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

[destage]

Tohsaka-san,

I've never drank before, how am I supposed to know what to mix and what not to? [There's a little drawing of...an angry face with puffed cheeks there.] Honestly, I thought it'd be okay. I like chamomile, so I thought it'd mix decently enough. I've never drank before...

- Sayaka Maizono

[heritrix]

Maizono-san,

You can really get through a year dry? You're twice as impressive as I thought...

Wine and most alcoholic beverages are an acquired taste, so I'm unsurprised it didn't agree with you. You'll probably find port wine more to your liking.

- Rin Tohsaka

[destage]

Tohsaka-san,

Idols aren't allowed to drink. Or smoke or...really, do anything that would make us look like a bad influence. I'll have to see if I can find that stuff if I do it again, though.

- Sayaka Maizono

[heritrix]

Maizono-san,

I know all of that, I just always guessed they did it behind closed doors anyways, since that's what I do.

...I became popular for specific reasons, one of which was to ensure I would always be beyond approach and reproach. Whenever I'm in public, all eyes are on me, but the trade-off is that my private time is always my own.

Thinking on it, it's probably a luxury I'm allowed because I'm a school idol and not a real celebrity. But for you, privacy must be an illusion, I take it.

- Rin Tohsaka

[destage]

Tohsaka-san,

You imply that we'd ever actually have time for any of that. No, if our managers got wind of us doing something bad...they'd have ways of making sure we didn't. Outside of all of the cameras, but...they're a very good deterrent, especially since they can make something from nothing.

You're not wrong, though. I've never had this much alone time since I was back at home, honestly. They always found something for me to do, and relied on me to do it. I didn't have any time for myself that wasn't spent at school, sleeping, or at work. I honestly envy you, in that regard.

- Sayaka Maizono

[heritrix]

[The next note doesn't come for a long time. If it's examined closely, there are strange indentations on the paper too.

The way it sometimes happens when you press hard enough with a pen on one paper that an indentation is left on the one beneath it. They're long, dragging lines in this instance.]

Maizono-san,

I liked the life I lived. I've worked hard to be able to enjoy myself, and have the freedom that I did. But it had its drawbacks. Knowing why you became an idol, I think you'd actually hate it.

Still, I was as happy as I could be. I only know how to live my life selfishly, so that's the best thing I can encourage you to do.

So long as you're here and it doesn't cause anyone else problems, you should continue to embrace doing as you want. I might not be a celebrity idol, but I know how tiring it can be when you can never act like your real self. So take this opportunity. The circumstances are dreadful, but it's a good one.

- Rin Tohsaka