[ After a long day spend riding a horse around the whole area with reckless abandon, even McGillis has to admit that his muscles are probably going to be sore the next day. But even though he can feel the exhaustion creeping up on him, his day is not quite over. There is one last thing he needs to do before he can sleep, one conversation to have.
So here he is, at Yuri's door, knocking in a light rhythm. ]
Good evening, Lord McGillis. Of course, would you like to come in?
[ Yuri ushers him in.
Her room is as neat as one would expect. In addition to the usual furnishings, little vials and jars of ???? sit on her vanity, some papers scattered about. Her mirror has a cloth draped over it. For some reason, there are three rugs rolled up in the corner; their patterns are identical to the ones in the lounge. ]
[ Every time he comes to people's rooms here something mysterious awaits him, what's up with all you people... Rugs.... he's not here to chat about rugs and he's not going to ask, but why........
But he'll nod towards the covered mirror. ]
Definitely a good call. Though I imagine Hamelin has already told you as much, too.
I'm glad you think so. I know Jack has already given you a run-down of many details, but I felt that I should check in with you personally as well.
As I said last week at the meeting, I am on your side. I am also on Hamelin's side and to a degree, these things certainly seem to have aligned recently. It's very fortunate for us.
Though it is, perhaps, a little ironic given what our first conversation was about. I do not think... this will be a happily ever after. [ A good thing? A bad thing? Who knows. She hates happily ever afters, but... ] Nevertheless, I hope we all come out of this whole.
[ McGillis believes in Happily Ever After. It hardly contains friendship and it does not contain true love, but it contains a world that is better. A future to which the doors simply need to be thrust wide open. It would be nice if at least some of them could live towards such a future. ]
Of course, though the answer is a rather pragmatic one. It seemed like a safer bet than being a regular player in this story. We've all danced around discussing it quite elegantly for so many weeks, but my wish is one I do need granted.
I have nothing to lose by gambling on Hamelin's power, in that regard.
Mhm. Goodness is a matter of perspective, I would say. Not just for him, but for people as a whole. The best man I knew was so pure that it was cruel. I myself am not a good man by most people's metrics but I believe my cause to be a righteous one regardless of that.
[ Is he enjoying talking more openly for a bit? Absolutely. ]
But I like Hamelin and I do believe he will do what he can for the members of his famiglia.
My personal opinion is you are a good man, too. Which is different from a good man who does good all the time. As you said, it gets to a point where it can cross the line and become cruel - or foolish. Self-destructive, even.
[ He's not sure he himself believes that, but he's glad to hear it at the least. ]
I certainly would like to make sure your faith in me is not misplaced. It's fortunate that you and Hamelin got so close, otherwise we could not have considered revealing ourselves to you like this. I thought it might be better for you to know who to turn to in case the other's suspicion of yourself turns dangerous.
A part of me wonders if we shouldn't use that to our advantage? If suspicion is on me, then less of it will be on you and Lord Jack. I've noticed that when opinions are split, the group stagnates heavily.
I can't lie, I do find it a relief that the dead are mistaken about one of their accusations. There is a lot of disarray between their messages and it makes it easy to discredit them.
Which might really be for the best of all, given they somehow seem under the impression that the mirrors are a good thing.
As long as you are suspicious but there is no further proof whatsoever, you should hopefully be safe as well.
Yes... When that creature dragged me into the mirror last night, it was certainly not out of good will. Though it did play at being benevolent and concerned for my sake - but the stench of rot cannot be hidden so easily.
If the dead are still pointing fingers this week, I’ll try to steer the conversation toward more important matters - like the danger of the mirrors.
[ Hmmm, he doesn't like that. Yuri is back safe and sound for now, but the less contact they have with the beast the better. McGillis isn't certain what it is capable of precisely nor does he truly want to find out. ]
That will certainly be a good conversation to have then. I know Yeager is with us as far as the danger of the mirrors goes, at least.
By the way, while we are exchanging information... You were looking up cornflowers, weren't you? Huaisang found blue cornflower petals in Raven's ransacked room.
[ She likes Yeager, so it’s good to know at least one person will agree with them. ]
Ah - yes. Hamelin mentioned it to me, you see. He said they were his favorite, w-which is not why I looked them up. [ Not going to lie, she was nervous someone was going to ask her why she was looking up flowers. Thank goodness, it was just McGillis... ] It’s more that... he generally cannot tell me anything directly related to this game.
[ Is it really not? Hmmm? McGillis smiles a little, but says nothing. In the early weeks, he's been concerned about their relation but clearly Hamelin has won a lot more of his favor since. ]
He's cagey about the details with us as well, even though we're officially members of Famiglia Grimm for as long as we are here. The game does seem to bind him with rather tight rules.
We're very need-to-know, though he's opened up more recently.
