2023-11-10: .those left behinD
- Cutscene: .those left behinD
- Cast: Yuliana Kafim, Parminder Chaudhri, Wendy Yuan
- Where: The Silent Castle, Kaffeklubben Island
- Date: 2023-11-10
- Summary: Elisa asked Yuliana to stay in the Castle, when she left for her battle. Parminder knows why. But Yuliana knows why, too -- even Wendy does, though she'd prefer she didn't. Can someone really consent to stalking? (CW: Discussion of coercive control)
The Silent Castle's dining hall is vast and fine, a chandelier lighting it from above, a fireplace crackling to warm the deep minus temperatures. The sky outside is dark. Is it lunchtime? Is it dinner?
It's difficult to say. Nevertheless, the Court is eating.
"Sooo, house arrest, huh?" Parminder breaks the silence of three sets of forks and knives clik-clakking -- today it's Western cuisine, chicken parmigana. "Like, you know why she asked you to stay back, right?"
"Because this is her sacrifice to make," Yuliana responds, and Wendy is quietly unnerved by her smile.
"Nah." Parminder takes another bite. "It's just 'cuz she watches you when you're out. Y'know, she's got this tablet --"
"I know," Yuliana says, calmly, and with affection.
"Eeeh... it doesn't bother you?" Wendy is more uncomfortable, when she speaks up, poking at the cheese on her chicken with her fork.
Yuliana shakes her head, gently, fins flapping placidly behind her ears. "Maybe a little, a while ago... I was frightened by how fiercely she loved me. I just didn't know how to accept someone caring for me so much. But I know she is here, when I am in battle, making sure I return home safely."
Parminder laughs. "Hahaha... shit, you really only think it's then?"
"... no," Yuliana says, after a moment's thought. "She's always answered my texts very promptly, so I'm sure she's keeping an eye on things, even when I'm just on a day trip. But of course she isn't watching me at every moment... if she were, would that situation at Magallanica really been allowed to progress?"
"Can't argue with that," Parminder shrugs, and goes back to eating.
But Wendy frowns. "You seem pretty at peace with it..." She ventures, cautiously.
And Yuliana smiles. "I let her read my diary, you know. I tell her what I'm up to when I'm out. I even pour my heart and soul into that crystal ball of hers... do you think I'm bothered by her tangling herself up in my life this way?"
"Guess not," Wendy sighs, and she goes back to her chicken, too. (She can't taste it, but the textures are nice.)
"If it calms her heart for me to stay here while she's out," Yuliana concludes, "it's really the least that I can do."
Whatever meal this is supposed to be, it's delicious.