i feel the love, and i feel it burn, down this river every turn

[oyashiromama]

[The trial, as usual, was taxing. It's for different reasons every week, but what it all comes down to is there are fewer of them than there were, and that keeps on happening. The note comes, as it always does, earlier than last week, but still with some delay. There's a note slipped under everyone's door. ...One under Gold's door because of course Silver will be staying there, she knows.]

Please come to the dining room, if you would like not to be alone. There will be food, and there will be some cards and board games if you need a distraction.

- Hanyuu & Elda

[True to that, there are a variety of foods. It's nothing too fancy. Rice, grilled fish, eggs in various styles. ...No creampuffs this time, it seems Hanyuu thought that would be a little in poor taste. Also a bunch of fries? ...Really spicy fries, like incredibly so.

On a far table, board games brought from the games room have been left out, along with many decks of cards.]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

[ Man that sure was a surprisingly long and dumb game of chutes and ladders. They spend like almost all of it in the bottom rungs until Elda finally winds. That was so exhausting she can't even pump her fist at her victory. ]

There, I did it!

[oyashiromama]

C-congratulations, haaa... [What an exhausting game. Alright, fine-] What prize do you want, Elda?

[matchbreaker]

Your bed.

[ Yep. ]

1/2

[oyashiromama]

[...]

[oyashiromama]

E-e-e-e-ehhhhh...?!

[matchbreaker]

I wanted to sleep with you again!

[ . . . WHAT. ]

[oyashiromama]

E-Elda...!! Don't just- say it like that...!!

[...She gets what she means now but]

[matchbreaker]

... What's the problem with that! Your bed!

[ This is in public... ]

There shouldn't be a problem with that.

[oyashiromama]

[She hisses:] It sounds like you want to- to, you know! Be intimate together!

1/3

[matchbreaker]

...What're you talking about! I'm m--

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Oh wait, she's not, is she?

She's a widow. This realization in this moment is far too shocking for her to be sad ]

[matchbreaker]

-- Well, I don't mean it like that, honest! You're cute and all but- I mean, I've never even laid with a woman like that!



[ . . . this is still in public ]

[oyashiromama]

Quieeeeterrr!!

[why won't she stop shout]

[matchbreaker]

[ It's okay no one even is at this afterparty... oh wait. ]

... The- point is, I didn't mean it like that. I just... wanted to be with someone.

[ . . . That sounds bad and so after a beat to corrects: ] You.

[oyashiromama]

[Well... Hanyuu stammers for a moment, and then looks away, and then back.]

I- I- ...I'd...say yes any other time, but- ...I already...offered for...Vanille to. Since- since she stayed with Varric so, and-

If you don't mind, you still can, three people in one bed, it's not that difficult, right...?

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda's face, which had jut been blushing and maybe a little playful still despite it all goes flat and annoyed at the drop of a hat.

Offended, even [

Oh.

[oyashiromama]

[Immediately, Hanyuu can tell she messed up.]

I'm sorry, I- I didn't realize... Some point during the week, aah... We can still...

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda is far too petty to save face for either of them by saying it's not a big deal.

But she will brush past it. ]

No matter, I'll recant that demand. Instead, [ Hmmm ] Instead, just as you'll force me to wear something absurd this week, I ask that you write me a response to the letter I gave you at truth or dare. And then read it aloud to the group.

[ . . . Apparently she's vindictive??? ]

[oyashiromama]

Elda...

[She wants to apologize, but- what is she apologizing for? Being worried about a vulnerable child? Why should she apologize for that?

It's been...too much of a day. Too much of a week. Rika...

Rika's been angry at her for worse. It'll blow over. Hanyuu gives a small bow of her head.]

Yes... Of course, I will...at our next meeting.

[matchbreaker]

[ Honestly, Elda Marker wouldn't expect an apology for that. And if she did get an apology for that, she would probably throw it back in Hanyuu's face under the same reasoning. She knows Hanyuu is considerate, kind. She had loudly yelled it at Killidia not hours ago, spirited and furious. To not do that would be against the character that Elda...

Loves.

But right now, she closes her eyes for a moment, and then opens them again, smirking now. ]

Then Wednesday, the following day, that'll be the day I'll be your canvas to dress up. We both will have our day to savor the satisfaction. [ That seems fair, right? ] That said, I do look forward to that response.

[oyashiromama]

That sounds agreeable. I'll... aah, I'll have it ready, promptly, then.

[It seems like there's a tangible disconnect between them, but Hanyuu doesn't know just what to do about it, and...well, the timing of it all...

It disheartens her, so she leaves it at that.]

[matchbreaker]

Yes, I'll look forward to it.

[ She'll laugh at Hanyuu. That'll make this all even.

That is now the plan. ]