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Priscilla     The process of checking Yorshka for weapons and other tools of deceit is a pretty quick one. Being almost a literal princess locked away in a tower, it seems pretty much anything of her own had been moved in as comforts, or else wielded by her loyal followers. It's plausible she could potentially be a sorcerer or the like, but even in the case that she is, she doesn't seem keen to take on half a dozen Elites with it. More likely than not, the Darkmoon Concord is the only thing intrinsically in per possession; powerful, but useless if she's deliberately sent away its members on goose chases elsewhere.

    It's almost definitely for the best that this all takes place at night. As per usual, the people still out (fewer than usual now) avoid the outsiders by a wide margin, but their escort mission NPC either can't, or won't go ghost mode like her potential(?) relative(???) can. It's a process of shuffling around in a guard circle towards the Citadel Palace, thankfully keeping someone so tiny from sight, until arriving at the gargantuan, solid metal gates, that are kept well closed at this hour.

    Flanked by a number of knights, and the two giants in what must be tons of gold-plated armour that work the heavy door mechanism, the majority of the group pretty much has a free card to pass, presuming it be on business and Priscilla not revoke it on grounds of being pestered unnecessarily. Without much of anything having to be said, the giant sentinels part and grab hold of the gigantic levers, and begin the process of engaging the mechanism, when their superior height lets them peer into the core of the group.

    For a change, even the gigantic, silent, stoic, and immovable defenders of the city, stop dead in what is entirely palpable confusion. Even the knights to either side, equally unreadable at the best of times, start to shift uncomfortably in their armour; definitely a first as well. It takes a little while before one at the head, wearing a gray cape, hand gestures at the giants, and the levers are done with, parting the absurdly proportioned gates just enough for people to trudge through, getting lofty, vacuous, moonlit halls of the palace at night, with every footstep seemingly echoing for miles.
Reiji Arisu Reiji isn't surprised at the lack of hidden weaponry, but it never hurts to check. Nor is he particularly stunned at the reactions of the palace guard. As he recalls, Priscilla's appearance was said to be somewhat inauspicious to begin with. Maybe it was just her Lifehunt power that got her banished to the painting, but... For another like her to appear--

It's strange.

Reiji shoots those guards a sympathetic, understanding look. This is all kind of weird for him too.

    Regardless, he knows where he's going. Time to head up to Priscilla and make sure that these two have a... relatively private meeting. An audience might be... excessive, after all-- and may draw too much attention. This kind of situation, by its very nature, must be handled discretely; and he sincerely doubts that Priscilla is in the mood to convene a formal hearing at this time of night.
Mel Brock     This entire operation has been... a trip, to say the least. And she doesn't blame the towering men for their response. She's been sticking close to Yorshka the entire time, making no effort to hide the fact that her trust for some members of the group is not exactly at a high point. But she keeps it strictly professional, and when they encounter the titanic defenders in full confusion, she gives them a look of sympathy. "...Yeah. Yeah, we know. It's pretty urgent we speak with the queen about this."
Kushiko The night /has/ been pretty friggin' useful, hasn't it, and almost perfectly timed with all of their operational needs lately. Totally legit.

In all seriousness aside, Kushiko does move about and weaves herself and Kiras into a guarding position once the lack of armaments were confirmed. Though she may have made the loudest noises regarding the way the others were responding and patronizing Yorshka earlier, she was not about to let anyone else have a chance either at the child. Besides, if it weren't so absurd and counter-intuitive to keeping Yorshka out of lines of sight as much as possible, Yorshka could probably ride the Kubrow like a small horse--and be a nice way to get her away at least.

Still, barring anyone else actually /saying/ anything to her otherwise, she's keen to let the others speak for her, gesture, or indicate their intent of forward progression once actually /keeping/ the Darkmoon's Dark Sun from sight.

Pardoning needs aside, at least. Though Yuuki made that offer, and she's honestly inclined to let the shojo do it so long as Yorshka's actually interested. Valkyr's faceless visage doesn't seem to be looking anywhere but ahead, though far and away, the child behind the frames is quietly marveling at the knights of the Citadel Palace--and the Palace itself. This was her first proper visit, she thinks.
Xiaomu If this were a simple (hah) matter of politics, Xiaomu would probably leave it in Reiji's capable hands and go wandering off to catch up on StreetPass tags or something. But no - Yorshka is, by the sage fox's lights, a little girl who's been in a bad place, whether by her choice or by the choice of others, and even if she has to be searched for weapons before being escorted under relatively-heavily-armed guard to meet with Priscilla, that doesn't mean she should go through it without friendly faces.

So, Xiaomu is sticking close to Yorshka, and attempting to make idle conversation. ... That would probably be far easier if they had anything in common to chat about, but, well ... there wasn't much weather to talk about in that tower, was there?

There's also the small matter of keeping her shielded from the gaze of unwary passersby. Xiaomu doesn't mind being part of the screen along the way, she's just going to leave 'convince the guards to let us in' to people like Reiji and Mel.
Heaven's Armory     Hravn walks along with Mel. She is noticeable, in this form, in the best of times, and makes no attempt to be less so, here. There is little that can be done about the matter to any useful degree.
    She is openly watching Yorshka, and eyelessly watching several others present, as a matter of course.
Yuuki Kuran     OFFSCREEN: Yorshika haughtily ignores Yuuki's first rounds of 'no seriously, you should probably get pardoned, I'm really cheap because I don't understand the true value of souldimes'. Because she is a tiny shut in woobie dragon thing and probably didn't understand the weight of things.

    Or she has pride.
    Either way!

    Yuuki walks along with the group, muted in her own Sad Shojo way. As they come to the Cathedral, with Priscilla, Yuuki turns to the little proud half-dragonlet and gives her a pleading look.

