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Aerith,

Still, be careful. Such a blessing is more of a curse, truthfully. It is a burden. Joyous though it may be, it comes with weight. But you, I think, understand such things.

Have Cloud and Zack join us and place an order for pick up with Angeal. We can start the morning in the sweetest tangle of limbs.

Yours,
Regina

Regina,

I will be. While it does feel achingly familiar, there's always a price for such things. Neither am I used to revealing everything. Not even to those I love.

You paint a wonderful picture, Regina. It sounds like you've done something similar before! I'll let Angeal know. We'll give you an unforgettable morning.

Always,
Aerith

Aerith,

I'm sure you'll be exempt from the weight of duty that comes with this particular gift. It's nothing something Koriim would give to someone from another world, that expectation of duty. It would be grossly unfair.

A time or two, yes. Whenever you'd like, whenever works best for you.

Yours,
Regina

Regina,

You're sweet, but I'm not so certain. Life isn't fair. But I will wait and see, before acting on assumptions. Who knows? It could be just a backup plan, that will never come to fruition.

I see. I'll send a letter, soon. I would have said tonight, but I've already made plans. I'll try to make it worth the wait, somehow.

Always,
Aerith

[ Is this better or worse that Regina doesn't know? Mami can only watch the other's expression with a worried, anxious one herself, like she thinks Regina might lash out at her in anger or worse, disappointment.

But what she gets seems to be neither. ]

Yes... Apparently the information I asked for isn't something easily given. [ Mami is quick to raise her hands in front of her almost defensively. ] B-But I don't plan on actually daring you! That's not... that's not fair to you, when it's a selfish question.

You have to. It's in the rules. If not, Lucille will punish both of us.

[Her voice is patient without being condescending or sanctimonious. Mami knows the rules just as she does - or she should. Regardless, it's a gentle reminder.]

So let us craft something that is both appropriate for me and appropriately foolish. [She covers a yawn.] And if we cannot... [With a shrug, Regina gives Mami a small smile.] I am accustomed to finding loopholes.

[And it would be foolish for Lucille to force certain actions against her. Regina is not one of the Maeve, but she is not without power. Better for her to love the Maeve than despise them. Lucille is smart enough to know that.]

Maybe I can convince her to punish me twice, so that you would be spared...

[ Her voice is quiet, scared, like she still expects Regina to hate her for having brought her into this at all. A moment of bad decision making that Mami fears will make her lose another friend. Even her little smile does little to make the usually calm and relaxed Mami cease her anxious body language. ]

The fool calls for something terrible, I don't want to see you hurt or anything.. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

Mmm, doubtful. But Lucille would be an idiot to hurt me badly.

[Witches are long-lived and hold grudges. Kind though Regina is, she is her mother's daughter and a witch at that. It will do Lucille no favors to cause her lasting damage or scarring of any kind.]

It need not be terrible, simply... overwhelming. Dare me to attack Alucard - that would be foolish, dangerous. Or to submit to someone who has the power to hurt me. [A little laugh escapes her, as if she finds the idea of that utterly ridiculous.]

[ Even hurting Regina a little is something Mami wants to avoid, even though it was inevitable given she was stupid enough to say the other girl's name to Lucille at all. And she's going to feel sick about it until this is over and maybe even then some.

Mami only ends up biting her lip in response. ] ...Which person is Alucard?

A vampire.

[Shifting in her chair, Regina finally sits mostly upright, a slight cant to her head as she studies Mami. Had she not queried Lucille herself, it would be easier to weasel out of a dare - she hadn't participated, couldn't be held to the rules of a contract she hadn't agreed to, and so forth. Since she had, her weaseling had to be much more clever.]

A very dangerous one.

[Lucille doesn't know that Alucard has any interest in her. Hopefully, Lucille doesn't know much of Alucard at all - that he's just as likely to laugh and set someone away from him for an attack as he would be to viciously murder them.

It depends quite a lot on the day and the alignment of the stars, his temper.]

Dare me to attack him. Such a thing is sufficiently foolish.

[A jewellery chest is left for Regina. Within it are a number of rings, all beautifully crafted, all quiet of magic. Their powers only activate when the trick to them is used, making them perfect to slip past the attention of anyone.

