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[doctorize]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, DOCTORIZE FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** DOCTORIZE has posted an AUDIO MESSAGE. If you wish to listen, type LISTEN01. <USER> LISTEN01 AUDIO MESSAGE PLAYING... <doctorize> This is the line for Dr. Daniel Dickens. If you'd like to leave a message, please do so here. I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible!

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[peccatore]

[Ah. There it is.]

It-- It's not like that.

[But he hardly has a plan for this. Not one that doesn't require him to throw Rachel under the bus - and that's a plan he simply can't accept.]

[doctorize]

Really? Then what is it supposed to be like, Marco?

[He folds his arms here, as if genuinely prepared to stare the other man down and wait for a better answer.]

[peccatore]

I... As I said I might, I did my own investigation on the matter.

[Danny knows what matter. It doesn't need to be named. He doesn't need to name who he talked to, either - or rather, Marco would prefer to think Danny can't make him name anybody.]

And... And ultimately, I've concluded that it wouldn't hurt to get rid of the file.

[doctorize]

Ah. So you decided to take more stock in rumors than in the fact that you and I have known each other here for... what, years? I'm truly hurt, Marco.

[It's hard to say if he's actually being sincere about feeling that way here--he looks more tired than upset by this.]

But now, I can't help but wonder what exactly this "investigation" turned up that made you decide to consider those slanderous rumors seriously as opposed to trusting my word...

[peccatore]

[As guilty as he feels for not taking Riley at her word from the start, it really was Rachel that gave the most credible, convincing testimony. That's what makes this so difficult; it's who she seems to be to both Danny and Aunamee that lends her credence, and it's that very same factor that means he cannot implicate her without consequences.]

... I understand being skeptical. [Marco gulps. Is it even a good idea to throw himself under the bus before Danny gets to do it?] You would know better than anyone that I can jump to conclusions.

[doctorize]

[Danny blinks in momentary surprise at that--it seems he was not expecting Marco to say that.]

I suppose you do have a point there.

[...]

... And yet, despite being self aware of that personal flaw, you're still doing so in this moment. Why? What was said that makes you so sure that this is a risk worth taking?

[peccatore]

[Preempting Danny cuts the sting of a potential accusation, at least. Few people have more ammunition against Marco than he does; even if he hasn't taken advantage of it so far, and there seems to be no reason to think he has, he could easily deliver a crushing blow.

Unfortunately, preempting Danny does not stop him from asking the one question Marco isn't sure how to answer.

Not directly. Not specifically. If he mentions only the details, and not the broader picture...]

Well, [He inhales.] I've been told you're very close to Aunamee.

[doctorize]

[Ah, so that was the info that Marco is having issue with.]

Allegedly, according to my accusers despite no evidence of ever having any conversations with Aunamee online or in person that anyone could vouch for as proof of this.

[However......]

Unless there was someone else you spoke to other than Riley or Mukuro that told you something like that as well?

[There is one other person that does in fact know the truth of all this. And if his suspicion is correct... well. That might be a problem.]

[peccatore]

[Oh, no. He's definitely closing in.

But what can Marco do? If Danny already suspects who it might be, denying it will only confirm his suspicions. If he doesn't, and Marco says there was somebody else, then he'll be casting a spotlight on Rachel. There is no perfect option here. What else can he try? Is there a third option...?

...

There might be.]

F... Frankly... The fact that you're denying having spoken to him ever seems telling.

[doctorize]

Oh?

[At that, Danny tilts his head, regarding Marco with curiosity. He's kind of interested seeing that Marco has tried to divert his suspicion here rather than confirm it.]

I mean, it is true, isn't it? Have you ever seen me engage in any of his manifestos on the network, or even standing in the same space together? Let alone ever talk about or mention him myself?

[peccatore]

... No, I can't say I have. Not for certain.

[That's exactly what he's counting on for this argument, though. He just... has to put it in a way that makes sense. He steels himself -]

But that's-- that's unusual, isn't it? Aunamee has a big presence. And you say you've never interacted with him?