trusthell | and it takes, and it takes, and it takes

and it takes, and it takes, and it takes

[It... definitely takes a while for the weekly after-execution note to arrive, but it does --- kind of scrawly and on ripped paper rather than nice stationery.]

EY. YO. WE GOT EFFIGIES IN THE DINING ROOM AND WE'RE GONNA BURN EM.

FOOD TOO. THE USUAL AND HOT COCOA. GOOD FOR THE SOUL. GET SOME. MAYBE TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR ROOM IF YOU HAVE TO. JUST GET SOME.

[Anyway, in the dining room, there's plenty of mugs set out, with a janky looking arrow sign pointing into the kitchen to where you can get your hot cocoa. On the table, there's Vichyssoise, a pot of green tea, and some booze. There's also a cookie tray on the floor away from the table on which to burn the Wordsmith and Kimbley effigies, which are handily placed near the food on the table.

...also if you go in the kitchen without shoes on just. Watch the northern corner. There's no kidneys, but there's a lot of broken plates there for some reason...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

At the end, when I was going to tackle you. There were three reasons I needed to. [ She doesn't wan to explain this to the boy, but she does anyway, as if explaining something to a child.

Because, well, she is. ]

First, because I didn't want to die if we guessed wrong.

Second... because. I didn't want others to die, if we guessed wrong.

And then... third. I wanted at least one of you brats to live.

Why? Why would you- why?

[He looks nervous, and more and more desperate for an answer.]

We tried to kill all of you, so why?

[ She...

She laughs at that, but it's not her trademark evil laugh. She smiles at him - a soft, gentle smile. The sort of smile that might remind the boy that this woman, despite whatever else she was, had been a mother at some point. She gently strokes his cheek. ]

Weren't you listening back then, at the trial? I already said it.

[ "Everyone loves those brats! No one wants to kill them!" ]

[She said it, sure- he remembers that, despite all the insanity taking place at the time- but it's hard to really believe it, and- well, there he is, crying again. He really needs to stop that.]

Everyone's upset because of what we did.

[He hurt so many people that he cared about. He doesn't regret it- he can't regret it- but at the same time--]

[ Silver's a lot taller than Hanyuu - but then... Henry was a lot taller than her even when he was a teenager too. Elda snorts at his crying for a moment, but then leaps up to wrap an arm around his neck. She makes to pull his head down into her chest. She holds his head there with one arm, and the other goes to gently stroke his hair ]

Now, now... don't regret things now, Silver. They'll forgive you, of course they will. There's no shame in losing, as long as you make it out alive - and even then, there's no shame in crying when you feel grief.

[...Is that it? Is that his punishment? Instead of dying with his friend, he has to live with what they did.]

I thought you'd be angry. And Lusamine. And...

[He doesn't know what he's trying to say anymore, but the hugging is nice.]

You were worried about me? Oh, you silly boy.

[ . . . Yes, she is angry. She suspects that Lusamine is too, if she can feel anything at all. No, Elda just continues to hold him, stroking his head. Hr long nails itch his scalp somewhat, and she cooes, keeping him close to her chest.

Elda Marker is furious.

But she also liked Silver okay, and while she won't apologize for what she did, she does still feel bad. And she is also glad that he survived. All of these emotions can exist all at once, and right now, they manifest in this way. ]