I still regret every word, that day, I never said

[matchbreaker]

[ This trial was a mess. Hard on everyone, filled with conflicting emotions, and the twists and turns in it made it unsatisfying for everyone involved. That's probably become the norm at this point though! As have the gatherings in the aftermath of them. This time around the letter comes under everyone's door fairly quickly into the evening, following only a short delay for those organizing it to get things together and console themselves enough to be presentable. ]

Come to the dining room if you want to be with people. I will have board games, cards, food, and drink. We also will be writing letters to the dead, if you want to do that around others.

- Elda, Hanyuu, and Mikazuki

[ The dining room's set up is once again fairly simple. Hanyuu broad board games, Elda brought some rpg books though she doesn't expect anything to come of it, and there are a lot of envelopes, paper, and pens from the mail room. The mail room's going to close tonight, of course, but most of the letters will probably be written privately anyway. Elda just wanted people to be sure they knew they could.

Food wise, there's grilled meat and fish, rice, cream puffs (all Hanyuu!) Mikazuki's tea (both black and green!) and Elda's ... spicy fries. Some of them are more mild! However, the mild ones are covered in sugar so uh... that's probably not better. Either way, have at ]

Comments

[introspects]

[ orihime is sneaking through the dining room to get to vanille's dorm. she isn't really up for joining everyone right now, but elda catches her with a batch of spicy fries.

orihime pauses, giving elda somewhat of an uncomfortable look. ]

...I-It's fine, I'm not hungry.

[matchbreaker]

Then it doesn't matter.

[ Elda sort of "gently" but haphazardly sets the tray down on the table. And she affixes Orihime with a hard look ]

I would talk to you. Would you talk to me?

[introspects]

[ if she's going to yell at orihime or say something crass, orihime doesn't know if she can take it. but...as it stands, she cares about elda, despite everything. so... ]

Yes.

[matchbreaker]

[ Good.

... then even in this public place, she can do this much. One hand goes to her hip, and Elda Marker looks Orihime straight on in the eyes. She: ]

I cannot promise I will never threaten you again. And I suppose this trial has shown I will not be a risk. ... When I was challenged, I feared to implicate my friend.

In that sense, I failed our cause. [ Because that is what it is, now. They are a community. ... For better or worse. ]

You're free to resent me for that.

[introspects]

Then...you can threaten me as many times as you'd like. It doesn't matter, as long as we find our culprit.

[ ... ] I don't resent you. I don't resent you for trying to protect your friend. I know you had Lusamine-san's best interests in mind. But...you also have to understand that the rest of us are working to find the truth, and we will find it.

[ her voice is firm but...tired. so, so tired. elda certainly drained her, emotionally, but she wasn't the only one. ]

I care about you, Marker-san. If someone threatened you, I'd do the same for you, too.

1/2

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda holds up a finger - a claw, really- and points it between Orihime's eyes. ]

You shouldn't. For however much you've impressed me, Orihime, I'm still stronger than you. There's no need for you to get so pointlessly involved if I were threatened.

[matchbreaker]

... But really, you should. I have, those first few weeks when you and those others hesitated with Alani and Ushiromiya and the others.

[ She lowers her hand, laughing and shaking her head just a little. ]

But I do understand. I've been a part of this process for weeks. And I... know that this is our battle to have together.

[introspects]

I know you did. You showed me your resentment, in a way. But I still don't resent you, Marker-san.

[ orihime shakes her head. ] But I don't hesitate like that anymore. We're already working to find the truth so we can all escape. We're getting answers; even those on the other side are, too. And if people can't wait until then, they will have to face the consequences.

[matchbreaker]

... Tell me, if roles had changed there. If it had been Vanille who had killed Gangrel, would your answer to be the same?

[ This is the wrong time to test Orihime. It's not fair. She's aware of how massively unfair that is to ask.

But it came out before she could silence herself. ]

[introspects]

...

[ it takes her a little while to answer.

vanille...vanille was important to her. but orihime would no doubt be upset if she thought that was the only way to escape, the only way to survive. she hasn't had a close friend turn on her like this--even what uryuu did doesn't compare to any of this, but-- ]

That's not what happened, Marker-san, and you know it. Vanille-chan would have never done that. But...I wouldn't want everyone else to die for that, either.

