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Mm...it's fine to call me that in front of Oriade. Or Mithrun. But around other people, I prefer 'Vogel'.

[Shuffling awkwardly as they are approached by deadly presents]

They know who you are?

[ Ah, trivial monsters. Michel gives them a distracted glance and draws his sword. His heart really isn't in his attack, but perhaps they'll find it easier to talk while they're occupied with something easy. ]

Yes. Our families met at some point in real life--and they recognized me.

[Sinclair's aggressive reaction to one of the presents is probably a surprise. He stabs one with particular viciousness]

[ That's... definitely surprising, yes. Michel pauses to stare, almost long enough to let another present hop(?) at Vogel from the side. But he rallies quickly to slash at it, more of his attention on Vogel now.

So. That's one piece of evidence towards this not being something they can continue not talking about. ]

Before what happened to your family.

Yeah.

[Ah. Switching the conversation back to him now. He stabs another present violently]

Oriade and I are around the same age, so that was natural. But the last time Mithrun saw me must have been when I was...5?

[ And it's going to stay on Vogel (probably) since Michel is dealing... well. Or at least, with exactly appropriate force in his stabbing present monsters. The combo flow of regular attack into Cross Slash into Sword Flash does feel cathartically satisfying. ]

He mentioned being a friend of yours... Mithrun, that is.

[ It's good, that Vogel isn't alone here. ]

Mm. We are. [Friends. It makes him happy to hear that, enough that the next present meets a more dignified end.] He understands...a lot, I think.

[ Is understanding a good thing, in that context? Better than speaking into the emptiness... Michel closes on the last present together with Vogel, watching him thoughtfully. ]

I cannot claim to understand as well. But if you want to tell me about it, or about Kromer...

[There's nothing left to vent out his anger on, so Sinclair is left bowing his head. A strange, dark look flits across his face]

...there's nothing I can tell you. She got away with it. [A pause, as he considers] Did you ever consider killing her? That girl?

[ Taking in the look on Vogel's face, he thinks that maybe he is in fact qualified to understand this one thing. ]

At the time... if I could have, she would be dead.

[ In desperation, self-defense, the fury of the moment, a fourteen-year-old's total lack of emotional regulation. He gives a slow sigh and tilts his head in the direction of the dungeon to steer them along. ]

...she would have deserved it.

[Sinclair is vehement about that. He stares at his lance and thinks about what Mithrun had told him.

His fingers tighten around his lance.

Yeah.

If he lets Kromer continue to live

Then

He's responsible for it isn't he?]

It would have relieved my feelings... perhaps. At the cost of the happiness of people I care for.

[ "Deserved" is too high a threshold for him to summit. He hates Aimee, deeply. That she hadn't killed him unintentionally was simple luck. To kill her in return, when he had survived? ]

I don't wish it. [ But Vogel's situation isn't the same, is it? ] Do you want to kill her? Kramer?

[Sinclair frowns, looking down.

Happiness, huh?

He cared about Oria. Michel. They might feel hurt...but this was different]

I want her dead.

[Softly, unsteady as his hands shake on his lance. If he had a chance, it was clear

He would take a knife. Gun. Bat. Anything and then he'd

----

Those are thoughts he can't voice to anyone but Mithrun]

For my parents, my sister...

[ It's not the same. Michel, after all, still has people whose happiness he cares about.

He watches Vogel's hands shake. The movement is a little halting, but finally, he reaches out to try to steady him with one hand on his shoulder. ]

You have every reason to hate her. I would, too. I do. [ Just that memory is enough. But, how to put it... ] If that's what you wish for, then you can't use them as your justification. It would be... for yourself.

...I know.

[There's a darkness in his gaze, but he doesn't pull away from Michel's touch]

...when she comes for me...

[He trails off, looking into the distance]

[ If he's not pulling away, then Michel will hold on, just for a little longer. ]

...Do you think that's the only way you'll stop being afraid of her?

[He glances up, looking hollow]

It's the only way I'll be free.

From what? In what way?

[ That look... Michel is terrible at offering or accepting hugs. But he's beginning to wonder if he should try. ]

It's unreasonable of me to interrogate you on this, I know.

[ But he wants to understand -- more, he wants Vogel to consider it carefully, in all its repercussions. ]

You saw my memory. I managed to fool myself all this time but looking back... she'll come for me.

[ Sinclair trembles a little, caught between fear and loathing]

I've never once been free. So before then--

[He'll tear her apart limb from limb. Drive a knife into -----

And

There will be no justice. The chance for that was long gone]

[ There's no monsters around right now. Michel puts his sword away so he can bring both hands to Sinclair's shoulders, giving him a little shake. That distant, haunted look in his eyes plucks a chord of recognition in him. ]

Emil. Don't lose yourself in panic. You believed what you believed for a reason. Explain it to me properly.

[ Deep, panicked breaths as he struggles to even out his breathing. Michel's hands on his shoulders are an anchor to reality he desperately needs and yet]

...she never went to prison for it. Any of it. She plead insanity and got away with it--

[ Admittedly, from the memory alone, he could see reason for that. But even if that were the case... ]

Did they simply turn her loose?

They said...with proper psychiatric support she'd be able to be a functioning member of society because she's so young [ He can't stop shaking] but her family's rich and--- [She's being supported by a group he can't name]
She has followers. So many.

[ It would be irresponsible to say something lightly here. "It will be fine"? About a girl who had done the things he saw in that memory? He squeezes Vogel's shoulders lightly in reassurance as he thinks. ]

And you? You said you knew Mithrun and Oriade. Do you have anywhere you can go?

I wouldn't involve Oriade [Notably, Mithrun is the exception] -- and I'm not running away. Not again.

[His shoulders shake in earnest, shuddering breaths again]

It was my fault, even if people try to tell me otherwise. If I hadn't--[Choking out a second confession might be too much for him, but Michel has to know. Unlike him, Sinclair wasn't innocent. Not at all]

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