(4/20/02)
After much mumbling and slamming of the door, Granle finally manages to force the door open, and stumbles into the Gun Room, red-faced and out of breath. "Son of a..." He sticks his head back through the door and yells. "Okay! All clear! Bring the Holy Mother in here, it's fine!" He sits back down on a stool next to the bar, still recovering from his evident hard work in opening the door.
Part one, finished and done with. Yui might not be the most outwardly emotional person, but she is honestly thankful that things have gone as well as they have so far. One false step, one mistake.. And this entire plan would have gone entirely down the drain. The Shevvites would have been caught, and all of this elaborate work for naught...
But Yui is also not one to ponder on 'What if's. Everything has gone perfectly so far. And now it was just a matter of securing the Holy Mother here until she.. Understood just what she was to say and do. And what she was /not/ supposed to. Easily as that.
The swordswoman enters light of step behind Granle. Her face is, for once, rather unreadable. Less is calm etched on her features like an eternal mask than just a sort of distant apathy, wary and somewhat concerned. And busily, busily thinking over what shall be done next and how best to do it. Almost wearily, she quickly find a seat, sitting down with a small sigh before she smooths out her dress a touch and folds her hands upon her lap. "The resident Captain does not appear to be in right now, either... Well. Bring her in. I don't think any of us would mind a wait after that."
Carefully carrying the Holy Mother of Nisan in... well, you know who. Kaori's expression is quiet, grim, and seeming more reminiscent of her attitude while she was still on the mood levellers. Still with one arm looped around Margurite's torso in an all-encompassing way, her left hand slowly lowers, walking closer toward Yui and setting the girl down with a careful gentileness, right on her feet. "I'm so sorry about this..." she whispers again, before backing away with a lowered head.
Be as Gentle as you wish with Margie--If she notices it at all, it's lost somewhere in all of the sheer detached distress in Margie's eyes. It is a hard expression to explain, the look of one looking somewhere on a balance of irritated and afraid and offended. If nothing else, at least Kaori is giving Margie nothing else to complain about. And even she, even now, can not really argue with an apology. Although she sincerely doubts the sincerity of it. Almost childishly, she rubs the arm that was pinned against her side while Kaori carried her, like a child very blatantly nursing a wound sheerly for guilt value. Oh, come now. She's sixteen. She's not meant to be the bastion of maturity. Especially when she's upset. But if nothing else, the long and stressful trip here seems to have at least restored a stubborn edge in her.. Enough to be able to dare to talk again. And those blue, blue eyes are simply -accusing- as she faces them. And her words are low, but quiet. Careful, but unamused. "So what do you intend to do with me? And why have you brought me here?"
Granle shakes his head, his normal color restored. He shudders under the weight of his gun, so he unstraps it and slams it loudly on the convenient bar placed right next to him. "That's for Miss Yui to say. As for me, I wasn't even briefed about what's going on right now." He gently lifts the barrier that separates the inside of the bar from the outside, and begins examining the different wines. "Oh, this might be good." He picks one and turns back to the two Shevvites, his eyes considering the two Shevvites wisely. "So, why -did- we bring her here?"
"Now, there's no need to jump right into things..." Even now, Yui maintains the image of calm, even if she feels very little of it. Even now, when she is being practically glared down by an upset Holy Mother. Yui attempts a smile, although it is small and polite at best, and casually gestures to a nearby chair, "Wont you sit, Mother Marguerite? I am aware that the trip here was a trying one.. You must be tired."
Dodging the question? You shouldn't be surprised. Although the smile falls back into the seriousness of Yui's expressions then, as she re-smooths out her dress.. A small gesture of pent up unease of her own that never reaches her face. And she continues then, somewhat more on target, "And you need not sound so offended, Holy Mother. As I promised, we will not harm you in any way. We merely have need to discuss something with you."