    "Again, I implore you to consider. I cannot do it for you... But I can remind you of the service, I believe." She murmurs, but doesn't really have TIME to press. Then, more kindly. "This is your first time seeing this place, isn't it? When I came here I had much the same reaction. During the daytime it is much more brilliant, but the nighttime vista is quite pretty as well."
Tomoe Tomoe is uneasy but they have given their word, the Tenno has made her think about her options even if they are going on. Still she's in formation now as they have the strange young girl. Well she looks young? She may damn well be older than the AD era back on her home world or even older than humanity having fire on her world. She hasno idea and knows better than to act. She takes a deep breath as they keep moving along and she now simply waits to see how things will progress before she can find a good point to speak this is heavy even for one like is her.
Staren     Staren doesn't let his guard down. Just because she looks like a child doesn't mean she's not a threat. Who's to say this isn't all some elaborate ruse, anyway? As long as they're ready, though, he highly doubts she can do anything that would kill Priscilla before they can take her down.

    What to do if she really isn't a threat is something he can worry about when they're sure.

    He regards ther gate guards with a neutral expression. He doesn't have anything to say. What /would/ he say?

    She doesn't seem interested in being pardoned. What else is there to talk about at this point?
Priscilla     Yorshka is not having the shoujo at this time. Shoujo is weakness. Shoujo is death. Fuzzy feels get you thrown off a ledge and a "VERY GOOD" following you down. As huffy as the girl can be walking much further than she likely has in some time, doing her best to refuse to dignify Yuuki with an answer, it's obvious to all that she feels uncomfortable.

    The way she keeps trying to look past everyone, the hurriedness of her steps, and her constant speeding up so as not to lag behind, indicates someone who didn't expect to go outside, and feels nervous and out of place being there. One can probably imagine how long her exposure to the city had been looking at it out of a window in warped space. But arriving at the giant sentinels, she quite visibly flinches, and starts sidling up behind the vampire she had been ignoring the entire time.

    Eventually, she sullenly responds, with "The daytime hurts mine eyes." before startling at the way her voice comes back to her with a very much audible reverberation, clapping her hand over her mouth as if she can revoke people elsewhere likely hearing her voice that way.

    It's not terribly hard to reach Priscilla, as much as fretful clerics might pester them to come back at another time. Being that weird kind of halfbreed that she is, she isn't known to spend nights asleep; something that frequently worries the more paranoid dwellers of the palace. The audience hall is neither in use, nor actually open, and so the matter can thankfully be settled in private without questioning.

    In the end, it isn't just Priscilla that the group walks in on. It seems there had already been a private meeting afoot, with the goddess Velka no less, neither of them assuming a mortal size, and neither actually saying much, possibly just involving Priscilla tensely speculating at her eccentric choice of royal informant. Ever so briefly, she looks annoyed by the group entering, before her expression softens again. Velka watches out of the corner of solidy dark eyes. "Well then. If I am to see thee at this hour, I assumeth it is done? I hath only heard some of thine exploits most recently; I assumeth of a matter of security, but there is a reason thou art given such implicit trust."
Heaven's Armory     While she does remain doubly present, Hravn withholds counsel. This seems not a matter which she will argue, nor a case she feels need to present. Others have that well in hand, from several, conflicting angles. The sword-woman-in-yellow merely stands with arms crossed, watching. She is personally immune to anything like the human instinct to protect anything with a high head-to-body size ratio.

    Speaking of people that look younger than they really are, there's a grey-haired girl, dressed like some pseudo-European (or exo-Lordran) noble's daughter, sitting nearby and, apparently, just listening to Priscilla and Velka talk. She, too, turns to face the new arrivals, brow furrowing in curiosity at their charge.
Xiaomu "You've been shut up in that tower for how many years?" Xiaomu asks Yorshka. "You're not used to daylight, but you'll acclimate to it given time." She even dares to pat the white-haired girl on the shoulder - maybe not so much 'maternally,' more like an encouraging big sister.

And the group makes their way inside ... where Priscilla's not alone. Xiaomu bows a little bit towards Velka as well as Priscilla, punctuating it with a wave. She's not going to genuflect or anything, a bow is the most respect Velka will get out of the sage fox, goddess or not. "Mission seems to be pretty much accomplished," Xiaomu states, "but this young lady asked us to bring her to you ..."

Nope, she's not going to introduce Yorshka. She's a big girl, she can introduce herself. On the other hand, if either Priscilla or Velka make a move like they want to summarily obliterate the young goddess(?) to whom the Darkmoons had sworn allegiance?

Well, Xiaomu might be finding out how quickly she can conjure up a suitably durable ice-shield with Suiren's magic.
Mel Brock     "It, uh..."

    Mel scratches her chin briefly, trying to think how best to phrase this. Finally, she speaks. "You know how, whenever we're involved with something, anything, no matter where we go, things seem to get complicated?" The Marshal takes a step aside, and says simply, "Well, it got complicated." She turns to look at Yorshka, and gives a little motion with a gentle expression. C'mon. Say hi.
Staren     Someone else should handle the talking, not Staren. "We found her in their base." is all he says for now.
Kushiko If the Warframe could reflect it, there'd be a slight frown on Kushiko's behalf, and even now there's a slight pang of sympathy when it comes to the light. She could empathize given how long she went without knowing... /any/ light except what she saw and felt through her Warframes. And then Priscilla and Velka are there... and more--was that one of those living weapons? Hn. Still, the question posed...

Yeah, about that...

<"Not quite."> comes Kushiko's voice projection. Resonant and disguising certain aspects other than 'it's feminine at least. <"There were complications at the end."> To say nothing of an absolute leave of senses, at least in her mind--asides at least one person everyone else seemed to go insane with a need to have an excuse for Yorshka's action because of how she looked--age and similarity.

