[He's right. How can she expect to be in three places all at once?
She can feel tears starting to sting in her eyes, but she refuses to let them fall. Instead, she clutches her hands into fists and allows herself to default to anger rather than hopelessness.]
There has to be something I can do! I'll think of something!
[a second or two of silence again; Kaoru's gaze briefly drifts back to the flowers but doesn't stay there long.]
...I had an idea earlier. In the end, all three of them would be able to return regardless of how it works, but... it could also give us the opportunity to regain our losses. [and despite how ruthlessly manipulative he's being in general, he very much means what he says next:] I can't allow that cat to think it can control us.
[welp no time like the present to dive into a theory that he only thought up a few hours ago. he's very artful with his words when he needs to be, though, and talks like he's been thinking along these lines for quite a while.]
The cat isn't giving us an opportunity to barter our way out of this situation, as I'm sure you've noticed... [sounding very bitter? SOUNDING VERY BITTER.] It's my belief that even if a vote were to be made, he wouldn't allow anything after. He would just kill the ones voted for in whatever gruesome manner he could without the help of those shadows, and then send the rest of us home... But, if we were able to draw him back before-hand... we might have a chance at striking that barter. [or killing the cat, maybe - he'd be cool with either. that said, he takes a deep breath before leveling her a serious look.]
I believe that three people should die before the vote. The cat would have to come, and it's possible that we could do whatever is in our power to give a chance to those who never had one... [his brow furrows again.] But it's still a risk. Those who die may not return... I would give my own life, if possible, but if things go wrong I would like to be here to protect those who can't defend themselves. I don't know if anyone else would approve of such a reckless idea, but our backs are against a wall and three people will die tomorrow either way, whether we're forced to commit murder through the vote or take matters into their own hands...
[Ema listens quietly to his idea. It seems sound, or at least sound enough that it could work--and really, that's the best they can hope for at this point. If they can draw the cat out, and if they can bargain with it or force it to act on their terms for once... things might honestly be okay.
There's only one thing that Ema doesn't understand. After a few long moments of silence, she brings it up:]
It's reckless, but we haven't gotten anything by playing by the rules, either...
I just don't see how it saves Athena, Maya, and Mr. Gavin. It sounds like them dying would help your idea, wouldn't it?
It would be a logical choice... But Athena-san and Klavier-san both escaped death once. They were condemned for no greater reason than having been born into unfortunate circumstances, and to be given that hope back again just for them to have to relinquish it with their own hands... it just seems too cruel. [his sympathy is almost kind of real... as real as it can get for him, anyway. they shared a situation, after all, and tried their best to help him; in his own way, he's grateful to them for it.]
As for Maya-san - keeping the person that can bridge the living and the dead is an important thing, don't you think?
[Of course, Ema agrees with everything he's just said, with the addition that they're her friends and that there's a not-small, selfish part of herself who doesn't want them to die based on that alone.
Deep breath. Ema's not panicked and ready to bolt at the idea that horrible things might happen to her friends, but that doesn't mean she's any less determined to stop them from doing the unthinkable. She supposes she owes Kaoru a thank you for keeping her from losing it, but she keeps her communication focused on the task at hand.]
How do we stop them from deciding that they should die before we even vote on it?
[She does her best to keep her voice even, her body language strong and competent. Her eyes, and the slightly-too-wide desperation therein, give her away.]
[that much he's actually very sure of. if any of the three of them decided to take matters into their own hands, there's very little that the rest could do - but he doesn't think that will actually happen, which is why he's here in the first place.]
...But if we were to move their attention from the situation while lowering the number that the cat asks us to vote for, it would be very possible—
[he could go for a wider-ranged approach - "we'll have to find three people to die before them" - but assumes from the basis of their conversation so far that a more personal one will net better results. it's with equal determination that he finishes the last part.]
...A person who would be a willing catalyst for such a thing would be a very useful person right now.
She turns the thought over a few times in her head and finds that she can't wrap her brain around it. Aside from the fact that dying is a terrifying prospect, there are other people to think of here...]
W-what about Mr. Wright? My sister? They'll... Lana will lose her mind if something happens to me...
[the determination doesn't leave his face, though he does nod once in reply to her question.]
Then we'll just have to do our best to make sure that the cat doesn't get away with making this the final decision. ...But for now, no matter how this situation is looked at, it's weighing so many lives against others, right? So if you think you could be of more help to those waiting for you back home than those of us here, I won't press the topic any further than this.
[Ema takes a few steps away from Kaoru and sits on the ground, idly picking a flower and twirling it in her hands as she seriously considers the proposal. If she were to approach this like a scientist--and she is one--the numbers strongly suggest that she go with the idea. Going home to be with her sister and Mr. Wright seems selfish, since it only helps a handful of people. In contrast, there are countries here with millions of lives at stake. Somehow. She's not entirely sure how the countries work, but she has no reason to believe they're lying to her.