This is one of 'Those Moments'. Thought you were the cold, stoic badass, Granle...? Kaori ups the antee, sliding behind the unoccupied bar and plucking a large brown bottle from the shelves underneath countertop with a single brandy glass. Guilt? Yeah, Margie instilled it rather well, considering everything that's happened in the last day or two. The kidnapping, thinking about the plan just before it happened... why -did- it have to be this way? One hand spins the tin cap free, pouring a good double of ... whatever that disgusting liquid inside is. Knowing her, probably Kislev's worst-- which makes it Pretty Darn Bad. Hope you don't mind, Yui... she's just having a hard time right now.
Her -kidnappers- are having a bad time with this? Imagine what it's like! Imagine what it's like to get a strange summons, to argue and argue with everyone over whether it was save to go at all, to specifically listen even to headstrong -Bart- tell her to not go, and go anyway! What it's like to agree not only to come, but to listen, but to play along, but to write the treaty, to sign it! Margie thought.. She thought she was doing everything to Nisan's -best-. But even.. Even good intentions.. Even trying to do everything correctly... It didn't matter at all, did it? Because for all she tried to do what was right, she ended up playing right into her hands, and getting in trouble all over again. It hurts to make a mistake this major, this imporant. And somehow, that sparks a frustration, a soft anger within Margie that only manages to peek it's way through her cautious fear in sparks and points. But she is unhappy. -Oh-, how she is unhappy. "I'd rather stand, if it's all the same." She responds, a little more sharply than she likely should have. But formality is not a prime thought in her mind right now. "We -do- have a lot to talk about. But I somehow doubt that you have the same thing in mind that I do."
Granle brings out three cups from behind the counter, ignoring Kaori and her bottle of refined Kislevi wine, and plunks it down on the table. "You might as well have a drink," he says, addressing Margie, "You might be here for awhile." He unscrews the cap of the wine he selected, and pours equal amounts of the wine into the cups. "Cheers," he says without emotion, and drinks the wine, all the while watching Margie for her reaction.
We're all nervous here. Even Yui, who even now seems the most serene of the group, is uneasy about the full of this. But she keeps such emotions tucked away neatly, far beneath the calm of her features. Although she wastes no time in gracefully rising and walking to the bar, taking two of the glasses. As she returns to her seat, she sets one down for herself, and sets the other on the far side of the table, in Margie's direction. Almost an offering for the disgruntled girl. "If you wish to stand, that is entirely your choice. I was only thinking of your comfort." She sits down then, pausing to take a sip of the liquid.. Making a small face at it, for all it's not too high in quality.
And it is a long moment before she speaks again, her voice taking on the quieter, almost soothing tone that one might expect a mother to use when trying to calm her unruly child. It is all Yui knows how to do, in a situation such as this one, "Mother Marguerite, I know that you are upset. But I assure you, we only intend the best. And if it must come down to such a low excuse, we are only working on orders. I confess that we have brought you here to shift the blame for the strange occurances in Nisan, as it is, from us to the members of this crew. We have our treaty. And you will soon be among your friends. With the exception of a few unfortunate details, the worst of this is over."
... Wine. Hehehehe. Yes. As if she'd drink -wine-. Kaori takes the drink down like a pro-- only a few mere gulps take the contents of the glass to her stomach, likely not a wise idea with not eating in awhile. The pilot takes both bottle and glass to an independent table just a few steps off the bar, a way of separating herself from Granle, Yui, and Margie, and sits as a silent witness to the proceedings. Hopefully she won't be the hapless doorguard of the Holy Mother, or else the feelings of guilt welling up inside of her will be growing... and that ... just won't be good for the mission. Then again, waking up with a hangover ... might not be as good, either.
'Only thinking of her comfort', 'only intending the best', 'just working on orders', 'the worst of it's over'... Goodness gracious, how many times over is Yui going to soften a basically -immorral- event into something that sounds so sweet and lame that she could very well be apologizing for stepping on the flowers outside the church? Oh! Ever so sorry, I just happened to accidentally use you to write a treaty for your city! Whoops! I turned you over to the enemy! Silly me! ...And Margie is just unsure what to say for a moment. At least she's being somewhat empowered to speak by the fact that the other two Shevvites seem more intent on getting drunk than menacing her. It allows her to continue talking on like an irate teenager. "What did you need that treaty for? What use is it to you to go to so much trouble? And what do you mean? And... 'My friends'...? Are you going to just let me go after all of this? Just like that?" Questions, questions! Whew, can she be blamed? "Just what are you getting out of this?"
