ESCHA

[foxweddings]

I will put a cute image here later

Comments

[foxweddings]

[THAT SURE ISN'T AN ANSWER.

... But huff. Tamamo backs off, her tails idly swaying behind her]

I suppose I should behave and not tease you like this.

Regardless of your reasons, you will see that boy again. Take heart in that.

[applechemist]

[ Escha visibly brightens at the reminder, despite the uh. Circumstances and embarrassing conversation surrounding it. ]

... Yeah.

[foxweddings]

[... Tilting her head a little]

Really, I'm almost jealous of you.

[applechemist]

[ For some reason that makes Escha laugh lightly. ]

W-why is that?

[foxweddings]

You remind me of my... youth. That is all.

[...]

In any case, what was it that you wished to tell me?

[applechemist]

Mm, well...

It's against the rules, but I think it's too late for me to care about breaking them. And I think you have the right to know... Why I tried to frame you.

[foxweddings]

[... smirking a little. Her tails pick up speed behind her, back and forth]

Really? Well then, speak your story. I'm interested to hear it.

[applechemist]

Some of us were given special rules to abide by while we're here. I'm not sure if you already know - I'm not sure who has told who, and what they may have said.

My rules allow me to make one person safe. They make it so that once a week, I can choose someone who can't be killed by the exorcism.

[foxweddings]

... I knew vaguely that there were hidden rules, yes. But I did not know you had control of one.

[...]

Who did you chose, this week?

[Please do not say who she thinks it's going to be]

[applechemist]

You.

[ ... ]

Junpei said he was worried about you, so I thought it was a good choice. And then I thought it was a way to make sure no one else would have to die this week.

1/2 HEY COLA TURN ON YOUR LOCATION I WANNA TALK

[foxweddings]

2/3

[foxweddings]

[Taking a deep, deep breath, expression stern]

You said it was against the rules to speak, so I will try not be cross with you for not consulting me. That was a dangerous gamble you made.

[And it... didn't quite pay off, did it]

I--

[foxweddings]

[... Almost as without her permission, Tamamo's expression dims into sadness]

... I am sorry, Escha-chan, for how this turned out.

[applechemist]

If I tell the person that I've protected that I'm protecting them, it doesn't work.

... If you had been voted for, I wouldn't have even been able to comfort or assure you until after you survived the exorcism.

[ And even though that scenario didn't even come up, Escha still sounds like she feels guilty about it. If it had happened, that would have put Tamamo through even more hardship. Sure, as the price of survival, but even so... ]

[foxweddings]

Ha. Me, surviving an exorcism...

[She laughs at a joke only she gets but closes her eyes and breathes deep again]

-- Did Master know about your role?

[applechemist]

Yes. It's why we discussed who I should protect.

He wanted to make sure you would be safe. I managed to get outside confirmation that you weren't possessed, but it... Was too late. [ Basically. ]

[foxweddings]

[...]

I might actually toss him overboard for this.

[applechemist]

Please don't...!

[foxweddings]

Hmph! That's only assuming he hasn't done it himself yet.

[SOUNDING DEEPLY IRRITATED... but it is admittedly tinged with exasperated fondness]

That boy. He'll be eating himself alive for what's happened. I wasn't convicted and you had to forfeit your life instead, despite fighting back in self-defense.

[Glancing at her, head tilted again]

Is that truly what happened? Aizawa-san attempted to kill you, and you fought back?

[applechemist]

He tried to poison me, but I fought him off. I didn't even mean to turn his poison on him, but in the struggle...

[ She shakes her head. ] I thought that even if the evidence was pretty flimsy, it would be a good enough signal to everyone who knew you were protected.

But I'm sure they would rather vote for someone they think could be possessed instead of gambling on the numbers coming through.

[foxweddings]

... I did think it strange how few people seemed interested in interrogating me, even despite my casual threats to half of our shipmates.

[A sigh]

... There is... perhaps not much I can offer you, especially given everything that has happened, but if you have a request of me...

[...]

It is a rare occasion anyone would want me to live, you see.

[applechemist]

Huh?

[ Escha still can't think of anything she wants. She can't quite grasp why people keep asking her. What is there to ask for in this situation? ]

I guess, um... I just still want you to live?

[foxweddings]

[There is that sad look about her again, and she opens her mouth

...

But then shakes her head, shutting it]

If that's what you ask of me.

[...]

I do have another question, if you might answer it -- well, assuming you can.

[applechemist]

I'm already breaking the rules. I figure they can't punish me if I'm going to die, anyway.

What is it?

[foxweddings]

[Damn but that startles a grin out of her]

Do you know who else has been gifted with special rules?

[... A pause, and then Tamamo fishes something out of her ribbon, carefully hidden.

Upon inspection, she produces a little hairpin that is the shape of a bell, no bigger than her hand]

It was a few weeks ago, but this appeared in my room... something I haven't seen since I was human. I don't know who could have given it to me, but I have wondered if perhaps it was someone with a rule like yours.