Private Post - Aura Blackquill

[shacklebreaker]

[Once Blackquill has gotten over the shock of the second ousting, and the fact that he still lives, he takes the first opportunity he can to find Aura. He expects she still must be furious with him, for putting her through all that again, but... their ordeal isn't over yet. He has important matters he wishes to discuss with her.

So when he spots her in the hallway, he draws her aside.]

... Aura. Please, may we talk? [He gestures to the Phantom's room for privacy.]

Comments

[sinistersciencelesbian]

Oh, we can talk, all right.

[She follows him into the room.]

[shacklebreaker]

[Once the door is closed behind them, Taka flutters away from Blackquill's shoulder to perch on one of the bedposts, eyeing Aura inquistively. Blackquill, meanwhile, hesitates. Now he's with his sister alone like this, his steely resolve and bravado all seem to drain out of him.

Instead, all he feels is intense shame, and a deep sense of guilt.]

Aura, I... I wished to ask about yesterday's vote being overturned. Do you know anything about it?

[sinistersciencelesbian]

[Aura blinks a little, caught off-guard. Somehow, that wasn't what she'd been expecting from this conversation.]

No. I mean, not to say I wouldn't have tried it if I had known it was possible, but I didn't.

[shacklebreaker]

I see...

[He frowns, in deep thought.]

I spoke with the Badger in private this morning. There is someone here -- the Badger said it was a she -- who used a power to protect the Phantom from the vote. I thought if not you, then perhaps one of the Feys... Young Maya seemed quite determined she would defend us.

[sinistersciencelesbian]

Yes, I thought she might be the one. She seemed reluctant to play by the rules.

[shacklebreaker]

Would she truly sacrifice herself for a stranger and Mr Armando, however? One would assume she would reserve such a power to protect Wright-dono and the others...

[sinistersciencelesbian]

Not for you, maybe, but Mr. Armando was her sister's boyfriend. The two of them might be willing to make sacrifices for him.

[shacklebreaker]

Perhaps... I have another theory as well, but I must investigate it first.

[And then there was the other matter he wished to discuss... How has it come to this?] The Feys were innocent, according to the Badger. Your team and mine are the two remaining of the clue provided. You realise what that means, I trust?

[sinistersciencelesbian]

I do, but... this can't be the only way! There must be something...

[shacklebreaker]

[That finally makes him lose his temper.] Everyone has been looking for another way since the beginning, Aura! And for all the answers we have found, we have still no alternatives but to cooperate.

Must I beg to be put down, so this suffering might end all the sooner?

[sinistersciencelesbian]

Well, it's no use begging me in any case! I mean, I'll likely be up for voting as well, so I won't be able to vote for you. What do you want me to do?

[shacklebreaker]

If you can, try to prove your own innocence if the vote is between us, and do not try to save me.

[That means no kidnapping attempts either. With or without the robots around.]

Wright-dono's daughter and some others still seem to think I am a liar, and so scrutiny will turn toward you. You must ensure they have no grounds on which to suspect you.

[sinistersciencelesbian]

I'm not as bad as you are, you know.