[ That jolt of emotion signals to him that something's off. He doesn't know what Suzuha is thinking, because he's thought this through already. There is no other solution; there are no effective stopgaps; putting an end to him once and for all is the only outcome here that makes any sense. (The only one he'll accept, because he can't fully turn, can't unleash a zombie with his abilities on the world.) I can fix it, Suzuha says, and Mark—
— wasn't expecting her to follow up with the words time machine, and any frustration and agitation that had been beginning to boil up evaporates.
Mark stares at her.
And stares.
And while Suzuha has given herself something to cling to Mark goes for that in the literal sense, leaning back in to hug Suzuha, maybe sweep her off her feet while he's at it thanks to a combination of height and strength. ]
Yes. [ His voice is an awed hush, but there's life swelling from within him. He'd been working to numb himself for days to better accept his fate, and now there's life, present and warm and in full force. ] Oh my god, yes. If you can do that — if that's an option — I mean. [ He laughs. Sets her down, if he'd inadvertently picked her up in the new hug. ] I've got no objections to you using that.
[ And he's sure Kotoha wouldn't, either. Mark beams at her, and there's real happiness present in him now. If he's getting his hopes up it doesn't matter, right? If this is the last thing he ever feels and it never comes to pass, at least he felt it. And if it makes things easier for Suzuha, then there's nothing better. ]
I'm still sorry I had to ask you to begin with, but me being gone improves your chances of making it to the end. And once you make it there, and go back... Maybe I'll see you again soon. [ A beat. ] And if your world still needs help, I'll come help you.
[ He has no idea how time travel is supposed to work; if he's going to remember this conversation, if it's going to be another version of him who doesn't get infected, or what. It's not like it matters right now, anyway.
Mark smiles at her, soft and hopeful. Not hoping that she'll follow through on killing him — he's reasonably confident of that now — but hopeful that this might not actually be goodbye. ]
I'm ready.
[ Even though it might be, but in this moment... not like he's going to know that. ]
no subject
— wasn't expecting her to follow up with the words time machine, and any frustration and agitation that had been beginning to boil up evaporates.
Mark stares at her.
And stares.
And while Suzuha has given herself something to cling to Mark goes for that in the literal sense, leaning back in to hug Suzuha, maybe sweep her off her feet while he's at it thanks to a combination of height and strength. ]
Yes. [ His voice is an awed hush, but there's life swelling from within him. He'd been working to numb himself for days to better accept his fate, and now there's life, present and warm and in full force. ] Oh my god, yes. If you can do that — if that's an option — I mean. [ He laughs. Sets her down, if he'd inadvertently picked her up in the new hug. ] I've got no objections to you using that.
[ And he's sure Kotoha wouldn't, either. Mark beams at her, and there's real happiness present in him now. If he's getting his hopes up it doesn't matter, right? If this is the last thing he ever feels and it never comes to pass, at least he felt it. And if it makes things easier for Suzuha, then there's nothing better. ]
I'm still sorry I had to ask you to begin with, but me being gone improves your chances of making it to the end. And once you make it there, and go back... Maybe I'll see you again soon. [ A beat. ] And if your world still needs help, I'll come help you.
[ He has no idea how time travel is supposed to work; if he's going to remember this conversation, if it's going to be another version of him who doesn't get infected, or what. It's not like it matters right now, anyway.
Mark smiles at her, soft and hopeful. Not hoping that she'll follow through on killing him — he's reasonably confident of that now — but hopeful that this might not actually be goodbye. ]
I'm ready.
[ Even though it might be, but in this moment... not like he's going to know that. ]