mathis

[undread]

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week 0; sunday

[undread]

[after the npc reveal, laudna can be found sitting out near the pyre on her own, with pâté, a dead rat with a bird skull sewn onto his head and bony bird wings, fluttering nearby. she has her long hair hanging down over her face and she's clearly talking to herself outloud.]

...Still nothing from you? How long are you going to give me the silent treatment? You're useless!

[cumulative]

U-um... are you... all right, Madame?

[he doesn't get too close, standing a short distance away with his hands clutching at the fabric of his long shirtsleeves; there's more of an accent with "madame", vaguely french.]

I'm s-sorry for overhearing, but...

[undread]

[she yanks at the hair hanging in front of her face, and turns around to look at him, frowning.]

...Didn't you listen to all of that?

[cumulative]

Y-yes... I suppose none of us are really all right, after... what they said.

[sacrificing everyone-? but they can't just kill all these people...]

If I... if I may, though, who were you talking to...?

[undread]

No one.

[she says it a little bluntly.]

I just want to know what we're going to do about this. I won't be cattle brought to slaughter.

[cumulative]

I don't... want to be, either, b-but I don't know what to do yet... I'm sorry.

[he gives his head a little shake, there, taking a seat.]

If we keep looking, then maybe we'll... be able to figure something out.

[undread]

You don't need to apologize. I wasn't looking to you to give me the answer. If anything, you're likely to be among the ones who die.

You're so polite and apologetic. Those ones always die.

[cumulative]

Huh-?

[heeelp. his eyes quickly widen, at that.]

Are you... expecting some of us to die...?

[undread]

Some of us will die. That's almost a certainty, I think. But maybe you'll get lucky.

[cumulative]

I... I won't just... let it happen.

[probably. maybe.]

[undread]

Good for you.

[she laces her fingers together, excited by this statement.]

Then perhaps it won't.

[cumulative]

Wh-why would you think that I would?

[this is such an introduction to her, but he's left a little more confused than anything.]

Do you see people... die very often?

[undread]

People die all the time.

[yeah i'm sorry for this introduction but also i guess he's getting to see a more honest side of her.]

But it's your demeanor, mostly. The docile ones tend to be the first ones slaughtered, you see. I've been to one of these before, actually. Big brave heroes make it out, but the sweet bystanders who were too polite to protest died in droves.

[cumulative]

In droves...

[he pales a little at that description, then gives his head a little shake, hair falling messily over his shoulders.]

I-I'm definitely not... the brave, heroic type of person. But I think most of us would at least... protest a little... especially if they really want to sacrifice us.

[undread]

Ooh.

[she was bullying him a little (a lot?) but now she looks a little sorry about it.]

It'll be alright. You just need to hide. Go find a place to hide, and crawl in there, and don't come out until it's all over. That's the best way to make it through.

I'll help you find something.

week 0; sunday

[undread]

[where is mathis on this fine sunday? laudna can be found lingering near the pyre a little after the execution, thoughtfully working on a little embroidery hoop.]

...And start again tomorrow, I suppose.

[cumulative]

It... sounds like it, yes.

[he also is lingering near the pyre, actually; he came here to sit and think a little, to just calm down after all of that.]

One of them said it isn't a certainty that the same thing will happen tomorrow, but...

[yeah. probably.]

[undread]

It succeeded well enough, so I don't see why they wouldn't.

[cumulative]

R-right. There isn't any reason not to try again, so if they don't somehow stop them...

[undread]

Exactly! We're doomed. But hopefully the odds won't be against us, individually speaking.

[cumulative]

Doomed? Already...?

[it's been a week and things have already gotten so bad, though, so maybe she's right.]

B-but at least we know more, now, so maybe we'll still...

[undread]

[this cr is just going to be laudna saying ominous things and mathis quaking in fear...

there's something about the way he keeps suggesting it won't be so bad but doesn't seem to believe his own words that she can't resist poking at.]

We'll still do what?

[cumulative]

[it probably is... he's doing his best.]

Maybe we'll still... manage to find a way to do something about it. I don't know what that might be, yet...

week 1; monday

[undread]

[let's explore new locations while we also experience the wonders of affection week. laudna is at the clothing store, inspecting the invisible sewing machine and poking through the available options.]

With a little embroidery and some darts, this seems perfectly serviceable.

[cumulative]

Oh, do you... know much about working with clothing?

[he tilts his head curiously as he glances over; he's been looking through the options as well, because if nothing else, he definitely needs nightclothes that aren't the terrible cult robes they had at first.]