Granle sighs loudly. He knew it'd come to this. If only she had drank the wine. His hand tightens on the gun he's so calmly laid on the table, then relaxes. There's no point in getting hot and fussy about it. He pours himself another drink, and stares at Margie. "Maybe it was because Ms. Yui didn't want to make this violent, and it turned out that way. You'd make it much easier for yourself (and us) if you just quiet down, rest and eat a little."
Ah, the tide of questions. It was inevitable that this would come. And Yui only listens to Margie's list of pleas and questions quietly while she gently sips the wine, trying to tolerate it long enough, at least, to finish the glass little by little. One can't be wasteful, after all. She sets the half-full glass down as Margie lists her final questions. And she nods, gently.
"What we get from this is nothing more than what I have told you from the beginning: Shevat's welcome in the City of Peace, regardless of any antipathy any others may show for us." Forget that this 'welcome' will only serve to allow them an undisturbed stay in Nisan while they focus on Jasper. It's technically correct. "As to why we had to be so heavy handed.. I sincerely apologize. I did not really plan for this to happen. But there is a great deal going on, dear, and we can not afford to have Shevat associated with it." But it is the words that follow that are heaviest. The words that follow that strike home the deepest.
"And nor can you, Margurite."
A pause is given for that to settle in- For that line alone, Yui's tone takes a sterner edge. Just as quickly, this is lost. Just as quickly, she contiues on more gently, "Yes, we intend to return you to the Yggdrasil. We have no need to keep you here longer, and I'm certain you'd be more comfortable around your cousin and his crew, is that not true? But Shevat has many plans.. And if we release you, I'm afraid that we can not allow you to share who we are with your cousin or anyone else outside of this ship. I do not like to be heavy handed at all, believe me.. But I'm afraid we must absolutely assure that not a word of this goes any farther than you. That is the only unfortunate detail that must be attended to before we allow you to leave."
But that doesn't make -sense-. Why go to such extremes if all they wanted was an equal welcome? They could have easily signed the treaty and walked away and not bothered with kidnapping Margie at all. But no.. Apparently, it's critical that no one knows that it was Shevat asking for this treaty... Which means that there is something very fowl indeed about. And whatever this 'great deal going on' is has got to explain it. What is Shevat planning that is so critical? It makes the young girl's mind simply bend back in circles trying to follow this train of thought, to guess where it's going, only to dead end and wonder what on -earth- is going on. But that entire puzzled stare of hers goes mildly dumbfounded then. For she does not like that wording. She does not like it at -all-. "...What... What do you mean? You don't want me to tell anyone that you're from Shevat? And.. 'assure that not a word goes any farther'? Are you -threatening- me?" Yui's got -something- planned, that much is for certain. But the sheer -accusation- in Margie's voice is enough to make one skip a beat.
Granle finishes the rest of the wine and picks up his gun. "I'm beat, going to sleep," he calls over his shoulder as he stomps down the staircase. Noises ensue as he apparently tries to make himself comfortably on the couch placed next to the table.
Yui gives a distracted nod over to Granle as he walks off, before she turns back to Margie. And gently shakes her head, trying to smile once more. Somehow, though, it only looks a little sad, "I am not threatening /you/ at all, my dear. Although I doubt that you will take it any better than that."
For a while, that is all that is said. Yui returns to her glass, gently sipping once more. And she sets it down with the barest of sounds before she resettles her hands in her lap, as if what she was about to say was.. A little bit painful for her to have to say at all. She does not particularly enjoy blackmail. She does not enjoy upsetting a girl so innocent and so undeserving of this sort of stress or unease. But what is kinder? Allowing her to go back with her friends, if not silenced, or forcing her to stay with the enemy? ..When one considers the plan, though.. They can't allow the Holy Mother to stay here and worry the pirates more. It's a hard, but inevitable decision to make.
