

...But I cannot be so selfish, you see. I cannot change the past, only work in the present. And for now, that present will have me kidnapping women and children to drag them off to a madman. I can say it is for the sake of people I care about, since I carry their lives upon my shoulders, but... It doesn't matter to most, does it?

[ That is more words than Cecil thinks he's ever heard Break speak before. They're sad words, bitter words. Honest words. And Cecil can appreciate that sadness, that bitterness, that honesty. He's felt them all himself. But he will not allow himself to agree, to feel those things now. ]

You've given up your life. A few times, actually. But, that's fine. That is safe. The corporation appreciates that sort of selfless loyalty. You have your sight now. You are no longer blind. ...Not physically, anyway. And that's good! That is the path you should be on. The path that will keep you, and your Sharon, and your Sharon's family together, and safe.

Do not hope for the future. Do not hope for anything. I will be hoping it for us both. I promise you a future you will see.

...But. In the meantime. If you do get any cake again, I'd appreciate if you didn't just throw it away again, like you did before. Cake isn't as easy to come by as new lives or the fragile but tenacious hope for a chaotic world, you know.

[ There's silence on Break's end as he listens and for a few moments after Cecil finishes. He understands what Cecil is trying to say despite all of his unusual ways of phrasing things, and somewhere deep inside him, he wants to believe it. He wants to trust those words and take them to heart, maybe even value what Cecil is trying to say to him, but...

It's not so easy for Break. He had long since thrown his heart away, before he ever met Sharon, and that was not so easy a thing to repair. He had remembered and learned from his mistakes, piece by piece, but after a decade, he was still far from close to the man Kevin Regnard had been before the tragedy that struck the family he had sworn to protect. And in a way, remembering to be that sort of man had always felt pointless to him, because his continued existence had focused on something else so completely that it seemed a waste.

He sighs softly, almost a barely heard sound, but it's soon followed by a little laugh. ]

Yes, I suppose I could keep it in the future. I don't know if I'll eat it, but, well. I'll just have to see what the quality is like next time.

[ Another pause, then he adds, ] Though I suppose for now, if you wish to hope for us both? I'll accept it.

[ Break isn't the kind of person to express thanks or friendship. Even after a decade of knowing someone, it was difficult for him to allow himself that, so instead, he speaks in ways like this. It's his quiet way of showing appreciation, however strange it may be. ]

[ It means a lot, those words, coming from Break. Cecil knows him, or likes to think he does. He knows how Break was a few months ago, and compared to that? Acceptance is practically a confession. So Cecil smiles to hear the words, even if Break can't see it thanks to the audio of the phones, and his voice is genuine when he answers. ]

Thank you.

Oh! I got a lab coat as my reward. I didn't tell you that yet, did I?

[ That surprises him, and he makes a soft note of surprise, though it isn't for the reasons that Cecil might expect. To Break, it sounds like an insult of a reward, like his cake had been. ]

...You sound rather cheerful, despite that.

Should I not be? Why despite?

I had asked for one. Not to them, specifically, but of course there is nothing they do not hear, no phone network they do not monitor. [ Like this one, he reminds. Which is why he isn't saying things like 'I didn't want immortality anyway.' or 'I know it's a taunt. But I'll use it against them to give me faith.' That sort of thing. He says instead. ] It reminds me of my Carlos. It's a reminder I needed. A token I will treasure.

I'm not going to throw it away, if that's what you mean.

Ah, well...

[ Just when he thinks he understands Cecil a little better, he gets more and more baffled... ]

I didn't realize it was suppose to be a memento. I thought it was more in lines with my cake.

I think was intended to be the same, yes. But it is so much more than that, to me.

Enjoy your gift, Break. Make good use of your new sight. The good doctor is our prison keeper now. You're probably going to need it, before long.

[ He laughs softly, but it's clear he agrees. ]

So indeed. I'll have to be extra vigilant, in any case, since from what I've heard of the Doctor, and what I've seen... We may have been in better hands with Geming.

[ Cecil chuckles, a musical and dark sound. ]

We are! I'm not sure we could be in much worse hands than that.

You haven't met Matilda yet, have you? The woman who wrote our evaluations? I cannot imagine you've had a reason to. Let me know, when you do meet her. I'd like to hear your opinion of her.

[ Well, that's ominous, but Break supposes that's par for the course with Yao... ]

I have not. What sort of reasons get you to meet with her, dare I ask?

Well, the reason I met with her was because of the whole Yuuki Kuran... thing. Soooooo... Hopefully you will not meet with her for something like that.

But considering she wrote those evaluations for us, also... I am sure you'll meet her at some point or another.

[ He sighs like this is troubling to him, which it is, but he understands. ]

Likely so. Then I take it she's just as charming as the rest?

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for the love of god don't ever tell Cecil your real name is Kevin

don't worry he won't

thanks. you're a good friend without even knowing it break.

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whoops lost the notif...