🔥 astarion

[ablazement]

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w6, saturday

[haematocritical]

[ hey karlach what the fuck happened here ]

Well.

We all know it’s impossible for these things to not be dramatic and exhausting, but this was new.

[ablazement]

[GOOD QUESTION SO MUCH

she's actually probably still fuming a little, but she's trying to keep it to herself for the most part.]

Didn't have to happen the way it did.

[haematocritical]

[ haha! ]

It really didn't. I'm not sure what they were trying to do.

[ablazement]

Probably thought they had more time. Like with me. But I only killed one person, so I had most of my control.

[haematocritical]

I'll be blunt, Karlach. I'm surprised she was alive at all.

[ablazement]

Well, that too. [she rubs at her face.]

I'd hoped they would've... taken her out before it happened at all. But they didn't. [she understands how nobody would want to kill a kid, but this is one of those circumstances where karlach wouldn't have hesitated.]

[haematocritical]

I'd assumed they'd have done something very similar. They were still worried about partnerships then, so killing her after execution would've been the better option.

[ ... ]

If things had been different we might've stayed alive, if only to do what they couldn't bring themselves to. [ bluntly, he has like. no issue in knifing a possessed child. ]

[ablazement]

That, I don't get. Vin told me they really wanted to save all the deaths for the last week, but that's silly, the partnership deaths feel like the most natural ones, yeah? Right? Something that wouldn't draw suspicion.

[that second part, though. yeah.]

Think the ones left behind are the most indecisive or reluctant of us. Hope that doesn't bite us in the ass.

[haematocritical]

We've been a little too good at avoiding the partnership deaths so far. It's almost lucky we're potentially getting a few this weekend because then we'll have some bloody idea of how it works for one thing.

[ at the last minute, naturally. ]

... Well, if they don't want to be permanently dead, they'll get moving.

[ablazement]

Guess it's sort of funny that it's happening to Gale. All three of us ran the gauntlet. Monster, murdered, partnered.

[she rubs absently at her chest, at the burn scar that's still there.]

I've got plenty of letters to send still, so after we see what happens and after we get Nehan's next secret revealed... maybe I'll try to get them motivated somehow.

[a beat.] Excited is not really the word, but... Gale's coming tomorrow.

[haematocritical]

Funny in a rather dark way, yes. [ letters... ] I suppose I should check in with the nightmares. Especially after whatever happened to Gojo on Thursday.

...

[ the mixed feeling of thank god here comes our wizard and also hm, well, i know we asked him to die oh so nicely but he still has to die to do that. ]

Yes. He's not going to seek out another partner, we know that much.

[ablazement]

[she wrote both her letters to the boys already this week with the idea that the others would be alive at the end of it and now it's really just. going to be geto and gojo in the mortuary, help.]

If you do - would you add in your letters that I'm worried?

[a beat, and then:]

Well, even if he wanted to, I don't think he can. Think executions are a death sentence, that's why you all waited with me.

[haematocritical]

[ IT. REALLY IS JUST THE MORTUARY TEEN LOVE NEST NOW. CHRIST. ]

Anything else? I don't really have much to catch them up on other than informing them Gale arrived and telling them not to make a giant mess of things.

...

Mm, true. The partnership's in place until one of them is dead and that's the cut off. Ashlyn's partner has a chance, I suppose.

[ablazement]

Suppose we should tell them about whatever we get tomorrow from Nehan. Maybe a bit about the machine. I'll tell you.

[a sigh, and then:]

Anyway. Yeah. That'll be Mathis. Poor kid, the second time, if he chooses to do it.

[haematocritical]

Just let me know and I'll add in the details.

[ he nods. ]

I'm aware. Lucas thinks he'll be forming a new partnership.

[ablazement]

Wouldn't be surprised if he did. He won't want to leave the rest of the boys.

[...]

It's up to them. They're the only ones who can make the decision.

[haematocritical]

They are indeed.

[ he still thinks that not partnering was the best decision he made here. ]

Did you ever find out who Geto paired with after you?

[ablazement]

[considering who his partner was he is right,]

Satoru, I'm pretty sure. I could be wrong.

[haematocritical]

[ that would've been the funniest thing i could've done. throws phone. ]

Process of elimination at this point, really. But it would make sense, given Gojo's partner died rather early on.

I talked to both of them about the window Geto had for re-partnering.

[ablazement]

Yeah. Aerith told me she lied to him, and was glad she did, because it was the same week she died.

[sigh.] What'd they have to say about that? Anything?

[haematocritical]

Ah, so many of us were liars this whole time. Rather funny, isn't it?

[ IT SAVED SO MANY OF THEM to suffer for weeks. ]

I think they were just relieved we had a plan and hadn't just grief stabbed you.

[ablazement]

[a big sigh, and then:]

... I still feel a little bad about it. They walked me back and everything.

[haematocritical]

[ he shrugs. ]

They certainly didn't seem to hold it against us, despite everything. They're quite tough young men, you know this.

[ablazement]

I do, but that's my problem, isn't it. [she folds her arms.] They shouldn't have to be. You probably know what it's like back home for them by now. They're child soldiers, it makes me furious.

[haematocritical]

And when the alternative was you potentially killing one of them, darling?

[ catch 22. no one was ever going to be happy. ]

They shouldn't have to be, but they are. All the more reason for us to spite the hell out of this cult so we can head back and then you can corner them however you like. Hugs, tears, furious yelling if you think they've overdone it-- [ the world will be her oyster. ]