Valkyr stepped forward slightly, Kiras padding along with her as the syandana the Tenno wore trailed behind her as she turned towards where Yorshka had taken refuge behind the vampire. <"... the Dark Sun is not dead and the situation is not resolved because she is here with us."> Her head swivels to Velka momentarily before canting back to Yorshka as far as introductions would go--looking as expected as one without eyes could at least.
Tomoe Tomoe keeps up with the party as they get past the clerics and the like she's opn edge too as they come to walk in on Priscilla oh hell they had the worst sense of timing however Velka is here too so it seems both ideas of what to do with the 'gril' are happning at once.. She tries her best to look serious but given how her full drive works? She's looking sheepish as hell and clearly trying /not/ to about this. She takes a deep breath and looks to he girl and nods.

"I get you, you been inside for how long? Day light could pose a problem to be sure."

with tht out of the way it's time to be far more serious as she waits, and wonders how did she end up running with gods, demi gods, dragons and heads of state?
Reiji Arisu Well.

Velka's here.

This is going to take some doing.

"Alright, so I know this is going to sound strange, but we have a very, VERY good reason for bringing her here," Reiji explains, not quite stepping away from in front of Yorshka just yet. "Priscilla, you might want to brace yourself, because this'll probably be one hell of a surprise." Finding out that you're not the only FLUFFY TAILED half-dragon hybrid in all of Lordran would probably be a shock, after all. Reiji wants to make sure neither of the goddesses sitting in the room are unprepared.

"So then," he nods, then, stepping aside. "Yorshka," he gestures, "Priscilla, rightful Queen of Lordran, and the Lady Velka, Goddess of Sin. Ladies--" he gestures back, "Yorshka, current leader of the Darkmoon Blades."

Hopefully they don't immediately kill each other.

BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE BAD.

"I hope you can see why we brought her here," his eyes shift meaningfully between Priscilla and Yorshka. He really hopes they can. And that this isn't a massive misunderstanding.

...

...Maybe they should call Gwynevere in, too.
Yuuki Kuran     Yuuki gives a quiet smile. "Though harsh and at times blinding, the Sun's unkind radience can still bring great beauty to the world. It may not even wish you harm, but..." she shrugs, looking up at the moon before they enter the chapel. "Though I agree, the moon's kinder, softer light is what I prefer as well. I wish you well, though--"

    Oh hey, Velka is right there. With Priscilla! How convenient. "Hello!" She waves, with some cheer.

    "I suppose it is best that you both are here, as arbiters of this world, so that we didn't unilaterally decide, as outsiders, the fates of such important things."
Heaven's Armory     The room's third prior occupant stands. It is, indeed, Svala. There are likely not many here who haven't seen her at least once, speaking to the Darkmoon on that prior occasion in which a railgun was fired in the city. It is on a similar topic that she, after taking in the introductions, turns to Priscilla and says, "I had not known of this one." The most important implications of that, the timing, could likely already have been gathered, at least by her wielder.
Priscilla     Yorshka declines to answer Xiaomu, nor Tomoe. Not so much to be proud and sullen, but, by the twitch of her brow, perhaps it can be judged to be that she doesn't know. "I cannot see the moon during the day." she lamely insists further.

    Priscilla is briefly no more pleased during the brief period she can't see for herself what this is all about. It's pretty rare that the crossbreed ever looks at whom she deems to be her comrades with disappointed displeasure, and for that reason her response seems to be carefully measured, willing to stretch the benefit of a doubt for how reliable these people usually are.

    "This is not a complicated matter." she insists. "I knoweth execution of the law is well within thine abilities, even moreso when the means is as simple as the elimination of its violator. What matter of complexity couldst possibly-"

    To say the following silence is awkward would not be correct. It stems not so much from a loss of what to say, more than a loss of what to even think. When people step aside and shunt Yorshka to the front of the group, to come face to face with some member of Lodran's royalty, two very different faces of shock meet one another.

    Yorshka's is very clearly one of some very significant portion of her world being turned upside down. Reiji informs her that this is both Priscilla, /and/ the queen, and not only has it been established the Company Captain was never informed of that fact, it seems by her reaction that she most definitely wasn't informed that there was another like her in existence; even by Gwyndolin. Though clearly not subject to the same, harsh rejection in her comparatively young years, adopted and sheltered as she was, the childishly agape and yet warily fascinated expression she wears is paradoxically reminiscent of some savage girl raised alone in the wild, meeting another human for the first time.

    Priscilla's equally silent reaction is more nuanced. She has had more than enough time to accept her lonesome place, and make something of an icon out of it, both here and in parts of the Multiverse. Whatever she sees in Yorshka, there is obviously shock, but also something like concern, dismay, and outwardly directed anger rolled into one, followed by something even harder to read. Jealousy doesn't seem to quite fit. Possessiveness? Not really. Eagerness? Not positive enough. It's an intense fixation that hits something painful, and perhaps bittersweet. She always was a pain to get an adequate feel for.
Priscilla     All psychoanalysis of a weird, poignant moment aside, Velka seems interested more than anything. Surely she must have been aware that the Darkmoon remnants were keeping some kind of very significant secret, but the sight of another little half-dragon is very much a scandalous, academic interest, rather than something deeply and achingly personal. Wisely, she doesn't speak up, only letting the very much crow-like interest shine in her eyes.

    "I . . . see very well now." Priscilla says to try and break the ice, finding it hard to choose words. "Thou hast . . . ostensibly failed me, but thou were also well advised to seeketh mine attention." She shakes her head. "No, in technicality, this is the apprehension and capture of the Darkmoon Captain. By law, a sinner and treasonous traitor. It is yet not too late for ex . . ." Priscilla can't even finish the sentence.

