[He's on his way back out to the docks, but he pauses when he sees her approaching. His expression stays pleasant, voice even, but he's intentionally giving her some extra space than usual.]
[ She looks like she wants to be angry at him. Because she's heard some incriminating things, and that's frustrating, and she doesn't think that the culprit was anyone they had suspected, and so she's just kind of mad.
... But after a moment she just exhales, like she doesn't have the energy to be angry. She's too tired and sad. ]
I'm alright, I guess. I was almost falsely accused, which feels bad. And instead someone else was falsely accused. Which feels bad.
Yeah. It's not a great situation whichever way you look at it.
I didn't think it was either of you. I still don't. But we must have really screwed up somewhere if that was the only options anyone could settle on.
[It's infuriating, enough to make his entire demeanor twist bitterly for a long moment. But he'll let the tension settle into his fingertips, into how his palm tightens momentarily at the grip of his sword, before relaxing.]
...
I know it's easier said than done, Escha, but... try not to blame yourself.
Who knows. Evan couldn't explain himself either, remember? Maybe it was the same sort of idea. Either way, to pin it on coincidence somehow doesn't feel quite right to me.
[ She gives a tentative nod to that first part. ]] In other cases, the killers were possessed by demons, so they had no desire to confess. It's not quite the same as not being able to. I think...
[ And... Hm. ]
He's my coworker - from home. He was on the ship with me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Hey.
How are you holding up?
no subject
... But after a moment she just exhales, like she doesn't have the energy to be angry. She's too tired and sad. ]
I'm alright, I guess. I was almost falsely accused, which feels bad. And instead someone else was falsely accused. Which feels bad.
no subject
I didn't think it was either of you. I still don't. But we must have really screwed up somewhere if that was the only options anyone could settle on.
[It's infuriating, enough to make his entire demeanor twist bitterly for a long moment. But he'll let the tension settle into his fingertips, into how his palm tightens momentarily at the grip of his sword, before relaxing.]
...
I know it's easier said than done, Escha, but... try not to blame yourself.
no subject
It's not my fault that the evidence led to the two of us, and... It's not my fault that people chose him. But if they hadn't, it would have been me.
I just... After everything on the ship, it's kind of funny.
[ It. Does not sound funny. ]
no subject
Was there something on the ship that played out in the same way?
[It sounds that way, but if she doesn't want to talk about it, then that's her choice, not his.]
no subject
So...
[ It's not exactly the same thing, but Escha is no stranger to being scapegoated. ]
no subject
Did they execute you for that?
no subject
That's where the evidence led, after all...
no subject
Did you tell them what happened to put you in that position, or was it like this place where you couldn't explain while under investigation?
no subject
My head was foggy, and I couldn't think straight enough to explain myself until after the trial. It was more coincidence than anything else, I think.
no subject
...
Was Logy a friend of yours from the boat?
no subject
[ And... Hm. ]
He's my coworker - from home. He was on the ship with me.