[Caitlyn was offering the chocobo some treats when Marianne returned inside. She felt a twinge of guilt as the woman greeted her so kindly. She tried her best to smile in return, but she knew she was struggling. This wasn't fair. This wasn't right. But what else was she supposed to do?]
Hello, Marianne. How are you?
[Fuck the Council. She felt like she was committing a betrayal, here. But that was probably the point of it, wasn't it?]
[ Caitlyn only asked after her well-being but the happiness of the animals might as well be her own. The ongoing tensions with Rumpitur still weigh on her mind, but Marianne can breathe a sigh of relief the kidnapped had been rescued and peace restored.
By this point she's noticed Caitlyn's preoccupied expression and she frowns, wondering what might be troubling her. ]
[Caitlyn knows she shouldn't bother lying. She wracked her brain on how to go about this, and she felt like being honest with Marianne was the best way to handle this. ]
I was chosen for sentencing this month by the Council.
[ So that was why Caitlyn looked uneasy. Marianne lifts her hand as if to reach out and reassure her, but she thinks twice and ends up folding her hands in front of her, feeling at a loss for what to say. Not for the first time, she wishes she were better with people. She doesn't want to pry too much into the details knowing how personal it is. ]
Will they be keeping you busy? If you need someone to look after Toby for a while...
No, I-- I should be able to tend to him. But I appreciate the offer.
[She was already making plans to head to Rumpitur soon, in search of Silco. Toby would be her way there and back, at least.
Ugh, why couldn't Marianne be an asshole like Silco? She felt way less guilty about the idea of bringing him in. Even now, Marianne was offering her help and being so kind.]
The thing is... The Council-- [dammit. She knew she should just get it out. Get it over with, then deal with the fallout.]
The Council wants me to bring in two Chosen for their sentencing. You were also picked. I'm... so sorry, Marianne. But they want me to bring you to Jerry.
[ Oh. Oh. As the news sinks in, Marianne turns pale and her knees feel weak. When the council began to hand out sentences she knew it would inevitably be her turn and had braced herself, but now that it's happening she still feels knocked off balance.
Caitlyn...a look at the other woman's face tells her she doesn't want to bring her in, and the kindly way she breaks it to her softens the blow. Marianne doesn't want to make this any harder on her, and the thought gives her resolve to face her sentencing. She's always intended to surrender quietly. ]
I—I understand. I'll go with you.
[ Her hands smooth the front of her dress anxiously. Hay clings to the fabric and her boots are dirty from her stable work. ]
Um, would you mind if I got changed first? Then I'll go, Caitlyn, I promise.
[Though not voiced, Caitlyn would know the feeling all too well. She had been doing her best to not draw any extra attention from the Council for a while, but after her conversation with Silco last month, she had been looking their way more. Maybe that's how she ended up being one of the lucky ones this time. All the same, it came with such a sense of dread and panic.]
Please-- take all the time you need. [Even if she doubted she would have issues convincing Marianne to come with her, she was still flooded with relief that the woman was so agreeable. But she knew Silco would never come this quietly.]
I don't want to be doing this either, I just want you to know that. I wish there was another way. There's so much we don't know about what happens if we don't comply with them.
It's okay. I know it can't be helped. [ They have no choice but to cooperate with the people in charge, and hearing Caitlyn's reluctance is enough for her. ] Actually, I'm kind of glad it's you who came to get me instead of a stranger.
[ If it had been some intimidating member of the Council, she would definitely feel worse. Marianne tries to manage a smile, but she's never been great at smiling and she's sure it comes out looking weak.
It doesn't take her long to get changed. She comes back in a clean dress and shoes. Prim and proper. If anything, it's her nerves that are frazzled. ]
[Hearing Marianne would rather it be Caitlyn to bring her in does give her some relief. It eases her guilt, certainly. Still, it isn't fair or right by any means. While Caitlyn doesn't know the extent of the accusations the Council made towards her, Marianne has been nothing but kind in the times that Caitlyn has interacted with her. She was no criminal.
As Marianne leaves to change, Caitlyn lingers at the stalls, grateful her chocobo seemed none the wiser to her turmoil. If anything, he sensed she was upset and was extra attentive, but that could also be because he knew she still had treats.
But soon enough, Marianne returns, and Caitlyn nods to her.]
I'll stay with you as long as I can, okay? [It's the least she can do, leading the other woman into this mess. It doesn't take long to get to the Council's headquarters from the stalls, and true to her word, Caitlyn intended to stay until Jerry made his appearance.]
[ Marianne replies with relief tangible in her voice. She walks with her head bowed, saying a silent prayer to the goddess on the way. She has long resigned herself to judgment and she asks Sothis not for leniency nor forgiveness, but for the strength to face herself and persevere. Because hopeless as she might be, even someone like her has found a reason to go on living.
When they reach the Council, she turns to bid Caitlyn goodbye. A simple 'farewell' feels too glum, so instead— ]
Um, I'll see you again when this is over. We can take Toby to the meadows next time.
[ She doesn't know what her sentence will be nor what will happen from here, but putting her hopes into words gives Marianne something to look forward to. Perhaps through the trials of the past year, she has grown just enough to allow herself a little bit of kindness. ]
[Caitlyn doesn't interrupt the silence as they walk to City Hall. It gives her time to talk herself through her own guilt about the situation. Still, it had to be done. She had been so anxious since her own sentencing, and she selfishly hoped this would help, even though she knew she still had Silco to hunt down.
