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

room 13

[firstaid]

[Estelle checked on some dads so let's check in on some moms too.

She... wants to know how Susan feels especially after that trial and after her secret was revealed and try to be helpful.

So knock knock.]

Susan, are you in there? It's Estellise.

[ninehundredlives]

[....Estellise isn't one to go away, is she]

What is it?

[firstaid]

[She bugged Kirei, so... no, no she's not one to go away.]

I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing.

[Unlike with Kirei, she has no desire to ask about the secret. That's not a can of worms she wants to open.]

[ninehundredlives]

I don't think any of us are doing well.

[Which, like. Fair.]

[firstaid]

[She's silent for a moment because it's true... not many people are doing well.]

May I do anything for you at this moment, Susan?

[ninehundredlives]

I don’t think I need much. I’m not...happy about it, but I knew this secret thing would happen, you know? You’re better off checking with someone else.

[firstaid]

[Estelle stands there for a bit as she sways in place as if thinking.]

Are you sure? I-I mean I am checking in with others, but I want to make sure everyone will... be okay.

[That despite all that she saw, the secrets people may have killed for, she still cares for most everyone's well-being here.]

[ninehundredlives]

Even after some of that?

[Some of it is unforgivable, if true. But there’s more to her secret than the phrasing implied, so...Susan is just uneasy about it all.]

[firstaid]

[Estelle nods.]

Unless I know the full story, I can't judge anyone for their secret.

[Her naivete will be the end of her here.

Except Rideaux. She's judging Rideaux.]

[ninehundredlives]

...maybe. I’m not sure there are stories that could make some of that any better.

[Maybe some of them deserve this after all.]

[firstaid]

Perhaps, but until we learn the story, don't you think it's rather premature to judge others based on them?

[She... could learn a thing or two, but then again, she's Miss "just by being alive I'm potentially ending the world". So....]

[ninehundredlives]

Maybe.

[That's a nice thing to believe, anyway.]

And what if you don't like what you hear?

[firstaid]

Then I suppose I must accept it.

[She can't fight some things and she understands that.]

[ninehundredlives]

What does that look like, to you?

[Avoiding them? Hating them? Or trying this love and acceptance schtick even so?]

[firstaid]

I don't really know. Some people I have fought when I realized they were... awful people. However, that's back home. A high ranking councilman committing genocide for their greedy gain... A knight captain who had no qualms using commoners like slaves...

[...A high councilman... and a high ranking knight... sound familiar? She's referencing Yuri's secret here.

It's for that reason Estelle doesn't take these secrets at face value-- why there must be a story behind them.]

So perhaps it's avoidance. But I'll also fight if I must.

[ninehundredlives]

I guess that's what we're all doing, sooner or later. Taking down the people who are trying to kill us all.

[Because they have to. But even if someone else here is dangerous - a monster - you'd face the same fate for killing them.]

...I guess there isn't much to do about it, if they don't do anything here.

[firstaid]

Right, that's what we need to do. We'll overcome them somehow-- we have to.

[Whether it's actually overcoming them or killing them. It doesn't matter...

If the rest of them want to survive, it's their only choice and she knows it.]

[ninehundredlives]

Just because we have to, doesn't mean that we will. Only that we'll do it or we'll die.

[thanks for the ray of sunshine susan]

[firstaid]

That's why we have to and why we will.

[She's used to Debbie Downers, it's all okay.]

[ninehundredlives]

Well. I guess that sounds nicer, anyway, doesn't it?