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

[matchbreaker]

Yes.

Yes, that seems acceptable.

[feistytrader]

I can completely, without a doubt, say that I consider you family. Whether or not it's selfish of me or I'm deserving is another matter.

[But as for his question for her-]

How much do you resent me for what I did?

[He doesn't see the need to clarify what he means by that; it seems rather obvious to him. There's also a clear distinction to what he says; he's not asking whether or not she resents him at all.]

[matchbreaker]

That is very selfish of you. But men, and humans, are both often quite selfish creatures.

[ Elda pauses in her copying, actually mid-way through her own part. She turns to him. There's a smile playing out a bit on her lips, but she's not particularly mirthful. It's more... charged. There's a lot of emotions running through her now, but she does have a thing or two to look out for. Look forward to, even. ]

... Ever are you near the top of my lists of suspects for a given case, until evidence proves otherwise. Though you have been steadily dropping down it with each subsequent week.

[ . . . ]

My life has been dominated by hatred, Silver. Hatred and loneliness. It is hard for me not to resent those who have wronged me. [ A beat ] ... But I do not hate you, despite it all.

[feistytrader]

...That's a lot more than I expected.

[He can't help but smile, despite the circumstances. Elda's harsh and judgmental, so even that much says a lot.]

I mean, I'm gonna suspect everyone anyway, and none of you messed up like I did, so I don't blame you.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . She continues writing. And she: ]

I know not if we are a family. But we are a community of some sort, those twelve of us who remain.

[feistytrader]

...I don't know about that. Part of that is because of me. But I want everyone to make it out of here. I want to support everyone as much as I can.

[...]

Oh, right. One more thing.

[matchbreaker]

I... [ God this is scary to admit??? A LOT???? ]

... Feel similar, to tell you true.

[feistytrader]

Good. In that case, I owe you something.

[matchbreaker]

[ Okay....

She nods ]

[feistytrader]

[Well.

He's going to punch her in the face.]

That's for Hanyuu. Don't do that again.

[matchbreaker]

[ UM WHAT

She reels and then snaps back with a hurt nose and predatory eyes ]

Hey!

[feistytrader]

You don't treat people you care about like that.

[...POT, KETTLE, BLACK]

[matchbreaker]

... It was in the defense of Lusamine, you dolt!

[ oh man, is her nose broken ]

[feistytrader]

And I defended Gold against all of you. It was understandable, but that didn't make it okay.

[matchbreaker]

[ No.

... No it doesn't. ]

... Particularly because I argued against a phantom my mind had drawn up.

[feistytrader]

Take some time to consider it and apologize to her. Sincerely. Not for defending Lusamine, but for hurting her.

[There's something more he's considering adding onto that, but his attention is taken away from a moment because oh god, her nose.]

...Uh, are you okay?

[Whoops.]

[matchbreaker]

[ And... there! Popped back into place. ]

This'll heal overnight.

[ . . . ]

Silver, what do you assume me and Hanyuu are?

[feistytrader]

I'm not Gold. I don't assume stuff about other people's relationships.

[Keep them coming, Silver.]

[matchbreaker]

Then deduce. I give you permission.

[ She breaths hard out of her nose to test it out ]

[feistytrader]

...Watanuki would say you're dating. Orihime would probably say you like her. Gold too.

Lusamine definitely had a thing for Gangrel. I think you have a thing for Hanyuu, too.

1/2

[matchbreaker]

I ask you to deduce and you base it off the opinions of others. Is your own judgement so empty?

[matchbreaker]

[ you know... ]

Did Gold tell you I was married?

[feistytrader]

...If you didn't tell me, then he probably did.

[But it's been a while, and he doesn't remember.]

I'm not good at relationship stuff, Elda. I don't know what you want me to say.

[matchbreaker]

Silver, please don't take offense to this, but if you are going to have empty opinions, I am going to use you as a a draft.

[ . . . Hahaha.

HA.

Her cheeks color ]

... I was married, yes. To a wonderful, wonderful man named James Marker. We lived two hundred years of bliss, and I have a child and three grandchildren to do show for that time. I would and very near did kill so I might have those days again. ... But. But he died.

The old fool died in his sleep on me.

[feistytrader]

[...Well, if he's a draft, he'll keep quiet and nod along. There's more to it than that, right?]