sieghart

[floristic]

woo

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Week 0: Saturday

[ercnerd]

[Thanks to the paper sign, it's easy to track Kaoruko down to the classroom on the first floor (how merciful). He opens the door and steps inside with a frown. He wants to get a look at her before he says anything.]

[floristic]

[ well, she's sitting at a desk with her head down. kaoruko lifts it when she sees him, and she bites her lip a little nervously. ]

[ercnerd]

[He lingers before the doorway, watching her in silence for another beat.]

Why did you do it?

[floristic]

[ she considers... ]

I won't say.

[ercnerd]

[He grits his teeth.]

Did someone put you up to it?

[floristic]

[ she sighs, looking at the wall. ]

I just wanted him dead.

[ercnerd]

What kind of an answer is that?

[He pulls himself back. There's no point in yelling.]

. . . Was it worth it?

[floristic]

[ ... she has to think about this too.

a little longer than the previous question. ]

I hope it was.

[ercnerd]

[He doesn't get it. He doesn't get it and it's trying what little patience he's got left, because there are too many unanswered questions.]

Was it you who moved me?

[floristic]

[ she shakes her head. ]

No. I saw you, but I don't know why you were out there.

[ercnerd]

[What a contemptible place. Sieghart folds one arm in front of his chest, pinches the bridge of his nose with his other hand, then crosses both arms.]

Did Bloody Mary bite you?

[floristic]

[ oh

she points at her leg, closer to the ankle. her sock is covering what she is pointing at. this is why you strip check, folks ]

[ercnerd]

You got off lucky. Even if they scar, bites can heal.

[floristic]

Well, I'm going off to... wherever you go when you're expelled tomorrow!

So maybe I'll get a better punishment then?

[ercnerd]

Cut it out.

For the record, I'm angry with you. But we don't know what it means to be expelled and I'm not about to gloat over a kid's misfortune.

[floristic]

You should...

[ it's muttered. ]

But tomorrow is my problem.

[ercnerd]

I know it is.

[She killed someone. The onus is on her to receive punishment. But from a place like this . . . His eyes narrow.]

[floristic]

[ she just nods... ]

Do you have anything else to ask?

[ercnerd]

Are you going to give me a straight answer if I do?

[floristic]

It depends on what you ask.

[ she will be honest about that at least. ]

[ercnerd]

Then tell me how you're feeling.

[floristic]

... okay?

[ a pause, followed by a soft laugh. ]

I don't know what to say? Of course I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen to me. I've never... done something like that before. I don't know what to think. Everything's a mess. But saying all of that won't do anything. It doesn't change anything, so what's the point?

[ercnerd]

Taking a life has a more profound effect on your psyche than most would think. That's why you feel that way.

[To him, there's no worse punishment than the weight of a life on one's shoulders. That's only if the killer has a conscience, though, and he wants to hope that this admission of confusion means Kaoruko has it, even if he's only known her for a week.]

Regardless of what happens next, that's going to stay with you for the rest of your life.

[floristic]

I know that. None of you are telling me anything I don't already know by this point.

[ there's a slight huff, and she'll turn her attention to the window. ]

If that's all, you can go.

[ercnerd]

I don't know what to tell you, Blue.

[She's acting just like the kid she is, responding to stress with anger. But the source of that stress is murder, and he still has no idea why she did it. He's not kind enough to let that slide.]

But I'd be a pretty poor grown-up if I left a scared kid alone.