as sylvain speaks, he continues to sip upon this cup of tea, thoughtful and expression neutral. eventually, a smile spreads across his lips even as his eyes remain closed. it is not a joyful smile, but a thoughtful one.]
... I made a promise to one no longer with us, and I intend to keep it. [a beat] But I wonder again - how was it that we came to the conclusion that two shadows might be in our midst?
[anyway he'll leave it at that.
his eyes open afterward, and his gaze falls upon sylvain. the crescents in his pupils flash, and he brings a hand up to sylvain's chin, forcing him to face him.]
... you will say what else you recall. [in a tone with little room for argument] For all others possessed by shadow retain their memories, to the point that it prevents them from confessing even in the midst of trial.
But I advise you not breathe a word of this to any other, just as I will not.
I do not pass judgment upon you.
[grandpa will keep your secret because otherwise the chasmas and 7rs are gonna come for your ass, honey]
[ sylvain nods ] You're the only ones who can know.
[ or he can get mcmurdered off schedule/midtrialed, it's fine. sylvain may wind up dead W5 anyway! I WELCOME DEATH
anyway i can't believe he has to say this while staring gayly at jiji, tsurumaru is right there? dimitri and shinobu also? forget the other factions he's not making it out of this meeting alive ]
I remember purchasing a sword from the gift shop on Wednesday. So I should've had three tickets.
[ pretend he explained the math verbally: +5 from W3 (i got audited help) +1 from W4 -1 for sword -2 for furby ]
But I had four tickets during trial. And now I'm back to three again.
[WHY IS HE STARING GAYLY? MIKAZUKI IS TRULY TO MAKE SURE HE'S NOT LYING OR GETTING A BRAINFOG OF BAD MEMORIES? please fall in love with jason again,
anyway.]
.... you had a fabricated ticket? An illusion? Was it present for all of trial, and not simply an hour?
For what reason did you choose a sword, when you are adept in lances and axes?
And when did you come to the decision that you would tell us? Did you feel inclined to do so before trial, but found yourself stopped, or did it only arise after trial's end?
No, that wasn't it. I only ordered room service once. And I had three tickets before curfew as well. Everyone's tickets were accounted for in the karaoke room, so I didn't take any of yours to cover for the deficit. [ here my cat stepped on my keyboard and typed wsssssssaaaZA ]
I imagine it would be to deflect attention from me. There've been so many cases involving swords already, why would anyone suspect this to be different? I don't think I would've wanted to frame anyone specifically [ SEEING EVERYONE HERE USES SWORDS HELLO ] but to waste time by misdirecting suspicion.
...No, this was all after the trial. I needed some time to think things through, figure out what might've happened and why I acted the way I did this week.
[ unfortunately, it isn't a good conclusion for anyone. ]
[sometimes you just want to take a clear look into someone's soul]
So for trial alone, you suddenly had a ticket that would be able to cover your expense and divert any attention from you... is it?
[that's terrible, and doesn't bode well for their understanding of future cases]
... and even now, after execution, you possess no memory of what you had done on Thursday. [mikazuki's hand drifts from sylvain's chin, coming to rest at his neck. his thumb against his throat, applying just enough pressure for sylvain to know it's there, but not to constrict his airways. yet.] Including why the graves of the departed were disturbed to hide your evidence.
No, I don't think that's it. I'm thinking I must've stolen Kaeya's ticket, but it's no longer in my possession.
[ it takes all of sylvain's power not to flinch away from mikazuki. something flashes across his eyes—it's only for an instant and easy to miss, but it's wild and fearful. like he's looking at someone else.
it passes. his voice doesn't waver when he speaks, though his expression crumples a little. ]
I don't remember visiting the cemetery Thursday. But that must have been my work, to cover my tracks, and for that I'm genuinely sorry.
it would answer another question, about where kaeya's ticket had gone. diluc had mentioned it missing, but no search for it in his room commenced. mikazuki stares at sylvain for another long moment, and his expression and hold on him do not shift even when sylvain's stutters and crumbles.
for a moment, he is every bit an ancient and cold blade. it is right to possess some margin of fear.]
[but mikazuki is, ultimately, a friend to those with tragic roles to play.
the hunt for sylvain's head will commence the moment others find out, and there is something disgraceful indeed about hiding evidence even amongst those gone. but there is a net benefit to knowing that some of their bodies have already disappeared, and what remains at the core of all this is that a shadow overtook him.
what compulsions were his own, and what were the actions of the shadow... it is worth considering, but it is not enough to outweigh mikazuki's empathy.
he will lift his thumb from sylvain's throat after only briefly brushing over his pulse point, and curl his fingers around the back of his neck, guiding him downward - only so it is easier for mikazuki to press his lips against his forehead]
Apologize when they return. It is not I who has the ability to absolve you of your guilt, even if I shall hear and acknowledge it.
... but I know the pain of cutting down those you love, when your mind is not your own. To speak words of venom you do not mean, and puppeted to cause destruction you would not otherwise act upon. To believe death is not punishment enough, but knowing you cannot die yet.
[ sylvain's fear isn't towards mikazuki, or even death, but an old memory. death he knows he's earned, several times over now.
and while it's never his intent to dishonor the dead, neither will he choose them over the living. he wishes he could say for sure it was all the work of the shadow, but ultimately he no longer knows. ]
I will. Whether they return, or I'm sent there first.