    "I am prepared." forwards Yorshka instead, trying her best not to let Priscilla deflect all of what she has to say on all of her well known friends and allies. "But there is far too much I wouldst knoweth first. This is . . . this is far more than I can simply let be! I shalt not be able to rest peacefully without knowing anything of this! Pray, I beg of thee at least tell me!"

    Judging by Priscilla's wince, she would definitely like to know the same thing. She looks to Velka. Velka's feathered mantle rustles as she makes a gesture approximating a shrug. "It is not my right to decide the doctrine of the Arch Lord. I am an adviser. By all rights, you have decided the girl's punishment. It is unfortunate, but you couldn't have been expected to know the depth of the situation. The Darkmoon Blades hid their trump card well. A last act of spite, perhaps."

    Priscilla looks to Svala, hoping for an answer, but even Heaven's Armoury is at a loss, having departed her last wielder before any of this was a thing. Presently, she looks extremely uncomfortable with the entire choice of taking up her title. This would be so easy if she was still bumming around as a Union adventurer in a fluffy coat. "Is there, perhaps, some miniscule possibility that one of thee may explaineth anything about this? I wouldst dearly wish to believeth that thou were somehow informed of this prior to now."
Xiaomu "Well, if the Darkmoon Blades were trying to set up a figurehead of suitably sacred blood as their 'true' queen in defiance of your rule," Xiaomu says, "I have to give them points for audacity, or something. That said, how about you talk to Yorshka here *before* you schedule her execution ... ? Could be you've got a better use for her alive than as a corpse."

She's going to let Reiji and the others do most of the talking, though.
Yuuki Kuran     Yuuki looks at Priscilla, and then at Yorshika, and then at Priscilla, and then at Velka. "I am confused. If she is penitent, then is not the best way to do so?"

    She gives Velka a long look. "Even if someone were to stab you in the back, if they are willing to move past that, you can't hold it against them, right?"
Mel Brock     Mel Brock presses her fingers together, 'bouncing' her hands lightly against each other in thought. "Look, I can't speak for anyone else, but if I'd known you might have a little... sister? Cousin? Hell, I don't know. But I'd have come and talked to you."

    She starts to pace lightly. "But if you want to take my advice - this is a shit-show all around. Yorshka here was duped into committing a crime out of ignorance. If she had been made aware of the facts - instead of deliberately kept in the dark, both by Gwyndolyn and by her current quote-unquote 'followers' - it's entirely likely she would have made different choices. Might even make the argument that they're more responsible for all this than she is, by deliberately misleading her so she'd give orders of a criminal nature."

    She goes from pressing her fingers together, to folding her arms behind her back. "Way I see it? You're the law here, unless this place has drafted some kind of constitution that's divested you of a lot of power. You have the authority to judge that there are extenuating circumstances involved, and maybe declare a new punishment based on that. I mean if you don't?" Mel looks between the two for a moment. "...Well, I'm not gonna lie, that'll leave a real sour taste in my mouth, but it's your call. But at least consider the situation before you make that call?"
Kushiko <"Not us,"> Kushiko begins to answer, breaking her lapse into tacit silence, before the Lotus elects to speak as well, with Kushiko gesturing with a hand, fingers outstretched. The projection of the Tenno's guardian, overseer and mission control flits into existence by the emitters concealed in the Warframe's hand. "This was an unexpected discovery as well. I have had agents and sentinels looking into everything they could before I allowed my Tenno operative to assist as she has. The fact of the matter, the carrying out of your request is something that warranted a full accounting by you before the decision would be carried out."

On this, Valkyr's head cants slightly. Kushiko was wondering why the Lotus didn't necessarily insist on one path or the other, nor scolded her on her display of anger and incredulity towards Reiji and the others for the way they acted solely since Yorshka was a child. Perhaps this was why. "I do however suspect, now knowing what we know here now--though it's only a hint of it, that the Darkmoon Blades wanted there to be a sadistic choice, especially when it comes to the full weight of the law to be applied. Execute her, and you are executing a child, something unconsciable in the eyes of others. Don't, and others can make further claims about your application of law."

At least, that's one suspicion the Lotus has in this regard, and some food for the others to definitely chew on. It's not going to be a situation easily maneuvered out of, at least that's what the Lotus suspects, the Tenno's own advisor seeming to glance in Velka's direction. At least, as much as one who is fully covered by that enormous, orchid-inspired helmet can.
Heaven's Armory     Svala can read Priscilla better than most, if only because of that subvocal channel they share whenever the spear is wielded. That's not to say that she fully understands the halfbreed's take on this matter, but she doesn't, strictly speaking, need to know everything to know what her own principles require of her. The justification for her aim is already present, if known to few.
    She speaks to her wielder. "When an assassin came for your life, and failed, you gave her a chance to choose another fate. She was insistent, however, that there be no further words. There was no wish for enlightenment. When an end is both earned and chosen, there is no mistake in granting it. This one, however, has not spoken those words to you. To merely be prepared for the end is not to seek it. Knowledge is sought, and you are free to grant it, as well as to again offer an alternate fate."

    Hravn is nodding along to something toward the end, though her attention is split to Mel.
Reiji Arisu     And so this is when the queen's law suddenly runs face-first into conflict with the rule of Priscilla's own TERRIBLY FLUFFY heart. Reiji's expression contorts into a distinctly uncomfortable grimace. To go back on her word would be... difficult, as queen. It would show her to be willing to overturn the law with respect to those close to her- and then they'd be right back where Gwyn was.

But.

    "This is the first time we have ever heard of this, Priscilla. The first time we'd even heard of Yorshka was when we met her. Gwyndolin hid her well, and her servants said nothing of her identity or her nature." Reiji's frown deepens. Had they known, this would be a different situation. If only.

They can't exactly rest on 'if onlies,' however.

