chanteuser | QUASIPLATONICROMANTIC NOT-MESS

H-hey, Alex...

[And he can't continue - he, too, throws his arms around her, pulls her close - Treasure, not liking the intrusion, leaps off of his lap, which is fine, because it allows more room for Alex.]

Hey. It's okay. [His hand moves to stroke over her hair.] I'm here.

[ she’ll realise he looks like a disco ball in a moment, it’s fine. but for now she just squeezes her arms tightly, and gives herself a moment before she speaks. ]

Yona’s body... there was a Mosasaurus there. I thought—- [ well. She actually only remembered one person who had one of those. It hadn’t been the best start to this investigation. ]

There was?

[Oh.]

[No wonder she was like this, if she believed it was his.]

Well, mine is still safe and sound in my room. And I'm here, in the flesh. [Hansa,] It's okay. I'm okay. I'm just glad you are, too.

[ she just bumps her forehead against his shoulder, tucking her face against his neck and sighing. it’s very, very relieved. ]

Good. [ good.

...

...

... and then she pulls her face away and to the side to cover up a sneeze.

Um?? ]

Wha—- Hansa, why are you glittery?

I had to take a baaaaaath ~ 🎵

[And he stops, his expression downturned in a frown. Wow. He hates this effect!]

...Ange and I, we went to the spa, and found that someone had made some bubble baths. We went into them just to see if there was anything in the water.

[ ... oh my

god.

that gets a proper smile out of her, the stupid singing. ]

You too, huh?

[ she runs fingers through his hair, looking amused when she’s left with little sparkles on her fingertips. ]

Did you find anything? 🎵

[At least her voice sounds nice, as it always does.]

Yeah, it must be an effect...

[From the music room, of all places. Of course. He shakes his head lightly, and more glitter can be seen. He's so sparkly.]

Uh...well. I found Jeanne's standard in one of the baths. You know, her big flag?

[ Hansward Cervallen.... ]

Seems like it. Alphonse and Chiron were with me and they were singing too.

... in one of the baths? [ that flag isn’t... small or subtle. ] And nothing else?

[he would hate to be compared to a vampire...but this is his fate...]

Yes. Right in the bath. And there was a little dinosaur running around, but I don't know if it belongs to Jeanne, or not.

...

[ she raises at hand again, to rest on hansa’s cheek, thumb brushing against his cheekbone ]

... she hasn’t been removed, right?

...

[His face falls, even as he leans into her touch.]

No, she hasn't. I found her earlier.

[Then why is he so sad about it...?]

[ alex's cat stops sniffing around Other Cat, Treasure, and flops himself down by hansa's side, pressed against his leg. ]

...

You think she was involved, somehow.

[ it's... not really a question, she can put two and two togther. ]

...

[His voice is quiet.]

Alex...do you know about the rule that would allow everyine to be revived?

The "two kill" rule? Yes, I've heard of it.

... I think everyone must've by this point. There are double the usual number of bodies.

That's the point. What we see here is people rushing to meet the requirement.

...That's not all there is to the rule, too. The first kill has to be of someone splintering, ordered by a Leader. And the next...has to be taken in our hands, and be of someone who's not. Its a...horrid rule.

...

[ she just closes her eyes and leans her forehead against hansa's. ]

So if a lot of people have already completed the first part, then this is a lot of innocent people who've been killed for... what, this place's idea of fulfilling a condition?

[ ... she gets it. she doesn't want to abandon anyone who's been removed, especially those who'd be wrongly accused, like Kano or Bucky. but it's incredibly cruel to put those kinds of laws and limitations on saving people in place. ]

Why? I know the Realm works differently to how we do but--? [ this is just cruel for cruelty's sake. ]

I don't know. Its just cruel. And I can't abide people just killing for no reason, but this is just...

[His hand comes up to rest on the back of her head.]

To think that people here are forced to kill innocents simply for the greater good...I hate it.

People's hands being forced because other people's lives are being held over their heads...

[ ... ]

We don't have any choice but to go through with the trial and hope that we can somehow cause the least damage along the way, do we? [ ... it's both better, and worse knowing that everyone who kills is doing so because of something beyond their control. better, because she can believe no one's lost their empathy here, but worse because no one wants to condemn someone for trying to save everyone. ]

Exactly. And that is what I feared. That we're not looking for some horrible criminal, but people who are simply doing what they feel they need to do, to help the rest.

[To condemn someone for a noble reason...is that something they have a right to do? But in the end, murder is still murder...]

But what can we do? The only thing is to...play by the rules. For now, at least.

🎵 Until we figure out how to bend them to our favour?

[ she shifts slightly so she can kiss his forehead instead. ]

We just... have to do things as right as this place lets us. Try and figure out what we can and make our guesses from there.

Edited (wait the effect) 2020-11-07 16:44 (UTC)

-- Jeanne's?

[Ah, turning his head sharply at the news]

Yes.

[And then his face falls. He looks like he's trying to decide what to say.]

But...she's still here. Jeanne. She hasn't been Removed.

Edited 2020-11-07 05:53 (UTC)

[...]

No, she hasn't.

But it implies that she might have killed.

[His expression is neutral as he speaks.]

...

[He's just silent at that, not looking at Chiron.]

QUASIPLATONICROMANTIC NOT-MESS

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