Inside the box is a note.]

Regina,

Give these to those you would trust with your soul.

Metaphorically speaking.

-♛

[Ahtem, her massive bodyguard who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Rock, delivers two letters to Dorian in response.]

D—

Such a wonderful gift. Are you proposing to me, Dorian? I fear I must decline though I am sorely tempted.

—R

[The second letter provides a cipher inside of a cipher, a way to encode messages. She wants an explanation, friend. A fire elemental devours the paper as soon as it has been read and then crackles a giggle at Dorian. It proceeds to burn a few things (the edge of a book, the hem of Dorian's sheets) because fire elementals will be fire elementals.]

Edited 2015-11-16 19:51 (UTC)

[ A vampire? Mami can only blink a few times in response. She wasn't sure such things really existed, though she knows better than to really question it now. It's still a bit of a surprise, and it only worries Mami more, especially since Regina isn't helping make her feel any better with the whole "he's incredibly dangerous" thing there... ]

...I won't make you go alone, Miss Regina.

[ She might agree to dare her to attack him, but Mami insists that she is there, that if anything happens he would turn his anger on her instead. ...It's not like her life is worth all that much. ]

[Regina frowns slightly - and then makes a quiet, startled noise.]

Oh, no, please, Mami. Don't worry for me. I know Alucard. I know...

[Well. Saying she can manage him is idiotic. No one can manage the truly insane, and Alucard? If he isn't truly insane, he's certainly very close. But he does have patterns of behavior. Even if they are completely unpredictable.]

I know him. [Shifting, she leans forward, bridging the distance between her and Mami with a touch of her hand.] Understand, I know him well enough to know, too, that I will be safe.

[Sort of.]

And I am... capable of defending myself. Trust me.

[She gives Mami's arm a light squeeze.]

[ Mami's mouth opens again to protest, to tell Regina the same thing again, to make her realize that Mami can't ask her to do anything dangerous.. and finds herself silent with the touch on her arm. It's not usual that she finds herself in a sort of dynamic where she's so easily quieted, but she's seen enough of Regina to know that she can trust her when she says such things. ...Especially when she doesn't even hear the usual stammering and nervousness in Regina's voice. ]

I don't expect you to forgive me so easily. And if you end up hurt because of me I won't forgive myself.

Forgive you? For what? What should I need to forgive you for?

[It's not innocence or naivete that compels her to say such a thing. She's lost so much of that, though her faith in people is still unwavering. But they both chose to participate in Lucille's game. Holding the desire for knowledge against someone? That Regina won't do.

It would make her a hypocrite.]

I will end up hurt regardless. This is not your fault. You named me, yes, but Lucille chose my name and the severity of the dare. [She doesn't point out that if Mami hadn't named her, this would be a non-issue. There's no reason to feed the other girl's guilt.] As I said, I can defend myself. And the way Alucard is inclined to hurt... [A fond smile turns up the corners of her lips, and her fingers lift from Mami's arm to feather absently over her neck.] I don't mind all of them.

[As for the others, well. She broke his jaw once. Maybe she'll break his kneecaps this time. That would be a refreshing change of pace.]

I can't expect you to just go through with this without letting you ask something from me in return.

[ It doesn't need to be said, but they both know exactly what Mami is guilty about, the fact that she put Regina into that position to be picked, that Mami should have known better. All she can do now is look around the room, as if trying to find something.. ]

I-I could help you here, if you need another maid. Or I could take some work off your hands. Please... I want to make it up to you somehow, before I dare you to do something that might get you hurt.

[ She isn't necessarily begging... yet. But if Regina doesn't give her something to feel better about she might end up on her knees. Though she doesn't miss that Regina might almost be able to find some potential enjoyment with Alucard, it doesn't do much to make her worry less. ]

Mami.

[Her voice is sharp. Commanding. The sleepiness that has plagued her expression dissipates in an instant.]

Enough of this. We knew the dangers when we decided to play. You thought naming me an acceptable risk. Had I not wanted anything to do with this game, I would not have played, and I would use that as a reason not to uphold my end of a contract I had not agreed to.

[She makes an expansive gesture.]

