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Rising to your feet with a defeated sigh, you walk up to Mina as she searches your face for any evidence of you considering another decision.
She finds none.
C’mon, Mina, you begin in a tone that you hope clearly expresses your reluctance, hold out your wri-
“<span class="mu-i">DIESEL</span>,” She snaps as angry confusion tinges her voice and expression, “Please tell me you’re not entertaining the thought of-”
You don’t like it, okay, you hiss back with matching frustration! You <span class="mu-s">HATE</span> it, in fact! But Pappy over here is ready to <span class="mu-i">DIE</span> before giving anything away for free-
“Then <span class="mu-i">LET</span> him <span class="mu-s">DIE!</span>” Mina counters, the words dripping with malice!
And then what, you reply incredulously! Ask <span class="mu-i">RIVKA</span> nicely to tell you where she’s holed up!?
“Goad her into it! Trick her! Anything’s better than making a deal with hi-”
No, you interject with as firm a tone you can muster, it’s <span class="mu-i">NOT</span>. You might be putting on a brave front, but Rivka’s right–it’s taking you all sorts of effort to beat back this parasite inside of you right now… and if it gets the upper hand again you don’t think you’ll be able to fight it… and neither will the other infected.
Mina’s eyes grow wide. “... <span class="mu-i">Others?</span>”
Yea, you nod, she’s been ‘<span class="mu-i">treating</span>’ people all night. Raj turned earlier because of some sort of <span class="mu-s">GAS</span>, and if she’s been alone with another else, well…
“Even still,” The heiress sighs with less bite to her voice, “He’ll just twist things, Diesel–it’ll be a wild goose chase… or <span class="mu-i">WORSE</span>!”
You take a steadying breath before gently placing your palm on the girl’s cold shoulder. Hauser’s not gonna budge, you explain, which is why <span class="mu-i">we</span> need to be the better people here. If we play his little game, we’ve got a chance at catching up to Rivka before things get out of hand!
Mina eyes you warily. “... and if this results in another scheme?”
Then you’ve got the whole gang watching over him, you shrug as you scan the mountaintop, and they’re <span class="mu-i">DEFINITELY</span> willing to crack his head open like a pinata after everything that happened!
The girl bites her lip in contemplation before looking to her brother for support.
“It’s not that bad, Min…” He grunts as he puts on a strong face for both of you, “Just… just take one for the team, okay?”
That’s all she needed to hear. A long, resigned sigh escapes her lips as she looks back at you with newfound resolve.
“You know, of course, should this plan fall apart I won’t be alive to say ‘<span class="mu-i">I told you so</span>’?” She remarks with a wry grin.
Don’t worry, you smile back, you’re sure she’ll find some way to get the message to you. Indulging in a solitary muffled giggle, Mina reluctantly holds up her arm for you.
“Do it, then.”
>CONTD.
