commedia | PC WITH HARROWHAWK

[She considers his question carefully before answering.]

It is a rather personal question, but - I believe you may understand, to some degree, if you are a holy man. My goal is for the sake of my House, and the Tomb we protect. I have pledged my entire life, body and soul to my House and in service of the Tomb.

As a Black Vestral and the Reverend Daughter of the Ninth, I am duty bound to do whatever I must to honor my pledge.

[She closes her eyes, as though reciting a prayer.]

[A holy man...yes. That is what they are, and have always been, even though that path diverged in ways no one would guess at. But still, they listen, and nod solemnly.]

A devotion to your House and your Tomb. Your faith cannot waver, even in a place such as this. I have not personally heard of your role or your station, but even so...you made your vows, and to go against them is to go against your own beliefs and your loyalties. I can certainly understand that.

And what, pray, are you here to gain? So long as we're speaking of personal matters.

Its slightly complicated, but...I want to be the best Servant a Master could hope for.

[A solemn nod - they are truly serious about this.]

I realize to others it is a strange wish. But I only wish to matter to my Master, above everything else.

It isn't strange. I have sought to serve my God well my entire life.

[. . .]

Who is this master of yours?

This is different than following a god, but...

[A hum.]

Medb. A formidable woman. She has taken me on as her Servant.

Really. Well, she does seem formidable.

[Medb is valid.]

I wish you success in meeting your goals and supporting her.

[Yes, everyone should support Medb!! Douman ripping open their jester outfit to reveal NUMBER ONE MEDB FAN]

Thank you. [And then, a sigh.] Ah, but if these trials and murders are any indication...this Servant will quite have a lot on their hands to take care of.

I imagine so.

[She takes another sip of her tea, thoughtful.]

You know, I really would like to see Akimitsu-dono again. Do you think I might?

But of course, since you asked so nicely!

[Any friend of Akimitsu is a friend to Douman, honestly.]

He's back in my room if you want to head there and see him.

Certainly. I'm a bit envious, that you were able to bring him here with you.

[She will sit up, push her cup aside, and wait for Douman to finish!]

Ahaha, don't tell Envy that, they might take that to mean you want to switch indulgences.

[But they will finish the rest of their tea, and with a sweep of their robes, they start to walk back towards their room.]

Do you have anyone like Akimitsu-dono? You mentioned something about having familiars like him where you come from...

Not familiars. Constructs. I make them and control them; I've never bound a spirit to one. But I miss their presence.

[She follows them, a pace behind.]

Perhaps you could ask your Avatar for one? If you feel that familiarity is something you need.

[Luckily the sleep bay is right next to the common room, so with their phone, they get to the room quite quickly. A turn, and in the smaller bedroom is Akimitsu-dono, sitting on the cabinet, hands folded in his lap. Douman definitely takes care of him - there's not a spot of dust on his robes or paper "eye".]

Douman, now entering! [And a laugh as he glances over at Harrow.] Ahaha, in the case he wakes up without warning, I always greet him.

Perhaps so. Though if it can't move on its own, it won't be the same. I do miss my power.

[She'll approach the skeleton friend, a little cautious. And she's going to take a look at him close up - am I right that he's like, a skull covered in bandages and he has a paper eye on him?]

. . . I wondered, in retrospect. Whether the skull we found was his. I can't think where else it would have come from.

[Akimitsu-dono sits unmoving as always - and yes, the paper eye is stuck firmly on a skull covered in bandages, if she desires to lift it up. Any examination of that should reveal that the bandages are wound tightly, and the skull feels intact and solid underneath.]

I also did wonder that as well, and I did go to quickly check on him...but it seems his skull is still here. Which means someone else may have something of the like, or someone somehow retrieved a skull from someplace.

[She is going to check under the bandages, and one other thing - does his skull have teeth?]

Oh, there would be many ways to retrieve a skull. Just as one might retrieve "socker boppers." It was only an idle thought. Thank you for indulging my curiosity - it truly matters not, and yet I am not used to failure.

[It does! All intact. What a wonderful set of...well, not pearly whites, since the skeleton is a charcoal black, but you get the idea.]

Wishes didn't always turn out the way we hoped for, did you notice? So one would wonder, if a wish produced that skull, what the original wish was in the first place...

[And a bow.]

Not a problem. Its something that has been going on in my mind since the trial, as well. You know...I do wonder if possession or transformation was involved.

Do you think so? I had thought so at first, but now I'm not so sure. Beau was quite adamant she woke with her fist uninjured.

[She'll leave Akimitsu alone, then, carefully rebandaging him.]

Its just with the use of a skull, such as in a ritual, and those noises last night...they certainly didn't seem human.

[He makes sure that Akimitsu's bandages are put on well, before patting him gently on the shoulder.]

If not her, then who? And why would they use her staff?

That strikes me as well. But a ritual would be impossible, unless the Avatars interceded?

[She crosses her arms, thoughtful.]

I've come to understand some of the Avatars have suggested winnowing the pool of participants in order to help us fulfill our wishes. My suspicion is that the reasoning was to remove two players by ensuring we voted for a culprit.

I was thinking that as well. Its funny - the Avatars I've talked to seem insistent that this is not necessarily a competition...well "as much as we make it"...but the fact is, they're very coy about that fact, too. For example, they said it was at least one of their number who suggested the trials, but will not name who.

[A slight frown.]

They have their secrets. And they also have been gifting powers to those who do well. Whatever their play is...they're certainly happy to keep secrets close to their chest.

. . . I believe it to have been Greed, who suggested the trials. I understand that the Avatars are of a difference of opinion, vis-a-vis murder. Some of them are more cautious than others in recommending it outright as a strategy.

[She can't say for certain, but that's the impression she gets.]

. . . Have they? Despair suggested something of the sort was possible to me, but I suppose I have not indulged to their preference.

They do seem like a straight-laced sort, don't they? One wonders if the law is their expertise.

[Which is...a funny profession for Greed, honestly.]

Mmm. Did you receive a strange text a few days ago? I talked to one who did, and they said they felt an ability being bestowed upon them.

Ah, that. But I received that only after Tamaki was found.

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commedia - 2021-02-15 16:48 (UTC) - Expand