[It's a few hours later when she'll come to find Alisaie. She's been out on a walk, needing to get rid of that dreadful, nauseous feeling that's come over her. But she'll then go looking for her back at the house.]
. . . Perhaps it's irrelevant now. But we need to talk even so, I think.
[Wow!! This is miserable!!!! Alisaie's been trying herself to calm down after all of that to mixed effectiveness; Susato can absolutely find her back at the house, surprisingly still for once as she's staring at the wall.
But she shakes her head at Susato's words.]
I do not believe it to be any less irrelevant. Pray say what's on your mind.
You told me your suspicions about Okumura-san were based on - what happened at the end of trial, is that what you meant? Some telling reaction after the vote?
[She knows Alisaie was hinting at something, but what it was exactly is hard.]
No. [She shakes her head, but it's going to take her a moment to figure out how to phrase her next words.]
To explain, I must needs speak of something unrelated to yesterday's trial. Pray indulge me and my meaning will hopefully become clear.
After our assigned tasks earlier in the week, several of us were transported beyond the markets. At one point, van Zieks and I found ourselves separated from the others.
[Alisaie sighs.]
I heard Alphinaud's voice there. I know now it was a farce meant to tempt us from our path, but he was calling for me as though he had been lost. He said that he did not have Esmerie with him, that "they" must have taken her when they came for him. I was convinced that the Angels had taken him to that place.
[She nods; she's still choosing her words carefully.]
Based on his behavior on returning to Krankaz, I have strong reason to believe Alphinaud experienced something similar. He has refused to speak of it, but his response when I approached him was... [For a moment, Alisaie actually looks slightly discomfited; he was embarrassing was what he was.] Well. Suffice it to say his behavior went beyond his typical restraint.
We know too that the Angels may speak to us in these cities, without our being pulled to other locales.
Yes, for the first. I had thought that's what you meant to say - I made the accusation, and you never cleanly denied it. That letter Miss Ulrika wrote - wasn't it about you?
[Yeah she still can't say it. Her frustration at not being able to speak the words is probably very visible; COME ON!! Taf, from the bed, lets out a little flat whine, his fur bristling and tail lashing.]
[ain't that a loaded question to ask a jrpg character. Alisaie nods.]
I cannot tell you I've not killed before. Alphinaud and I have seen much and more than many of those here, I'd wager, and in the doing there have been times where we were forced to make war.
[Hmm. She closes her eyes, like she's choosing her words carefully.]
I had the impression that you couldn't help it. Sort of how Mr. Hoover had said he had no choice but to listen. That you didn't . . . have any ability to refuse.
[Normally, Susato would treat this like a puzzle, but she's already quite frustrated by circumstances, and it's hard to feel this lost. These stupid goddamn angels.]
I'm not sure, Alisaie. Because you had met them before? [. . .] Perhaps they had given you instructions, simply not the ones I assumed?
[A huff.]
I wonder, though, if I thought what I first thought, why I - [She trails off, as though she's thinking better of continuing that thought.]
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week 4; sunday
. . . Perhaps it's irrelevant now. But we need to talk even so, I think.
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But she shakes her head at Susato's words.]
I do not believe it to be any less irrelevant. Pray say what's on your mind.
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[She knows Alisaie was hinting at something, but what it was exactly is hard.]
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To explain, I must needs speak of something unrelated to yesterday's trial. Pray indulge me and my meaning will hopefully become clear.
After our assigned tasks earlier in the week, several of us were transported beyond the markets. At one point, van Zieks and I found ourselves separated from the others.
[Alisaie sighs.]
I heard Alphinaud's voice there. I know now it was a farce meant to tempt us from our path, but he was calling for me as though he had been lost. He said that he did not have Esmerie with him, that "they" must have taken her when they came for him. I was convinced that the Angels had taken him to that place.
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Alright. Continue, please.
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Based on his behavior on returning to Krankaz, I have strong reason to believe Alphinaud experienced something similar. He has refused to speak of it, but his response when I approached him was... [For a moment, Alisaie actually looks slightly discomfited; he was embarrassing was what he was.] Well. Suffice it to say his behavior went beyond his typical restraint.
We know too that the Angels may speak to us in these cities, without our being pulled to other locales.
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[Hmm.]
So Alphinaud was worried for you. But I fail to understand.
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Do you remember what I told you happened at the end of last week's trial? What I could not say?
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[. . .]
Are you saying Alphinaud was also. . . ?
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What? No! That wasn't it at all!
[HELP???????????]
You were convinced of my guilt? And now Alphinaud's?
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[What the hell.]
Yes, for the first. I had thought that's what you meant to say - I made the accusation, and you never cleanly denied it. That letter Miss Ulrika wrote - wasn't it about you?
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No, it wasn't. I don't know who she meant by it.
What I tried to say last week was that--
[Yeah she still can't say it. Her frustration at not being able to speak the words is probably very visible; COME ON!! Taf, from the bed, lets out a little flat whine, his fur bristling and tail lashing.]
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[She looks fairly distraught at this, actually.]
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I cannot tell you I've not killed before. Alphinaud and I have seen much and more than many of those here, I'd wager, and in the doing there have been times where we were forced to make war.
But I have not killed here.
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[She sighs, folding her hand in her lap.]
Then I entirely misunderstood you last week. I apologize.
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You needn't apologize. I may not know all the details that led you to your conclusion, but if my own actions contributed to it, so be it.
I'm more surprised you elected to speak with me still, given your suspicions.
[Unless it was to get more evidence but WE'RE IGNORING THAT PART]
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I had the impression that you couldn't help it. Sort of how Mr. Hoover had said he had no choice but to listen. That you didn't . . . have any ability to refuse.
[. . .]
I feel very foolish.
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You aren't foolish at all, Susato. You're nearly there.
What you just said--why would that be the case?
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And they offered him something. But he could have refused it, yes?
[Alisaie frowns, trying to figure out if there's any way to share what she wants to say. Finally...]
...The story I told you before and what you said about why you've continued to speak with me. I must needs leave them to you to find the truth.
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[She seems quite uncertain.]
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Not quite, though close. Let me try once more--
When I heard Alphinaud's voice calling, he said that "they" had taken Esmerie when they came for him.
I was certain he meant the Angels.
Why might I have thought that?
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I'm not sure, Alisaie. Because you had met them before? [. . .] Perhaps they had given you instructions, simply not the ones I assumed?
[A huff.]
I wonder, though, if I thought what I first thought, why I - [She trails off, as though she's thinking better of continuing that thought.]
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But then Susato adds to them, and a look of bemusement comes to her face.]
Why you...?
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[Oh, well. Her body language conveys enough.]
So they gave you instructions, and these instructions are somehow related towards your suspicions about Yukio Okumura-san.
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