unknownseas | WEEK 4

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week 4

WEEK 4

Another trial, another week, and still you're probably running lower on answers than you'd like. And on people - you lost three since last Sunday. By the end of this week, you'll have been here for nearly a full month, yet still the days crawl on.

You wake up Sunday, again with no memory of Saturday, but this time with a simple message on your devices: You may resume requesting items, if you like. Enjoy. Guess it really was just a stealth motive after all, but at least it's being communicated that it's over! That's something, at least.

And when you leave your rooms on Sunday, there's another new area to explore! This one is... certainly more ambitious in its construction than the last one, to say the least. But hey, you have a pretty neat place to host parties, if you feel so inclined! That's... fun...

Hey, you gotta find the fun in situations like this where you can! Silver linings, right?

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to Week 4! Remember to turn in AC here, threads for regain coins here, and if you feel so inclined you can visit Angel's office hours over here! ]

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[ Mira takes a seat, right next to her.... and when Ema continues, when she gets to that part, she inhales audibly. Sharply. ]

Anyone-- anyone would be terrified, seeing that. [ She takes a deep breath. She can wager a guess about how things went wrong now... and she sure doesn't like it. ] Did-- did Lana find you like that?

Yeah. I woke up in Lana's arms. Neil Marshall had died, and the killer was taken back into custody. Obviously, they had me testify at the trial, but...I was pretty useless. I took the stand, but I was shaking like a leaf, and couldn't say a word. The most I was able to do was draw a picture...but even still, the guy was found guilty, and the case was closed. Lana was promoted to Chief Prosecutor right after that, and the Deputy Chief, Damon Gant, became the Los Angeles Chief of Police. They became a team known as the "Legendary Duo," and for the next two years, that was that, but...well, there's more to the story. Actually, it's really just the start of it.

[ She shakes her head, and brings her hand to the bridge of her nose. She's this far in; she can't stop now... ]

The truth is, I pushed Neil Marshall. Chief Gant...he got to the office before Lana did, and murdered Marshall himself. Gant needed to make it look like the killer was responsible for one more murder, just so he could have enough evidence to get a sure-fire conviction in court. But on top of that, Gant cut out the handprint I left from when I pushed Marshall, and used Marshall's blood to write my name on a jar that he broke himself. And before I woke up, he made sure Lana saw it, and she thought that I...

Edited 2020-04-30 10:17 (UTC)

[ ... Yeah, she'd guessed that Ema had-- well. It strikes an all-too familiar chord with her. She reaches out, though, and touches Ema's shoulder. Just lightly; she could shake her hand off, if she wanted. ]

She.... thought you did it. [ God. ] He-- he made sure she saw it?

[ She's never met this Gant guy, but she sure doesn't like him one bit. ]

[ Instead of shaking her off, Ema just...puts her hand on top of Mira's, and takes another deep breath. She doesn't answer that question verbally; all she does is nod, maybe a little more vigorously than she would like to. Maybe it's the lateness of the hour, or maybe she's just putting herself in Lana's shoes... ]

Lana...I wasn't awake, but I'm sure she wasn't thinking straight at all, when she saw all of that. And that Gant, he took advantage of it, and he helped her hide all of the phony evidence that pointed to me. He used it as blackmail, he...

[ She can't help but grit her teeth, and wrap her fingers around Mira's palm-- ]

He made sure that she used her position as Chief Prosecutor to get the convictions he wanted. He forged evidence, he did whatever it took to make sure Lana would bring in guilty verdicts, because if she didn't, he threatened to expose that evidence and have me implicated. And the whole time, I never knew. Lana never told me anything, but I saw her change, and hide herself away, like she couldn't bear to look me in the eye anymore. And I know now that she was only doing it for my sake, but back then, I...I don't know, I felt like I was losing my sister.

