And it's the stars, the stars that lie to you.

[neverheardofhim]

[This week, Varric opted to take a page from Vanille’s book. Gathering everyone together after the roller-coaster that the first trial had been proved to be somewhat cathartic for himself. He hoped that it would prove to do the same for the others.]

[He wasn’t alone, of course, having found himself blessed with the most ragtag team of chefs and party-planners. He might have had words for and thoughts on Elda and Kimbley, Mikazuki was welcome company, and he wasn’t about to turn away potential allies, even in a fight as simple as cooking dinner.]

[Once everyone’s set to a task, baking a cake, brewing tea, or stirring stew (the only task Varric could think to assign Elda to), Varric excused himself to his room. His first task was writing up cards, each personally titled and signed by Varric.]

Food in the Library. 5 p.m. Don’t spend the night alone.

[Each note was slid under a door and accompanied by a single rap on the wood.]

[With his tasks completed, Varric returned to the kitchen to put out any potential fires and, with luck, set the food out. A table in the library would be adorned with plenty of tea, cake, pancakes courtesy of Viktor, and stew thanks mostly to Varric (sorry, Elda).]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

Yes. [ Quietly, she answers. And then responds, ] What about you, sister?

[ Elda... has a lot of things she revealed at that trial, and even more to consider in it's aftermath. But if she's alright? okay? As much as one can be, when...

Well, nothing Lusamine needed to hear about ]

[elepe]

As well as can be, with everything considered.

[The trial was nonsense for a good while, before everything got real. That's an insane amount of whiplash. Still...]

It's still hard to believe this is real, sometimes.

[matchbreaker]

Seriously, who would have thought I'd still be talking with you guys all this time later. Or that we'd be another trial in like this.

[ . . . Sigh. ]

[elepe]

...Certainly not I, really.

[She doesn't say to which end that's for, though.]

Still...we persevere. It's all we can do at this point. That, and breathe.

[matchbreaker]

[ she gives an "ain't that the truth" shrug.

... Before dragging out a long sip from her goblet of blood.

Like that's totes normal ]

[elepe]

[...small. Twitch. Really, the sip irritates her a little bit and while the words aren't snapped out--]

Is there something else you wish to say?

[matchbreaker]

You talked to me first.

[ She observed.

But then she shakes her head and... ]

You've been helpful at both trials. I figured I should tell you good job.

[ You know, like a good grandma ]

[elepe]

I've been asking everyone if they're okay, Ms. Marker.

[...

Holy shit what. That's. ...Elda did you get replaced with a pod person, she thinks she's witnessing a pod person in action.]

I...thank you, I suppose. Are you feeling quite alright?

[...this is suspect.]

[matchbreaker]

[ At this point...? ]

Who is? I don't give a hoot abut fish girl or the other guy, but that whole trial was exhausting. [ And... ] And we could've died, you know.

[ ... if they convicted her. ]

[elepe]

...Alani and Christo. Those people have names, Ms. Marker.

[If it were Gangrel or someone else, she wouldn't have given a damn. But as it stands...]

We would have looked away from you as the suspect in due time. Say what you will about these people, but they have done fairly well in sussing out the culprits of these crimes.

[...]

And for whatever it's worth from me, I didn't think you could have done it. You don't wear white.

1/2

[matchbreaker]

Fine. Alani, Christo, Kyrie Ushiromiya, and Adelina. May Jesus have their souls. Or Satan, if you want, for Ushiromiya.

[matchbreaker]

[ But with that out of the way, she exhales and... ]

White's never been my color. I used to wear it when I was a much younger woman, but that's an age past.

[ She shakes her head, allowing herself a little old person laugh which doesn't entirely seem sincere before adding on, ]

It's true, though. They're pretty good.

[elepe]

...You did not have to dignify Ms. Ushiromiya with a name. But everyone has a name that should be remembered. Not always honored if they step over the deep end, however.

[Elda's either all in or not in at all, it seems. Lusamine shakes her head, but...]

Purple and red are far more your colors, anyway. White would look far too jarring on you.

[...]

It's almost a shame that we've fallen into a pattern, thinking about it now.

[matchbreaker]

[ She almost, almost says that Ushiromiya is no less deserving than Alani. But she doesn't feel the need to dig into that... yet. ]

Just watch, someone'll die next week too.

[ She's a little sarcastic there. ]

It's true! I do look goo in lavenders.

[elepe]

[...that would definitely be a fight, goodness.]

That much is obvious, isn't it? Someone's going to play this game, and--

[--it'll only be a matter of time before we're all dead.

Lusamine stops herself short of speaking that, however. Colors are a far better subject.]

...I do wonder, have you tried burgundy? I think that would look absolutely dazzling on you, if you found a nice outfit with it.

1/2

[matchbreaker]

[ stans for kyrie not really

Hah, that game ]

[matchbreaker]

[ But yeah, colors is much better. Elda is going to shift her position to get back over to her glass of... blood. and sort of lean a hand on her hip as she replies ]

Oh, a few times. You're right that it can really make my eyes pop... [ Actually! She holds up her fingers, wiggling the nails ] the vending machine was considerate enough to bring out my favorite polish the other day.

[elepe]

[Let's avoid the complicated matters and discuss fashion like real adults.]

Oh my, what a lovely color! Perhaps you should see if you can take up dress making, hm? There are many lovely fabrics down in the sewing room...I think that's something that would be a good use of your time.

[matchbreaker]

[ Totally, this is the real shit ]

You know your boy Silver tried to show me how those darned contraptions in there work, but I'm sill not sure about them. Is there even a gold old real needle and thread to be found? I've never made something as big as a dress, but the longer we're stuck here, the more that might be a sound idea.

[ She does nakedly preen at the praise for her nails though. She does keep them in great shape, it's a lot of work! They're her second charm point after her hair, in her opinion ]

[elepe]

[...she actually has to think about it for a moment--]

You know, I did not see a single one. What on earth was that man thinking?

[> modern sewing machines
> archiac washing machines
> ??????????]

[matchbreaker]

Really! Not to mention that while his interior decorating sense isn't really that bad there's all sorts of little problems. Like the lighting should really be dimmer.

[ #vampireaesthetic ]

[elepe]

...We do still have to be able to see where we're going, Ms. Marker.

[...]

Though perhaps if they kept some candlelight evenly spaced out, it would offer a lovely bit of light while keeping the decor itself represented properly...

[matchbreaker]

Well, if I was going to see better, we'd actually kill all the lights except candlelight. ... Well, or just keep the lights about where they're at during the night? That's not that bad.

[ #darkvision ]

[elepe]

Mmm, perhaps. Someone could easily take advantage, however.

[...hmm.]

Perhaps some sunglasses are in the machine. You could use them to assist you, if needed.

[matchbreaker]

What're sunglasses? Humans use the sun to see, s wouldn't it make it better for them?