    "But by the same token," he continues, "She has been kept so well from the world that she did not even know who you were- or that the Queen even carried the name Priscilla. All she claimed to us is that she was living the will of Gwyndolin."

    "It would be remiss, I think," Reiji says, "To judge so severely one who knew so little. If there is anyone here at fault, it is those servants of the Darkmoon who so benefitted from the blessings she bestowed, but never saw fit to tell her of the world she had been so isolated from. Certainly, she is the covenant master of those calling themselves the Blades of Darkmoon. But just because one controls the covenant does not mean that one is IN control of the covenant."

What he says is...

Well. It's probably not going to go over well with Yorshka. But damn if he's about to let the words go unspoken when a life is at stake.

"She deserves to know of everything that she missed," he says, softly. "And if you do share blood, then she deserves to know her family."
Staren     Staren watches the reactions curiously, and removes his helmet. "While I don't think we can categorically remove execution as an option without knowing more... It seems there is at least a substantial possibility that we should, based on the fact that she has clearly been manipulated and lied to. Do your covenents really have no provisions for the exceptional circumstance of someone being used and tricked by another into breaking the law?" Staren scratches his chin. "Then again, if your laws worked that way, I suppose our gambit to trick them into attacking us wouldn't have worked in the first place. Well, if it becomes a divine problem, perhaps there's a way to legally kill her, without actually killing her..."
Xiaomu Xiaomu closes her eyes for a moment - not just relaxing her eyelids, but actually concentrating, and folding her arms so that her staff is held by both a hand and the inside of an elbow.

"Exactly what law is calling for an execution in this case?" she asks after thinking it over briefly, particularly weighing Reiji's and Staren's words. "If there's some ancient law that states her life is 'forfeit.' for instance ... there are different interpretations for that, aren't there? Including an interpretation which could require that she live in service of some kind instead of actually being put to death."

She opens her eyes again, looking *straight* at Priscilla. "And adding to what Reiji said? Not only does she deserve to know her family, if she's kindred of yours - but *you* deserve to know *her*. This crap got rolling because of secrets and whispers and shadows; even if you can't come out and acknowledge her publicly - yet - there's gotta be a way to serve the truth without violating whatever laws are in play."

It is entirely possible that, in the back of Xiaomu's head, she's grumbling up a storm about idiot mortals and short-sighted laws or something. For the time being, she's polite enough not to give real voice to her grousing.
Tomoe Tomoe is aware Priscilla isn't gong to be happy about this and she can't blame her, they were sent on a seek and destroy missions after all. She takes a deep bnteath now watching Yorshka's reaction and then Pricilla's the thougth she did fail didn't she? She had hoped Priscilla had some idea about this but it seems she's just as confused as anyone she also knows she's the worst person here to be doing the talking. She's Brash bullheaded and blunt she's going to be smart and not say anything too much while the likes of Reiji, Yuuki, and Mel talk. Either way they have done all they could and now even the Lotus is speaking up at this point. There is one thing clear to the Salamander?

There is no easy way out of this and they are going to have to live with the results of their actions here. Tomoe just simply has to listen and maybe she'll be able to add something useful. The DArkmoon clearly set this up to end in a clusterfuck even if they lost and that really pissed her off.

"Your word is law here I will not argue anything you wish to do to me or how you hndle this but seeing what happened here? She offered no restiance to her death but also wanted to knows more. I'd always thought you were the only one like your self, and seeing this? It's best you both had what truth of this matter we could find."

She will not slump she will likely not say more but damn she really now starts to understand on the level of the circles she runs with now. She may have more pull in the multiverse than some nations leaders on her world...
Priscilla     It isn't often that Priscilla appears uncomfortable to the point of being outright nauseus. Almost never, in fact. After all she's seen and been through, with the Union as her witness, it can be attested that there is no longer any reason to. It doesn't take 40 INT to figure out why though, and it's not because she's uncomfortable with Yorshka ostensibly being a child, like many others are. It isn't so simple as 'family is family' either. This is someone who was abandoned by half of it, and killed the other half.

    No, it's because she had left one of those up to everyone else. She was too scared to pull the trigger on Gwyndolin, she had given into the demands to have him dealt with, and as manipulative, petty, avaricious, fanatical and homicidal as he had been, he had died protecting a member of her swiftly dwindling family from the Multiverse's finest that had mowed through them all. There was no way anyone could have known, and yet the relief she had felt so quickly sours into guilt, and humiliation at her own indecision; her refusal to exercise her own intiative.

    "The laws art very much mine to decide, yes." she begins with Mel. "There is only so far I may push and bend them before they lose all meaning, however. The extenuations art compelling, but thus something accountable to a trial if they art meant to be considered valid, and Lady Kushiko is correct. There art many who wouldst gladly wish to pursue such entrapment." Priscilla shakes her head at Reiji. "Ignorance of the law excuses one not, especially in the matter of holding such an exceptionally powerful Covenant empowered by it. But thou and Lady Xiaomu art also correct. There is at least grounds for . . . an interrogation?" she grasps for the words.

    "What calls for it is high treason. Treason and heresy in the spirit of the law, if not its entire letter. Theft of a precious Covenant, disruption of-" Priscilla doesn't even continue, because Tomoe is right, and as naive as she sometimes thinks the player behind the avatar might be, she can't deny her words when Svala interjects; Svala, of all people, who swore secrecy in good faith even to the deceased Darkmoon Knightess who formerly wielded her, and whose quest for retribution she had supported until the last moment, whence it became simple revenge.
Priscilla     "No, such is spoken in truth. Thusfar the girl hast expressed no actionable intent in mine presence, nor explicit affirmation." Priscilla actually quirks a brow at Staren. What he has to say, especially on a subject involving extensively fallible gods, is oddly on point. "There is most certainly the possibility of declaring the Dark Sun deceased, so long as nobody may proveth such."

