GOPHER -> 4th Bookmark [VOICE]

[wafflewood]

[There is static, and the faciliberry turns on mid-sentence.]

-- not me! You - who curses Noah-sama's name! Filthy impostor - I'll kill you -

[There is the sound of a fist burrowing into flesh, followed by a gasp, and another voice takes over, so similar to the first, yet it sounds more refined, and possesses an eerie amount of calmness - like

Comments

[Voice] late, sorry @_@

[togana_keiri]

[She's dead silent for a while, clearly able to distinguish the original from the fake, but unsure of just who was more unstable. It was probably just the knowledge that they came from the same world that made her bother to say anything at all. If Gopher dies, it's honestly not much of a loss, but having a cop with his powers, and more sanity as it sure sounded, could be dangerous.]

...Gopher?

[Voice] ... I love you so much.

[wafflewood]

[There is no response for well over twenty minutes.

(Back at the church, there Gopher is screamingsobbing.)

When the feed does turn back on, there is only one voice. Neutral, yet mildly cheerful, with a hint of surprise.]

Ah, yes, Albarn-san. Are you still there? I apologize to keep you waiting.

It's a pleasure to hear from you again.

Now how can I help you? And what time would you like to schedule our rendezvous?

[Voice] ... XD I love you too~

[togana_keiri]

[This time she isn't sure which it is, but the politeness makes her assume the copy won. That can't be good.]

We don't have any rendezvous to schedule. [Unless of course he was going to wreak havoc. Then there was an obligation.]

What happened to the other one?

[Voice] I kinda see this having epic results

[wafflewood]

Are you forgetting that I am obliged to kill you? Unfortunately, I am still "Gopher", which means I still have his memories and hatred for you - it can't be helped, I'm afraid.

So as I was saying before - what time.

[Voice] yesss XD you wanna go ahead and let this happen now?

[togana_keiri]

[She's not afraid of him, but something about his calm collective attitude in comparison to his usual behavior, unnerves her.]

It makes no difference to me which one you are.

[After a lengthy pause.]

I don't care when, but I set where. [Because they would do this where people wouldn't get hurt.]

[VOICE] Are we allowed to foredate this to Thursday?

[wafflewood]

I can allow this.

Your Deathscythe is coming with you, yes? Normally, I'd call a foul with two against one, but he makes up half your worth so I would only get half the job done if I eliminated you alone.

[In contrast to his normal way of talking, he's surprisingly not sarcastic or mocking this time. His voice is light, neither dull and bored nor chipper or overly happy; he states his insult like it's a straight-up fact, almost.]

[VOICE] Sounds good to me~

[togana_keiri]

[Her eyes narrow further at him though he can't see, and her hands close into fists.]

Sorry to disappoint you, but you won't be eliminating anyone.

[She then proceeds to give him the name of one of the areas that has already been destroyed. That way, no one will be in harm's way.]

Be there in ten minutes.

[VOICE]

[wafflewood]

'till then.

[The feed cuts.]

[Comment Log] assuming you wanna comm log from here?

[togana_keiri]

[Maka waits at the spot she told him about, but up on one of the buildings still standing nearby, not directly in sight. Her soul perception is on, and she's already made sure there isn't anyone in the area who might get hurt. As she waits with Soul in her hands, she begins to worry. She didn't like the way Gopher's copy sounded...this was going to be a harder than fighting him the first time, of that she was sure.]

[Comment Log] Sure thing. Let us pretend today is THURSDAY.

[wafflewood]

[Not one for sneak attacks, 'Gopher' lands somewhere in the middle of the designated spot a few minutes later. He looks around.]

[Comment Log] o7

[togana_keiri]

[When she spots him, after just a moment of hesitation, Maka glides with Soul to meet him where he stands, Soul's wings retracting to form a blade as soon as her feet hit the ground.]

There's no reason for this. Noah isn't here, and death isn't permanent. [It's not that she cares, it's that it could save time and energy if they don't fight.]

[Comment Log]

[wafflewood]

[It's not her concern that surprises him, but more the fact that death wasn't permanent. His eyes widen momentarily and then he glances away from Maka, and for the first time, he almost looks sad. But the expression comes and goes, and soon the doppelganger reverts to his calm neutrality.]

To be honest, Albarn-san, I would agree with you under normal circumstances. Especially now that I've learned death is only a temporary state of being in the facility. Nevertheless... it doesn't change a thing.

You see, I am 'Gopher' - yet I am not. I have his memories, abilities, and every one of his emotions - except for his pitiful affection for the mage. That's the only line where we differ.

[His expression darkens just the slightest.] Apparently, not professing my love for Noah makes me an inadequate doppelganger

[Comment Log]

[togana_keiri]

[Of all the copies she's met so far, Gopher's is by far the most confusing. He's Gopher's polar opposite from what she knows, and from what it sounds like, they have no reason to be enemies. This Gopher was free of the blind devotion that was so present in the original, and that devotion was what made him consider her an enemy. But as she listens, his words dawn on her.

Only through killing her, would he become free...]

Sorry...but that's not going to happen. [She didn't understand the pointlessness of the battle, but she understood he wanted her dead, and that was what mattered.]

This is stupid and pointless, but if you won't walk away then I will finish you. [She warns, genuinely annoyed and surprised with her sincere reluctance to fight him.]

[Comment Log]

[wafflewood]

[He just stares at her.] ... Sometimes I wonder if you're just saying that.

Alright, then. Come on - let's see if I'm worthy of having my own identity! I won't lose!

[Without another word, he raises his left wrist and brings forth his signature wings and immediately takes to the skies, firing a flurry of bullets at Maka the first opportunity he gets.]

[Comment Log]

[togana_keiri]

[Her response is to bring up the blade to shield the array of incoming bullets. After the first volley, she gets a running start before taking into the sky after him, glad that she'd spent all of that time in the first week practicing midair maneuvers. She stands rather than sits in order to have a better ability to react to his attacks, reassuring Soul when he comments on not falling like last time.

She aims at getting close enough to switch forms and take a swipe at him, though she isn't close enough yet, and speeds up heading straight for him.]

[Comment Log]

[wafflewood]

[Maka had gotten much better at maneuvering in the sky, he notes. And while she was still no match for his speed, he wouldn't take the chance that she had something else up her sleeve.

So instead of trying to dodge her incoming attack, he does something unusual - he stays in the line of fire and starts to drifts back, slowly at first, then speeding up his backwards movement as she closes the distance between them - but never going too quickly, so that she won't be able to catch up.]