Edited 2020-04-30 10:40 (UTC)

[ She gives Ema's shoulder a squeeze, and her heart aches for her... ]

That's-- H-he knew Lana would do anything to keep you safe. [ For someone to use that... It makes her so angry. ] I'm so sorry, Ema-- Watching someone you care slip away, even if you know the truth now... It's never easy.

[ She knows how it feels. She isn't sure she wants to even think about it, but she'd felt that with Noah, too... And it hurts, to know Ema thought the same of the most important person in her life. ]

Mira...

[ Telling this story...well, it brings up a lot of bitter memories, and feelings that she's had to compartmentalize and deal with for a long, long time. There's a reason Ema doesn't like talking about it, much less with people she's close to, if she can help it. But having Mira's hand on her shoulder and feeling her compassion...

Well, there's something to be said for sharing this, even though it's difficult. Because it's difficult. ]

It was tough. I hate saying that now, because what I was going through just...it paled in comparison to what Lana must have been doing in the two years she was Chief Prosecutor. I'm sure she did a lot of good, and that she worked hard for the people of LA...but at the same time, there were cases she worked on and guilty verdicts she pushed for, that she was forced to push for, because of me...guilty verdicts that must have ruined lives. And that whole time, she was going through it all on her own, and shutting me out, and I...

[ She shakes her head, so hard that her glasses shake-- ]

I couldn't do a thing. At least, not until it got out of control. Two years after SL-9, one of the detectives on the case was murdered by Chief Gant, after demanding that the case be reopened. He was asking too many questions, and Gant was panicking, and Lana...Lana was forced to hide the body.

[ She's quiet for some time, brows furrowing a little... ]

... Even if it was difficult for Lana, it's-- You shouldn't downplay how hard it was for you. When the person you love most starts to pull away, it's-- it's terrifying. [ She shakes her head, giving Ema's shoulder a squeeze.

And... god. The more she hears about this Gant guy, the more she deeply dislikes him. ]

Forced to hide the body... She was found out?

[ She takes one more deep breath... ]

What was really terrifying, even after all of that, was getting a phone call from my sister with awful reception, and finding out later that she was arrested... She was ordered to stab the body with a different knife, to hide the actual murder weapon. But Lana was so scared, and trembling, that she actually cut her hand when she tried.

[ She's trying hard to relay all of this, but she can't divorce herself from Lana's feelings, no matter how hard she tries. That's what's most vivid about her memories of this whole horrible thing; the sinking feeling she got when she heard that phone call, the worry she felt seeing her sister's bandaged hand... ]

She was caught in the act. And accused of murder. Worse still, she was insisting to me...trying to tell everyone that she did it. I couldn't believe it, no matter what, but I didn't know where to turn or what to do. Eventually, I remembered that Lana had a friend in law school who went on to become a defense attorney, so I tracked down her law office and begged the man working there to let her help me...

I felt like I had hit rock bottom, when I found out that she had died a few months prior. But that guy...he was nice enough to take our case. I taught him everything I knew about forensics, and helped him investigate the whole time. And in that trial, he was able to prove to everyone that Lana wasn't a killer, that Gant was corrupt as can be, and that SL-9...well, we were finally able to put that behind us. For good.

[ Oh... ]

It-- it must have been so hard for you, even as hard as you fought for her...

[ She scoots a little closer to Ema, so she can lean on Mira if she needs. ]

I'm glad you were able to put it behind you... but all the same--it's left its mark on you, hasn't it? [ Because she knows how that goes. ] ... Thank you for telling me. It must have been so difficult.

[ Now that the sob story is over, she finally, finally gets a chance to slouch. The hard part is over, off her chest, and out there, but she looks...

Well, she's grateful that it's in the air, but she's going to take Mira up on that lean. ]

It has. And it still does, even today. Lana was cleared of the murder charge, and the judge was understanding of the fact that she was blackmailed, but we're still dealing with the aftershocks now, ten years later. Lana is...

