[ Hi Edelgard, Escha thinks you're cool so she wants to talk to you more. But, uh, hm, maybe after a murder trial is a bad time? Oh well. What small talk can she make??? ]
... I guess a lot of things didn't add up, but... I didn't want to think she was lying.
Somewhere in there, there's a real girl who was scared and wanting to tell the truth, but unable to. Doubt is the sword we've used to set that girl free.
[ Nice in that it asserts that they did the right thing! ]
I didn't know her that well either, but she seemed sweet. You're probably right - I know that I wouldn't want to survive if it meant putting others at risk like that.
[That's not exactly what she meant, but that's a nice thought, Escha.]
You're a kind person, aren't you? I also wouldn't want to survive as nothing more than a prisoner in my own body. I can't imagine a more terrible fate.
It's fair to assume we wouldn't know the difference.
[Frowning, still dwelling on the thought of Monika's plight. It's disturbing.]
But perhaps there's some way we haven't discovered yet. If Monika's will was enough to drive that creature towards Prompto, perhaps it is possible for a human's will to overpower them in other ways, or to convey a message?
Escha is sitting on the edge of the bed uncomfortably. Is it because everything here is jeans? Is it because she was wrongly convicted and now she'll die tomorrow? Who knows. She's trying to play things casual and she's had a little while to compose herself, so... ]
Only if you'd like them. You may not have any desire to eat right now, but either way, you aren't free to go to the pantry yourself and make that decision.
[Setting them down, matter of fact. Honestly, everything about her demeanor if pretty matter of fact. If she's sad about Escha, or pitying her circumstances, she isn't showing it.]
... For most of the day, I didn't remember what had happened. I thought that if we just worked hard, new evidence or theories would reveal something, so... I wasn't afraid.
Now I'm afraid, but it's already settled, so panicking won't help me.
I... I think even up until the end, I still thought something new would change everyone's mind.
But I don't want people to doubt their own judgment. I was wrong about Monika; I don't want people to make that mistake just because it's... Me. I guess...
[ Escha is really doing her best to play tough for everyone who apologizes to her for this. Even if they voted for her. But for someone to say it without apology - it's hard to keep up the brave face. She's not angry, or offended, but it does hurt.
She doesn't want people to feel remorse, but it's also painful to be sacrificed without any. ]
[You're valid, Escha, and this comment makes me feel like an asshole, but it doesn't make Edelgard feel like one.]
No. In the time left, anything other strategy was too risky. But I do wish it had been otherwise. You fought them off, when they meant to make a victim out of you. I would like to have seen you succeed fully.
If it's an option where no one has to die, it's worth hearing.
[Just because she's visiting Escha on her tragic pink haired protagonist death bed doesn't mean she's going to be polite about Escha trying to evade a conversation topic.]
I don't understand why you think you're more deserving of death than anyone else. It's not the way I see things. You did nothing more than fight for your own life. If you'd chosen to sacrifice someone else to continue living, I'd find no fault with that.
No. There's nothing fair about it. We sacrificed you, instead of sacrificing someone else, because it was easier than acknowledging that someone innocent had to be sacrificed.
[Hmm. Something about this is getting to her, somehow getting under the skin of her cool exterior.]
I wish there was more time. I think I could have taught you to value yourself a little more. Hopefully we'll meet again, and there will be time on that day.
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Week 1: Saturday post trial
... I guess a lot of things didn't add up, but... I didn't want to think she was lying.
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It's usually not a bad thing, to know how to trust your instincts about people. But here, it isn't going to be that easy.
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[Dark, Edelgard.]
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It's still hard to be happy about it at all, but... I'm sure you're right that Monika wouldn't have wanted the demon to get away with it.
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I don't know her well enough to know what she would have wanted. But I can't imagine anyone would choose to live under those circumstances.
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I didn't know her that well either, but she seemed sweet. You're probably right - I know that I wouldn't want to survive if it meant putting others at risk like that.
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You're a kind person, aren't you? I also wouldn't want to survive as nothing more than a prisoner in my own body. I can't imagine a more terrible fate.
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That's pretty creepy...
I guess I'd also hope that people could tell the difference, but... It's not really fair to expect that of a bunch of strangers.
