[prologue] post-investigation, w/ evan

[asswipe]

[She's been checking up on a few people, so when she doesn't see Evan out and about after the investigation, she opts for checking in each of the suites. Thankfully (maybe), she doesn't have to barge into too many people's rooms before she finds in the water suite.

After a pause:]

So... That just happened, huh?

[tfw you want to escape murder but murder follows you everywhere.]

Comments

[selfinserting]

[When she comes in, she'll find him scribbling something down on a napkin he found in the kitchen with his quill. After failing to find any better sources of paper in the castle, he's settled for the next best thing. When she walks in, he flinches slightly, but it's more from surprise than anything else.]

...Yeah.

[He trails off, uncertain what else to say about it immediately; it's awful, but... He's certain she already knows that.]

A-Are you going to be okay?

[asswipe]

[Writing on a napkin is such a mood. She's itching to get her hands on anything that even slightly resembles a notebook, but there doesn't seem to be any paper at the castle.]

... Physically? Sure. [Mentally, though? All of this is a lot and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't feeling overwhelmed. She refuses to talk about that, though, and instead settles for leaning against the doorway and frowning.] How about you? How are you feeling?

[His stress levels seemed to be through the roof before, so she can't imagine this is... good.]

[selfinserting]

[He absolutely notices that she only specified how she's feeling physically, but he doesn't comment on it immediately. There's absolutely a new note of concern on his face, though.]

I'm, um... I'm going to be okay. [Eventually. Maybe.] D-Did you, um - know her?

[asswipe]

Okay. But don't... push yourself if you feel like you're not gonna be okay? [A word of caution, just in case.]

No... Not really. We talked twice, I guess, but we weren't friends or anything. [Said slowly, frowning.] ... I wish I had talked to her more, but it's too late for that.

[selfinserting]

Y-Yeah, I know. You, um, you too.

[A small shrug.]

I, um, I get it. S-She seemed really cool.

[asswipe]

She did. I can't believe someone decided to just— kill her.

[selfinserting]

[He hesitates.]

What if... what if whoever it was, um, didn't have a choice?

[asswipe]

... You think they were being threatened?

[that's..... alarming.]

[selfinserting]

I-I mean, um... The, um, the Dragon said that the reason we're here is because people have to g-get killed or something awful would happen to all of our homes, right...?

[asswipe]

... She did say that. [ugh. she grimaces, crossing her arms.] And the killer must have believed it.

[selfinserting]

I mean... W-What if it's true? It sounds really out there, but everything about this place is. Maybe they were just... t-trying to do what they thought was best.

[asswipe]

I... I don't know. Even if it's true, I don't want to justify a murderer. That's not a solution. Not even in this mess.

[selfinserting]

I-I know. I didn't mean to say it was r-right, but what if it's, um, less wrong than the alternative...?

[He shakes his head.]

S-Sorry. Never mind, you're probably right.

[asswipe]

Less wrong than screwing everyone at home over, right?

[She knows what he means. She's just. God.]

If we use that logic, then we're all going to have to kill or else we'll be directly responsible for whatever happens to our homes. That's not... We can't afford to think like that, Evan.

[selfinserting]

No, I-I know. I didn't mean that we... I mean, I-I'm not going to do anything like that, and I didn't mean you should, either.

[He takes a breath, shaking his head.]

I said you're right. Y-You are. Sorry.

[asswipe]

... No, I'm sorry. I know I'm being kind of — intense.

[Sighing, she closes her eyes and just kind of. Leans her head against the wall.]

I didn't mean to get all preachy on you.

[selfinserting]

No, it... it's kind of - admirable? T-That you're that passionate, I mean.

[...]

I mean, most people are pretty against killing other people, but... Y-You know what I mean.

[asswipe]

... Thanks, Evan. I know what you mean, it's okay.

[She snorts, but it seems a little devoid of humor.]

If only this castle only housed "most people," huh?

[selfinserting]

I-It probably makes sense that it doesn't, given, um, what they want us to do. But... It's a-awful.

[An exhale, and a quick shake of his head.]