audience: milla

[cyclists]

Comments

week 0, post-trial

[cyclists]

[lune will appear to have returned to the main hall long after everyone has departed. they're seated not at their throne, but neatly in front of tsurumaru's coffin again. there's a sake cup in front of tsuru's coffin, filled, and one in lune's hand. there is a third, empty one available.

they do not seem to be in a rush to move, though as milla approaches, they'll muse gently]

Had someone not just told you that your blood is your precious life source?

I would not give it away on lanterns again.

[tothemaxwell]

[She breaths out her nose, and smiles, seating herself in front of the empty cup.]

I apologize. It was what I had on hand.

[Was that a joke??????]

I won't waste your time with niceties. I offer myself as the tool to separate Mary's spirit from her corrupted body. It is my concern that no one else will put themselves forward for such a heavy responsibility.

[cyclists]

[they'll go ahead and fill up that sake cup for her then.]

You take this on quite readily - even during the proceedings of the trial, you were willing to be the one who would cut a young girl and earned the ire of many.

May I ask what makes you so willing?

[tothemaxwell]

Perhaps you could say that I am used to it.

[It's not untrue.]

But more specifically, I suppose you could say that I am resolute in my mission. Although this is not my world, I see no difference. I will do what I can, what I must, to protect it, and those within it, from destruction, and help those who are not strong enough to assist.

[She looks at the cup, but does not move to pick it up.]

In a way, is that not also my role here?

week 1, post-trial

[cyclists]

[hello milla, lune will go ahead and skip starting indoors and instead she will find them sitting outside underneath the cherry blossom tree. there’s a neat little stone bench and the tea that has been prepared sits next to them

there is a smile in their voice as she approaches]

To be treated to tea by the Lord of Spirits herself - might this be blasphemous in ways?

[tothemaxwell]

[She laughs, an easy sound.]

On the contrary.

Shouldn't the Lord of Spirits treat her beloved defendants as well as they treat her?

[Slipping on to the bench she inclines her head.]

Good evening, Lune. I'm afraid I wasn't quite as effective this week.

[cyclists]

Good evening, good evening.

[and regardless of the state of milla’s tea, it appears as though lune is drinking it without issue]

Do you not believe you were? I had thought that your performance was as satisfying as it was the week prior.

You always do your best, do you not?

[tothemaxwell]

[There is a clear note of pride over the fact that Lune is actively consuming her shoddy attempt at teamaking.

However, her expression shifts as she considers the day, shaking her head.]

No. It was in no way satisfying.

Up until the very end, I had doubts and was unsure. My lack of experience with the electrical devices was my downfall, and we did not even begin to crack the mystery of the second case.

Regardless of whether or not I was doing my best, our success was still based on a fluke. I will not make the same mistake twice.

Week 2, Tuesday

[cyclists]

[It would appear as though a visitor has decided to pay you a visit today. Sol is waiting in your home once you choose to arrive, a scroll in hand, which they pass to you wordlessly:]

.

Nebula

Every Tuesday, the Nebula will be approached by one or both of the Signs and be presented with the gift of reforging bonds. This may take effect in the form of binding a pair of partnerless players together, or choosing two players to swap and repair.

While the Signs may encourage the Nebula to choose, the power itself is optional. If the Nebula chooses to skip this week, there will be no change implemented. However, the Signs will warn the Nebula that this power has a time limit. If it is not used before then, it will disappear on its own.

Additional notes:
The Nebula will be allowed to ask questions about the ongoings of the games and communicate with the Signs if it will help them make a decision. However, the information received will be up to the Signs' discretion.

Best of luck.

.

[Sol's arms are folded over their chest and they're leaning against the closest wall as they wait for you to finish.]

So? What do you think?

god bless you for posting this early lordt

[tothemaxwell]

[Milla takes the scroll silently, and reads through it, expression neutral as ever when faced with responsibility.

When she finishes, she rolls it up, turning it over in her hands.]

So I find myself with two roles.

[She's not complaining.]

What is meant by "swap and repair"?