It’s was quite annoying in the beginning, but I understand now he’s doing his best.
[ She nods. And since McGillis is part of the Grimm family now: ]
There was a footnote on the page I pointed out that mentioned it was the flower picked for the sick, old grandmother in some editions of Little Red Riding Hood. Particularly, the Grimm edition, which mentions the flower has protective properties. [ She’s quiet for a moment. ] ... I don’t know if Hamelin ever mentioned Lord Scarlet to you?
I haven’t asked about the flower since, but I don’t think I need to.
Well, as you know I'm a skeptic to love as a whole... but as far as the actual sentiment goes, I don't see where the difference between merely falling in love and experiencing 'true love' would lay?
It's just a matter of how much you decide to structure your life around it. How little other things you have that might be more important to you.
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Week 6 - Monday
So here he is, at Yuri's door, knocking in a light rhythm. ]
It's McGillis. Do you have a minute?
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[ Yuri ushers him in.
Her room is as neat as one would expect. In addition to the usual furnishings, little vials and jars of ???? sit on her vanity, some papers scattered about. Her mirror has a cloth draped over it. For some reason, there are three rugs rolled up in the corner; their patterns are identical to the ones in the lounge. ]
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But he'll nod towards the covered mirror. ]
Definitely a good call. Though I imagine Hamelin has already told you as much, too.
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[ She smiles brightly at him and looks like she's holding back the urge to hug him. ]
I cannot say how relieved I am to speak with you like this.
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I'm glad you think so. I know Jack has already given you a run-down of many details, but I felt that I should check in with you personally as well.
As I said last week at the meeting, I am on your side. I am also on Hamelin's side and to a degree, these things certainly seem to have aligned recently. It's very fortunate for us.
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May I ask why you accepted his invitation?
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Of course, though the answer is a rather pragmatic one. It seemed like a safer bet than being a regular player in this story. We've all danced around discussing it quite elegantly for so many weeks, but my wish is one I do need granted.
I have nothing to lose by gambling on Hamelin's power, in that regard.
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His power, hmm. I think we are all gambling on the strength of his heart, too - but he is... He's a good man.
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[ Is he enjoying talking more openly for a bit? Absolutely. ]
But I like Hamelin and I do believe he will do what he can for the members of his famiglia.
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[ He's not sure he himself believes that, but he's glad to hear it at the least. ]
I certainly would like to make sure your faith in me is not misplaced. It's fortunate that you and Hamelin got so close, otherwise we could not have considered revealing ourselves to you like this. I thought it might be better for you to know who to turn to in case the other's suspicion of yourself turns dangerous.
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Which might really be for the best of all, given they somehow seem under the impression that the mirrors are a good thing.
As long as you are suspicious but there is no further proof whatsoever, you should hopefully be safe as well.
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If the dead are still pointing fingers this week, I’ll try to steer the conversation toward more important matters - like the danger of the mirrors.
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[ Hmmm, he doesn't like that. Yuri is back safe and sound for now, but the less contact they have with the beast the better. McGillis isn't certain what it is capable of precisely nor does he truly want to find out. ]
That will certainly be a good conversation to have then. I know Yeager is with us as far as the danger of the mirrors goes, at least.
By the way, while we are exchanging information... You were looking up cornflowers, weren't you? Huaisang found blue cornflower petals in Raven's ransacked room.
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Ah - yes. Hamelin mentioned it to me, you see. He said they were his favorite, w-which is not why I looked them up. [ Not going to lie, she was nervous someone was going to ask her why she was looking up flowers. Thank goodness, it was just McGillis... ] It’s more that... he generally cannot tell me anything directly related to this game.
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He's cagey about the details with us as well, even though we're officially members of Famiglia Grimm for as long as we are here. The game does seem to bind him with rather tight rules.
We're very need-to-know, though he's opened up more recently.
[ They're... the closest thing to pals it gets. ]
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[ She nods. And since McGillis is part of the Grimm family now: ]
There was a footnote on the page I pointed out that mentioned it was the flower picked for the sick, old grandmother in some editions of Little Red Riding Hood. Particularly, the Grimm edition, which mentions the flower has protective properties. [ She’s quiet for a moment. ] ... I don’t know if Hamelin ever mentioned Lord Scarlet to you?
I haven’t asked about the flower since, but I don’t think I need to.
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[ So that does indeed explain Hamelin's preference, even if it does not explain the appearance of the petals in Raven's room. ]
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Enough to make you change your mind on true love?
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I love him, but... I don't know if I can say we were destined to be or that he's my one true love. I just - I just love him.
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I wonder if there really is such a thing as a distinction between simply love and true love...
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You don't think so? When people talk about true love, they tend to have many ideals about it. Love at first sight... True love conquers all...
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It's just a matter of how much you decide to structure your life around it. How little other things you have that might be more important to you.