[ She adjusts the glasses on top of her head, now that they've gone a bit askew. ]

She's still serving off a sentence. For the corruption, for the obstruction of justice, for the forged evidence she was forced to present. It's almost up now, but I highly doubt that she could ever practice law again. It doesn't seem likely that she'd be able to work on the force, either, all things considered. I'm grateful that the world knows she's not a murderer, and that we were able to grow close again, but all of that hard work she put in, everything she did to support me, that Chief Gant ruined all of it, and it never would've happened if...

[ She grips Mira's hand again. ]

If I never pushed Neil Marshall.

[ And almost automatically, she wraps an arm around her. She listens... and Mira understands her a little better. It takes immeasurable strength to be this openly vulnerable, and Mira hugs her close. ]

Ema-- This isn't on you. You were so scared; people-- people do things they'd never do otherwise when they're scared. [ The way she says that... boy, she's sure familiar with that.... ] This is completely on Gant.

He could have easily not done what he did. But he chose to take advantage of you and Lana. This is his fault, not yours.

[ a pause. ]

But-- but I know how hard it is to believe that.

Mira, I...

[ The hug is a little surprising, but definitely not unwelcome. It's not that she doesn't do physical contact, but...she's not exactly used to receiving it. Not from anyone who isn't Lana, anyway.

Even so, there's something refreshing, about being held like this after laying her heart bare. It feels right, and she can't help getting caught up in the moment and returning it in kind.

For the first time since she started to share that horrible chapter in her life, her voice becomes unsteady. ]

Thank you. It's not that I don't believe it. I know it's not that easy. But I just...there have been so many nights where I think about what could have happened, if I didn't do that. Lana and I could have been that team, that duo we always dreamed about. She never would have had to spend those two years growing cold. She wouldn't have had to commit any crimes, or suffer any punishment...

But I visit her, all the time, and she smiles at me, like she doesn't have a regret in the world. Like she's just happy that we can be a family again, that that's enough for her, and I just...

[ She can't keep herself from sniffling. ]

I just want to do right by her. That's all.

Edited 2020-05-02 05:02 (UTC)

[ That lost time... Lana can't get that back, and Mira's heart aches for them both. Especially that Ema hurts so much. It's not the first time she wishes she could take away someone's pain, but-- it's startling, here. Then again, she cares about Ema. Seeing her in such a state, hearing that sniffle...

Mira holds her a little closer. ]

If I were Lana... I'd be so proud of you, Ema. You've worked so hard, back home and here. If she could see you here, I think she'd be speechless by how incredible you've been.

[ She squeezes her gently. ]

But it's hard to not think about how she's suffered, isn't it? Especially in a place like this, where we're so often left to our thoughts... Especially when you love her so, so much.

M-Mira...

[ Those sniffles get a touch more frequent, as she listens to Mira's words. She's trying hard not to let herself get choked up more than she already is, but it's proving difficult, the more Ema speaks, and the more Ema hears. She feels the lump in the back of her throat, and her eyes getting glassy, but... ]

I'm sorry. I know that...this week is hard on everyone. I know it. [ With a motive like this, how could it not be? ] But now more than ever, I can't stop thinking about her, and it's...

[ The exhale that she gives is all too shaky, and she squeezes just a touch tighter. ]

When I think about what her greatest wish would be, I just think about the way that she smiles at me like that, and...I can't be half as strong as she is. But she...Lana makes me want to try, for you, and for everyone else...

[ Oh, Ema... she shakes her head, and squeezes her back. ]

Even if it's hard... that doesn't mean you should try to pretend everything is okay. [ Geez... that's sure a thing for her to say, isn't it? But she means it. ] If it's hard... that's all the more reason to talk about it.

Being scared, or-- being upset, that isn't weakness. It takes a lot of strength to be vulnerable, to tell someone about all of this... And, really, all you can do is try. I know you're trying so hard, Ema. But you aren't alone, okay? I'm here for you, at least. I can help you carry whatever it is that weighs on you.