To Marianne's goodbye, she nods, trying to give her a smile of encouragement. Even now, Marianne continues to be nothing but kind.]
I'd like that. And if you need help, with what they tell you-- let me know. I'll help in any way I can.
[It was something she had already offered to all Chosen, but given her personal hand in this, she wanted to assist her. It only seemed right.]
[ That gives her relief to know. No matter how poorly the Council thought of her, or how poorly she thought of herself, the kindness people extend her remind her of her own worth. ]
I'll be off now.
[ With a last nod of goodbye, Marianne turns away. She hopes her coming means Caitlyn's sentence will conclude soon and she'll be let go, free to return to Toby. She'll see them again once her own judgment has concluded. Bracing herself, Marianne steps through the doors of City Hall. ]
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no subject
Hello, Marianne. How are you?
[Fuck the Council. She felt like she was committing a betrayal, here. But that was probably the point of it, wasn't it?]
no subject
[ Caitlyn only asked after her well-being but the happiness of the animals might as well be her own. The ongoing tensions with Rumpitur still weigh on her mind, but Marianne can breathe a sigh of relief the kidnapped had been rescued and peace restored.
By this point she's noticed Caitlyn's preoccupied expression and she frowns, wondering what might be troubling her. ]
Um, is everything okay?
no subject
[Caitlyn knows she shouldn't bother lying. She wracked her brain on how to go about this, and she felt like being honest with Marianne was the best way to handle this. ]
I was chosen for sentencing this month by the Council.
no subject
[ So that was why Caitlyn looked uneasy. Marianne lifts her hand as if to reach out and reassure her, but she thinks twice and ends up folding her hands in front of her, feeling at a loss for what to say. Not for the first time, she wishes she were better with people. She doesn't want to pry too much into the details knowing how personal it is. ]
Will they be keeping you busy? If you need someone to look after Toby for a while...
no subject
[She was already making plans to head to Rumpitur soon, in search of Silco. Toby would be her way there and back, at least.
Ugh, why couldn't Marianne be an asshole like Silco? She felt way less guilty about the idea of bringing him in. Even now, Marianne was offering her help and being so kind.]
The thing is... The Council-- [dammit. She knew she should just get it out. Get it over with, then deal with the fallout.]
The Council wants me to bring in two Chosen for their sentencing. You were also picked. I'm... so sorry, Marianne. But they want me to bring you to Jerry.
no subject
Caitlyn...a look at the other woman's face tells her she doesn't want to bring her in, and the kindly way she breaks it to her softens the blow. Marianne doesn't want to make this any harder on her, and the thought gives her resolve to face her sentencing. She's always intended to surrender quietly. ]
I—I understand. I'll go with you.
[ Her hands smooth the front of her dress anxiously. Hay clings to the fabric and her boots are dirty from her stable work. ]
Um, would you mind if I got changed first? Then I'll go, Caitlyn, I promise.
no subject
Please-- take all the time you need. [Even if she doubted she would have issues convincing Marianne to come with her, she was still flooded with relief that the woman was so agreeable. But she knew Silco would never come this quietly.]
I don't want to be doing this either, I just want you to know that. I wish there was another way. There's so much we don't know about what happens if we don't comply with them.
no subject
[ If it had been some intimidating member of the Council, she would definitely feel worse. Marianne tries to manage a smile, but she's never been great at smiling and she's sure it comes out looking weak.
It doesn't take her long to get changed. She comes back in a clean dress and shoes. Prim and proper. If anything, it's her nerves that are frazzled. ]
O-Okay, I'm ready.
no subject
As Marianne leaves to change, Caitlyn lingers at the stalls, grateful her chocobo seemed none the wiser to her turmoil. If anything, he sensed she was upset and was extra attentive, but that could also be because he knew she still had treats.
But soon enough, Marianne returns, and Caitlyn nods to her.]
I'll stay with you as long as I can, okay? [It's the least she can do, leading the other woman into this mess. It doesn't take long to get to the Council's headquarters from the stalls, and true to her word, Caitlyn intended to stay until Jerry made his appearance.]
no subject
[ Marianne replies with relief tangible in her voice. She walks with her head bowed, saying a silent prayer to the goddess on the way. She has long resigned herself to judgment and she asks Sothis not for leniency nor forgiveness, but for the strength to face herself and persevere. Because hopeless as she might be, even someone like her has found a reason to go on living.
When they reach the Council, she turns to bid Caitlyn goodbye. A simple 'farewell' feels too glum, so instead— ]
Um, I'll see you again when this is over. We can take Toby to the meadows next time.
[ She doesn't know what her sentence will be nor what will happen from here, but putting her hopes into words gives Marianne something to look forward to. Perhaps through the trials of the past year, she has grown just enough to allow herself a little bit of kindness. ]
no subject
To Marianne's goodbye, she nods, trying to give her a smile of encouragement. Even now, Marianne continues to be nothing but kind.]
I'd like that. And if you need help, with what they tell you-- let me know. I'll help in any way I can.
[It was something she had already offered to all Chosen, but given her personal hand in this, she wanted to assist her. It only seemed right.]
no subject
[ That gives her relief to know. No matter how poorly the Council thought of her, or how poorly she thought of herself, the kindness people extend her remind her of her own worth. ]
I'll be off now.
[ With a last nod of goodbye, Marianne turns away. She hopes her coming means Caitlyn's sentence will conclude soon and she'll be let go, free to return to Toby. She'll see them again once her own judgment has concluded. Bracing herself, Marianne steps through the doors of City Hall. ]