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

[ninehundredlives]

...no. That's not a word I'd use.

[matchbreaker]

Good.

[ what the fuck is wrong with Sigrun. ]

[ninehundredlives]

It's ridiculous that people would. She is one of the ones keeping us here?

[Susan is also talking about Sigrun tbh]

[matchbreaker]

She is. I'm not totally clear what her stake in things is, but she is.

[ . . .

. . . ]

I owe you an apology, by the way.

[ninehundredlives]

She's a really strange girl.

[Said none too fondly. Susan could probably theorize about her a little bit more, but...oh?]

Oh, yeah?

[matchbreaker]

Yes.

[ she bows her head a little, and- ]

My husband only passed recently, but I was flaunting what happiness I've had before now. Clearly, that was insensitive for you of all people.

[ninehundredlives]

.......yeah. That.

[She looks away, folding her arms uncomfortably.] It's fine. It's not like you knew. [.....] It was a little over a year ago now, for me.

[matchbreaker]

Even so, I'd have felt bad to say nothing.

[ . . . ]

That's simply awful, I'm sorry.

[ninehundredlives]

...thank you.

We weren't as happy as you were, I think. Definitely not, by the end of it. I was angry at him for a lot of things. I guess maybe I still am, a bit. But I never wanted that.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Hah.

Elda's lips press together, and she nods. She won't ask for clarification. No, if they weren't happy she- ]

... Honestly, for how blessed I was, I'm still mad at James for leaving me first. I know that's trite by comparison, but I hope it makes it clear that perfection has faults too. That man was gentle, kind - to a fault. He never drank enough blood, and by the end, it damaged his health. That handsome fool died in his sleep.

[ninehundredlives]

...I'm sorry.

[A good way to go, in her opinion. But that's not something you say.]

[matchbreaker]

[ To have ignored a kiss from his lover...

It's still so weighty on her chest. ]

It's just going to be silly if we keep up a circle of that, isn't it? Let's change topics.

[ninehundredlives]

We'll probably get more than enough of it.

[Her fear with her own secret was never really that other people would blame her for it. She just didn't want their pity. And now...well. It is what it is.]

Have you talked to Sayaka since we got out of there? She looked...really bad. [Literally everyone did, but you know.]

[matchbreaker]

Am I the girl's keeper now?

[ . . . But. ]

... Yes, I did. I made certain to hunt her down.

[ninehundredlives]

She cares a lot about you.

[It's not the same thing, but it's something.]

That's good. She...it's probably good for her to talk.

[matchbreaker]

... She does. It is a strange choice, on her part.

[ninehundredlives]

People make a lot of strange choices. I just hope hers work out for her.

[Better than Susan's, at least.]

I get the feeling they kept her pretty penned up, at home.

[matchbreaker]

That sounds accusing of me.

[ Exhale. ]

... Yes, it seems so.

[ninehundredlives]

No more than anybody else. We've all known each other for such a short time...it's funny to think about. It feels like it's been so much longer.

[matchbreaker]

You needn't tell me that of all people. It at once feels like a fleeting moment and a small eternity. Maybe it's the fact I've been denied the ability for comfortable sleep.

[ninehundredlives]

What do you need for that?

[matchbreaker]

A coffin? Knowledge that I won't have some living bomb girl pick the lock to my room? The ability to know Jericho won't kill me for inaction.

[ninehundredlives]

At least we're safe from the time limit for another week or so. And you could always push something in front of the door.

[The coffin, though...]

Does it have to be an actual coffin?

[matchbreaker]

... I suppose not? It's what I'm well used to, but the main purpose is to be comfortable while blocking out the light. These beds here are far too soft.

[ . . . ]

Besides, I doubt I could afford to sleep a week here, let alone the months I was considering before I arrived.

[ninehundredlives]

...no. Probably not. God only knows what you'd miss.

[Everything happens way too much here]