The House on the HillInteractions: Ken, Leon (
@AtomicEmperor), Adora (
@Shin Ghost Note), Jack (
@Blizz)
"Inoue-San... Why don't we skip the light work, huh?"
Luna blinked. It took a moment to even
try to decipher Ken’s unique tongue. But she wasn’t born with an empty head. She gave a shrug, hands spread out placatively.
“Itsu demo senshi, Murakin-San. (Always the warrior, Murakin-San.)”"If they're open enemies, I think we should lop their metaphorical heads off now, and reclaim what we want before they have any more time to mount a counter."
Luna leaned her hip against the bar, folding her arms across her chest as she considered his words.
“...It’s easy to fight, and just annihilate all our problems, isn’t it?”A flash of grief crossed her face as her gaze met his.
“What are you willing to lose to face them? We’ve all lost something already, yes. But there’s more at stake here. Kari was looking for artifacts for them. Which means they already have an armory of weapons of magical destruction just waiting for the excuse to use.”Then Jack opened his mouth again. Instead of an apology, which would have patched things over rather quickly, he instead justified himself.
”The Void Heart killed people. If you did care enough to do something about it, you would know that, but you only mentioned it because your plan is too good that be true.”
“Hah. Void Heart killing people? Don’t make me laugh. He was a predator, but not a killer. Why, you got proof? Against the time I spent watching Alizee? Yeah. And, making this about me when it’s about Lay-””... LUNA!”
Luna’s mouth clamped shut, and she leveled a withering look at Adora… before sighing, and shrugging her shoulders. Her gaze passed over to Layla. Before her lips drew into a flat, concerned line.
Layla was looking directly at Jack, mouth agape, like she had just witnessed her firstborn murdered in front of her eyes. And Jack was holding the knife. Before her little hands balled into fists in her lap, and she sat there, trembling with rage.
The damage had already been done.
Again.
"Woah, woah! Fiiiirst off, my client pleads the fifth, whatever the hell we missed. But, if it's what I think it is, I have proof, taken directly from a head privy to the information firsthand. And I'm happy to disclose anything, so long as you guys are gonna give me a fair shot at explaining."
As Greyson strolled into the room, Luna visibly relaxed, gaze glancing between Adora’s request for proof, and Greyson’s
excellent timing. Whistling low to herself, she reached for the bottle again, and poured herself another glass of the stiff stuff. She held the glass up, letting the ambient light colour the hues of amber, before she glanced over at Adora.
“Any questions over validity can be verified by Greyson. He’s a real one.” Beyond that, she remained silent. Better to let Greyson do the heavy lifting instead of firing up any more tempers.
Before Adora pressed her completely valid point.
”Now, don't get the idea that I'm riding you; I meant what I said earlier. I just don't think it's the best idea, and we cannot afford to take chances right now with the murders and all the people that want to wring our necks. We need to take a step back and make a plan that's in our control.”
Luna took a small sip of the liquor, before she set the glass down, and sighed.
“Then Muraki-San’s idea is our only other option. If the Elite were going to ask you people to decode it, they would have done so already, instead of reaching out to others like the 8th Street. They’re not interested in Sycamore getting their hands on the notes, for whatever reason. But… instead of a full-out war… We could play it smart. Locate them, first of all. Then, have a covert group swipe them. No trace, no foul.
“That’s more in your control, is it not, Adora?”"Jesus Christ, Layla cher... Look at you... Again? What'd you and Lena talk about before? That you're supposed to head to the chapel, or to the Aberrant Dorm where people can help you! Her Grace is worried sick about you, Love..."
Layla swallowed the red-hot emotions trapped in her throat, avoiding looking at Greyson as Leon approached her. Leon had effectively brought over a figurative jug of water, and doused the flames welling up in her chest. She reached for his hand and gave it a pat, trying to reassure the both of them.
“I’m sorry… I wasn’t thinking. Her Grace… was really worried?”She could feel emotions welling up behind her eyes. She took a deep breath to steady herself, her lips pursing into a firm line, trying to keep her composure.
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to speak as confidently as possible.
“Today it’s gonna be done, Leon. I’m talking with Britney after this, and getting them sealed. That’s why there was… so much commotion.”"How'd you even get here?"
Aislin waved a hand, wrapping an arm around Layla.
“She called me. I drove us both here. Poor thing was about to get it good from those ghosts.”She sighed, rubbing Layla’s shoulder.
“I wish I’d known sooner, I had no idea it was this bad. If it’s not one thing, it’s another with our group. Isn’t it, Layla?”Layla offered a small smile, eyes glancing at Aislin before returning to Leon’s. Regret flashed in her face.
“I uh, I refused Britney once... So I wanted this sealing done by Sycamore, and not the Temple... if that's alright?”