but sometime later on day 25 after it has become quite clear that the cat won't be making an appearance and that the vote will, in all likelihood, be split down to those who don't have enough support... well, that's more than enough prompting for Kaoru to take matters into his own hands.
OR TRY.
he doesn't want to incite a riot or anything, which is why he stabs klavier first because wow no one's even trying to save the poor guy he decides to quietly approach Ema when he first catches her alone.]
[After the discussion, Ema's not left feeling very good about the universe. It's exceedingly clear that there is no good, easy, right answer. Someone has to die. Three someones, in fact.
She isn't sure that she can bring herself to do it, even if it's absolutely necessary. No one deserves any of this.
Kaoru's approach takes her a bit by surprise. She figured everyone was off doing their own thing and that she was alone.]
[the worry in his expression is very real for once, and he doesn't bother trying to hide it.]
I want to go to the graveyard, but I don't want to visit by myself... There are a lot of things on my mind and I don't think that being alone would help. [his shoulders rise briefly.]
Would you accompany me? I think I could pick some flowers first...
[OR SOMETHING. with a grateful nod, he'll turn to lead the way into the greenhouse. it isn't until they're about halfway into the field of flowers that he speaks again.]
...What does Skye-san think about all of this? [his head dips down a little, gaze focused on some of the flowers by his feet hanging heavily from their bent stems.] To come so far, only to face such a cruel decision...
[She seems honestly taken aback at the question. It's not like she's been any kind of leader in all of this; why ask her opinion?
After a few moments' thought, she replies.]
I don't think any of this is fair. We did everything we were asked to. We even did things we weren't asked to. We worked really hard to save as many people as we could. We stopped those things and still we're told that people have to die.
[She's nearly shouting now without realizing it.]
And I don't even fully understand why. Yes, we know what the cat's said, and what other people have told us, but... [She loses steam rather quickly, sighing crossing her arms over herself.] Everyone who volunteered today is a good person. They don't deserve this.
[he does seem a little surprised by Ema's initial outburst, but remains silent as she speaks.]
...I don't think any of us understand it. And don't you think it's strange that even now, we still can't remember every moment leading to our deaths...? [funny enough, the longer he's had time to sit and think about this, the more his resentment has shifted from anyone else trapped in this situation with him and focused squarely on that damn cat. it didn't even matter if he was supposedly giving them an option to escape. in the end, it seems so much more cruel to give that chance only for it to be taken away.]
From the very start, I think that the cat planned such a thing. Why else would he have taken on so many more people than he could bring back? [the way he had spoken about the shadows, too - a good parasite... it has his teeth on edge.
after a few seconds of quiet:] In the end, this is going to boil down to a contest of who has the greatest sympathy. It isn't fair for those who are forced to vote or for those who have the fewest ties here... Even those who've volunteered are putting themselves and everyone around them into an unfair dilemma. Everyone here has something to return to...
...now that you mention it, that is strange. Scientifically speaking, none of this makes any sense. [Although scientifically speaking, the laws of science went out the window a long time ago.] And I can't really disagree with your theory about the cat. I don't think it was ever really on our side.
[Siiiiiiiiiigh.]
Even the people who don't think they'll be missed will be. How does the cat honestly expect us to make this decision? It's impossible.
No, I don't think that it was. It's clear that it doesn't understand the weight of lives... [like treating them like something to barter for with important memories or abilities!!]
...I don't know. It must be particularly tough for Skye-san, since so many people that know you have volunteered...
[Ema nods at that second part.] And people that obviously know me well enough to care about me in the future. I don't know them back home yet, but... but after everything that's happened here, after all the ways they've helped me, I can't just stand by and let them try to throw their lives away.
...Maya-san seems determined, and no one spoke up against Klavier-san presenting himself except her... Athena-san should be able to survive, though, but she promised to stay behind with Maya-san, didn't she?
[After that positive and fun voting discussion, Maya's heading to cool off and gather her thoughts. The graveyard is probably her default place, because her room is practically empty and just a reminder of the deaths, and it's a small comfort to see the pictures and things of those who died. She even feels a bit closer to them when she's there.]
[On her way, she's surprised to see that she isn't alone - Kaoru and Ema seem to be talking, but is he unsheathing his sword?!]
[Whether it's panic at being caught by someone who will have MAJOR objections to this or her fight-or-flight instinct kicking in at the idea that she is about to die, Ema honestly can't say. Regardless, she feels the rush of adrenaline and the tightening of her stomach, and she finds herself tongue-tied in a way that's weirdly reminiscent of her inability to speak on the stand two years ago and somehow entirely dissimilar at the same time.
She looks helplessly at Kaoru, hoping that he'll have a better answer for Maya.]
[his murder manor self is screaming in the rafters at being interrupted mid-murder a second time tbh
no okay, he really doesn't have a better answer for Maya, unfortunately. the look that he fleetingly gives back to Ema is just as helpless - borderline panicked, but he doesn't ease his hand away from the hilt of his sword, either.
after a second or two, he'll speak quietly enough for Ema to hear.]