There's also the fact that this is allowing them a possible chance to trap the cat. Maybe Kaoru can persuade it to reverse things somehow and bring back the dead characters or something. If not Kaoru, then definitely Athena and Mr. Gavin--she's seen them at work, and they would be extra determined and less likely to sacrifice themselves because Ema died. The cat would be hard-pressed to say no against them. It shouldn't be possible, but none of this really has been so far. Then everyone would be saved.
And if it turns out that the cat can't bring the dead back... well, Lana would go nuts without Ema, there's no doubt about that. But as things are, Lana's dead. So in a way, she's helping Lana by doing this even if Lana wouldn't understand. Maybe Kaoru can give a message to Maya to give Lana. Say she's sorry and that she did this to save her and that she loves her.
And, finally... she doesn't want to die, but she'd rather everyone else die less. The last thing she wants is for someone to give their life for her. She's had that happen to her before. It feels awful. The reasoning is selfish, but it's there, and it resonates with her.
There is no good, easy, right answer here.
But maybe this answer is okay enough.
After several minutes of silence as she thinks all of this through, she finally looks up at Kaoru. Her expression is still determined, but there's also a sense of sadness, fear, and resignation there.]
You... you can make it fast enough that it won't hurt, right?
[he doesn't put any pressure on her the entire time she's thinking; in fact, he's wandered off a little to give her any room that she might need, since he has a little difficulty reading this reaction and isn't quite sure until she looks up whether it's a positive one or a negative one.
but then there's that, and she speaks, and that's really all there is to it, isn't there? one down - one less person for them to need to vote off, and he won't have to resort to force. in the end, maybe his half-baked plan will work, too; even if it's not for the sake of Ema or anyone else in this place, he hates, hates, hates the idea of that smug, awful cat getting the last laugh, playing them all like puppets on a string from start to end. he wants desperately to get back to Chizuru, true enough - but he also very much wants to see that cat suffer, too. if he can bring everyone back in the process, fair enough.
he'll allow a brief look of surprise to appear, but there's a solid, strong determination that follows that's very real. in the end, he has to believe that this is the best thing he can do for himself. to trust in his own choices, because he can't trust in anyone else's—
he nods once.]
I can... if that's the option you're choosing to take.
[She stops to write something in her notepad--a letter to her sister. She folds it in half twice, writes "LANA" on the outside, and holds it out to him.]
Promise to give this to Maya and ask her to give it to my sister? Mr. Wright will know how to get it to her.
And... tell everyone I'm sorry. Please do that, too.
[they're amenable terms, so he'll nod once more as he reaches out to take the folded paper, tucking it securely into place on the inside of his jacket.]
I'll do both, and I'll also do my best to ensure that as many people make it out of this as possible.
[his hand then strays to his side, where it rests against the scabbard of the sword he's been wearing nonstop since before his own trial.]
[the look that he gives her seems to be vaguely contemplative, but he nods soon enough. taking one step back, his hand moves up to the hilt of his sword as he starts to withdraw it from its sheath.]
Then... I'll end this quickly for you. The one thanking anyone here should be me, so... thank you. I'll do my best to make that cat pay.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[He's right. How can she expect to be in three places all at once?
She can feel tears starting to sting in her eyes, but she refuses to let them fall. Instead, she clutches her hands into fists and allows herself to default to anger rather than hopelessness.]
There has to be something I can do! I'll think of something!
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...I had an idea earlier. In the end, all three of them would be able to return regardless of how it works, but... it could also give us the opportunity to regain our losses. [and despite how ruthlessly manipulative he's being in general, he very much means what he says next:] I can't allow that cat to think it can control us.
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What's your idea?
[She is ALL FOR saving all three of them and getting back at the cat.]
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The cat isn't giving us an opportunity to barter our way out of this situation, as I'm sure you've noticed... [sounding very bitter? SOUNDING VERY BITTER.] It's my belief that even if a vote were to be made, he wouldn't allow anything after. He would just kill the ones voted for in whatever gruesome manner he could without the help of those shadows, and then send the rest of us home... But, if we were able to draw him back before-hand... we might have a chance at striking that barter. [or killing the cat, maybe - he'd be cool with either. that said, he takes a deep breath before leveling her a serious look.]
I believe that three people should die before the vote. The cat would have to come, and it's possible that we could do whatever is in our power to give a chance to those who never had one... [his brow furrows again.] But it's still a risk. Those who die may not return... I would give my own life, if possible, but if things go wrong I would like to be here to protect those who can't defend themselves. I don't know if anyone else would approve of such a reckless idea, but our backs are against a wall and three people will die tomorrow either way, whether we're forced to commit murder through the vote or take matters into their own hands...
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There's only one thing that Ema doesn't understand. After a few long moments of silence, she brings it up:]
It's reckless, but we haven't gotten anything by playing by the rules, either...
I just don't see how it saves Athena, Maya, and Mr. Gavin. It sounds like them dying would help your idea, wouldn't it?
