...yes, that is true. Many parts of the island were... involved in what happened this week. If I am being honest, as lovely as the view is from up here, I do wonder if perhaps it is an... inappropriate location.
[Would Marie really want to be remembered at the very spot where she had been pushed to her death? Flayn isn't sure.]
I did not think so many people were going to be killed.
[ He wonders if it would be appropriate to leave the flowers where he found them, so near their feet now. Would it make anyone think twice before committing another crime, if they could see the world from Marie's final perspective?
For a moment, he looks crestfallen. ]
I did not either.
[ So many senseless deaths. ] And we lose another of our number tomorrow.
[She nods slowly. They will be losing someone else tomorrow - and a child, at that. Flayn has more than a few complicated feelings about Zoe's... everything.
She takes a breath.]
...is it selfish of me to say that I am very glad we did not lose you?
[ Zoe... was she really guilty? The evidence pointed that way for Anaido, but as Dimitri stands here, Marie's body still fresh in his mind—they weren't finished, were they? ]
No. [ It's never wrong to be glad to see a friend alive and well. ] But it is selfish of me, because I'm happy to hear you say so.
[ Even barely knowing him now, Flayn is so kind. Too kind. His thoughts brew like a storm before he speaks. ]
Flayn, listen. There's something about Marie's death that does not sit well with me.
In that case, they may both be selfish - because she would have been happy to hear the same thing. She'll keep that to herself for now, and her expression falls a little as he continues.]
...what is it?
[There are a lot of things about the deaths that don't really sit well with anyone, she thinks - but Dimitri wouldn't bring this up unless there was something specific, so she'll wait patiently for him to explain.]
[ He looks conflicted for a moment, his thoughts such a tumult that he doesn't know if it's better to share or simply ignore his conjecturing, but in the end, the dangers outweigh everything else. He speaks quietly, grim. ]
There were two pairs of footprints up to the waterfall. [ After what happened at the lighthouse, they had been sure to check. ] If one was Marie's set, the other was likely her killer's. And from the size of them, I cannot believe it was Zoe.
[ None of this was new information, and he isn't here to doubt the conclusion they reached, not aloud anyway. But. ]
Which means there may be a killer we haven't discovered yet.
[Flayn nods slowly to herself. Zoe's physical form is every bit that of a child - which means that the larger set of footprints could not have been left by her. The logic makes sense, and she accepts it, even as it makes her stomach churn.]
...I do not believe that all of those deaths could possibly have been caused by a single person in a single night. There would simply... not have been enough time.
[Which leaves them... well.
It leaves them with no choice but to doubt some of their fellow survivors.]
If we were correct about Zoe... then we may have caught one killer. But one out of how many?
[And if they were wrong -
Her hands tremble, and she laces her fingers together in an attempt to steady them.]
...I do not believe that any of us shall sleep easily tonight.
[ He nods along; it's sound logic. No matter how many times he stared at the map, a single trajectory by a single culprit seemed outright impossible. Even if more than one of the deaths happened to be accidental, could it really account for how spread out all the violence was?
It is much to think about, and he sighs, fingers curling up into his palms. ]
No, I don't believe that we will.
[ Between all that they've lost, all they've done, and all that there's left to do—sleep would be elusive. He can feel the start of a headache brewing in his skull already. She seems rattled too, her hands too delicate to hide their shaking. He wishes he could reassure her. ]
I don't mean to frighten you, but this means we must be even more cautious as we travel. Please, try to be with someone else at all times, so that you might look out for one another.
[Flayn sighs. She can't even muster up the energy to be annoyed by his concern, because... well, she can understand it. Seteth's protectiveness of her was almost overbearing at times, but here, Dimitri's concern seems warranted.
She would feel a little better knowing that he was with someone else at all times, too. How can she be annoyed with him for wanting the same for her?]
I hope that you will endeavor to do the same. The people in your camp... you do find them to be trustworthy, I hope? They are safe for you to be in the company of?
[ Dimitri is too reckless to lecture anyone on self-preservation; Dedue could barely keep him reined in, and only with an overprotectiveness that rivaled Seteth's care for Flayn.
But they had to watch out for everyone, now. And of course, for each other. It's the only thing that keeps him from charging off on his own again. ]
Giyuu, Ryuji, and Rachel have all been dependable so far. I do not sense any ill will from them. [ It's only when he says their names aloud that he realizes how few of them are left; he only sighs. ] What of you? If you are anxious about any of the members of your camp, you are welcome to stay with us.
The other inhabitants of my camp also seem quite trustworthy, save for one. That man from the trial... Ogata. [She looks a little uncomfortable.] I thought at first that perhaps he was simply... gruff, but some of the things he said yesterday make me uneasy when I think of them.
