I have a dream that I want to fulfill with you...

[tsugomori]

[ Well, that was an extraordinary trial to have... it was certainly filled with many things that wouldn't be lost to the memory of most, even for weeks to come. Although, the return to "normalcy" could be something that wouldn't seem like it was wanted, it was better than the alternative to returning to anything at all.

With ease, Mikazuki find himself setting up the usual party in the usual place-- that would be the library of course. Notes have been slipped underneath the doors of others, or hung up on the walls to alert them of this post-trial "celebration" -- which was more like a get-together of some sorts now than a real party. ]


Please join us in the library again. Of course, food and drink will be provided.

- Mikazuki, Orihime, Hanyuu, & Estelle

[ The food and drink has been set out, what with there being tea, vichyssoise, cream puffs, and fish for everyone to enjoy. ]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

Which we did, voting for him, but it still didn't feel good.

[ It wasn't vindicating. It didn't feel like revenge, just to push a button. She knows, in a way, it was, and Hanyuu's declaration at the end sure did help. But the whole play of the thing, the whole theatre of it? She's left unsatisfied and it's probably why she'll write the eulogy she will in an hour or so. ]

[plegia]

[Maybe if he had actually gotten to know Chiyuki he'd have the same response, but as it stands he just sort of nods for a moment before speaking up.]

I can understand that. Of course if anyone had killed him, they'd have to be put to death as well. Would it have been worth it?

[It's a genuinely curious comment.]

[matchbreaker]

[ For a long moment she looks furious, enraged. She presses down on one of the pieces with force enough that if she had all her strength it would no doubt break. As of now, it does overbalance the table a little.

But when she answers, she's not precisely calm, but she's not shaking. Her eyes have changed though, remaining cat-like and vampiric ]

No. No one here is worth me being denied the right to go back to my family. But damned if I shouldn't have been able to rip off his hands first.

[plegia]

...It's an absolute shame we didn't get to do that.

[TORTURE IS ALWAYS FINE oh my god]

But with that said, that's a good decision to come to. I'm sure your family would appreciate it.

[Maybe his tune would be different if he actually cared about anyone who had died so far... but for now this is fine.]

[matchbreaker]

They do. They will and I know they do.

[ But to leave that asshole unmolested, other than the whims of that damned shadow? It doesn't sit right with her at all. Elda brings up one of her nail to bite. In a way, she's convincing herself. ]

I've got to get back to them... [ ... She shouldn't be saying this to Gangrel, of course, but she's actively tipping her king back and forth ]

Henry and Ren and Karin and Calera...

[plegia]

[...]

Tell me about them. What are they like?

[It's not precisely because he's interested (although vampire families are an interesting concept in theory), but it's mostly because it might help Elda sit. Or at least help her not bite through her nail or flip the whole table.]

[matchbreaker]

I barely know anything about Karin, yet. She's a late bloomer and has stupidly fallen for some human kid. [ . . . She should- no. ]

Ren's my first grandson! He's cute. [ she's clearly much too angry now, or she would be gushing... ]

Henry's my son. He's the best son you could ever wish for, other than marrying that shrew of a woman Calera.

[plegia]

[No mention of a husband...? Hmm. Probably best not to press her while she's riled up like this.]

What's wrong with Calera?

[COMPLAINING ALWAYS HELPS, GO WILD ELDA]

1/2

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda gets a glint in her eye, like she just hit one of her favorite topics, comaplaining about her daughter in law. ]

She's the worst! Just the worst--

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . It feels hollow.

And weird.

To insult her now. She falters, and- ]

... We don't get along.

[ She ended, lamely. ]

[plegia]

[ELDA YOU WERE DOING SO WELL until suddenly you weren't, uhhhh...]

...Is something wrong?

[OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG but Gangrel is the last person who knows how to deal with it so the result is a lot of ?????? while trying to pretend he has some kind of idea of how to handle this. Yep. He's tooootally got this.]

[matchbreaker]

It's...

[ Elda searches her feelings, sort of silently doing her next move on the chess board while one hand runs repeatedly through her hair ]

It's weird to call her that bad after we just had to deal with that stupid hand serial killer! She might annoy me, but she didn't kill my --

[ . . . ]

[plegia]

[Oh... OH... OKAY NO HE GETS THIS]

It's not like you have to compare the two at all. Though given the timing it's understandable why you would, I think.

You can always come find me if you want to complain about her later.

1/2

[matchbreaker]

[ Friend.

Pant, pant, pant.

Her fangs are bared, and she suddenly feels very, very hungry. ]

[matchbreaker]

... I will!

[ And you know what she is changing the subject, her hand on her piece-- Oh wait, his turn ]

So what the hell even was your secret?

[plegia]

[Normally he wouldn't bother sharing it, but Elda's clearly having A Time right now, so he'll give her something else to focus on.]

I was a member of the Grimleal, once. It was a long time ago, when I was a teenager. I was a Dark Mage for a bit, until the whole thing got a bit too unnerving for me and I left.

[He moves a piece, pauses for a moment, then shrugs.]

If word of that gets out back home, the Grimleal will kill me. I'm supposed to be loyal to the religion before the country. I may be Plegia's king, but I'm ultimately little more than a puppet for the cult.

[His voice has been even through all of this, but there's the tiniest edge of something bitter and angry in it now.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Oh.

... That's actually interesting. A little dark, and definitely a welcome topic change. ]

Wouldn't they already know? ... Though I guess a crazy cult doesn't keep great records to remember some random teenager.

[ Either way, as she moves her piece ]

Why did you join back then?

[plegia]

[He's quiet for a moment, staring at the chess pieces for longer than he really needs to.]

...My mother was a Grimleal. She was the only family I had.

[Gangrel shakes his head and moves a piece carelessly.]

That was a long time ago, though.

[matchbreaker]

[ oh. ]

So it's not even about being suckered in or anything, it's about never having a choice in the matter until you were waist deep.

[ She sounds.

Oddly sympathetic to that???? albeit bitter. ]

[plegia]

Something like that. I didn't even realize how twisted it all was until...

[. . .]

Anyway, it hardly matters now. I doubt it'll be long before the Grimleal have me figured out anyway. They're not nearly as stupid as I'd like to believe they are.

[matchbreaker]

Is that why you didn't kill someone?

[ Or did he not trust Wordsmith would do it? ]

[plegia]

...I suspect it wouldn't have mattered even if I had killed someone. If those dreams are right, my second-in-command was a Grimleal spy and very aware of my stance on their twisted cult.

[matchbreaker]

Oh.

Oh - so you're... dead either way.

[ That's what he'd just admitted more or less, right? She... isn't sure what to think of that??? ]

[plegia]

Hah, I'm not dead yet, my dear. I won't let myself die that easily.

[He fought tooth and nail for the throne and he's sure as hell not giving up now.]

[matchbreaker]

Oh, good.

[ She seemed to barely respond to that oops...

She'll just make her next move on the board ]