>>4462 The wording effects the way you talk about it, Reimu doesn't know what happened on the Killing Doll as Marisa and Nitori didn't tell anyone.
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"Do you mind if I drop decorum? I can never be comfortable sitting like this for long."
She smiles winsomely at you and nods.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you good captain, please be comfortable."
Sliding your legs out from underneath yourself you wiggle them a bit to get the blood flowing again before getting into a more comfortable position, Reimu however maintains her formal pose. Force of habit you guess.
"Reimu, I wanted to talk to you about... Something that happened on the Killing Doll."
"Ah, yes! I didn't see the battle directly but the girls told me all about it, I really liked the bit where you jumped off The Herald and SMAHSH! Burst through the window!" Childishly she goes on punctuating the story with wild gestures.
"And the bit where you flew the life boat into the deck and the metal was all like SCREEEEEECH and The Killing Doll blew up and Sakuya was all like 'I'll get you next time'"
Pausing, she inhales deeply and then cries out.
"It was AWESOME!"
In the face of that display of rambunctiousness, who knew Reimu was so young in spirit? You almost forget the tragedy of what happened that day, noticing the sombre expression on your face she calms down.
".......what happened captain?"
She's observant, you'll give her that, to be able to pick up on someone's mood so quickly. She must be used to the subtleties of human expression seeing as she deals with negotiations all the time.
Sipping the tea, you begin.
You explain how you killed those women on The Killing Doll, how you scattered them apart like they were nothing, like their lives had no meaning to you, recalling the feeling of such rage you tell her about that too and how you didn't even give them a warning.
By the end of your story you feel drained, even scared by the serious look in her eye. As you spoke her eyes hardened until those hints of childish joy slipped into the face of a very stern young woman.
"I see."
Is all she says, sipping her tea she does not speak for the longest time. The silence tortures you but you force yourself to bare it and not cry out, simply considering you she still doesn't say anything until finally raises her voice dispelling the oppressive quiet.
"What you did was wrong, not only did you slay the innocent you also gave an opponent no warning."
Her words are dispassionate, hard.
"Yes."
"I understand this is a time of war captain and that the enemy had already wronged you, but that does not excuse your actions."
"Yes."
"I had though better of you captain, apart from that one slip I witnessed you had been the paragon of civility in my eyes. Watching you and your methods made me truly believe that this war could end should people like you continue to fight in this world, now I am less certain."
"......"
Grabbing your arm she holds you gaze in hers and looks at you intensely.
"Do you regret it?"
"Of course I do! I wouldn't come here to speak with you if I didn't!"
Without meaning to you speak passionately and make that outburst, but this seems to saticefy her and she sits back down with a more gentle expression.
"Good, as long as you do then their deaths are not entirely in vain. Make no mistake captain, their lives are forever your burden to bare now as you killed without cause or warning, but by carrying the burden of their deaths with you the sin is punished. No one is born pure and no one goes through life without error, but we do not waste our own lives over sin. We carry our sin as punishment so as not to render the lives of others worthless with our actions."
Her words, don't exactly make you feel better. You will hold this burden in your heart for the rest of your life that much is true, but hearing her speak sets you at ease.
She looks at you wistfully.
"I want you to remember captain, what mercy can we expect in life but at the hands of one another? Show your enemy your love and kindness even if they do not do so to you, for they are living creatures to and have as much right to life as any of us. You may think that Sakuya woman is a monster, but past her obvious cruelty I imagine even she is capable of being tender to others. You would do well to promote other to follow an example of mercy."
Silence falls over the table again, but it isn't heavy like before, instead you feel vindicated and lighter. As the sun pours in through the window making the room glow with life you feel the confidence return to you, the beast of shame and anger within becomes docile making you feel like a new man.
"Thank you."
Is what you whisper, is all you can say.
She smiles and does not speak, the essence of the Reimu from before, the childish girl, has returned.
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[ ] Stay and talk about less dire subjects
[ ] Go back to your room and reflect
[ ] Other