[Is it enough to get her to leave her camp? She isn't sure. Mitsuri, Minako, Yin Yu... even Kasane and C-3PO, she doesn't think any of them would knowingly allow Ogata to do anything to harm them. The problem becomes what might happen if he was to catch them unawares.
...then again, he might find that sort of death boring, too.]
I am not certain if it is enough for me to wish to leave. And if it is, can I leave in good conscience knowing that I am leaving others behind with him...?
[ Dimitri is usually openhearted, but he's honest about his disdain too. Whether or not Ogata was actually a wrongdoer or just irritating, he isn't sure yet. ]
I cannot force your hand to go anywhere, but... If you ever feel you are in danger, you should listen to your instincts. Putting yourself in a vulnerable position will not save the people around you.
[ He's not telling her to leave, though. It might be a mistake, but he understands the loyalty behind Flayn's actions either way, even if it isn't doing her any good. ]
Yes... you are quite right. Without access to my healing magic, there would be little I could do for them that would not put me at substantial risk...
[She looks a little uncomfortable saying that. Admitting there isn't much she can do to help people she's come to care for is difficult.]
As I have a promise to keep, I cannot put myself in danger needlessly.
[...well, at least Dimitri is kind of helping her be a little less reckless.]
...I will keep an eye on things. If the situation becomes something I am not entirely certain I can handle, I will err on the side of caution and make my way to your camp.
[ Maybe they'll both learn a little temperance, together. Or maybe not, and their recklessness will rear its head sooner rather than later.
Either way, he nods, wishing there was more that they could do. The sense of powerlessness is not new, but still wholly frustrating. ]
Thank you, Flayn. If the hour grows dark, you can always stay close to someone in your camp as well—I'm sure it would give them a sense of safety.
[ This wasn't about babysitting so much as helping each other, watching each other's backs. For a second though, he shutters his princely concerns, his high-minded sentiments for safety and prosperity, tone turning to something more personal. An offer, one friend to another. ]
And if ever you'd prefer I stay in your camp, you only need ask.
[Flayn nods to herself, because he's right; there are people in her camp she would feel comfortable staying close to, so staying with them if it was too late to safely cross the island to his camp is an option. But truthfully - she would feel more comfortable near him.
Even if their memories don't match up, she knows him well enough to know he wouldn't stab her in the back. She knows him well enough to know that she would be safe with him.
So when his tone changes, she looks briefly startled - and then very, very relieved.]
...I may just take you up on that, you know. After all, we stayed together last week - albeit unintentionally - and we were both safe, is that not so?
[ Maybe their promise had some weight to it, if they both survived. Flayn's relief is evident, and though he has no idea if he can actually keep them both safe, something about her reaction warms him.
If he could protect her, then maybe he had a purpose on this island after all. A role to play in this game that wasn't just a pawn. He had failed his family at home, failed Anaido here, but—if he could still be there for even one person... ]
Perhaps I ought to stay close to you, then. You must bring me good luck.
Could it not be said that you must bring me the same?
[Flayn smiles, and her expression settles into something more at peace even than her relief from moments before. Uncertain as this entire situation may be, having a comrade that she trusts to have her back makes it much, much easier.]
Please do stay with me. I am sure that we will be much safer and much luckier if we are together.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fishingforcompliments) wrote2020-05-01 06:34 pm
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[Would Marie really want to be remembered at the very spot where she had been pushed to her death? Flayn isn't sure.]
I did not think so many people were going to be killed.
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For a moment, he looks crestfallen. ]
I did not either.
[ So many senseless deaths. ] And we lose another of our number tomorrow.
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She takes a breath.]
...is it selfish of me to say that I am very glad we did not lose you?
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No. [ It's never wrong to be glad to see a friend alive and well. ] But it is selfish of me, because I'm happy to hear you say so.
[ Even barely knowing him now, Flayn is so kind. Too kind. His thoughts brew like a storm before he speaks. ]
Flayn, listen. There's something about Marie's death that does not sit well with me.
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In that case, they may both be selfish - because she would have been happy to hear the same thing. She'll keep that to herself for now, and her expression falls a little as he continues.]
...what is it?
[There are a lot of things about the deaths that don't really sit well with anyone, she thinks - but Dimitri wouldn't bring this up unless there was something specific, so she'll wait patiently for him to explain.]
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There were two pairs of footprints up to the waterfall. [ After what happened at the lighthouse, they had been sure to check. ] If one was Marie's set, the other was likely her killer's. And from the size of them, I cannot believe it was Zoe.
[ None of this was new information, and he isn't here to doubt the conclusion they reached, not aloud anyway. But. ]
Which means there may be a killer we haven't discovered yet.
no subject
...I do not believe that all of those deaths could possibly have been caused by a single person in a single night. There would simply... not have been enough time.