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It would be a logical choice... But Athena-san and Klavier-san both escaped death once. They were condemned for no greater reason than having been born into unfortunate circumstances, and to be given that hope back again just for them to have to relinquish it with their own hands... it just seems too cruel. [his sympathy is almost kind of real... as real as it can get for him, anyway. they shared a situation, after all, and tried their best to help him; in his own way, he's grateful to them for it.]
As for Maya-san - keeping the person that can bridge the living and the dead is an important thing, don't you think?
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Deep breath. Ema's not panicked and ready to bolt at the idea that horrible things might happen to her friends, but that doesn't mean she's any less determined to stop them from doing the unthinkable. She supposes she owes Kaoru a thank you for keeping her from losing it, but she keeps her communication focused on the task at hand.]
How do we stop them from deciding that they should die before we even vote on it?
[She does her best to keep her voice even, her body language strong and competent. Her eyes, and the slightly-too-wide desperation therein, give her away.]
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[that much he's actually very sure of. if any of the three of them decided to take matters into their own hands, there's very little that the rest could do - but he doesn't think that will actually happen, which is why he's here in the first place.]
...But if we were to move their attention from the situation while lowering the number that the cat asks us to vote for, it would be very possible—
[he could go for a wider-ranged approach - "we'll have to find three people to die before them" - but assumes from the basis of their conversation so far that a more personal one will net better results. it's with equal determination that he finishes the last part.]
...A person who would be a willing catalyst for such a thing would be a very useful person right now.
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[Why else would he bring it up to her like this?
She turns the thought over a few times in her head and finds that she can't wrap her brain around it. Aside from the fact that dying is a terrifying prospect, there are other people to think of here...]
W-what about Mr. Wright? My sister? They'll... Lana will lose her mind if something happens to me...
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Then we'll just have to do our best to make sure that the cat doesn't get away with making this the final decision. ...But for now, no matter how this situation is looked at, it's weighing so many lives against others, right? So if you think you could be of more help to those waiting for you back home than those of us here, I won't press the topic any further than this.
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There's also the fact that this is allowing them a possible chance to trap the cat. Maybe Kaoru can persuade it to reverse things somehow and bring back the dead characters or something. If not Kaoru, then definitely Athena and Mr. Gavin--she's seen them at work, and they would be extra determined and less likely to sacrifice themselves because Ema died. The cat would be hard-pressed to say no against them. It shouldn't be possible, but none of this really has been so far. Then everyone would be saved.
And if it turns out that the cat can't bring the dead back... well, Lana would go nuts without Ema, there's no doubt about that. But as things are, Lana's dead. So in a way, she's helping Lana by doing this even if Lana wouldn't understand. Maybe Kaoru can give a message to Maya to give Lana. Say she's sorry and that she did this to save her and that she loves her.
And, finally... she doesn't want to die, but she'd rather everyone else die less. The last thing she wants is for someone to give their life for her. She's had that happen to her before. It feels awful. The reasoning is selfish, but it's there, and it resonates with her.
There is no good, easy, right answer here.
But maybe this answer is okay enough.
After several minutes of silence as she thinks all of this through, she finally looks up at Kaoru. Her expression is still determined, but there's also a sense of sadness, fear, and resignation there.]
You... you can make it fast enough that it won't hurt, right?
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but then there's that, and she speaks, and that's really all there is to it, isn't there? one down - one less person for them to need to vote off, and he won't have to resort to force. in the end, maybe his half-baked plan will work, too; even if it's not for the sake of Ema or anyone else in this place, he hates, hates, hates the idea of that smug, awful cat getting the last laugh, playing them all like puppets on a string from start to end. he wants desperately to get back to Chizuru, true enough - but he also very much wants to see that cat suffer, too. if he can bring everyone back in the process, fair enough.
he'll allow a brief look of surprise to appear, but there's a solid, strong determination that follows that's very real. in the end, he has to believe that this is the best thing he can do for himself. to trust in his own choices, because he can't trust in anyone else's—
he nods once.]
I can... if that's the option you're choosing to take.
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It is.
[She stops to write something in her notepad--a letter to her sister. She folds it in half twice, writes "LANA" on the outside, and holds it out to him.]
Promise to give this to Maya and ask her to give it to my sister? Mr. Wright will know how to get it to her.
And... tell everyone I'm sorry. Please do that, too.
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I'll do both, and I'll also do my best to ensure that as many people make it out of this as possible.
[his hand then strays to his side, where it rests against the scabbard of the sword he's been wearing nonstop since before his own trial.]
...Would you prefer to wait?
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[She shakes her head when he offers to postpone.]
I... I think the longer I wait, the worse it'll feel...
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Then... I'll end this quickly for you. The one thanking anyone here should be me, so... thank you. I'll do my best to make that cat pay.
[also to bring everyone back, that too.]
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[It's weird to be thanked for being willing to die.
She sees that he's readying his sword, so she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and tries not to think too much about what's going to happen.
She doesn't expect to hear Maya's voice just then...]