What I want to hear on nights I can't sleep is your voice

[philoxenia]

[ ... Well, that was an absolute shitshow, wasn't it? Instead of dwelling on how she feels about everything that just happened, Mira's channeling that energy into something else--and she has a little bit of help doing it. Zerinda and Ema are here in the bar to make drinks, and Mira's brought in a ton of food that's definitely not healthy for anyone, but screw it, who cares about health right now?

Della's here to pass out invitations, too--they let everyone know there's a gathering in the bar, if they'd rather not be alone.

If you choose not to come, well... Mira's got that taken care of, too. She'll place a little container of cookies and hot cocoa outside your door. Maybe it'll help someone feel a little less alone--at least, that's what she's hoping. ]

Comments

[nothingcanstop]

I was just thinking. You were right about watching for people affected by the motive. So, I wanted to understand what it was that got under your skin, about that one.

[blackmass]

...Understand?

[He seemed a bit tense at that, smile just a little forced.]

Don't waste your time. The Professor's motive means nothing now.

[nothingcanstop]

How can we be sure? What if he starts doing variations? On the things that, ya know, seem to work.

[blackmass]

Why should I tell you, or anyone else? I am not careless enough to further lay out any potential faults the Professor may not yet have thought to abuse or exploit.

[nothingcanstop]

You think he hasn’t already laid out each of us like a high school portfolio? He probably has notes upon notes. But, on the other hand, we all know so little about each other.

[blackmass]

And perhaps some of us wish to keep it that way.

[nothingcanstop]

Isn't it secrets that keep leading us here, week after week after week?

[blackmass]

I am not concerned with what becomes of the rest of you. If someone would wish to kill me, they are more than welcome to try.

[nothingcanstop]

Do you think you can get through this all on your own? Whatever the Professor's scheme is?

[blackmass]

As they say, 'only one way to find out'.

[nothingcanstop]

...Do you care, Kirei? If you live or die?

[blackmass]

If you're asking that question at all, I imagine little I could say would dissuade you from whichever answer you have in mind.

There are things I need to accomplish before I die. That's all.

[nothingcanstop]

Can you accomplish them here? At the bottom of the ocean?

[blackmass]

That depends on if the Professor really does have the reach he claims. Though I would sooner believe he does not.

[nothingcanstop]

Then why don't you work with the rest of us? If you don't think you can get that here... We get out of here, and you can go about doing...whatever it is you want to do. In the meantime, we'll watch your back. Help brainstorm. None of that's appealing?

[blackmass]

I do not want anyone's assistance, neither do I need such a thing. I have no intention to get in anyone's way, unless the Professor does actually have power enough to grant the one thing I want.

[nothingcanstop]

...But if this is all as you suspect and we're going to die in a ritual sacrifice, how do you intend to wriggle your way out of that?

[blackmass]

No idea. Maybe I'll bargain with the Professor to show him a larger one.

[is...he joking?]

[nothingcanstop]

[ ...IS HE? ]

What kind of priest are you?

[blackmass]

I've never lied to any of you. I am a priest of the Holy Church, and a qualified Executor in the service of destroying heretics when the situation deems it necessary. That's all.

[That was the kind of priest he was.]

[Who Kirei was, that was a whole other cargo bay of baggage.]

[nothingcanstop]

Guess I never read about this part of Catholicism.