imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

[ wait ]

Shrike? Gods, it's you, isn't it.

[ Still casually sitting on top of her, she tucks a clawed finger beneath Shrike's chin, turning her jaw this way and that. ]

You're... [ pulling her hand back and giving it a sniff ] ...mortal, for this game?

[ Amaranth blease she's trying to not be a whole-ass pushover but still it's reflex to just obediently let Amaranth turn her head— ]

...I guess that's the idea, yes.

Maybe a bit like—what might have been.

[ voice gentling ] Mm, that's a bit too sorrowful-sounding, I think.

Here—
[ She moves off of Shrike's body, stepping neatly to the side before offering her a hand up. ]

...sorry.

[ she takes the hand, and pulls herself up. ]

Honestly, I've been in a bit of a good mood for this, though.

I'm glad, then.
And, you know, you're a truly handsome woman either way.

[ a playful bump with her hip (she's so high on dragonsauce) ]

[ she flushes, scrubs at her face a little bit— ]

...pff, you're always so keen to tease me.

In my defense, you must admit you're very tease-able.

Well. It's true.

...well, sometimes I put in a bit more effort to be less so, but I know you're not being mean about it.

I'm not.

...Though, you know, it needn't necessarily be teasing either. If you're looking for someone's blessing to simply accept compliments as they are given— well, I can at least give you mine.

...thanks.

I suppose it's an honor, from Tokyo-F's foremost expert on lovely women.

[ hairflip ✧
—then she laughs a bit ]

....Are you trying to flirt now? Cardinal did say you were getting bolder.

You know. With all your girlfriends.

I'm finding I can manage it part-time instead of schoolgirlish embarrassment.

...they said that?

They did. I think they were rather proud.

Well. Good.

...I can never really suss out where I stand with them. Sometimes I feel like they do that intentionally, or something.

[ tilting her head ] ...Which part?

Some of it, I think, is their sense of play, and some a desire to set challenges and see who will rise to them. But you seem genuinely worried.

Mm, just—

I feel like I, and the unit overall, disappoint their principles. And furthermore I think they think I'm annoying for asking about their feelings.

[ a crease between her brows ] ...Hm.

It really has been troubling you. Do you want to find someplace to sit down? I don't know if you'd rather just... focus on the game, but... I care about them, and you, and avante. And principles, while we're at it—though I suppose you already know all that.

I’m really barely playing, so—it’s fine, honestly. There’s a bench over there—

[ straight-faced: ]

...and besides, I could hardly refuse a chance to talk with an enchanting dragon-woman.

[ equally straight-faced: ]

That's true. My time is precious, but your beauty has called me down from Yu-Shan.

[ ...she'll also guide them over to a bench, though. ]

[ it's hard to maintain a straight face when Amaranth pulls out lines like that, so she doesn't, and laughs while letting herself be sat down on the bench. ]

Well. I'll make the most of it, then.

—thanks.

[ Amaranth laughs too, once Shrike does, then takes a seat beside her. As she does, her tail absently curls a bit around Shrike's ankle.

Then her expression sombers. ]

...You were saying that you worry avante is letting down Cardinal's principles.

Well—yes.

I mean, everyone does, to a certain extent, except maybe you, but—I know they stepped back from leadership because they thought their decision-making was bad for avante, and... maybe it was, but it's not as if I don't sympathize with their ideals.

[ She's quiet for a moment. Then, almost neutrally: ]

...It was just me, Cardinal, and Thorn willing to risk everything to send a message, in that game.

I know Kohime couldn't accept that sort of self-sacrificing play.

And Lucifel, but—you're right.

If it had been just me and them, I'd have been willing to try, but—if there's someone on the unit who's not amenable, I can't make that call for them.

...Everyone on LiliS agreed to abstain.
But even with them agreeing...

[ a heavy sigh ]

I don't think Cypress realized just how bad it could be. Or Coriander and Ayumu, for that matter—though I can't imagine Coriander admitting it.

And now we may have sent them the message that we won't protect them. Kohime—speaking of her again... I know she would have felt that way—not least because she told me as much.

...Principles are terribly thorny things.