I won't let Maya-san die. [and then he's turned fully around, arm out, but hand still on the hilt of his sword in case she continues to move forward. from his stance alone, though, it's clearly more defensive than offensive.]
What are you doing?! [Speaking of panicking...! It's not really hard for her to put two and two together, and she doesn't waste any time in practically throwing herself at them in the hopes of impeding Kaoru, sword or no sword]
though his inhuman reflexes come in handy for this; he pulls his hand away from his sword to hold both arms out, essentially attempting to catch Maya in her lunge. if he can manage that, he'll just... toss her to the side. about as gently as he can manage in a panic, which will probably feel like the equivalent of someone of Klavier's build throwing someone of Maya's build to the side.]
[That's still considerable force, so she sails through the air only to crash right on top of a pile of flowers. It's not too painful, but it does knock the wind out of her and cover her in petals and pollen. Maybe she can force an allergic reaction on Kaoru to get him to leave Ema alone!!]
E-Ema, get out of here...! [As soon as she regains her senses she'll start to drag herself back towards them] Kaoru, please!
[Again, Ema doesn't really know what to say. Maya obviously wants to help her, and Ema understands why, but Kaoru manipulated her into believing she knows this is for the best for everyone.]
Maya... i-it's okay...
[Her voice is barely audible--it shakes, and it's clear that she's trying her best not to simply break down.]
[he glances over his shoulder briefly, but that's all the time he allows himself. Maya is making herself into a particularly insistent barrier now, and if it keeps on like this, he'll end up having to kill Ema with an audience.
there's urgency in his voice when he speaks again, but it's very even.]
Maya-san, understand that you are not a part of this situation and leave. I won't say it twice. [there's no room for arguments - he can't allow her that much. his hand is back on the sword hilt, but he's pivoted slightly to face Ema more than Maya.]
[How can she say it's okay? How can she?! She's going to die before they even see if there's another way....!]
[She barely even hears Kaoru, getting up again and starting forward towards them. What can she do? She can't fight... She doesn't even have a weapon, all she an do... is channel?]
Kaoru, Ema, please! There's got to be another way...! Don't do this! Leave her alone!
[Thing Ema hadn't anticipated: how horrible it would be to hear Maya begging her not to die like this. Every fiber of her wants to cover her ears, to run away, to let the panic and emotional overload take over and black out, to not have to deal with this and maybe she'll wake up somewhere safe with her sister or maybe even her parents if she's dead. She's not even sure anymore. She just wants to be anywhere but here, standing next to a man who's going to kill her, talking to a friend who desperately doesn't want her to die.
But she stands her ground. And she forces herself to speak, although her eyes are nowhere near Maya--she can't bear to look the other girl in the eye.]
T-this will help draw the cat out... and... and it'll protect you and Athena and Mr. Gavin... none of you deserve to die...
[good lord, this is a mess!! MAYA'S SCREAMING, EMA'S CRYING, what next... but he had meant it when he said he wouldn't be telling her twice. he pays Maya's pleads no attention, though the look on his face for the briefest of seconds is vaguely discomforted. this isn't the way he had wanted things to go at all, and the situation is spiraling out of his control so rapidly-
Maya is no physical threat to him, so he turns his back on her to face Ema fully once again.]
I'm sorry. [he'll leave the apology up to her interpretation, but... he should have taken more care. expecting that everyone had been off to think alone, locked up in their rooms or continuing to debate in the main room had been a terrible assumption to make.
Maya's going to have to act quickly, either way; he's already moving to draw his sword again.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Kaoru and Ema
no subject
but sometime later on day 25 after it has become quite clear that the cat won't be making an appearance and that the vote will, in all likelihood, be split down to those who don't have enough support... well, that's more than enough prompting for Kaoru to take matters into his own hands.
OR TRY.
he doesn't want to incite a riot or anything, which is why
he stabs klavier first because wow no one's even trying to save the poor guyhe decides to quietly approach Ema when he first catches her alone.]Skye-san...? If you aren't busy, could we talk?
no subject
She isn't sure that she can bring herself to do it, even if it's absolutely necessary. No one deserves any of this.
Kaoru's approach takes her a bit by surprise. She figured everyone was off doing their own thing and that she was alone.]
Oh... yeah, sure. I'm not busy.
What did you want to talk about?
no subject
I want to go to the graveyard, but I don't want to visit by myself... There are a lot of things on my mind and I don't think that being alone would help. [his shoulders rise briefly.]
Would you accompany me? I think I could pick some flowers first...
no subject
Yeah, I don't mind keeping you company. You're probably right about not being alone. Maybe we can help each other figure things out.
[Or something.]
no subject
...What does Skye-san think about all of this? [his head dips down a little, gaze focused on some of the flowers by his feet hanging heavily from their bent stems.] To come so far, only to face such a cruel decision...
no subject
[She seems honestly taken aback at the question. It's not like she's been any kind of leader in all of this; why ask her opinion?
After a few moments' thought, she replies.]
I don't think any of this is fair. We did everything we were asked to. We even did things we weren't asked to. We worked really hard to save as many people as we could. We stopped those things and still we're told that people have to die.
[She's nearly shouting now without realizing it.]