    Velka clearly knows what Kushiko is after, but states as much: "As well as it would suit me, the only thing your captive could possibly pay worth the price of her absolution would be the Concord itself. For quite obvious reasons, I cannot possibly accept it myself. Safeguards, of considerable nature. Elsewise how easy would it be for myself to trick the young Gwyndolin out of his well-intentioned inheritance?"

    "Of course, I cannot be held accountable for the actions of my Pardoners, but that becomes the question. Would any of you be willing to absolve her, and accept the full consequences of doing so, when one or more of a thousand different possible tragedies manifest? Knowing that our Covenant will be annulled shortly thereafter, depriving you of protection from further reprisal?" She then very pointedly looks to Yuuki, who has been trying exactly that all this time. "And do you think, after this, that you can convince her?" The question isn't rhetorical. The rogue goddess seems curious to know the answer. "The boy isn't wrong. If the Concord no longer exists, neither does the proof of its Captain. After all, who would believe such a creature was ever awarded Gwyndolin's holy inheritance?"
Mel Brock     "I only have one question," Mel says simply. "And I'm gonna ask it twice, because I want to hear the answers from two different people. I'm done being a cop for the night, so I'm gonna set that aside for a moment and let my own personal biases out, here."

    The Marshal locks eyes with Priscilla, first. Looking right into them, with a steady gaze. "What do you want? Not as the queen, not as a half-god, not as some great big political entity with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Toss all that out. When you look at this family member you never knew you had, what do you, Priscilla, the woman, want?"

    And from tall to small, Mel turns around and meets Yorshka's eyes next. "And I'm putting it to you, too. Forget all that 'resolve'. Forget all that 'accepting the consequences of your actions'. Toss out all that duty and honor and clinging to tenets you were deceived into accepting to begin with. And tell me what you want, now that you're standing here seeing for the first time you're not alone in the world."
Yuuki Kuran     There is a look there, as one looks into another and sees the reflections of themselves, of regret. There's feelings there, and pain. Of mistakes, though she knows not what.

    It makes her hang her head slightly, expelling a soft sigh, before taking a step forward.

    "Before that, I have a question for you, Lord Priscilla. Do /you/ wish for absolution? To release some burden upon your shoulds, sins you have committed?" She bears a kind, bright smile in the dimmed chaple, her brown eyes looking hopeful - or at least a low-key eagerness to do right.

    "And, considering the sins that she could cause, or would cause, or have caused... Perhaps she could be the greatest monster of this world, of this age, and cause a great pain. But even if everyone else isn't willing to shoulder that burden, that's ok."

    "Forever is such a long time for a grudge to be held. Until Velka dissolves our covenant, I would pardon all who asked. That - as I understood it - was my requirement, my mandate. And if I were to make some mistake, then that would be my burden to bear. Perhaps some kind soul would pardon me. Perhaps not?" She shrugs, glancing around the room. "I was willing to leave this world forever if it would solve the problems at hand. I am willing to be hated becuase I tried to do what I thought was a good thing."

    An emphatic shrug, and a shake of the head that sends her extremely long hair spilling across her shoulders. "I am either cursed for what I do, or a liar for backing down from a commitment. I made a promise and I try to keep every one."
Tomoe Tomoe is a bit Naive on things, then again? Had she given in to other urges? Her life would have ended in SAO in all likelyhood. She however has never seemed to judge Priscilla. This isn't Tomoe's world she's never had to rule anything more a guild in a game. She doesn't envy Pricilla right now and if Priscilla is angry with her? She's earned it but had they just up and killed the girl? You can't take that back, that much she does know. If she's going to pay for her crimes so be it but better that the truth has a chance to come out.

She has said the best she could say and now it's going to play out how it's going to play out but she does turn to Yuuki as she speaks to listen.
Staren     "Mel has a good point." Staren says. "Assuming we can trust her," he glances at Yorshka. "which I have no idea how to verify." he looks to Priscilla. "Is there reprisal to be expected? If she is innocent... no, that's not the right word. If she is ignorant of what was really going on, how will the populace feel about her? The darkmoon blades were mostly hunting /us/. Do people care that much about them otherwise? Alternatively, what if we lie, that the Dark Sun is dead, and claim you found her in... I dunno, hidden away somewhere, like you were. How are people likely to view her then?"
Kushiko Far and away from here is a furtive look on Kushiko's face, though perhaps even Velka, the Lady of Sin might be able to sense it in spite of the strangeness of what the Tenno truly was, given those words, not just to her, but to Yuuki as well. Valkyr looks to Yuuki Kuran in the interim. The Lotus speaks, reflecting on what's been mentioned so far. "... this will be a decision I cannot push my Tenno to in one direction or another. The possibilities here more nuanced and beyond what even I am capable of determining."

To this, Kushiko finally speaks--properly this time. <"Of those here, we believe we are the best ones suited towards the notion of Pardoning, Yuuki Kuran. In that we should have the blame as others might for the act of doing so would carry reprecussions. We would however like to leave it instead to you on the notion of convincing that the Lady of Sin so states."> Kiras comes up and over to one of Valkyr's taloned hands, the Tenno momentarily contemplative especially as Mel Brock speaks, the Void-infused child controlling the Warframe rolling more than a few thoughts of what the others have said so far.

<"I will tell you this now, I was prepared then as I am prepared now to carry out the act of execution and punishment as it was laid out for high treason and more. It is what I was once meant for."> After that very... blunt statement is given some time for others to realize it, she continues, that resonantly projected voice gaining energy. <"Death takes many forms, however. It's been made plain to us by everything the Lotus has told us before, and even now, that any choice here is going to have consequences--the question is, which ones can be best dealt with?"> It doesn't escape her thoughts about the /true/ Darkmoons are not going to be happy on this so far, given what she suspects of Ciaran the others.

