Phoenix stepped forward. Met the accusing gaze unflinching, and drew his sword. "What makes us different, Goro Akechi? What fundamental difference is there between you and I? I was constructed, like you. Purpose-built to serve a task I never asked for by an uncaring and irresponsible creator. Grind me down to the finest powder and sieve it through the finest sieve and I guarantee you, you won't find much of anything different from you. Ratios might be different. A bit more iron here, a bit less carbon there. So what is 'humanity'? You plainly have a soul, and if you want proof?"
He gestured, to where Crow and Hiro were standing. "What about Hiro? Or Aigis and Ulysses? You gonna stand there and tell all these people that we're all so fundamentally divorced from the lived experiences of the other people here that we're nothing like them? In spite of everything we have in common? Why are you so fucking determined to face everything alone when there are people here, right in front of you and down below, too, who'd fight and bleed for you?! Die for you, if they had to?! You want us to leave, well fuck you, make me. You claim we don't know you, so let us. You can face this, and you can beat it, and even if you can't do it alone, fine, whatever, neither could I. Neither could Crow or anyone else here. Let us in. One time. Please, Falcon."
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Phoenix stepped forward. Met the accusing gaze unflinching, and drew his sword. "What makes us different, Goro Akechi? What fundamental difference is there between you and I? I was constructed, like you. Purpose-built to serve a task I never asked for by an uncaring and irresponsible creator. Grind me down to the finest powder and sieve it through the finest sieve and I guarantee you, you won't find much of anything different from you. Ratios might be different. A bit more iron here, a bit less carbon there. So what is 'humanity'? You plainly have a soul, and if you want proof?"
He twisted his hand, as though pulling on an invisible chain. It spun into existence, not the heavy golden chain of ownership, of a contract between overlord and sinner- but a finely-worked one as though from jewelry, gossamer-thin and glowing. A mutual connection. Prudence and Death. "That? That wouldn't be there if either of us lacked one. And I'm not the only person here who's a construct made by someone else. What about Renée? Or Morgana? Or the attendants?"
He gestured, to where Crow and Hiro were standing. "What about Hiro? Or Aigis and Ulysses? You gonna stand there and tell all these people that we're all so fundamentally divorced from the lived experiences of the other people here that we're nothing like them? In spite of everything we have in common? Why are you so fucking determined to face everything alone when there are people here, right in front of you and down below, too, who'd fight and bleed for you?! Die for you, if they had to?! You want us to leave, well fuck you, make me. You claim we don't know you, so let us. You can face this, and you can beat it, and even if you can't do it alone, fine, whatever, neither could I. Neither could Crow or anyone else here. Let us in. One time. Please, Falcon."