That won't change. I promise.

[ Ema's just silent for a few moments after that; she's on the verge of tears, but she's trying hard to collect herself now, and she clears her throat a few times before she continues at last. ]

If, if there was anyone I was going to tell, anyone who was going to get it...I knew it would be you, Mira.

[ And she doesn't have the words to express how grateful she is, that she was able to confide in her like this. That she unloaded all of this baggage onto her, and came out of it feeling stronger for it, rather than smaller... ]

All of the best decisions that I've ever made in my life...they all happened because I was able to rely on someone, when I was feeling weak, or when I was in a pinch. Every single one. And this was one of them.

[ She lets out one last sniffle, and actually wipes her nose with the sleeve of her labcoat-- ]

I really can't thank you enough. Just talking about this was...I haven't gotten to do that with anyone in a long time.

Edited 2020-05-02 06:16 (UTC)

R-really?

[ Well... that surprises her. But she hugs Ema close again. ]

I'm glad you told me... because you trust me with something so personal. It-- it means a lot. Relying on people-- it's not as terrible as people like to make it out to be, you know?

[ It's something she's had to learn. She pulls away, smiling as she does. ]

If you ever want to talk about anything... you can come to me. Even if it's late. I'm rooming with Zerinda, but... Just knock, and I'll come out.

It's not terrible at all. I've gone through more than my fair share of highs and lows, ups and downs. But there are people who have my back, and people who count on me to have theirs. We pick each other up when we're on the ground, and we cheer each other on when we're on top of the world. If I let them down...

[ Her eyes are still glassy, but she tries hard to flash Mira a grin. Far be it for her not to return her's, after all of that. ]

Well, I won't let that happen, no matter what. I want to be a person that people can look at and know that I'm someone they can count on in a tight spot. Especially the people I care about. And that includes you, big-time.

So if I'm ever low, I swear I'll come knocking. But...but it goes both ways, okay? Room 12, way in the corner. You can't miss it. You need me, I'm there, no matter what. That's a promise from me.

[ She puts her pinky out, just so they can lock. ]

I'm with you.

[ Mira's still a little surprised at just how much they have in common... but maybe that's why they're able to be so close. She nods, and she hooks her pinky around Ema's. ]

I will. And, you know... I know I can definitely count on you, Ema. You never have to worry about that. [ It's strange to be able to say that, but... she's glad for it. ] I'm... I'm really glad we met.

[ Even if she's scared of what she'll find each Friday... she knows that much. ]

A lot is uncertain here... but not that. Never that.

I am, too. You're someone that I'm proud to call my friend. Strong, and determined, and kind...And I hope that I can help you the way you helped me tonight, somehow, someway.

[ Even if it's only a little...ah, wait, that reminds her-- ]

Here, actually, I got these from the machine. They're spares, but I think they'd look good on you.

[ She goes rummaging through her labcoat pockets, and pulls out a pair of glasses with pink lenses; the same as the kind she's wearing on top of her head. ]

Now we can match. And they go with your new hair, which is always a plus. Take them, really.

W-well, I... definitely try.

[ She turns a little pink--she's not used to compliments, not from people outside her tiny, tiny circle back in her world. But maybe she's starting to learn a little bit. Either way, when Ema pulls those glasses out-- ]

Really? [ She looks at her with wide eyes, and then she smiles as she takes the glasses. ] Thank you. I'll wear them well, I promise.

Yours to keep, as part of my thank-you. There's a little trick to them, too, but I might need to have a little better luck with the machine before I can show you that. Let's just say they're a bit more practical than your average Guccis.

[ She flicks the ones on her own forehead up a bit, and laughs a little; the sound is a bit strained, as though there's still a lump in her throat that she's trying to swallow, but it is sincere. ]

A-anyway...if I'm not mistaken, I think I at least owe you a hot chocolate.

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WEEK 4

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