So, it's a yes.

[matchbreaker]

You can't say that.

[ Flatly. ]

No one knew Ushiromiya long enough to know her and Kira is rotten to the core, so I will exclude them, but Alani, Gold, Silver, Killia, and yes, Gangrel also "never would have done it." They also loved and were loved. They all, all, were just as much persons as you and her. ... And me.

[ Elda shakes her head. ]

... I never want to hear that idea that some people are immune to the pressures of this place. But if you can answer me so...

[ She sighs. Sighs, and then bows - bows in a proper Japanese style apology ]

I am sorry, Inoue Orihime.

[introspects]

[ orihime listens to what elda says, carefully, taking in every word.

it's true. they wouldn't have done what they did in their home worlds, in their lives outside of here. elda is right. the pressures of this place--that's the real danger here. the incentives. the motives. the desire to go back home and return to those everyone holds dear.

and then elda bows.

orihime doesn't know how to react.

why is elda sorry? why is she apologetic? she doesn't know why elda is sorry. but...before she can ask, orihime wants to say some things herself-- ]

...Marker-san.

You are right. Vanille-chan is my friend, and I--I am quick to defend her because of that. I...I still have faith that she wouldn't have given in to the Wordsmith's temptations. But...you are right. Nobody...nobody is immune. I've...I've wondered about the incentive myself, once, and I'm ashamed. If...If she'd murdered someone, though, I--I'd have no choice but to vote for her. Even if Kimihiro-kun...

[ orihime shakes her head. no, don't think about that right now. what she will do, however, is bow, too. right in front of elda. ]

I'm sorry, too. For all of this.

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda Marker has been tempted almost every week.

And the only two she feels she can exclude from that list of suspects is Sportacus and Hanyuu, for wildly different reasons. She knows that much is selfish bias. But she doesn't say that.

Instead, she rises. Smiling, just a little. ]

... You've done very little wrong, Orihime. It was me who would have killed us, if my suspicions were correct.

[introspects]

...Lusamine-san, right?

[ ah, that is.... ]

It made sense until Gangrel spoke up. He didn't want her getting hurt. I don't think that was an unreasonable assumption to make.

[matchbreaker]

But I was wrong. And I still suspected my... my closest human friend.

[introspects]

...You said it yourself, right, Marker-san? That nobody here is immune to the pressures of this place. Even...even those we hold dear.

It's alright.

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda Marker is selfish.

Elda Marker is a hypocrite ]

... I know.

Still, I need to make it up to Lusamine, somehow. And... of course, to Hanyuu.

[ And for that matter, maybe apologize to Vanille ]

[introspects]

Hanyuu is forgiving. I think...I think she's already forgiven you. As for Lusamine-san...

[ ... ] I don't know. She's...going through a hard time.

[matchbreaker]

I know she has.

[ . . . She wonders, really, is Orihime knows what she means without her having to say it. Elda Marker actually has pushed Hanyuu to the point of being somewhat unforgiving twice now, but short of that, she knows that the woman will forgive anything from her. She believes in that utterly. But the last thing she wants is to take advantage of that.

... Still. ]

... What else do those humans who don't eat meat eat? Other than salads and fruits?

[introspects]

[ good. hanyuu's the sort of person who's easy to take advantage of, sometimes. orihime knows...because she's the same way.

but...more important matters: vegetarians. ]

Hm... Starch? Maybe pasta with some sauce over it?

[matchbreaker]

That seems... a heavy food, for Lusamine.

[ Hmmm... it's an idea though... ]

[introspects]

Oh? For Lusamine-san?

[ HMMMM..... ]

...An egg sandwich?

[matchbreaker]

Hmmm yes, that coumc works

[ And not the best, hmm. ]

[introspects]

Or...soup! Miso soup?

[ #basic ]

HOW THE FUCK DID I TYPO AS BAD AS I DID LAST TAG KILL ME

[matchbreaker]

[ you know ignoring that they were just arguing like a moment ago and then apologized and Orihime is no doubt grief mad from Vanille: ]

Show me how to make that later.