"You have a guardian, Holy Mother. A man named 'Gabriel Taisen'. And if you would be as kind as to not speak a word of us to your friends, I can assure you that he will still be your guardian for another day. That is my deal."
Silence. Margie falls so deathly silent at that that it seems like she almost does not intend to respond at all. Stiff still she stands, those beautiful blue eyes locked wide in -horror-. When finally she does move, it is only to move a shaky hand to her mouth, as if to smother belatedly the small, disgusted sounding noise that escapes her lips. Uneasily, she takes a step back, as if that small increase of space between her and these horrible people could somehow make what Yui just said any easier to bear, any easier to swallow. No. No.. "How could you -do- that?!" It escapes her all at once, in a tone that is suddenly louder and shriller, appalled in it's entirety. "How -could- you?! Gabriel has done -nothing-! You have no right whatsoever to drag him into this, much less threaten him like that!" What are they so afraid of? Why are they doing this? Those are all very valid questions. But for the moment, that is all that escapes the Holy Mother. How dare.. How dare they use her friends against her! And for what? For -what-? This makes no sense! And the Holy Mother is still shaking.. Although now it is nothing of fear. She is -furious- somewhere, beneath this shield of being appalled.
You can literally see Yui /cringe/ in response to those shrill yells. She can hardly help it- While she had expected a negative reaction out of Margie, she didn't expect exactly that. Spirited girl, isn't she? And even if Yui is keeping the swell of guilt carefully guarded behind the wall of duty.. She must admit some degree of respect for the girl to be so much so in a time like this.
And Yui's words are slower, more cautious then.. Still echoing with that quiet, calming tone. "I.. can not really say we /do/ have a right. But we do have a reason. I.. know that this is upsetting to you. You have every right to be. But things are as I have said. As long as you do not tell Bartholomew's crew of Shevat or of what has transpired with us, I can promise you that that we shall do not a thing to him."
Yui tries another smile, so faint, so fragile.. But it is something that falls apart nearly instantly, nowhere near as comforting as she had intended it to be, "It is only for a little while, Marguerite. Right now this graceless condition is all that Shevat has to hide behind. And as long as you are a good girl, Gabriel will be fine, you will be home, and this will be over."
She stands then, taking the empty wine glass as she does, turning to the bar. She gently sets it down, ignoring the fussing urge to clean it and leave it in good condition for the return of the mock Pirates. And she seems to have ended the discussion with that. All she adds is a soft, "I hope, someday, you will forgive us for this, Holy Mother.."
Forgiveness is the -last- thing to ask from the Holy Mother right now. Oh, it's not right at all for the Holy Mother to be so angry that she can not think clearly, that she can not even reasonably sort out the fact that these people were sent on orders, and thus were not just basically evil to the core, undeserving of any mercy or love whatsoever. ..Cough. No. Margie is angry. And emotions blur the senses, rendering everything black and white. And she is yet shaking as she listens to Yui's words, distantly apologetic and so unyielding.. And frustration chokes in Margie's throat. She is too grateful to take a chair then, half collapsing into the nearest one, her posture slumped and one hand gently cradling her forehead. 'Be a good girl'? You'd never know that Yui was talking -blackmail-. That she was playing with someone's -life-. Too angry to cry, too upset to think, she takes Yui's hint to end this conversation. Which is all nice and well, since Margie has suddenly lost any interest in talking to these people at all. Instead, she murmers gently, "...How could you... to so many people who have nothing to do with this..." So soft. So bitter. And that is all the Holy Mother gives. She falls silent then and there, angry and upset and frustrated. And somehow, she wonders, so mildly, so distantly.. Why and how on earth things just had to get so much more phenomenally -hopeless- in so little time.