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[thirsted]

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ASTARION

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[thirsted]

I know, but I
don't know if I could.

Well, for the most part, anyway.

I've been told one of our number isn't fond of Caroline, which does make me rather disinclined to protect him.

[corporeity]

Apologies. I was referring to the next round of attacks.

[ as a reason to justify protecting astarion, above all. ]

But that is quite alarming to hear. Have you told her?

[thirsted]

I'm speaking with her now, but she didn't immediately name him when I asked which of the vampires she didn't trust or care for.

2/2 surprise

[thirsted]

I take it back. She doesn't trust him. And she mentioned — at least when we're restored to ourselves — he poses a unique danger to you. His ability to use magic depends on siphoning it from others.

1/2

[corporeity]

2/2

[corporeity]

Well, I don’t like the sound of that.

[ 😵‍💫 ]

Tim Laughlin considers him a danger to the general populace as well. Named alongside Saber and Danny Johnson.

[ so the shortlist of people we feel good about caging grows…. ya…y…]

[thirsted]

They're certainly not a particularly savory bunch.

I suppose the issue is that their base natures don't guarantee that they're wolves in the game. Alia, Louis, Lauralae — they were compelled to it. I would never have named them.

[corporeity]

Indeed. I suppose we see what evidence our contacts and others bring forth.

Admittedly, I don’t anticipate the Hearts will become major players. We’ve many of the young and afraid, amongst our number.

[ read as: i’m going to adopt the cannibalistic girl’s soccer team ]

[thirsted]

[ so you're saying he'd make a good father ]

Young and afraid could still a wolf make.

[corporeity]

[ to the cannibalistic girl’s soccer team, specifically, yes. ]

Astarion.

[ less warning, more plaintive. he doesn’t want that to be true. ]

I’m rather more worried about another I hold dearer, for the moment. One I would rather not name to any but you.

August is a Diamond, in possession of great power and not insignificant strength, religious inclination, and a history of engaging in blood magic.

[thirsted]

[ He reads the message once, then again— ]

And he's not confided in you about a role that would exonerate him?

[corporeity]

Not as yet. I haven’t asked.

[ he would prefer to never ask. ]

I’ll speak with him.
Please don’t mention anything to Shadowheart just yet.
I’m afraid I trust our newest allies less than she would like.

[thirsted]

I'd keep any secret you asked of me, my love.
I feel the same way, besides.
Has the little cabal been of any use?

[corporeity]

Thank you, my love.

In summation:
• They’ve revealed additional magic users to me, Roza and Wanda of the Diamonds.
• The rumours are sourced from two different teams, Clubs and Hearts, so it’s not a coordinated effort from the Clubs to sabotage the Diamonds.
• There are additional roles, including a necromancer who may speak with the dead and a witch who may resurrect them.
• We haven’t any more impressive leads than Jinx’s cadre of rogues. Well done for your part in that, by the by.

[thirsted]

It was the least I could do, for Paul.

I've nothing from the vampires. One claims that the attack upon Giles isn't characteristic of a vampire or a wolf, but of a shapeshifter. Most of the group also still believes we vampires may be being framed.

[corporeity]

I know Alia and Alina will appreciate it, as will Paul, when he returns to us.

I’m not certain we know enough about what attacked Giles, but the Diamond rumour protects many of you from accusations, when cross-referenced.

[ apart from Armand, Spike, and, worryingly, Caroline. ]

I don’t know how you survived this, the last time. I feel as though my mind itself is being wrung out.

[thirsted]

It's terrible, isn't it?

[ He thumbs over Gale's name on his screen, glad and sad in equal measure to have him here. Glad to have someone to lean on, to support in turn. Sad that someone he loves should be put through a misery he'd do anything to avoid. ]

You wouldn't have been proud of me.
I tried to protect those close to me, but that was all.
It seemed better, to me, to keep my head down and wait for it all to pass than to risk being so scrutinized again.

1/2

[corporeity]

Terrible.

[ agreed, with one hand already knuckling tears from his eyes. ]

[corporeity]

I can understand that.

[ even though gale would not, could not stand by. he can hardly keep himself from speaking up in times of peace. ]

I’m not proud of myself, presently.
I wish to protect you and only you, always and forever.
And yet I ask myself if that is short-sighted, when you would be far safer with the Wolves all caged.

If I protect you one week and die the next, whatever is the point of me?

[ foolish and mortal in the game, as he is in his life. ]

[thirsted]

[ And, in an instant, he sees the whole of the impossible conundrum. It doesn't matter who takes what role, in their little loop — one would always seek the protect the other. ]

Don't worry about me.

[ Sent against all of his better instincts, when he knows doing what he ought will inevitably get him caught— will inevitably put him in danger, text nonchalant when he feels what little color he has draining from his face. ]

I've no target on my back. The game has to end. It did, last year.
No point in wasting a spell on someone who doesn't need one, hm?
I love you. A wolf can't change that.

But don't
don't tell anyone else.
Better they only find out when they must.

[corporeity]

I cannot help it.

[ The worry, which stems from love, overflowing. ]

They asked me, before this began, and I did not hesitate.
I love you.
I love you I love you I love you.
And only you.
Protecting you could never be considered a waste. Not to me.

[ Whether or not it would be strategic (or right) is another thing entirely.

He gathers himself. ]

I’ll not reveal myself.

[thirsted]

And I've no one else to tell.

[ Not even Shadowheart, nor Caroline, nor Louis. ]

Tell me where you are. Let me come to you.
There's no point in spending the rest of the day apart.

[corporeity]

There isn’t, is there.
You’ll find me in the gardens beyond the ruins of main lodge. I needed to take the air.

[ Unsurprisingly. ]

And a seat, amongst the flowers. It seems like to rain soon.

[ According to the ache in his knees. Or maybe that’s just all the scrambling. ]

[thirsted]

[ The commune being what it is, it takes Astarion a little while to find an umbrella, but that's the only detour he takes on his way to the gardens, glancing once at the greying sky but otherwise single-minded in following the path.

He's always known their time together to be limited.

Strange, to be confronted with it so suddenly, now. ]