[ ...he goes silent at the gesture, and the words that follow, but he nods ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
as sylvain speaks, he continues to sip upon this cup of tea, thoughtful and expression neutral. eventually, a smile spreads across his lips even as his eyes remain closed. it is not a joyful smile, but a thoughtful one.]
... I made a promise to one no longer with us, and I intend to keep it. [a beat] But I wonder again - how was it that we came to the conclusion that two shadows might be in our midst?
[anyway he'll leave it at that.
his eyes open afterward, and his gaze falls upon sylvain. the crescents in his pupils flash, and he brings a hand up to sylvain's chin, forcing him to face him.]
... you will say what else you recall. [in a tone with little room for argument] For all others possessed by shadow retain their memories, to the point that it prevents them from confessing even in the midst of trial.
But I advise you not breathe a word of this to any other, just as I will not.
I do not pass judgment upon you.
[grandpa will keep your secret because otherwise the chasmas and 7rs are gonna come for your ass, honey]
no subject
[ or he can get mcmurdered off schedule/midtrialed, it's fine. sylvain may wind up dead W5 anyway! I WELCOME DEATH
anyway i can't believe he has to say this while staring gayly at jiji, tsurumaru is right there? dimitri and shinobu also? forget the other factions he's not making it out of this meeting alive ]
I remember purchasing a sword from the gift shop on Wednesday. So I should've had three tickets.
[ pretend he explained the math verbally:
+5 from W3 (i got audited help)
+1 from W4
-1 for sword
-2 for furby ]
But I had four tickets during trial. And now I'm back to three again.
no subject
anyway.]
.... you had a fabricated ticket? An illusion? Was it present for all of trial, and not simply an hour?
For what reason did you choose a sword, when you are adept in lances and axes?
And when did you come to the decision that you would tell us? Did you feel inclined to do so before trial, but found yourself stopped, or did it only arise after trial's end?
no subject
No, that wasn't it. I only ordered room service once. And I had three tickets before curfew as well. Everyone's tickets were accounted for in the karaoke room, so I didn't take any of yours to cover for the deficit. [ here my cat stepped on my keyboard and typed wsssssssaaaZA ]
I imagine it would be to deflect attention from me. There've been so many cases involving swords already, why would anyone suspect this to be different? I don't think I would've wanted to frame anyone specifically [ SEEING EVERYONE HERE USES SWORDS HELLO ] but to waste time by misdirecting suspicion.
...No, this was all after the trial. I needed some time to think things through, figure out what might've happened and why I acted the way I did this week.
[ unfortunately, it isn't a good conclusion for anyone. ]
no subject
So for trial alone, you suddenly had a ticket that would be able to cover your expense and divert any attention from you... is it?
[that's terrible, and doesn't bode well for their understanding of future cases]
... and even now, after execution, you possess no memory of what you had done on Thursday. [mikazuki's hand drifts from sylvain's chin, coming to rest at his neck. his thumb against his throat, applying just enough pressure for sylvain to know it's there, but not to constrict his airways. yet.] Including why the graves of the departed were disturbed to hide your evidence.
[so terribly, carefully neutral.]
no subject
[ it takes all of sylvain's power not to flinch away from mikazuki. something flashes across his eyes—it's only for an instant and easy to miss, but it's wild and fearful. like he's looking at someone else.
it passes. his voice doesn't waver when he speaks, though his expression crumples a little. ]
I don't remember visiting the cemetery Thursday. But that must have been my work, to cover my tracks, and for that I'm genuinely sorry.
[1/2]
it would answer another question, about where kaeya's ticket had gone. diluc had mentioned it missing, but no search for it in his room commenced. mikazuki stares at sylvain for another long moment, and his expression and hold on him do not shift even when sylvain's stutters and crumbles.
for a moment, he is every bit an ancient and cold blade. it is right to possess some margin of fear.]
no subject
the hunt for sylvain's head will commence the moment others find out, and there is something disgraceful indeed about hiding evidence even amongst those gone. but there is a net benefit to knowing that some of their bodies have already disappeared, and what remains at the core of all this is that a shadow overtook him.
what compulsions were his own, and what were the actions of the shadow... it is worth considering, but it is not enough to outweigh mikazuki's empathy.
he will lift his thumb from sylvain's throat after only briefly brushing over his pulse point, and curl his fingers around the back of his neck, guiding him downward - only so it is easier for mikazuki to press his lips against his forehead]
Apologize when they return. It is not I who has the ability to absolve you of your guilt, even if I shall hear and acknowledge it.
... but I know the pain of cutting down those you love, when your mind is not your own. To speak words of venom you do not mean, and puppeted to cause destruction you would not otherwise act upon. To believe death is not punishment enough, but knowing you cannot die yet.
I shall not leave you to this feeling alone.
no subject
and while it's never his intent to dishonor the dead, neither will he choose them over the living. he wishes he could say for sure it was all the work of the shadow, but ultimately he no longer knows. ]
I will. Whether they return, or I'm sent there first.
[ ...he goes silent at the gesture, and the words that follow, but he nods ]