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[Frowning, still dwelling on the thought of Monika's plight. It's disturbing.]
But perhaps there's some way we haven't discovered yet. If Monika's will was enough to drive that creature towards Prompto, perhaps it is possible for a human's will to overpower them in other ways, or to convey a message?
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If her will was only enough to do different bad things, that's not very hopeful.
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Any possibility of resistance is better than none, isn't it?
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[ I mean, the change of plans meant her friend died. But also the alternative would be someone else dying, which she's not into either. ]
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I liked him. He seemed like a kind person. It's a pity to lose anyone, but for such arbitrary reasons...
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But it's too little too late.
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W-well, this time I hope it just doesn't happen, but...
week 2; post trial; panthouse
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Escha is sitting on the edge of the bed uncomfortably. Is it because everything here is jeans? Is it because she was wrongly convicted and now she'll die tomorrow? Who knows. She's trying to play things casual and she's had a little while to compose herself, so... ]
Oh, you brought snacks.
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[Setting them down, matter of fact. Honestly, everything about her demeanor if pretty matter of fact. If she's sad about Escha, or pitying her circumstances, she isn't showing it.]
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No, I would love some. Thank you.
I was just thinking about how hungry I was after everything today.
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[Setting out the cookies (they're almond cookies, made by Taako) and brewing the tea.]
You're remarkably calm. You were at the trial, too.
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... For most of the day, I didn't remember what had happened. I thought that if we just worked hard, new evidence or theories would reveal something, so... I wasn't afraid.
Now I'm afraid, but it's already settled, so panicking won't help me.
A-and it's not so bad. I'll get to go see Logy.
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[That's probably not helpful.]
Even so. At the end, when it was apparent no one knew what to do, you were remarkably clear-headed. I feel as though I underestimated you.
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But I don't want people to doubt their own judgment. I was wrong about Monika; I don't want people to make that mistake just because it's... Me. I guess...
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[It's not really a confession, because she doesn't sound sorry.]
I didn't think you were a demon, and I still don't. There was simply no other acceptable outcome.
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She doesn't want people to feel remorse, but it's also painful to be sacrificed without any. ]
... Not one that could be explained properly, no.
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No. In the time left, anything other strategy was too risky. But I do wish it had been otherwise. You fought them off, when they meant to make a victim out of you. I would like to have seen you succeed fully.
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Escha is quiet for a long moment. Like she's having trouble deciding what to say and what to... Not say. ]
... No. It wouldn't have been risky at all. There was a safe option where no one had to die, but... [ She shakes her head. ]
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[Honestly. This side of Escha, where she's disagreeing with her, she's interested in. The Escha that killed a demon who wanted to kill her.]
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[ Whatever it is, Escha really doesn't want to go into the details. ]
I don't want to, um... Set a precedent for ignoring evidence and believing obvious fake clues, instead.
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[Just because she's visiting Escha on her tragic pink haired protagonist death bed doesn't mean she's going to be polite about Escha trying to evade a conversation topic.]
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[ And if Edelgard weren't so intimidating, Escha would probably leave it at that, but... Edelgard... Scary and pretty... ]
... Tamamo is immune to being killed by an exorcism this week. Just this week.
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[Covering her mouth with a hand. She. She did not expect that.]
So that's why - that was clever of you.
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I thought enough people knew... The evidence was poor; it was more like a signal.
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Enough didn't. And you didn't say so openly. You were protecting someone, weren't you?
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I couldn't say so openly. It's against the rules.
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[Considering that, but.]
It can't be helped now.
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B-but, um... At least it wasn't someone else, you know? Someone who wasn't immune and wasn't awake.
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It's not like I'm more deserving, I just - at least I was involved. That's better than... Nothing? [ kind of? ]
B-besides, I'll get to see Logy again.
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[ Except for Tamamo, but... Well. Escha didn't even feel great about that one, and she would have been fine in the end. ]
Nobody had much real choice in this.
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I wish there was more time. I think I could have taught you to value yourself a little more. Hopefully we'll meet again, and there will be time on that day.
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[ Like framing people or protecting people or framing people to protect them. ]
I hope that we get to meet again, but I also hope that it's not for some time.