[Which leaves them... well.
It leaves them with no choice but to doubt some of their fellow survivors.]
If we were correct about Zoe... then we may have caught one killer. But one out of how many?
[And if they were wrong -
Her hands tremble, and she laces her fingers together in an attempt to steady them.]
...I do not believe that any of us shall sleep easily tonight.
[Or any other night.]
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It is much to think about, and he sighs, fingers curling up into his palms. ]
No, I don't believe that we will.
[ Between all that they've lost, all they've done, and all that there's left to do—sleep would be elusive. He can feel the start of a headache brewing in his skull already. She seems rattled too, her hands too delicate to hide their shaking. He wishes he could reassure her. ]
I don't mean to frighten you, but this means we must be even more cautious as we travel. Please, try to be with someone else at all times, so that you might look out for one another.
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[Flayn sighs. She can't even muster up the energy to be annoyed by his concern, because... well, she can understand it. Seteth's protectiveness of her was almost overbearing at times, but here, Dimitri's concern seems warranted.
She would feel a little better knowing that he was with someone else at all times, too. How can she be annoyed with him for wanting the same for her?]
I hope that you will endeavor to do the same. The people in your camp... you do find them to be trustworthy, I hope? They are safe for you to be in the company of?
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But they had to watch out for everyone, now. And of course, for each other. It's the only thing that keeps him from charging off on his own again. ]
Giyuu, Ryuji, and Rachel have all been dependable so far. I do not sense any ill will from them. [ It's only when he says their names aloud that he realizes how few of them are left; he only sighs. ] What of you? If you are anxious about any of the members of your camp, you are welcome to stay with us.
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[Flayn sighs.]
The other inhabitants of my camp also seem quite trustworthy, save for one. That man from the trial... Ogata. [She looks a little uncomfortable.] I thought at first that perhaps he was simply... gruff, but some of the things he said yesterday make me uneasy when I think of them.
[Is it enough to get her to leave her camp? She isn't sure. Mitsuri, Minako, Yin Yu... even Kasane and C-3PO, she doesn't think any of them would knowingly allow Ogata to do anything to harm them. The problem becomes what might happen if he was to catch them unawares.
...then again, he might find that sort of death boring, too.]
I am not certain if it is enough for me to wish to leave. And if it is, can I leave in good conscience knowing that I am leaving others behind with him...?
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Oh, that man. I don't like him.
[ Dimitri is usually openhearted, but he's honest about his disdain too. Whether or not Ogata was actually a wrongdoer or just irritating, he isn't sure yet. ]
I cannot force your hand to go anywhere, but... If you ever feel you are in danger, you should listen to your instincts. Putting yourself in a vulnerable position will not save the people around you.
[ He's not telling her to leave, though. It might be a mistake, but he understands the loyalty behind Flayn's actions either way, even if it isn't doing her any good. ]
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[She looks a little uncomfortable saying that. Admitting there isn't much she can do to help people she's come to care for is difficult.]
As I have a promise to keep, I cannot put myself in danger needlessly.
[...well, at least Dimitri is kind of helping her be a little less reckless.]
...I will keep an eye on things. If the situation becomes something I am not entirely certain I can handle, I will err on the side of caution and make my way to your camp.
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Either way, he nods, wishing there was more that they could do. The sense of powerlessness is not new, but still wholly frustrating. ]
Thank you, Flayn. If the hour grows dark, you can always stay close to someone in your camp as well—I'm sure it would give them a sense of safety.
[ This wasn't about babysitting so much as helping each other, watching each other's backs. For a second though, he shutters his princely concerns, his high-minded sentiments for safety and prosperity, tone turning to something more personal. An offer, one friend to another. ]
And if ever you'd prefer I stay in your camp, you only need ask.
no subject
Even if their memories don't match up, she knows him well enough to know he wouldn't stab her in the back. She knows him well enough to know that she would be safe with him.
So when his tone changes, she looks briefly startled - and then very, very relieved.]
...I may just take you up on that, you know. After all, we stayed together last week - albeit unintentionally - and we were both safe, is that not so?
no subject
[ Maybe their promise had some weight to it, if they both survived. Flayn's relief is evident, and though he has no idea if he can actually keep them both safe, something about her reaction warms him.
If he could protect her, then maybe he had a purpose on this island after all. A role to play in this game that wasn't just a pawn. He had failed his family at home, failed Anaido here, but—if he could still be there for even one person... ]
Perhaps I ought to stay close to you, then. You must bring me good luck.
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[Flayn smiles, and her expression settles into something more at peace even than her relief from moments before. Uncertain as this entire situation may be, having a comrade that she trusts to have her back makes it much, much easier.]
Please do stay with me. I am sure that we will be much safer and much luckier if we are together.