don't wait for a knight in shinin' armor, your savior's reflected in the mirror

[perpend]

[That sure was a fucking thing. That execution was a fucking thing. Those secrets are a fucking thing.

Cabanela retreats to his room, but not for all that long. Everyone will get a note eventually, written in very neat handwriting

I do not plan on bowing down to threats and intimidation. If you did not act, it means you were, like me, aware of the risk, but decided against it. Your reasons are entirely your own.

Join me in the dining room if you agree enough is enough, and that you won't acquiesce to threats. I don't plan to let this stop me, and neither should you.

-C

In the dining room itself, Cabanela has set up coffee and tea for those who want it-- there's no food, because to be honest, he doesn't know how to cook. Two more candles have been lit-- he wasn't really sure what to do about the whole... parasite thing... so Fern's candle will have to make due.]

Comments

[firstaid]

You mean the dreams?

[Estelle puts her spoon back in her serial and her expression that had a smile on it disappears...

...she's not sure if she can handle another dream.]

[destage]

Yeah. At this point, they're coming like clockwork, right? So we're bound to have another. If we don't, well...I guess it was just a coincidence.

[Sayaka shrugs, though, but she's looking at Estelle's face as she speaks. Analyzing.]

...You're not excited, are you.

[firstaid]

[She shakes her head, confirming that yeah, she's not excited.]

I'm not. I... have only gotten nightmares and I don't think I could handle another.

[A beat...]

Yuri's secret... if I'm correct then...

[...then she doesn't have a happy ending.]

[destage]

[...what does she do in a situation like this? It's not like anything else, where she's actively poisoning the world around her.]

...I'm sorry, Estelle-san. I still don't think you deserve any of the stuff you've been thrown in that place. It's saddening that you can't live a free life.

[firstaid]

It's fine. I mean, it is sad, but...

[She tries to force a smile but it disappears just as fast as she attempt to wear it.]

...it's fine. Please, do not feel sorry for me.

[It wasn't her intention, but she's glad Sayaka is listening to her.]

[destage]

...No. You deserved to have the ability to live. You deserved to have the ability to seek your own life. And...quite frankly, the powers that made your life this way need to get smacked in the face.

[Sayaka states that with a surprising amount of venom. Not at Estelle, of course. But at that world.]

Good people don't deserve that. And...no matter what your secret says, Estelle-san, you're a good person.

[firstaid]

[This isn't the first time she's heard this so it makes her smile that people fight for her... for such a reason.

...but she doesn't feel like that's a valid reason at all. Neither did Phaeroh.

Though Belius...]

Thank you, Miss Maizono.

[That's all she can really say.]

[destage]

[...]

Is this...just something you're willing to accept, Estelle-san?

[God, the way she acquiesces so easily, it...reminds her of herself, and she hates it.]

[firstaid]

If it's something that will save my world... then I have... no qualms against it.

[Her friends will search for another way, but it just seems like an easy solution to her.]

[destage]

[Sayaka watches Estelle's face when she says that. She has to wonder if it's...really all that true.]

Have you ever once given consideration to what you want, Estelle-san?

[firstaid]

What... I want...?

[Well it's obvious the answer is 'no' as she looks away. She never considered it.]

[destage]

Yeah. Isn't there stuff you want to do, Estelle-san? Dreams you have?

[firstaid]

I...

[She says this one word goes silent for a bit, but eventually she answers.]

...want to write stories.

[destage]

...Then you should have that chance. You could become a world famous author, you know? You just have to put the determination to become one up to the forefront.

[That's why she's so angry with how Estelle just...accepts this. She has dreams. She deserves to follow them.]

[firstaid]

Is it really worth it if my world is dying?

[And there's the unspoken 'And I could be the cause.']

Perhaps... one day... when my world is no longer in danger I'll follow those dreams.

[destage]

Would you rather have the world die knowing you haven't at least tried to live a bit, or have it die knowing you've accomplished something?

[...admittedly, this is a case of Sayaka's priorities, but...]

...I hope you get that chance. If...something must happen, you deserve to make one mark on the world, and have a place for yourself.

[firstaid]

I am looking for my place in the world and what I can do. Unfortunately, the one thing I thought I could do ended up doing more harm than good, so...

[But she hopes that one day she can settle down and write stories.]

[destage]

...That doesn't mean your life is over or forfiet, Estelle-san.

[That's...something she's really gotta tell herself, but Estelle could stand to hear it too.]

[firstaid]

I... know, but...

[But if it came to it... well...]