deadly_legacy | ✜023 [voice

[She's been wanting—well, needing—to do this since she awoke yesterday. Even though it was a curse and everyone is fine now as Lelouch says everyone still deserves an apology.

They deserve more.

But she isn't sure what else she has to offer. She started writing one a few times before deciding it needed to be in her own voice. She couldn't be so cowardly as to hide in a letter. She just needed another few minutes to make sure she could start without falling apart in the process.]

Hello. [Long pause.] I would like to apologize to everyone I spoke to yesterday and everyone who saw my awful, shocking post. I am especially sorry to Ken and Syaoran who I... [So much for keeping her voice together. The curse. Dean. Suzaku. It was a very, very emotional few days for her, but she was a princess. She needed to continue, so she did.] hurt. And of course to all of the Japanese for my hurtful words.

I am so very, very sorry.

Umi, Mara, Flynn, Yuri, Lelouch...thank you all so much for stopping me and for helping Ken and Syaoran. I am forever in your debt.

[Pause] Cain, I would like to take some time off of work.

(OOC: Action open to Lelouch and anyone storming the castle. I mean...visiting the apartment.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At first she's rather sure Euphie means the City's doings. But the other girl's behavior brings Ken's words to mind. That once Euphie was made to hurt a lot of people without meaning to.]

...Back home?

...[Nods]

But it wasn't like you wanted to, right? I couldn't believe that.

It was... A lot like yesterday's thing?

[Shakes her head.] No...no. I'd never. Never... I didn't want that.

[Closes her eyes] Worse than yesterday.

So what this place did was make you...? Dammit.

[Umi's hands clench into fists in her lap. Is there no end to how nasty the curses can get??]

None of this should be happening! It didn't have a right to make you go through that again!

[She says nothing for awhile and then finally, softly, she begins.] I usually feel grateful to this place. For giving me more time. For letting me meet all of you. But it's such a high price, isn't it?

If there HAS TO BE a price, it shouldn't be this one. It should never make us go through things we'd rather NEVER do again!

[Can anything she says make Euphie feel any better? Umi doubts it, but at least she's going to try.]

You shouldn't blame yourself for any of this. Or let it ruin the few good things about being here for you.

It just...makes me think about everything that happened at home again too.

I don't know how it worked back then. And I'm definitely not going to ask you to go over that yet again.

The one thing I know is that it was against your will, in both cases! It's hard not to blame oneself for things like this. But this place will get its way if you do.

[She nods. Softly.] I just wish there was something I could do.

To make it better for them?

I told you! You can try to feel better yourself, for their sake. [She tries to smile as best she can, encouragingly.] That's the best way to try to help everyone. Though it's hard...

Yes.

...I'll do my best. [Doesn't look happier.]

[Well. She's not sure if that will work, but Umi certainly didn't expect it to do so like a switch. Euphie needs time too.]

I'm sure glad to hear that.

Ah, the tea is done. [Saved by the whistle.] Do you like yours sweetened or with milk?

Milk will be good. Thanks, Euphie. [Time for a subject change, Umi guesses.] You know, I saw your friend returned here. Suzaku, I mean.

[Stops mid-milk getting and then then after a moment continues.] You did?

He posted to the Network asking for directions! He called himself the "Knight of..." Some number. Just like the last time.

Knight of Seven. It is something that happens after I die.

[Umi cannot help it. She winces at the word "die".]

So you... [But she thinks things over and rephrases that.] So he's from your future? He seemed pretty confused...

[Euphie notices the wince and immediately regrets her phrasing. Did Umi even know she'd been dead? She'd been so vocal when she noticed she was alive again that she just assumes everyone does.]

Yes. I don't know a lot about it.

[In fact, she just found out Euphie had been dead in the first place. But now her memory is at work, she seems to recall that time the other girl was asking about the City Dead. It all makes sense...]

I don't wish this place to anyone, I'll never get tired of saying that. But it also gives great second chances. At least I hope it'll help to have him here with you now.

[Didn't mean to be so morbidly surprising, really!]

I am happy to see him again. I wish... I wish the timing was better. [She felt like she handled greeting him horribly.]

You can't help that. But... if you look it from another point of view, the timing's great! He'll be here for you now. That should definitely mean a lot.

[At least it's how Umi would feel, if this was herself in Euphie's situation and it was Ascot showing up, for instance. No one's considering this case could be more complicated.]

He...

I should be there for him. I'm not sure if he even believes I'm real.

If he's from... before... it must be something really hard to believe, for him. Have you seen him in person already?

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deadly_legacy - 2010-07-22 18:45 (UTC) - Expand

✜023 [voice | open]

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