hai mươi chín ❀| can't anybody see we've got a war to fight

[lotuslife]

Comments

[haematological]

[When Saya hears the knock, she waits first to see if anyone else will answer it--but no, no such luck. Since Christmas, she's kept more to herself than usual. When she opens the door, she's surprised to find Vietnam, and wary of another attack, she keeps her hand on the handle, ready to shut and lock it at a moment's notice. A door would provide little barrier to a chiropteran, but it might be enough to give her time to get away.]

[lotuslife]

[She takes a step back when Saya opens the door- there's no guarantee the girl won't choose to attack her- and ruminates over her words before giving a soft exhale and speaking.] Saya, please...

[haematological]

[Two months ago, she might have attacked. Four months ago, she certainly would have. Instead she stands here, just looking at Vietnam, her face a mixture of so many emotions: hurt, fear, suspicion. But all she says, her voice quiet, is:]

You're chiropteran.

[lotuslife]

...I'm not. [Her voice is firm and cold and very, very certain for a moment.] An illusion of this place, that's-- [No. Not an illusion. She killed Saya. That was not an illusion. She chews her lower lip, shakes her head.] -Please. Let me explain.

[armywithcountry]

[Prussia's never been one to use peepholes; that would imply that there's someone out there that he's actually scared of enough to keep out. So when he limps over to the door, his leg still heavily bandaged from her attack, he doesn't bother checking who's on the other side before he opens it.

There's a split second of shock before his gun flies up, aiming at her forehead.]

Hungary! Out, now! Take my bike!

[With the state that he's in, he knows he has no hope of winning against her or even escaping, but he can at least try to slow her down while the rest of the people get away. And yeah, she'd better talk quickly, because Prussia will not hesitate to kill.]

[lotuslife]

[Even though she's here to apologize, this kind of reaction was just what she expected, and she reacts automatically, too- there's a knife just centimetres away from his abdomen now. Her breathing is audibly shallow, but she remains perfectly still, and she speaks in a low, rushed way.] Don't shoot. I'm otherwise unarmed. I owe you an explanation. Lower your weapon.

[muskatli]

[Hungary's already left through the kitchen door, but while she doesn't go for the bike directly, she's already made it right behind Vietnam, her own gun held to the back of her head.]

How do we know it's really you? [Her voice is firm, but it's taking her an incredible amount of effort to keep it from wavering.] It's only fair that one of us remains alert, at least.

[[OOC: I'm leaving tomorrow, so please just assume Hungary is there for the thread while I return :( I just wanted to get this one comment in]

[armywithcountry]

Hungary, you idiot, I told you to leave!

[Prussia's far too much of a soldier to drop his weapon, especially when Vietnam has her own out. In his eyes, the fact that he hasn't shot yet is already more than enough leniency that he's willing to grant her.]

Explain, then.

[peonymarket]

[He walks in silently sometime after Vietnam's fallen asleep, and for a long time he just stares at her. China's eyes are cold and flat, his face like stone, masking the hurt that still comes and goes in flashes all up his spine; sharp, stabbing, white-hot. Ever since the attack, he's slept on his back- refusing to lay in such a helpless position, his wound bared and vulnerable, even alone.

The humiliation would sting far worse than the pain ever could.

China knows by now that it wasn't Vietnam's fault for what happened- not completely. It was Mayfield, this town, robbing them both of their senses, and maybe something more in his sister's case. (The way her body had morphed...) Yet right now, and for awhile yet, China can't find it in himself to give the forgiveness he knows he can afford to grant. The pain is too fresh right now for him to even want to.]

[lotuslife]

[She remains asleep, unaware of his presence, still caught between half-formed dreams. It's not China's forgiveness that she's here to ask for. No, she's not that foolish- she knows her brother all too well for that, knows that forgiveness is not something she can ask him for but something that must be given.

But it's also because she knows her brother so well that she's here, anyway, here because she won't look away, won't deny that it happened and that she'll take responsibility for it the moment he wants her to. As much as she may despise him most times, that simple fact does not change: a part of her will always remain inherently loyal to him. Even as he stands there, her dreams within the darkness are about him, about the way he turned his back on her.]

[peonymarket]

[He continues to glare at her sleeping form, distantly aware of the rising urge to strike her in such a vulnerable state- as she had done to him, Mayfield and all its tricks be damned.

But that would only sully his pride further, reduce him, make his anger more petty than righteous. So China just touches her hair, once.]

[lotuslife]

[At this, she stirs, rolling over onto her back; her eyes flutter open and settle on him, and she doesn't remain sleepy-looking for long. She sits up, a hand coming to her head as if she's trying to contain whatever thoughts she'd just been dreaming.] Anh.

[decadenzas]

[her calm tone doesn't set him on edge so much as the words she speaks, and he finds himself answering in more of a clipped tone than he had intended; he'd originally figured the best course of action would be to set this Christmas rubbish aside and forget about it.]

In person, I assume. Shall I pay you a visit, then?

[lotuslife]

I don't care what we do. We need to talk.

[decadenzas]

Very well. I'll be over shortly.

[and true to his word, about ten minutes later there will be a sharp knock on her front door.]

[lotuslife]

[Opens it, looking a bit like she'd like to actually roll into one of those snowdrifts and stay there. The saddest!!! She'll let him in, though.]

[bard_of_orlais]

[Leliana opens the door, but does so hesitantly. This time, she has her rifle on hand, just in case.

She's not angry, merely wary. The Chant of Light is rather heavy on forgiveness and second chances, after all, even if Leliana can't recall the exact wording.]

Are you feeling more like yourself, Vietnam?

[lotuslife]

[She points at the rifle.]

I am. [she tries to look more certain of it than she is.] You can keep that trained on me if you feel that you must. I'm unarmed.

[bard_of_orlais]

I don't intend on pointing this at you unless you make a move to attack me. It's purely defensive. There's no good that can come from vengeance or scaring you.

What... what happened to you that day? I have a feel that wasn't really you...

[lotuslife]

[There's a pause. There's something admirable in the way Leliana says that, but she doesn't relax any further.]

I am here to apologize. Not to ask for your forgiveness, but... I will explain as best as I can.