Truly, this situation was a quagmire. <"I know for sure that whatever we come to decide here, it won't be done with and we're going to either have to be here and present to watch for the fallout, or something else altogether."> She sighs once, audibly, Valkyr's head shaking slightly as the Tenno quietly regards Yuuki. <"... maybe we can help you shoulder that burden you wish to help others with."> Yuuki speaks a bit better than Kushiko finds herself able to. <"... we must do what is right, even if what is right does not necessarily sit well at the end of the day.">

After Staren speaks, there's a slightly sardonic tone to Kushiko's voice, <"There's always the notion of a scapegoat."> ... is she really suggesting that possibility?
Reiji Arisu     Reiji sighs, rubbing at his forehead. "That's... Not exactly what I was going for. Of course ignorance of the law does not absolve the crime. I guess what I was trying to say was this: Are you alright with this? Would you be fine with carrying this weight with you into the future? The memory of loss is not... a light burden."

    He shrugs slightly, and begins patting around on his jacket for his trusty pack of cigarettes. If there was any time he'd need something to take the edge off, now's the time. Of course, he can't find them right now for reasons. Maybe a fox took them. Bereft of his addiction, Reiji is resigned to lungfuls of completely ordinary air instead. "Well, how about this."

    "The Concord no longer really applies," he says, thinking aloud. "Gwyndolin is, after all, no longer with us to uphold it. Absolving it would... Disgruntle the existant Darkmoons on both sides of the aisle. Might cause a problem in that regard. However, that's not to say a similar concord cannot be... re-established. One that's more suited to the Lordran of the present rather than the way of the Gods of the Past."

His eyes pass meaningfully towards Velka, then. Is this what you're going for, old crow?
Xiaomu Of *course* a fox took them. Reiji's lifespan is going to be short enough as it is without killing himself one ugly, stinky twig at a time, and Xiaomu has no intention of helping him do that to a pair of perfectly good lungs.

Besides, if he needs to de-stress, Xiaomu knows *quite* a few ways to do that. Anime, video games, pro wrestling .... why do you think she's always off pursuing Lu Bu on days when reality wears her out with too many aggravations?
Heaven's Armory     "Something that is new but serves the same purpose will not satisfy those connected to the old. They wish for the links of their past to continue into the future. It is these revolutions that caused rebellions." Svala says to Reiji. This much, at least, she can voice without issue. Her voice matches her appearance, but the way she speaks is even noticeably more formal than the older Hravn.
Reiji Arisu     "Mmn, I suppose not," Reiji answers with a shrug. "But the problem remains thus: Someone usurped control over the Concord this time. Who's to say when it will happen again? It's... Difficult. Evil done in the name of good will engender only more evil," he rubs thoughtfully at his chin. "I'm not sure if there is a clean solution to this. I doubt that there really is. But we must still try to seek it out."
Priscilla     It's a very simple question, directed towards Priscilla. What does she want? What can she live with? What would she regret? These are the things that can either be answered by those accountable to their heart with honesty, and those accountable to their responsibilities with dismissal, and little between the two. The others can probably speculate, knowing anything about her, what she would say were she to lean on either one.

    "Such is both obvious and hardly relevant." she begins. "Of course I wouldst wish for nothing else more than to throw all of this to the fire. To be done with it, wash mine hands of it, and concern mineself with laws and Covenants and orders and responsibility no longer. At the same time, I cannot say I am forced to only by necessity. I dearly wish as well, to uphold mine own word. To do the proper thing so as to be proven as worthy of respect. To lead by example. I cannot hath both things."

    Yorshka declares her intent more easily. "I wish at least to knoweth! He spoke so much of the brothers and sisters and a father and mother I wouldst finally see! Of things he wouldst show me and of things I wouldst learn! Even if it must be otherwise, I cannot surrender anything before that!"

    And that, really, really gets to Priscilla. As the kind of moment that hasn't been seen outside of Annu, the crossbreed's mind is almost transparent, with something flipping like a switch. She remembers, what still feels so recently, when she was asked what she wanted, what she was okay with, and how she had given in and done "the right thing" at the time; how it had earned the approval of those around her, and how it hadn't been even remotely worth the price of losing her dearest friend. How much it had ached to rise above giving into her selfishness that one time, and how hollow the moral high ground and acceptance had been.
Priscilla     "In truth, I care not, Sir Staren." Priscilla says with a much different tone, even if essentially following the same line of questioning. "I care not how others shalt approveth of her, as I cared not how they didst approveth of me whence I swore to mineself I wouldst taketh up this role. Perhaps I had forgotten, whence I declared to all that their concerns as gods were beneath mine own as the reason they were able to return at all."

    "It is not right to push such worries, entanglements and consequences unto thee." she says to Kushiko. "It was mine request that brought thee here, and it shalt be mine selfish desire that resolves this. In this matter, I shalt compromise not, and in knowingly bending the law, all responsibility shalt lie with mineself, and not thee who hast only followed it to the letter, despite the hardships it hast caused thee."

    Priscilla shakes her head at Reiji. "If I were to fail as a leader, there art perhaps others who couldst passably taketh mine place. Were I to fail as blood, there art no others to replace her." Then, finally, she actually smiles at Yuuki. "That shalt be made to go nowhere and thou shalt be made to do nothing. I once extended mine heart towards such acceptance, welcoming all cursed, damned, forgotten and forlorn into mine home, regardless of how ill considered it was, for feeling that kindness shouldst transcend responsibility. I wouldst be a hypocrite unforgivable if I were to expect else to befall thee for similar kindness. I shalt maketh thee not a liar or an exile."

