[There's a slight delay as Cardinal remembers to change their handle.]
Cardinal Chases Dawn: ZRAEL came over last night; we got smashed and took some memories. I wanted you to see it. I know what my old name used to be, now.
Regardless, come inside—I'll show you the upgrade.
All LiliS bedrooms feature twice the floor space than standard, with beds big enough to fit three people comfortably. Each bedroom is soundproofed. Doors are lockable, and can only be opened by an old-style key that is slotted into the room owner's phone whenever it's not being held by them - even if it's thrown out or stolen it will simply reappear in its place. On the door is a padlock, which can be locked either with the key or via phone. And then her own custom features.
[ There's a moment of mild surprise that they're evidently too tense to actually do any "settling in," and then the memory captures her attention entirely. She is silent as she watches the scene, and very, very still.
And for a full minute after it ends, she stays silent. ]
It's been a number of seasons, now, since you told me you were an assassin. I admit I did not contemplate this, as the method... Ojiro...? [ testing out the name ]
[ lifting her head from the phone to meet their eyes; her voice is even, too, though the conscious effort behind that control hovers over her like surface tension on a water droplet ]
What method is that? I— I don't think I've ever seen you cry.
The O. S Assassination System. My bash' managed transit for the entire world, and we used the data from that to pick targets that could be made to look like accidents without arousing any suspicion as to our real target.
[ She reaches for their hand, at that first part—just enough to grasp lightly at their fingertips, if they let her. The second, though, makes her brows crease slightly. ]
I... don't follow.
[ Transit, to her, still means ships and caravans; "data" about it could at best refer to merchants' ledgers. ]
[They hesitate for a moment, working through how to explain.]
Technology like our phones allows various data to be recorded. Where you go, what you like, who you interact with. It's possible to use data like that to make pretty sophisticated predictions, especially when you have that data for a whole planet's population.
[ Amaranth resists the urge to pull them all the way up against her; instead, rests a hand at their shoulder, fingers trailing gently against the nape of their neck. ]
And yet you are troubled, still. [ a pause ] I have murdered at least one innocent in the name of duty. At the time, I believed them... Anathema, but still that death haunts me.
[Cardinal shakes their head, and it doesn't seem like they're going to say more until they do.]
I would fail.
[Of course no one would kill the innocent if they could avoid it. But it still feels unmooring to admit they'd be unfit for the duty they had all their life.]
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Cardingan Hey, are you free?
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Cardinal Chases Dawn: ZRAEL came over last night; we got smashed and took some memories. I wanted you to see it. I know what my old name used to be, now.
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Demeter: I think I would like to see it as well, then. Can you come to LiliS? My room upgrade request finally came through.
Demeter: 😉
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[And they must have been close by, because there's a knock on the door in under five minutes. Cardinal looks fresh from a shower.]
hey i'm alive. ish.
[ her own hair is tied back and damp, too; their schedules really are similar ]
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Regardless, come inside—I'll show you the upgrade.
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[Immediately walking over to the landing.]
I like it. It's... peaceful.
[Only Cardinal could say that about a room full of weapons.]
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I'm glad it's possible to get the view of the garden, too. Gives me space to enjoy it without bothering the others.
So. [ taking a seat at the edge of the much-enlarged bed ]
Where do you want to settle in for this? Since now you've got options.
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Casually, because this is casual and they're not nervous at all because they stand by their decisions:]
Here is fine.
[Still standing, they hand her their phone, and this memory plays.]
ok i HAVE to stop being a baby about tags before i'm too spoiled to respond to this properly
She is silent as she watches the scene, and very, very still.
And for a full minute after it ends, she stays silent. ]
It's been a number of seasons, now, since you told me you were an assassin. I admit I did not contemplate this, as the method... Ojiro...? [ testing out the name ]
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Evenly,]
It's a method that could only exist in my world.
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What method is that?
I— I don't think I've ever seen you cry.
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The O. S Assassination System. My bash' managed transit for the entire world, and we used the data from that to pick targets that could be made to look like accidents without arousing any suspicion as to our real target.
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The second, though, makes her brows crease slightly. ]
I... don't follow.
[ Transit, to her, still means ships and caravans; "data" about it could at best refer to merchants' ledgers. ]
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Technology like our phones allows various data to be recorded. Where you go, what you like, who you interact with. It's possible to use data like that to make pretty sophisticated predictions, especially when you have that data for a whole planet's population.
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[ then, lifting her chin to meet their eyes, expression focused ] It is harder to find the honor in such a tactic. Something so impersonal.
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Assassination is rarely honorable business. It was my duty, and I took pride in doing it well.
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I know you would never do anything you did not wholly believe in.
[ a pause, then she tugs lightly at their fingers ] Sit next to me?
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And yet you are troubled, still.
[ a pause ] I have murdered at least one innocent in the name of duty. At the time, I believed them... Anathema, but still that death haunts me.
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I would fail.
[Of course no one would kill the innocent if they could avoid it. But it still feels unmooring to admit they'd be unfit for the duty they had all their life.]
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