corporeity | INBOX

Do you truly believe in your own guilt?

[ knowing full well stefan, klaus, and caroline will trade notes about this later: ]

Did my case leave you with doubts?

I've suspected you from the start. First, due of your knowledge and capability. Now, because of the evidence. Yet considering August has kept his head, perhaps that faint whiff of lavender was planted as well.

Doubts are all we have.

That, and the strained and exhausted concerns of our loved ones. ( he saw caroline's flight from the accusations. he saw stefan chase after her, no doubt providing all the comfort she could need. )

So late in the game, what does it matter if it is you, your beloved, or the Shepherd himself?

Fair play. I have been surprised no one considered me, particularly when I’m ever so prideful in the matter of my abilities. And I suspected you as well, you know, though I diverted attention each time your name arose. I even urged Giles to focus on Armand before his accusation.

You share my awareness of the ticking clock, it seems. And so I raise you this: It matters if it is my beloved, because in this, what I believe to be the final round, those in the cage are far more vulnerable than those outwith it. The Alpha is the variable that differs from last year, and so I fear it will punish another of the caged wolves. Perhaps any and all who are caught.

I am confident I would be safe in those cages, which you may take to mean as you wish. I am not certain Astarion will be, or you, or my pupil, all of whom Timothy Laughlin set his eyes upon, when the latest rumours emerged. He warned me of his intent to accuse, and Astarion asked that I walk him to the gallows, rather than allow a stranger to berate him and damn him before all.

And so now, I would have Astarion place fourth in the vote, whatever the cost.

So you would rather hope to take his place.

( klaus cannot fault him that.

that sort of strategy, he does understand. furthermore, timothy laughlin continues to be a thorn in his side: unsurprising, that he would stab a few others. )

I'll wait, and vote accordingly, should it help. For his sake.

Caroline needs you. I would ask that you speak to her, to ease her mind.

I would, if it comes to that.

Thank you, Klaus.

[ because he doesn’t think Astarion or Dom guilty — but if they are, the cage is more dangerous the crowd, at this point. ]

I
You’re quite right. I would have spoken to her first, if I did not think she would stop me. I’ll reach out to her now.

That all said, I’ve a means of proving myself, if I need to remove my name from contention, but I cannot do so until the numbers shift. In the meantime, I’ve sent Stephen and Stefan after alternative suspects.

Finch Wyatt may be the light-haired Spade we’re looking for. A hunter, skilled with blade and bow. A blood mage. A former cult member, surely familiar with religious symbolism. Stephen will seek him, as the one who killed his Lanfear. He spoke to her, through his role of Necromancer, and she named her murdered a Spade. That could not be my Astarion, when she was killed bloodlessly.

For our Heart, I have offered Bucky Barnes to Stefan. A superhero, a dark-haired male, and in possession of the superior strength and red collar required to remove dear Koby’s head from his person.

He's also a werewolf, and not one with much control. I've ran with him.

( so much for solidarity between species. it was a comfortable ruse, cementing some power through false camaraderie. he should have known better than to place the burden of security on such tenuous links.

his loyalties are clear. )

Well.
That’s unexpected.
Additionally, Stephen has confirmed he shares the skillset of Yelena Belova. A trained assassin. A sharpshooter. A dark-haired heart. A werewolf. A superhero. Surely it’s enough, when they would accuse Astarion and I for less.

Are you willing to chum the waters, then?

[ while stefan’s player is at work… ]

[ attached, as a follow-up. ]

He's confirmed this with the man himself?

Yes, he has.

Barnes will fight. His friends might join him. It is a risk for you to step forward, undoubtedly, even while already accused.

Stefan has done the honors. ( because stefan's player at work is still quicker than me!!!! ) Let's see how this plays out, shall we?

How gentlemanly of him.

Thank you again. Both of you. I’ll not forget this.

[ a beat. ]

I suppose I needn’t be so coy now: You and I share a role. I’ve protected Astarion twice, but between the first and second rounds, I chose Melissa and told her as much. In the end, I guarded the wrong Yellowjacket, but it was her birthday, and I did not wish her to worry any longer that she would not see it through. She can vouch for me, should it be required.

Have you been protecting Caroline?

It's best it comes from him, anyway. He takes no joy from it.

( he, on the other hand, might find himself entertained.

the rest of what gale provides is no more or less a surprise than anything else. after a thousand years and the past few weeks, he's learned to expect the unexpected. )

If all goes well tonight, she can vouch for you later.

Yes. I was compelled to protect Roza this last round, given the probable threat against her. It seems we were both mistaken, despite all our efforts.

I did consider Roza for the same reasons. And Ani.
How strange, that of those of us with a greater purpose in this game, only Set was ever targeted — perhaps not for his role, then.

[ but for his terrible personality... hm. ]

I must admit that I think us unlikely to have caught more than half of our wolves, but I haven't the faintest idea who else I might have put forward for the gaol. The evidence has been lacking throughout.

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