And I don't even fully understand why. Yes, we know what the cat's said, and what other people have told us, but... [She loses steam rather quickly, sighing crossing her arms over herself.] Everyone who volunteered today is a good person. They don't deserve this.
no subject
...I don't think any of us understand it. And don't you think it's strange that even now, we still can't remember every moment leading to our deaths...? [funny enough, the longer he's had time to sit and think about this, the more his resentment has shifted from anyone else trapped in this situation with him and focused squarely on that damn cat. it didn't even matter if he was supposedly giving them an option to escape. in the end, it seems so much more cruel to give that chance only for it to be taken away.]
From the very start, I think that the cat planned such a thing. Why else would he have taken on so many more people than he could bring back? [the way he had spoken about the shadows, too - a good parasite... it has his teeth on edge.
after a few seconds of quiet:] In the end, this is going to boil down to a contest of who has the greatest sympathy. It isn't fair for those who are forced to vote or for those who have the fewest ties here... Even those who've volunteered are putting themselves and everyone around them into an unfair dilemma. Everyone here has something to return to...
no subject
[Siiiiiiiiiigh.]
Even the people who don't think they'll be missed will be. How does the cat honestly expect us to make this decision? It's impossible.
no subject
...I don't know. It must be particularly tough for Skye-san, since so many people that know you have volunteered...
no subject
no subject
...Maya-san seems determined, and no one spoke up against Klavier-san presenting himself except her... Athena-san should be able to survive, though, but she promised to stay behind with Maya-san, didn't she?
no subject
All three of them, then...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Getting stabby with it (featuring Maya)
[On her way, she's surprised to see that she isn't alone - Kaoru and Ema seem to be talking, but is he unsheathing his sword?!]
[She starts to rush over]
Hey! What's going on?!
no subject
I...ah...
[Whether it's panic at being caught by someone who will have MAJOR objections to this or her fight-or-flight instinct kicking in at the idea that she is about to die, Ema honestly can't say. Regardless, she feels the rush of adrenaline and the tightening of her stomach, and she finds herself tongue-tied in a way that's weirdly reminiscent of her inability to speak on the stand two years ago and somehow entirely dissimilar at the same time.
She looks helplessly at Kaoru, hoping that he'll have a better answer for Maya.]
no subject
no okay, he really doesn't have a better answer for Maya, unfortunately. the look that he fleetingly gives back to Ema is just as helpless - borderline panicked, but he doesn't ease his hand away from the hilt of his sword, either.
after a second or two, he'll speak quietly enough for Ema to hear.]
I won't let Maya-san die. [and then he's turned fully around, arm out, but hand still on the hilt of his sword in case she continues to move forward. from his stance alone, though, it's clearly more defensive than offensive.]
no subject
Kaoru.... leave her alone! Please!
no subject
Of course, then Maya THROWS HERSELF AT THEM WHICH IS ABOUT THE LAST THING SHE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN. Out of sheer surprise, Ema screams.]
Maya, no!
no subject
though his inhuman reflexes come in handy for this; he pulls his hand away from his sword to hold both arms out, essentially attempting to catch Maya in her lunge. if he can manage that, he'll just... toss her to the side. about as gently as he can manage in a panic, which will probably feel like the equivalent of someone of Klavier's build throwing someone of Maya's build to the side.]
no subject
[That's still considerable force, so she sails through the air only to crash right on top of a pile of flowers. It's not too painful, but it does knock the wind out of her and cover her in petals and pollen. Maybe she can force an allergic reaction on Kaoru to get him to leave Ema alone!!]
E-Ema, get out of here...! [As soon as she regains her senses she'll start to drag herself back towards them] Kaoru, please!
no subject
Kaoru manipulated her into believingshe knows this is for the best for everyone.]Maya... i-it's okay...
[Her voice is barely audible--it shakes, and it's clear that she's trying her best not to simply break down.]
Please...
no subject
there's urgency in his voice when he speaks again, but it's very even.]
Maya-san, understand that you are not a part of this situation and leave. I won't say it twice. [there's no room for arguments - he can't allow her that much. his hand is back on the sword hilt, but he's pivoted slightly to face Ema more than Maya.]
no subject
[She barely even hears Kaoru, getting up again and starting forward towards them. What can she do? She can't fight... She doesn't even have a weapon, all she an do... is channel?]
Kaoru, Ema, please! There's got to be another way...! Don't do this! Leave her alone!
[She sounds desperate]
no subject
But she stands her ground. And she forces herself to speak, although her eyes are nowhere near Maya--she can't bear to look the other girl in the eye.]
T-this will help draw the cat out... and... and it'll protect you and Athena and Mr. Gavin... none of you deserve to die...
[Is she crying? OH YES, SHE IS.]
I'm sorry, Maya...
no subject
Maya is no physical threat to him, so he turns his back on her to face Ema fully once again.]
I'm sorry. [he'll leave the apology up to her interpretation, but... he should have taken more care. expecting that everyone had been off to think alone, locked up in their rooms or continuing to debate in the main room had been a terrible assumption to make.
Maya's going to have to act quickly, either way; he's already moving to draw his sword again.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)