day 6 aftermath

[royalizing]

[ When Mori approaches her when no one else is around and pulls her aside, she knows exactly why. And she'll go with him to their barracks, unusually quiet for her. She's angry, yes, and hurt from this betrayal, but above all, she's afraid. ]

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[dotdotdotstare]

[Mori is completely mentally exhausted from sending the last of his friends - that weren't also family - to the gallows. It's just himself and Mitsukuni now... he was hoping that Tamaki's execution would leave them some breathing room, but then Anise was a VIP. The only person besides Mitsukuni who knew about their partnership... it's certainly frustrating, to say the least. Still, he can't really blame Natalia. She shared with Anise long before either of them knew how cautious they had to be. He lets go of a heavy sigh before they reach the barracks. Once inside, he waits for Natalia to find a comfortable spot before talking. Though his host instincts hone in on her well being before business talk.]

... How are you holding up?

[royalizing]

I'm fine. [ The response is nearly automatic, and even as she says it, it's obvious she's not. But right now, there's more important things they have to talk about, before it's too late. She clenches her hands in her lap to keep them from trembling. ]

Anise knew about us being buddies. But I don't understand... Why did they never target us?

[ The only thing she can think of... is something that she almost would rather not. ]

[dotdotdotstare]

[It would be too wishful of thinking to assume Anise didn't tell any of the other VIPs... Mori thinks about this more, although he's wondering what Natalia's thinking too.]

The VIPs want to find the cops, or the medical team. We must not have fit the bill.

[Unless they were just too busy killing younger teens...]

[royalizing]

But if they wanted to win quickly, they would have targeted known buddies first, especially since the cops, medical team and conversion busters were all in pairs. Anise knew from the very first day that you and I were buddies. But first it was Malik, and then Fuyuhiko, who were both singles. I don't understand!

[ Agitated, she stands up to pace slightly. Now that she's cooled down from her outburst earlier, all she has are questions that Anise is no longer around to give. ]

I thought... perhaps she was protecting me. But Tamaki was also a VIP, and he still... [ She'll turn to give him a slightly somber look, remembering that he's also lost someone close today. ]

[dotdotdotstare]

[Mori goes a little pale, his stomach turning at the mention. He's quiet for another moment.]

.... [And another moment still, before he mumbles a little.]

If that were possible, he would have...

[Tamaki allowed two of the hosts to be killed. At this point, the idea that anyone in the VIPs was protecting their friends did not even remotely occur, to be honest.]

[royalizing]

[ She knows that Tamaki would have protected his friends too if he were able, but deep down, she wants to believe that it's the reason she and Mori are still alive. That Anise... hadn't just been lying to her face and then plotting behind her back to kill her when it was convenient. ]

I'm sorry, Mori. Because of me... [ Because she told Anise, which means that all the VIPs must know. Which means that they could be in danger of being targeted, even now. ]

[dotdotdotstare]

[Mori stares, and then shakes his head slightly. Natalia, he's more concerned about your life. If he dies... well, he'd almost be all right with that. As long as it bought Mitsukuni the time he needed to take out the rest of the VIP. Although he doesn't want that to happen.

As for her concerns about Anise, he went through the same sting as soon as he began to suspect Tamaki. The only reason he was able to stand so stalwartly against him and sentence him was by convincing himself that this could not possibly be Tamaki in his right mind. And that Tamaki would not want to go on killing, if he were, and he wouldn't want to kill any more of his friends. That this was, in fact, the kind thing to do. And if it was the same for Anise, as it must be, then... that meant the true Anise could still be trusted.]

... In the end, you weren't betrayed by her.

[He still sounds tired. But, he believes it. If the other VIPs decide to kill them with that knowledge, it won't be because she told Anise. It took this long, after all.]

[royalizing]

[ She doesn't want to die either... There's so much that she has waiting for her at home, so many promises to keep and people to protect. But so must he. And he's got his cousin here, both of whom have already lost so much to this game. She feels guilty, for being so careless, even knowing that his life was tied to hers.

Natalia doesn't know how it must have felt for them to vote to execute Tamaki, since she didn't even have the slightest clue about Anise until it was already too late. But how well did she know Anise anyway, then? They traveled and fought together, but if she didn't even see this coming... But then, it wouldn't be the first time she missed all the signs. ]

I... I don't know what you mean.

[ Normally, she'd be happy to fill in the gaps that his stoic demeanor leaves.

But right now, she's looking at him, with hope bubbling in her chest and an almost desperate look in her eyes, waiting (wanting) for him to explain. To say something that will make her realize that she hasn't been as betrayed as she feels. ]