You named me. You put my name against a fool dare. Surely you realized this would be a possible outcome. I realized, when I made my request of Lucille, that I would be tacitly agreeing to the rest of this. You need not make it up to me. There is nothing to forgive. We both agreed to participate in this thing.

[Folding her hands in her lap, she lifts both brows.]

There is no debt between us. I can ask nothing of you - I would not ask anything of you.

[ Mami shrinks down, just a little, having realized there's no more recourse for her to try to make it up to Regina. Either she really does forgive her, or this is the end and there isn't anything more Mami can do. Of course, she's the type of girl who blames herself for her parents death in the car accident that was supposed to kill her, because she wished that she wouldn't die, but forgot to wish for their lives as well. Being unable to forgive herself for mistakes and wanting to constantly fix them is what drives Mami as a person. ]

I think I knew deep down that you are stronger than anyone else I know. And my question of her is important. I need to know how I can become a normal human again.

[ So now, she bites her lip, nodding a few times, before taking in a deep breath. ]

Then... I dare you to pick a fight.. with Alucard. Even though it might be incredibly dangerous.

[Her voice gentles.]

I am what I am. If that makes me strong, then I am strong.

[Odd. She expected some compulsion to carry through the dare, but as Mami speaks, she feels nothing. No compulsion, no need.

She will, of course, carry through. This is an acceptable dare. She feels no need to weasel out of it.]

Normal human, though? [They've never talked about Mami's old life.] You're not?

[ Mami would mention the many ways Regina has shown her strength to Mami, but given how things are at the moment, she almost feels like it would just sound patronizing. ]

I believe you are.

[ This time, Mami had spoken knowing what the outcome would be. She mentioned her question of Lucille almost hoping that Regina would ask about it, so that she could have a chance to explain herself. Maybe then Regina might really understand why Mami did what she did, not out of some game or anything as inconsequential as that. ]

I'm not a human. Not anymore. I was granted a wish, and I became a Puella Magi. My soul is now inside here... [ She lifts the ring on her finger, the sparkling, almost mesmerizing jeweled thing, trying to take deep breaths. ] My body is just a husk, I don't have to eat or sleep, and my body can't be destroyed unless this is... I'm not really even alive anymore.

Edited 2015-11-17 20:49 (UTC)

[ One morning upon Regina's sitting table is a simple present. A chess set. However, it is far from a traditional piece. There is no King on the White side, only a Queen bearing the mark of Koriim. Around her are six knights instead of two and each piece bears a unique symbol. They are old things, not seen outside of text books now and harken back to the days when the people prayed more to the gods in earnest and received their blessings. When Queen's had warriors that were always blessed by the gods of Mokosh. Instead of rooks, there are two rogues and they as well bear a singular mark on each piece of trickster gods who lent their blessings to those fleet of hand and sharp of eye. One bishop is male, the other female and finally two mages – one male and female – both holding staves. Like all the other pieces the last four hold marks as well. Those of bishops are of blessing for quick tongues and the ability to see through lies and the mages a bit more complex as they embody each of the elements. The final three pieces are in the shape of pawns and bear no mark.

Each piece is glass and detailed beyond what any normal set would see. The board itself made of polished, ancient oak.

With it is a simple note. ]

The earliest of chess sets on Mokosh were devised by royalty to display their strengths. They only used pawns when they had no others.

[ Odd perhaps, but one of the Black Knights has no head. ]

[Regina goes rigid.]

Your soul?

[Though her face betrays only a sense of weight and gravity, she's clearly horrified or shocked or some combination of both. Her posture is too stiff to communicate anything else. Staring at the ring, she licks her lips. Her fingers lace together in her lap and she grips her hands so strongly her fingers turn white.

This is not good. This is precisely the opposite of good.

But Mami's world runs on its own rules. Those rules have no bearing here.]

That doesn't mean you're not human. [The words come slowly, delivered with as much gravity as is written on Regina's face.]

[THANKS, FIRE ELEMENTAL.

The coded reply message says simply this:]

Just try it on to see how it feels.

[Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing else committed to writing.

Only when she wears it, in the privacy of telepathic thought, will he talk to her.]

[After lengthy consideration, Regina slips one of the rings onto her finger. She senses the magic in it come to life immediately, a gasps aloud with delight.]

Dorian. I didn't know you knew such magic.

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11/17

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