ZERO

[applechemist]

i'll put something here later

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Week 0: Saturday

[applechemist]

[ Pretty lady scary. But also pretty lady pretty, so. Escha wants to get to know her better...! Is now the best time? No. No, definitely not.

And yet.

Escha is here in the laundry room, washing her clothes for tomorrow. ]

Um... Good job, today. [ That seems like a friendly, neutral thing to say! Yeah! Nailed it. ]

[fleuris]

[ that earns Escha a bewildered look. on Zero, it probably looks like a glare more than anything. sorry! her face is just Like That. ]

What, seriously?

[applechemist]

[ Oh nooo DX ]

Yeah! You don't think so?

[fleuris]

Uhh, I'm. Surprised you're congratulating me. You know, the one in favor of just getting rid of all the undead?

[applechemist]

But you didn't do it. You were able to work with everyone else.

[ that's. one way of looking at it. ]

[fleuris]

[ that is a very rose-tinted way of looking out it. ]

I don't think you get it. If I thought I could have done it? I would have. The only thing that stopped me was everyone rushing in, oo-ing and ah-ing over them.

[applechemist]

But in the end we were able to figure out that Polly was the culprit, so don't you feel relieved that you didn't do it?

Even if everyone was... [ Probably obnoxious, to her? ] Flustered?

week 1, saturday, post trial

[fleuris]

[ when Zero stumbles across Escha, she sort of. freezes, for a moment. before approaching the girl. ]

Um. Hey.

[ how do ]

[applechemist]

[ That's strange, Zero always seems so confident? ]

Hello.

[fleuris]

Hi. Are you-

[ no, that's too obvious. Zero crosses her arms and tries again. ]

What did you think about today?

[applechemist]

[ Is Zero worrying about her????????

Escha is certain the answer is no! ]

... It's frustrating to have to doubt someone when they seem so scared. And it's even more frustrating because it's not even really her, it's a demon. But she has to get punished. [ Killed. ]

[fleuris]

... That's the way things happens, sometimes. Good people get brought down by things they can't help.

[ not her though. she's... well. ]

It's not their fault. And it's not yours, either. It just... is.

[applechemist]

[ Not her fault. No, of course not, but... Escha still frowns at that, and hesitates for a moment before replying. ]

... I know. All of us are stuck with these circumstances, whether we like it or not, but...

I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. No matter how long we're here for.

week 2, friday, post investigation

[fleuris]

[ she catches Escha walking down the hallway, presumably back to her room. this should only take a second... ]

Escha?

[applechemist]

[ Escha is already crying. Her breath hitches and she gives a very poor attempt at not looking like a wreck. You know, to be polite. ]

Yes?

[fleuris]

[ ... she is not remotely qualified for this. but she makes an effort to keep her tone softer. ]

... I'm sorry. We'll do everything we can to catch them tomorrow, alright?

[applechemist]

[ It's only a mildly comforting thought. Logy will still be gone, and the one responsible isn't entirely responsible. Demonic possession and all that.

Still, Escha appreciates the sentiment, especially from someone like Zero. And she wouldn't want to be rude, so she takes in a deep breath - or tries to. She still pretty short of breath. ]

Yeah... I - I know. Thank you, Zero.

[fleuris]

[ ............ ]

If you need to cry before the trial, then cry. And if you need to cry when it's over, go ahead and do it. But don't let the demon see your tears during the trial, Escha. It'll just try to use them against you.

[ is this even reasonable advice??? god she hopes so ]

[applechemist]

I won't let it...

[ Does she mean 'won't let it see her cry' or 'won't let it use her tears against her'? Who knows. ]

I want to be focused during the trial. I... I just want to work hard and solve it.

saturday, post trial, m idnight??? idk

[fleuris]

[ Zero is just going to show up, scowling and red eyed (wait, her eyes are already pink... ) with a carton of ice cream in hand and a spoon. ]

Here.

[ it's... "Better-Than-Orgasms Caramel Apple" flavor. glances nervously at mod rules abt sexy ice cream names. ]

[applechemist]

[ Oh! Escha startles a bit, but. Takes the ice cream. ]

T-thank you...!

Would you like to come in?

[fleuris]

[ no ]

... Alright.

[ silently. enters the panthouse. ]

....... God, it really is ugly in here.

[applechemist]

It's awful, isn't it?

[ She's trying to play casual, everything's... Fine... Her biggest problem right now is definitely the denim. ]

[fleuris]

I've seen dungeons that had more style than this.

[ ... ]

It's after, you know.

[applechemist]

I would much rather be in ruins than here.

[ It takes Escha a moment to figure out... What Zero means. Then she remembers their conversation before. ]

... I know.