[ there's a flash of hurt on her face before brilith tries to pull it together again. why is it, she wonders, that he never trusts her with these things? aren't they supposed to be a team? agni did this back home, too, and even then, she never understood why.
does laila deal with this, too? or does chandra trust his summoner in a way agni doesn't trust his? ]
...I never said it would be public knowledge.
[ she knows how to keep a secret. she kept him secret for too long, even though it hurt her to not be open about it. ]
But if there's a chance to stop them from hurting or killing another person, shouldn't we take it? Someone innocent has already died in their place. We can't allow that to happen again, Agni.
But it will be difficult to restrain someone's movements without others learning sooner or later, Brilith. So, I want your confirmation that that's a consequence you're prepared for.
[because in the end, if this goes wrong, it will be agni's mistake, not hers.]
[ so he still doesn't think she can handle this. she probably shouldn't blame him, after her tears last night, but all the same... it hurts. doesn't he know she would make the same choice, if it were atera under attack again? making one sacrifice for the good of the many will always be her choice.
(asch is different. nothing good came of his sacrifice.)
and there it is, the price agni always has to make. to be what brilith wants him to be, or to be a god? the human he chose to love, or the purpose for which he exists? too many times, it feels as though one means sacrificing the other.]
... The absence of specific evidence doesn't mean all the other signs were wrong.
[ it's a going on two day migraine so i only know so much but ]
So, the scales, the blood and slime trails, Asch's poker, your sword...? And Room 10... they said it smelled like something was rotting, right? Peach said it would be in plain sight, but the only ones that obviously points to would be you or Asch.
anyway brilith was still considering the evidence and how the murder seemed to play out, frowning in thought, when he just comes out with that and she stills, slowly looking back up at him. ]
Meltryllis. But there was barely anything pointing to her, she was just…
[ uncooperative. but peach did say the monster side of them would do anything to stay alive, didn’t she? so brilith can only sigh in resignation. ]
She had unexplained scuff marks, even if we couldn't figure out what they matched. And it was confirmed that Akira's logic, of the path that the monster went, was correct. Meaning, she was last seen, on Thursday night, in the place where it started.
[...]
That's the issue. It's not like we can just tie her up and call it a day—if she can transform, it'll be no problem for her to break free.
[ she wants to ask about the sword - because why would meltryllis need that with her legs? but there's no point in it; brilith trusts agni, and he would never lie about something like this. ]
Hunter suggested we ask Peach or Plum for something to restrain them. Something similar to the chains and the cage.
[ like an anti-surafication cage... ]
If we can't get that, we'll have another problem, if someone else starts to transform this week, too. I don't know if we rely on splitting a vote to deal with them both at once, and even if we do - that would still be leaving Meltryllis free to kill someone else.
[ she hates this. it isn't brilith's place to take away someone's freedom, to take away their life. but if it means saving the rest... ]
[pretty sure the sword was just for framing (you know, assuming agni isn't lying about all of this! you never know!). meltryllis had shown interest in it earlier in the week.]
... If worse comes to worst, I can do my job, Brilith.
I thought that was because of his injuries. [ he lost an arm and fell through a banister. kinda traumatic. ] But if you're worried about it, we could try making a note beforehand and keeping it somewhere safe.
...Hunter, then. Mammon wants to help, too, but maybe we should try to keep it to as few people as we can, for now.
[ the less who know, the less murder will happen, the better chance they have to save meltryllis and the rest, right? ]
[agni's instinct for secrecy is strong. then again, that may not always have been the best move—perhaps if he had known about saha earlier, and revealed everything before, the man would still be alive.]
... If you think they can be trusted. Though they too must be able to accept the possibility that Meltryllis might not be saved.
I think Mammon could accept it, at least. I'm more worried about him telling someone he shouldn't.
[ said neutrally, because she adores him but he can be kind of a loudmouth sometimes? ]
Hunter... I don't know. But I believe he's willing to try to help her, if there is any of chance of it - or to at least keep her from bringing harm to others. He wants to help.
... Mammon doesn't seem like the type to think before he opens his mouth, no.
[sorry mammon]
Hunter's a smart kid... Even if we don't do it ourselves, the inevitable result is that if this fails, Meltryllis will have to be voted for anyway. I think he'd understand that, even if he didn't like it.
Though it may be better if we don't bring that part up, unless asked.
[...]
Either way, we'd have to check to see if we can get anything to restrain Meltryllis first. It's also important that she doesn't realize our intentions until we're confident we can succeed.
So we keep it quiet from anyone we can't trust to do what may have to be done.
[ she says it so easily, but even brilith knows it isn't that simple. she hates keeping secrets... but the less people who get hurt from this, the better. ]
[ agni's right, and it sends a flash of guilt through her heart. ]
We... discussed the possibility, last night. I don't think he'd get in the way if we really can't help her, but it may be easier on him to know that we're trying to find other options before resorting back to execution.
