AFTERPARTY III: Never Have I Ever Been Quite This Drunk

[mirrite]

[There's absolutely nothing celebratory about this drinking party. "Party" isn't even the right word, not really-- it's more like a "drink until you forget and/or black out" session for anyone who wants to participate, and even the bartender isn't immune from that much. Please forgive him if your drink isn't mixed quite right; he's trying his best under the circumstances.

There's food, too, if anyone wants to attempt to stave off a hangover tomorrow, or just get something in their stomach after the events of the day: stirfry from Makoto, vegetable soup from Nageki (mediocre, but hey, a genuine effort was made and that's what counts), and some tea for those who would rather abstain from the harder stuff. (Is that even many people tonight? Probably not.)

Come on by the bar if you're hungry or want a drink, or even if you just don't want to be alone right now. That much, at least, is something that can be guaranteed tonight.]

Comments

[gemuinemanagement]

[uh okay]

Should I ask how you're holding up

[crimson_flamel]

Better. I should trust my gut more. Still, I had time to think and I can't really be angry about Yor's inevitable betrayal.

[She has a sip of her drink.]

And you?

[gemuinemanagement]

[......]

I don't know what it's like to have siblings
But Yor reminded me of a big sister
She was always looking after me

So I've been better, I guess

[crimson_flamel]

[Her expression softens. Siblings... Maybe. Maybe that might be it.]

...Sometimes I struggle with... remembering what that was like too. I used to have so many and now...

[She closes her eyes and sighs.]

She did care for you. And Rika, and Tenn, and Riku, and Sami too. Probably SQ too. But she was a predator. Killing was just instinctual for her. Both things can be true.

I wonder what her wish was.

[gemuinemanagement]

I know
People are complicated

[If C-ta could have genuinely cared about him despite - all of that - then he doesn't doubt that Yor cared, too.]

I wonder if it would help to share them
It might not change anything
But at least we wouldn't wonder what was so important

[crimson_flamel]

No. It'd just be... used to manipulate and harm. Some wishes are small and personal, insignificant, some are overwhelmingly huge and necessary for the salvation of thousands. Revealing it just allows a ranking system as to which lives are more important over others.

[She frowns, allowing her drink to slosh around as she fiddles with it.]

If someone asked you to die to save that amount of people, you might feel obligated to do it, hm? Wuxian offered to die for the life of one person. And I don't think he would have been the only one who could be pushed into that role.

I only live to complete my wish, and see it made reality. If I could choose to die to see it completed, I'd have done it already. [She'll die by the end anyway. She's not naive enough to think that she'll make it out of her ambitions alive.] But... it's something that will inevitably be shared privately anyway.

[gemuinemanagement]

I probably wouldn't
Because I don't think he'll grant those wishes in the end
But I understand what you're saying

[He doesn't want to look at someone and think 'well, was their life more or less important than this?']

[crimson_flamel]

Indeed. All we know is that an agreement was made.

If the terms were in our favour, or if they were what he's claiming they are, we'd remember them. It's easy to make that connection but... it's a powerful incentive anyway.

All of our killers have been desperate or fools or both.

[C-Ta and Zola didn't feel like they could afford to believe it was a trap. And Lucifer decided Yor was a danger, if that was anything more than an excuse, well. She doesn't know, but she knows he was more of a danger to begin with.

And Yor was an idiot. That part of her was never fake.]

[gemuinemanagement]

[Part of him wants to defend Yor, but... yeah. She's not smart. That's why she hadn't really been seriously considered for the flour trap.]

If I felt like I didn't have a choice
I might be the same
So I don't feel right judging them

[crimson_flamel]

I don't judge them. My retainer would have killed someone on the very first day if he were here and felt the offer was genuine, and I love him dearly. It isn't black and white, and all of the killers deserved a second chance at least. We all could have done similar under different circumstances.

[Something, something, coup de'tat, high treason, deicide and regicide, full purge of the noble class.]

I'm not even sure if any of us will have a choice by the end. Hamelin is a spoiled child who is used to getting what he wants. But I am a sore loser, and I'd sooner burn than give him what he wants.

[gemuinemanagement]

Same here
He would be too happy if we all turned on each other
So I'm going to continue caring about the people here
Out of spite

[It may not be as dramatic as trying to stab him, but maybe it'll be more effective.]

[crimson_flamel]

And making that choice makes you one of the strongest people here.

[Warm, genuine smile. She's a little sappy today and Suga is... a kind person. It's a strength she admires, even if she doesn't think she has much herself.]

[gemuinemanagement]

Thank you
That's very kind of you to say

[Suga doesn't know how to deal with compliments? Edelgard is clearly the kind person here.]