dated to the night before the plot starts, at midnight!

[payback]

[Before Uru left, Rin had suggested a cake date for the two of them. A midnight cake date! Something a little silly but fun for it. It's a magical castle of tremendous beauty, after all. In that kind of place a midnight cake-eating party is something that could easily happen.

Uru's gone now and the cake never happened. One half of the party is still here, though. You could guess that Rin stewed for a while and then thought "fuck it" and threw cares otherwise to the wind.

As such, at midnight she's in the dining room, dressed in a fancy traditional kimono and eating her way fastidiously through a very fancy slice of cake. She has to be extra-careful not trail her long sleeves through the frosting, but she's doing a good job of it. Rin has even gone to the trouble of lighting some candles to arrange a small centerpiece. The journal is open at her elbow. Between neat bites she dictates into it.]

Before my friend left, we had this idea of eating cake at midnight. The idea was, we'd make a party of it, you know? [Bite.]

Well, it seems like a shame to scrap an idea just because she's gone now. I don't think she'd care for that kind of attitude. She'd probably have something encouraging to say about it being worthwhile to do something else.

Anyway. My point is, I'm having cake in the dining room. It's midnight now. If you want some, come and get it.

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[midget]

They say that eating sweets so late at night is bad for your health. [ You'll get fat, Rin.

But yes, have a vampire literally appearing from nowhere. She was summoned by the promise of cake and the bitter feelings of resentment. ]

[payback]

[She takes a pointed bite, rolling her eyes in Eva's direction.]

We don't get older here. Do you think it's even possible to gain weight?

[midget]

[ Eva pulls up a chair next to Rin. As she takes the seat, she speaks in a teacherly-tone. ] Yes. I have about six hundred years more experience with agelessness than you do, you can take my word for it.

[payback]

This might be a different kind than what you know.

[midget]

But hair still grows. I see no reason why you couldn't gain weight.

[ Serving herself a slice of cake now. Keiki, keiki! ]

[payback]

I'll take the risk.

[And a pointed bite.]

[midget]

[ And Eva takes her own bite. ]

. . . Passable, I suppose. [ That means she likes it. ]

[payback]

Don't get embarrassing, now. [With praise, she means. A bite in turn.] How've you been?

[heloise]

[ It's strange, to be missing someone she only half remembers. People fade away in memories, imperfect as they are. But Lucrezia's here at the dining room, hovering by the doorway with an evening robe over her slip. It was late and besides she did not feel like dressing. ]

May I?

[payback]

[Rin glances up and then raises her fork in salute. Her face now does not reflect some of the bitterness that sharpened her voice; in person she's more quiescent, at least initially.]

Of course! It's a party. Hello.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia steps closer, running her hand over the back of the chair before taking a seat near the woman. She offers a meek smile but otherwise keeps her eyes on the cake, more morose than anything. ]

I knew Uru --I remember her. I am afraid I cannot say the same of you.

[payback]

My name is Rin. [She doesn't seem concerned by Heloise's apparent shyness.] I've been around for a while but I was in and out of the castle for the longest time, so it's been a while since I've really met anyone... it's sad to see Uru go. I think she was always a bright light for people here.

[heloise]

Like the sun. [ She smiles at a memory or other, before turning to Rin and gesturing to herself. ]

Lucrezia. I believe there is a slice for me?

[payback]

Of course, help yourself. [In spite of the words Rin stands up to make cakelike preparations for another slice and plate all on her own. She went for the nice china, too. In short order a delicate plate complete with fork and slice of cake is pushed over to sit in front of Lucrezia's place.]

How long have you been here?

[heloise]

[ She mutters her thanks for the cake, though it seems a pity to destroy such a pretty thing with her fork. At least the first bite buys her time to think her answer through. ]

A number of months, before. Scarcely two weeks now.

[payback]

[Rin's expression shifts again, though her changes in aspect have overall been pretty subtle the entire time. A ways away from the completely open book she used to be.]

You're one of the ones who returned, I guess. Welcome back.

[heloise]

In mind, yes, though in body I never left. [ She takes another bite. ]

Let us speak of Uru and how she was the loveliest.

[payback]

[She raises her eyebrows momentarily. Oh, one of those - she's been through a few herself. Maybe an unpleasant experience?]

She was here for a long while herself. It grinds a lot of people down but she seemed to stay really good...

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia watches her, and sets her fork down. ]

Has it also eaten away at your brightness, Rin?

[payback]

[Rin has little idea whether that was meant to be a jab or an honest question, but in a sense she doesn't care. Lucrezia gets a thin smile in return. A guarded expression.]

I'm a much different person now than I was when I started. But that's normal.

[heloise]

[ As honest as can be. She thinks she can sympathize. ]

For the better, I hope.

[payback]

Maybe it's averaged out. [There's a dry-humored, sad edge to her smile now. There's a lot of things she'd feel fine forgetting! She'd invite it, in fact. But she gets tired of herself when she broods too much.]

How did you meet Uru?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia returns that smile, just as cynical. ]

I cannot recall the exact moment. She taught me how to bake, when we were locked in a room once. Chocolate cakes.

[payback]

One of those castle things, huh?

[heloise]

[ She nods. ] And you?