    Yorshka bashfully shuffles over to Yuuki, offering her hands in the same way Velka had offered hers to the vampire to begin with. "Then if necessary, I shalt swear by the power of the Dark Sun to end the Concord here and now, such that there art no shades of Father Gwyn and Sister Gwynevere, and the sins of the guilty who punish the guilty may be forgiven." Only for Priscilla to continue with something that many here might be pleased to here. "And in this matter, such agreement shalt be inviolable. If others wouldst taketh action against thee for being willing to end this without blood spilt, thou art hereby free to spill theirs. The line of the Great Lord Gwyn hast already dwindled such that I believeth a drop of any of his heirs is more valuable than those that wouldst only follow him and not his will".

    To all, in essence: I'm bending the rules so you don't have to. I'll deal with it because it's me being selfish. Anyone gives you grief, kick their asses.
Mel Brock     Mel gives Priscilla a long, appraising look, listening in silence, arms still behind her back. She seems to be considering something as much as she is watching Priscilla and Yorshka react. In the end, while still looking at the Queen of Lordran, the Marshal speaks to the old crow. "Hey, Velka. ...Maybe don't break covenant with me just yet. I've got some thinking to do. I'll get back to you with an answer."

    She turns to go, but then stops for a moment. She's still, briefly - and then reaches into her coat, pulls something out, and flicks her hand.

    A business card goes spinning through the air, banking around as if guided by an unseen hand, and flying with unerring accuracy over towards Yorshka. It will float in the air until she takes it, and only then will Mel call over her shoulder, "You ever need someone to talk to? Any time of day, doesn't matter what. Don't worry about waking me up. Have Priscilla teach you how to use a radio."

    Then the cop looks at her partner, her weapon. "Wanna stop at the Bar and Grill before we head back to the ship? Feels like a dinner kind of night."
Staren     Staren blinks. When Priscilla says she cares not, he replies, "Well, that simplifies things..." He quirks an eyebrow as Priscilla expresses concern about 'failing as blood' for a relative she met a minute ago.

    Then again...

    How would he feel if the girl his father adopted so many years ago -- his sister, thus -- showed up at his doorstep, after disappearing years before he was even born?

    He's not sure. Staren stares at the floor, lost in thought. He hadn't thought about Erica in years.
Kushiko ... it's a little heartwarming, to put it plainly. Some of Kushiko's own thoughts in regards to what she was willing to do, what she was ultimately prepared to do, should it prove necessary, fall away. More to the point... /knowing/. Something that she was not sure she'd ever know, given what Margulis did to her--not that she knows it even now--in order to help them.

All the same, she inclines her head once to Priscilla, a notion of respect in this regard. Given what Reiji mentioned, nay, proposed otherwise, it seems like a solution was being found as best as one could be done.

All the same it's nice to see Yorshka offer up her words to the Vampire, and with Priscilla affirming it in the way she does, even Kiras can tell something good happened, offering up a few little *woofs!* and waggling her nubby tail. <"Let us know what we can do to help you in the future, Lady Priscilla, Lady Yorshka..."> Her 'gaze', such as it were, lingers on Velka, especially in light of what Mel mentions regarding that covenant. <"We however will annul our own Covenant for now, but we would like to consider one in the future."> Alternatively, they may be simply preparing for the notion that someone will come after her beyond the bounds of Lordran.

Both she and the Kubrow will depart not long after, barring any /other/ complications, or words others may yet have.
Heaven's Armory     What sort of thoughts does a sword have, from one moment to another? Precious little, most often, even for those with spirits of their own. Heaven's Armory is quite different in that regard, but not because having human forms actually makes them human. Most assuredly, it does not. Hravn's thoughts are kept, for the most part, to herself. Her wielder, Mel Brock, can feel some of them through their shared connection, active whenever the blade is actually within the psy-sheriff's physical possession. There is some sort of contentment with... not the result, but the way it came about. Hravn doesn't seem to feel anything at all about the outcome, but approves of the method. Out loud, all she says is, "Sure. I could eat."

    Svala is another matter. Without holding the spear's shaft, or otherwise equipping her, the same sort of detail won't flow through. The (mostly) human-looking girl, however, is more outwardly expressive. She smiles, softly but not shyly, at her wielder. For a girl of somewhat cold appearance, there is still warmth in the expression that then turns toward Yuuki--or Yorshka, or both, the directions being the same. Conversely, no words are added, the spear remaining humble in silence.
Reiji Arisu Reiji watches and listens as Priscilla gives her verdict, and Yorshka receives her penance. The Shinra Agent simply nods. Family is irreplacable, after all. All else in life can come and go, but the ones that you call family, those... Those are much more precious.

"What Mel said goes for me as well," he says, then. "If either of you need anything," Yorshka and Priscilla, "Just ask. We'll do what we can to support you. You know how to reach me if you're in a tight spot."

He glances to Velka, then. That wise, old crow, and nods again. "I'm going to think about this covenant thing, myself. It seems like Lordran might be in need of some forgiveness, these days."

With that, the Exorcist turns and makes his exit. Yorshka and Priscilla probably have a lot to talk about, after all.
Yuuki Kuran     Yuuki extends her hand to take Yorshika's, that faint smile remaining, though there's now a light air of mischief. "Those are very high promises, stakes, and prices. As I said, offered, pleaded before - I would have absolved you for any price, because I thought it was the right thing to do for you - and for this place. Perhaps I would have been naive and wrong, lept to forgive you because in your place I may have been quite similar, yet longed for a chance to continue myself."

    There's a look to Priscilla, but she just confirms things. Really, it almost seems done, and now a simple formality. "But one could say that the true amount of penance was in the price you pay for a thing, and the absolution is within the self."

    She frowns. "Now I'm just getting all serious - I'm not suited for thinking too hard about this sort of thing. In any case..."

    Well, their hands met, though she adds in something, whether or not she is prompted by her temporary covenant. "I forgive you."