[cyclists]

That you do, but I trust you with both of them. [They wave a hand.] To swap and repair is to trade two people for one another, creating two new partnerships.

So, for example, to...use those who passed on...if Nana and Junna were a pair, and Tokidoki and Futaba were a pair, you could swap so that Nana and Futaba became a pair and then Tokidoki and Junna would be a pair.

But this power is a one-time use.

[tothemaxwell]

I see.

So, using this power to swap people would mean that, if, at the end of the trial, there was more than two people lacking a partner, the remainder would succumb to the severed connection, and be erased?

week 3, wednesday

[cyclists]

Milla.

[lune will beckon her closer once she approaches, having encouraged her to come to the garden. the offering that she sent sits next to them, and their hood moves as though they're trying to get a better look at her]

You look much better.

[they might have been worried]

It seems like your experiment was a bit more potent than you anticipated.

Re: week 3, wednesday

[tothemaxwell]

[OOF

At Lune's comment, she bends over at the waist, nearly laughing in disbelief and embarrassment.]

Yes, I had no idea how troublesome it would be! Everyone has been asking me who cursed me... suffice to say, it was a complete failure.

I can't see myself using it tactically, for the moment, either—although I daresay there are some strategies. For the moment, I almost wish I could exchange it for another ability.

[cyclists]

[there is simply a laugh]

For all your studies on humans and their fascination with romance, this still managed to take you aback, didn’t it?

[it’s kind of funny,

but since they’re talking about this in a more recent thread i’ll just continue that thread of conversation there (fingerguns)]

[tothemaxwell]

[FINGERFUNS]

It certainly did. In a way, I believe I was caught off-guard by the severity of it. Resisting was more difficult than I'd imagined—I've never felt quite like that before. If that is truly a way some humans feel consistently, I rather pity them.

[...]

However, the experience in and of itself... I suppose that was, in its own way, priceless.

week 3, saturday

[cyclists]

[Lune will be seated underneath the cherry blossom tree again, a nice blanket spread out this evening. Milla’s tea sits beside them, though they’ll be drinking from one cup as she approaches - ]

Excellent work today again, Milla.

Re: week 3, saturday

[tothemaxwell]

Hm.

[She takes the other cup, and pours some for herself, swirling it around and staring at it.]

There was another killer. Wasn't there.

[cyclists]

There was.

However it is not over yet.

[and that’s the reason why lune can still sit around drinking tea]

You are still unsatisfied?

[tothemaxwell]

I do. I feel less useful than I might be during trials.

My guesses have been often off-base, and I find myself second-guessing my own reasoning. Others have saved us many times, and yet, I can't say that I feel as though I contribute much more than my own willingness to carry out certain actions.

[...]

When you say it is not over yet. Do you mean there is still chance to catch the other?

week 5, sunday

[cyclists]

[BREAKS MY ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE TIMELINE BC HE TRADITION IS IMPORTANT

but

lune will be sitting underneath the sakura tree, his gaze resting upon the house where four is imprisoned for the evening - though his gaze rises when milla approaches. he gives her a smile underneath the moonlight, not as easy to read as usual than usual]

You have improved, Milla.

[tothemaxwell]

[She approaches at an easy gait, and leans against the tree, favouring Lune with a smile, before casting a look thoughtfully in the same direction.]

On Shirasu's advice.

As always, I am borne upwards by the assistance of others, it seems.

[cyclists]

Aren't we all?

[lune figures that a lot of people could say the same thing about their experiences here

but he'll just continue to sip his tea]

What do you make of all this?

week 6, sunday

[cyclists]

[tbh lune didn’t do much this trial

but he’ll be hanging out underneath the sakura tree anyway, pleasantly sipping on the tea that milla’s prepared. when she approaches, he again gestures for her to take a seat next to him]

... thank you for your service again today, Milla.

[tothemaxwell]

[Today, she does sit, contemplating the petals.]

You are complimentary as always, Lune. Thank you for your continued faith.

Thank you for letting Sol have the opportunity to show his abilities. He was outstanding.