trustfell | It keeps happening

It keeps happening

[After that horror show of an execution, Mordecai is still restless from the investigation and trial. He has too much pent-up energy, and plenty of others are sure to be upset, too. Ashley was loved by nearly all of them, the trial was mentally draining, and that execution was crueler than it should have been.

Two hours after everyone has returned to their rooms, they'll find a note slipped under their doors.]

We can't go on with empty stomachs. There's food in the kitchen, and the dining room is always open if you need someone to talk to.

Please keep anything outside of eating and civilized conversation away from the dining hall. That room is meant to be a peaceful place for those of us that need it.

-Mordecai Benmont Jiminy

[Today, there's cream of tomato soup warming up on the stove with a set of bowls besides it. It's a more mindless dish to prepare than mashed potatoes, as much as Mordecai wants to vent his frustrations on the potatoes.

He decides to follow Cabanela's tradition and lights one more candle, and after some consideration, lights a sixth. Let those who cared about either girl pay their respects.]

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Of coourse.

[He sounds grim, doesn't bother to smile, but he's receptive to the idea, so that's... something.]

Juuust knock, I'll be in there.

I will.

[You'll get about an hour before Logan shows up to knock on Cabanela's door. Aside from seeming more agitated than usual he's fine and he doesn't look like he's been a goddamn mess.]

[Well, that's two of them that look like they're not a mess, at least. After the trial and execution today, there's probably no one in the entire building that believes that Cabanela isn't a hideous mess, but he can still pretend he isn't, dammit.]

[He understands. He really does.]

Cabanela. I apologize if I haven't given you enough time.

[But he's not moving to leave or anything because holy shit does he need to talk to someone and you are the Responsible Adult he's friends with.]

[He steps aside to let Logan into his room.]

I don't think time is on our side; come on in.

[He'll be taking a seat on the bed, because the reverse is probably seriously awkward.]

[Yeah, that is kinda awkward...

Logan takes the chair, sinking heavily into it and resting his hands on his knees. He's still sort of slouched but it's not quite as bad as his posture usually is.]

I apologize for how sudden this is. I... need to talk to someone. Normally I would seek out Youko but...

[You saw how she was behaving at the trial. She was furious and out for blood and all of the things she said...

Well. It didn't sit well with Logan.]

I don't even know where to begin, however. I don't mean to hold you as a captive audience and force you to listen to my problems.

[...]

You were... terribly hurt by Ashley's death as well.

[Even at his most vengeful, Cabanela is not the sort of person who can be out for blood. He understands entirely. He gets anger, he gets hatred but... that had been something else entirely.]

Ashley... reminded me of someone veeery dear to me.

It's strange, she doe-- didn't even act very much like her, but I... I guess some people are just like that.

[Normally Logan would have been right there with Youko. But his situation is a bit too close to Asuka's and there are so many things that have happened both here and back in Albion that have made him realize just how fucked up he is.

Likes: executions was listed for a reason, after all.]

...I understand entirely. Ashley... she was like the younger sister I wanted instead of the younger sister I had. I saw a bit of myself in her, I believe.

[Scared, panicked, paranoid... That was what he recognized in her during their first meeting. It wasn't because she was anything like his sister, it was because she was like him.]

Who... Who did she remind you of?

[Is this a walnutty question? This might be a walnutty question.]

[It might be a bit walnutty, but he's asking the man who starting banging on the glass window blocking the Conductor from them to get the man to spare Asuka.]

There's a rookie detective who works for me, she and I.... go back a very long time, you could say.

She's a biiit like a daughter to me, I guess you could say.

[Well, to be fair, Logan just sort of froze and couldn't move at all during that. If he'd been in a better state of mind (thanks, shadows) then maybe he would have been right there with you.

Asuka took Ashley from them, but she's a person and no one deserves that sort of "punishment."]

A daughter... What is she like?

Spunky and cheerful-- she has a goood heart. She's my baby girl.

She's wanted to be a cop since she was eight years old.

Indeed? I doubt many children have their minds set on what they want to be at such an age.

[...sometimes you don't really have a choice, but it's not all bad!

Logan rests his elbow on his knee and his chin on his hand. It's probably the most relaxed he's looked, though his expression hasn't changed much.]

What is her name?

[It's sad that this is one of the most normal conversations he's had in the weeks since they arrived here...]

Her name's Lynne.

Lynne... That's a beautiful name.

[...though maybe that's because he named a chicken "Evelyn" um.]

Is she related to you?

[He's interested in hearing more about her because yeah, this is the most normal conversation he's had in awhile and it doesn't involve executions or Reaver or murder and he is totally here for this.]

No, not at all, actually.

[It's.... complicated.]

Ten years ago, she was involved in a big case. After that, Jowd and I kept an eye on her, to make sure nothing happened.

A big case?

[From what he's gathered, cops are basically investigators, though less stupid than the ones Logan has heard of in Albion. He can only imagine how this went down.]

What happened?

[There's a pause, long enough for Cabanela to take a deep breath.]

Major national secrets were released. There were a number of people working on the project, but one man in particular caught the eye of people investigating the case-- his name was Yomiel, and he was a programmer.

I was assigned to interrogate him-- I was brand new on the force, and I was preetty damn headstrong back then. Prone to getting over my head.

[Logan tips his head as Cabanela speaks.]

I assume this ended up with you in over your head. What happened?

I puuuushed him too hard, I made him think he had no hope, that we were going to find him guilty.

And I was caaareless; somehow, I left my gun behind.

He used it to escape into the park, where a little girl was playing in the leaves.

[He assumes Logan can tell where this is headed.]

He... He threatened her?

[Obviously she's not dead, but... that's horrifying and Logan's expression actually sort of reflects that.]

He took her hostage.

It was the act of a desperate man, one who thought he had no options left.

Jowd cornered him in the park-- he did everything he could to get the man to stop. But before he could stop Yomiel from harming Lynne, or before Yomiel could harm Lynne, a meteorite shot down into the park from the sky.

a fragment hit Yomiel, killing him instantly.

A... meteorite?

[Of all things to happen...

Then again he probably shouldn't question it given how literally everything in Albion is.]

So... he died, she was saved, and you... do you blame yourself for that?

If I hadn't pushed him so hard, that man would still be alive today.

...I see.

[Logan is quiet for a moment, staring intently at the floor.]

I understand that feeling. I... have had to make many difficult decisions for Albion's safety. Many of them have resulted in people suffering or dying.

[Once that's out there he seems to realize how that sounds and Logan sits up a bit.]

Ah, I didn't mean to... I'm not trying to say that what I went through was worse than what you experienced. I... am terrible at this, honestly.

[Selfish, self-centered...]

Hmm.

[He's not offended or anything. He feels a little too defeated to feel anything like that.]

Don't worry about it, it's... noot like anything can be done of this situation. It was a long time ago.

Five years after that, that's when Alma was murdered-- I've told you about that already. And then the night I was kidnapped and brought here would have been the ten-year anniversary.

Something straaange was going on back home, I just never got the chance to learn what.

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Ghost Trick spoilers from here on out

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