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

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki realizes that in some regards he is seeing something rather private, just by the image of the purple-haired woman's smile, but it wasn't a bad thing at all. It certainly was a good thing, if he could make someone feel that happy, and he is glad that he asked, even if he had been quite hesitant at first, not knowing if it could cause offense by him being so bold. ]

Ah, I see. I'm glad that you've taken the moment to tell me all about him. Having someone to love dearly like that... is quite a very good thing, I think.

[matchbreaker]

It is. It has to be, right?

[ She laughs a little, smiling, and wipes off the tears. She looks down at the tea. ]

Have you loved, Mikazuki?

[tsugomori]

I'm in love with Killia.

[ Mikazuki doesn't take a sip from his tea, and his smile... well, it is certainly a smile. But, he's never been asked that question before.

He doesn't know if he should say "was", since Killia is dead. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ Oh.

... She wonders, if she wasn't too caught up in her own shit, if she could have noticed that at the end of that trial. ]

...Well then, you must be grateful we've worked out these letters.

[tsugomori]

Yes, I'm quite lucky, aren't I? Thanks to you, I'll be able to communicate with both him and Gangrel.

[ Mikazuki doesn't want to really talk about this, and for some reason his mind keeps wandering back... playing the image of the meeting from last week in his mind. Of Hanyuu and Elda...he wasn't blind.

He tells himself his tea is getting cold. ]

But it seems I'm not the only one lucky, so I'm happy about that as well.

[matchbreaker]

No, you aren't lucky at all. [ Elda answers, just as quickly, ] I'm too old to be fishing for praise, Mikazuki [ She lied, ] but it seems to me the least I could do for my role in sending him to the abyss.

[ Really, the least she could do for everyone. Her giddy excitement and worry over her own coming happiness... well, that was hers. And it could wait. ]

[tsugomori]

[ ... is it possible, she saw through him?

Oh well. He doesn't feel like drinking the tea he poured anymore. Still, there's a moment where he sits in silence without complaint; the perfect, dutiful image of elegant. His Master would be proud. ]

Still, I want to thank you for that.

[ He stands up, and takes a bow. ]

After all, the most we have that will help ourselves besides that information right now is each other.

[matchbreaker]

[ She didn't need to see through anything, really. No, just... there's no way anyone can call themselves lucky when their lover is dead. Not... like this. Not so soon.

In a way, it's projection, more than observation.

She tilts her had, and then averts her gaze, finally bringing her blood-tea up to her lips to sip it.

... It's better. ]

... You're welcome, then. You've helped us plenty too.