[ so she nods. though she has no particular desire to speak with the girls herself, this is a cause worth the unease it brings. ]
Then I'll ask, and I'll tell you their answer as soon as I have it.
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Find a way to stop them from hurting someone else. We may not have magic, but there has to be something we can do to protect the rest.
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Is that something you're willing to accept?
[a genuine question.]
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does laila deal with this, too? or does chandra trust his summoner in a way agni doesn't trust his? ]
...I never said it would be public knowledge.
[ she knows how to keep a secret. she kept him secret for too long, even though it hurt her to not be open about it. ]
But if there's a chance to stop them from hurting or killing another person, shouldn't we take it? Someone innocent has already died in their place. We can't allow that to happen again, Agni.
[ no matter what it takes... ]
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But it will be difficult to restrain someone's movements without others learning sooner or later, Brilith. So, I want your confirmation that that's a consequence you're prepared for.
[because in the end, if this goes wrong, it will be agni's mistake, not hers.]
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(asch is different. nothing good came of his sacrifice.)
after a long moment, she nods. ]
I am.
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and there it is, the price agni always has to make. to be what brilith wants him to be, or to be a god? the human he chose to love, or the purpose for which he exists? too many times, it feels as though one means sacrificing the other.]
... The absence of specific evidence doesn't mean all the other signs were wrong.
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So, the scales, the blood and slime trails, Asch's poker, your sword...? And Room 10... they said it smelled like something was rotting, right? Peach said it would be in plain sight, but the only ones that obviously points to would be you or Asch.
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... You're thinking about this a little too hard, Brilith.
It was Meltryllis.
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anyway brilith was still considering the evidence and how the murder seemed to play out, frowning in thought, when he just comes out with that and she stills, slowly looking back up at him. ]
Meltryllis. But there was barely anything pointing to her, she was just…
[ uncooperative. but peach did say the monster side of them would do anything to stay alive, didn’t she? so brilith can only sigh in resignation. ]
So how do we stop her from hurting someone else?
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[...]
That's the issue. It's not like we can just tie her up and call it a day—if she can transform, it'll be no problem for her to break free.
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Hunter suggested we ask Peach or Plum for something to restrain them. Something similar to the chains and the cage.
[ like an anti-surafication cage... ]
If we can't get that, we'll have another problem, if someone else starts to transform this week, too. I don't know if we rely on splitting a vote to deal with them both at once, and even if we do - that would still be leaving Meltryllis free to kill someone else.
[ she hates this. it isn't brilith's place to take away someone's freedom, to take away their life. but if it means saving the rest... ]
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... If worse comes to worst, I can do my job, Brilith.
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...Before the doors lock again. If we can't find another solution, Agni... please.
And I won't tell anyone who it was, if you think I shouldn't. But we may need their help, if we're going to try to save her alive somehow.
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[...]
If you're okay with asking for their help, I am as well.
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...Hunter, then. Mammon wants to help, too, but maybe we should try to keep it to as few people as we can, for now.
[ the less who know, the less murder will happen, the better chance they have to save meltryllis and the rest, right? ]
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... If you think they can be trusted. Though they too must be able to accept the possibility that Meltryllis might not be saved.
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[ said neutrally, because she adores him but he can be kind of a loudmouth sometimes? ]
Hunter... I don't know. But I believe he's willing to try to help her, if there is any of chance of it - or to at least keep her from bringing harm to others. He wants to help.
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[sorry mammon]
Hunter's a smart kid... Even if we don't do it ourselves, the inevitable result is that if this fails, Meltryllis will have to be voted for anyway. I think he'd understand that, even if he didn't like it.
Though it may be better if we don't bring that part up, unless asked.
[...]
Either way, we'd have to check to see if we can get anything to restrain Meltryllis first. It's also important that she doesn't realize our intentions until we're confident we can succeed.
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[ she says it so easily, but even brilith knows it isn't that simple. she hates keeping secrets... but the less people who get hurt from this, the better. ]
The best way is to ask the girls, isn't it?
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[he nods.]
Yes. Ask them first if there's any means of restraining the monster.
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We... discussed the possibility, last night. I don't think he'd get in the way if we really can't help her, but it may be easier on him to know that we're trying to find other options before resorting back to execution.
[ so she nods. though she has no particular desire to speak with the girls herself, this is a cause worth the unease it brings. ]
Then I'll ask, and I'll tell you their answer as soon as I have it.
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... All right. Good luck.
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[ for that, she's glad. ]
...You'll tell me before you do anything, right?
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... I will, if I'm able.
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(he'll know it isn't a real smile, but does that matter anymore? she doesn't think so.) ]
Thank you, Agni.