IC Inbox (Imeeji)

[firstworldproblem]

[It just goes directly to the beep.]

Comments

[firstworldproblem]

Emet-Selch: Bartiones is stiflingly crowded for reasons I cannot fathom.
Emet-Selch: Though I do have a few hours to spare.
Emet-Selch: How about the pond in the park? I know it isn't the ocean, but it will have to do.

[deicider]

Cardinal Chases Dawn: Avante's the same.
Cardinal Chases Dawn: Thanks. I'll head there now.

[And indeed Cardinal will be waiting there, standing. Their expression is fastidiously neutral.]

[firstworldproblem]

[He'll show up a bit later. He walks slower, okay!

He pats their arm.]

Come. Sit.

[And heading down to sit near the water.]

[deicider]

[Come on your legs are so much longer Emet-Selch.

Cardinal perches next to him. They're still not giving off much of a read, simply attentive and obedient, sitting with a respectful distance between them. They look at Emet-Selch to gauge whether they should speak, or if he has something to say first.]

[firstworldproblem]

[He leans back on his hands.]

I imagine the topic you wished to speak of is about the game. I respect you, Cardinal Chases Dawn. I will hear you out.

Something about what happened seems .... odd. I'm wondering if you could help me understand.

[deicider]

[Was going to say something, but they stop themself.]

What is it?

[firstworldproblem]

I seem to have stopped your train of thought. Go ahead.

[deicider]

[Shakes their head. Their expression slips, but they pull it back into place quickly.]

Just - I'm sorry. I failed to protect Valour from harm.

[firstworldproblem]

[Patting their shoulder.]

Games are meant to do exactly just that, are they not?

Can you tell me what exactly happened?

[deicider]

I've been here long enough to be better at them.

[They slip into the cadence of a report.]

At the start, Valour indicated there was no way to make him cry, and that he wouldn't be cooperating. Everyone freaked out. Kohime became agitated and stabbed herself to get a reaction. She did some more of that and then moved to cut her own throat. I grabbed the knife. At that point Valour... [they pause, looking for a word] - requested that we switch methods to a mannequin he was close with, Delores. Delores was smashed into pieces. After that, Kohime remembered onions existed, and we used that.

[firstworldproblem]

Do you know what is wrong with Kohime?

[deicider]

Wrong with her...?

[they frown thoughtfully.]

I don't know her well. I thought her behavior was strange, but I assumed it was something about the dynamic between her and Valour.

[firstworldproblem]

I can't imagine anyone Kohime would willingly injure herself for. She never acted as such in the games we played together. Her knives are mostly for show, but she is skilled in them.

I do believe something is wrong.

And when your unit feel under duress, I imagine they were not in their right minds. Though what did they say to Five. And why would they go to great lengths to traumatize him so. I don't recall you playing that hard before.

[deicider]

[They look up, staring at him, eyes widening slightly.]

We've been playing harder ever since she joined the team. She went for the knife so soon...

[They track back.]

Things just snowballed. Nemesis is - that was out hostage - a delicate subject. So it was the worst starting circumstances.

[firstworldproblem]

You've been known for your softer antics. That is no surprise she would want to win to protect both you and Avante. But she has her limits and that action is one I would consider crossing them. At least in my experience wit her.

Though she and I rarely see eye to eye. It is simply my observation.

But to absolutely destroy what they love in front of them? That's not a tactic you would normally employ. And if you tell me you only did it to spare Kohime, I'm going to be cross.

[deicider]

She has no interest in me. It's mutual.

[There is another crack in Cardinal's expression, gone again as quick as it appeared.]

I objected. I was overruled.

[firstworldproblem]

By?

[deicider]

My unit leader.

[firstworldproblem]

Is that what they are going to do now? Be upset and torture people. I imagine they are a wreck after the fact.

[deicider]

[Cardinal's neutrality slips again just a little, their fists clenching against the grass.]

No. This was my fault. I mishandled the situation; my judgement was flawed. It won't happen again.

[firstworldproblem]

Cardinal Chases Dawn, what is really bothering you?

[deicider]

[They squeeze their eyes briefly. It takes longer for them to regain their mask of calm, and their clipped, objective tone.]

I had a duty to protect Valour for your sake, and I didn't. Trying to court avante's favor is pointless. They'll never trust me, or they'll trust me too much.

1/2

[firstworldproblem]

[firstworldproblem]

Flattered, I'm sure.

However, Five doesn't even care for you, and I imagine you for him. I wouldn't expect you to protect him. I would rather you protected your own unit while not being needlessly cruel. And it sounded as if you weren't.

[deicider]

[Looks taken off guard, for sure. They almost say something, but stop themself. They do pull their expression back together, and say something else.]

You're correct.