Anima, Ch.34: An Outing

--01-- [Scene: Dugald Aisle] <Wishes Travel>
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling.|I hadn't left home in days.
Aside from my persistent headaches, worse than ever now, I wasn't sick...
I just didn't want to face the outside world again.


--02-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
A light knock on the door disturbed my moping. I didn't answer.
The knock repeated, more insistent. I didn't answer.
A heavy pounding followed.
"I know you're in there!" came a familiar shout.

--03-- <BGM: Wishes Travel> {SFX: slam}
"If you're not coming out, I'm coming in." The door swung open, and Kiandra strode in.
...The lack of locks on the doors was a serious oversight by the builders.
She closed the door behind her.


--04-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
"Have you gotten out of bed at all since I last left?"
She approached the bedside. I turned away.
"You don't look sick. Go out and get some fresh air. It's not like you'll burn in direct sunlight."


--05-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
I turned to face her. "I don't know about that; I'm pretty pale."
"Then you really need to get out more."
She dragged me to my feet. "Up and at 'em."
Once she's set on something, she never relents.

--06-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
I grumbled. "...fine. ...I'll go outside. For a bit."
"Good girl. Now, don't you have a date tonight?"
"...what?"
"I already let Devin know you were feeling better. Don't make a liar out of me."

--07-- <BGM: Wishes Travel> {SFX: huge failure}
"You did *what?*"
Ugh. No getting out of it now. I *did* agree...and it's not that I don't want to, but...
"Right. Well then, we need to get you something more appropriate to wear for the occasion."


--08-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
"What?"
She struck a contrapposto pose, smiling slyly. "Something glamorous, that shows off your figure
more than that oversized shirt. Make it a night to remember! You only get one first date."


--09-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
"You won't take 'no' for an answer, will you?"
"Be at Simon's at one o'clock, or I'll drag you there by the ears. Until then, you go walk off that cloud of gloom."
"One o'clock. Got it."


--10-- <BGM: Wishes Travel>
It's still early. I have a few hours.
"Good. I'll see you then."
She leaned close, poking the tip of my nose with her index finger. "One way or another."
She pointed over at the door. "Now, out!"

--11-- [Scene: none]
Kiandra dragged me out the door, then left to go tend to her business.
Fine. I'll go for a walk.
I trudged out to the Moongate, and stepped in without really thinking much about where I wanted to go.


--12-- [Scene: Emain Macha] <When Two Hands Cross>
Emain Macha? Why did I think to go here?
My feet moved of their own accord, and my aimless wandering drew me to the church.
Maybe it's my guilty conscious. I can't think of any other reason...


--13-- <BGM: When Two Hands Cross>
James was standing out front.
He didn't speak to me, but gave me a small smile and a look that said 'well done' as I passed.
Did I...do the right thing?
I walked in, and sat at the front row pew.

--14-- <Lymilark (Wyllow)>
(Wyllow)
Welcome, child. Seek, and you will find hope here.
Lymilark blesses all who walk upon this good earth, regardless of the shape they take.
May I help you?


--15-- <BGM: Lymilark (Wyllow)>
"Not unless you can change the past.
...I did something terrible.
It might've stopped something worse from happening, but...I'm disgusted with myself.
I never thought I could hate someone so much..."

--16-- <Lymilark (Wyllow)>
(Wyllow)
Providence makes use of everything to achieve its intents, though we mere mortals
often cannot see how heaven wills it.
Judgement and penitence often wear the same face, as two halves of a whole.


--17-- <BGM: Lymilark (Wyllow)>
"That's a rather...specific observation there."
How much does he know...? Is he...aware?
The priest closed his eyes, gestured the shape of a cross with his hands, then clasped his hands in prayer.


--18-- <Lymilark (Wyllow)>
(Wyllow)
Lord Lymilark, your humble servant asks you to bless this daughter of a distant land,
who seeks your divine mercy.
Forgive her transgressions, and open the path for her heart to find peace.


--19-- <BGM: Lymilark (Wyllow)>
He lowered his hands again, and simply smiled at me.
"Um, thanks..."
I...don't know how to feel about this...
What faith this man must have, to want to pray for a murderer like me!

--20-- <Lymilark (Wyllow)>
(Wyllow)
But you must also be willing to forgive yourself.
We're all capable of good and evil, of love and hate.
If you can reflect upon your actions and feel remorse, you are not lost yet.
Go in peace, child.

--21-- <BGM: Lymilark (Wyllow)>
Remorse, huh? I sure feel it now...but when I was incinerating Esras from the inside out,
I...felt nothing of the sort. In fact... I was satisfied... I enjoyed it...
I was...a monster...!


--22-- <BGM: Lymilark (Wyllow)>
It's an old adage: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Now I've experienced it firsthand...
I hope I never have to do it again. It's terrifying to contemplate what I might do...


--23-- <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
I got up and left. This was a waste of time. Kind words can't erase bloody deeds.
Maybe the only purpose religion serves is to make you feel guilty, then offer
to take it away again...for a price.


--24-- <BGM: Reflected Scenery on Water>
I whiled away the rest of the morning by fishing.
Once the sun passed the noon meridian, I packed up and headed to Dunbarton.
I don't doubt that Kiandra would seriously carry out her threat...


--25-- [Scene: Dunbarton] <Lacks Beauty>
I walked into Simon's boutique to find Vivian and Kiandra already there looking over clothing.
"...seems a little impractical, don't you think?"
"But it's cute! Well, let's...oh, Meara, you're early?"


--26-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
"Let's get this over with," I fumed.
"Well," Vivian started, "we, uh, found a couple outfits we thought would look nice on you,
but you get the final decision. Okay?"
"Let's see them..."

--27-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
Vivian held up a rather short and frilly sleeveless dress. "What do you think?"
"That's practically more frills and ribbons than dress. And dangerously short."
"Hmm, uh, maybe you're right..."


--28-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
"Then I guess this one's out too?" Kiandra presented another extremely short skirt with a wide-flaring hem.
"How would I even be able to put my hands down at my sides with that?"



--29-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
"Picky. Well, maybe this one?"
Vivian picked up a long ankle-length form-fitting gown...that was slit up to the waist on the left side.
"Not with that," I said, pointing at the slit.


--30-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty> {SFX: success}
Kiandra put a hand to her chin. "Okay then, I guess I'll have to bring out the big guns. How about..."
She rummaged about in the unseen storage space we Milletians all seem to have.
"...this?!"


--31-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
She produced a short leather dress similar to the one she wore herself,
but with long elbow-length gloves instead of long sleeves, and colored in blue instead of black.
"You have got to be kidding."


--32-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
"It's perfect! Shows off your figure, and it's not too revealing. Come on, go try it on."
"No. I'm done here."
I tried to turn and leave, only to be stopped by a hand grasping my ear.
"Ow! Stop it!"

--33-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
Kiandra glared at me with an insistent look.
"Try. It. On." She shoved the dress into my hands and let my ear go.
Vivian grinned. "I wanna see this too."
Well, I'm stuck. "Is there a dressing room?"

--34-- <Lacks Beauty>
(Simon)
Yes, of course. It's upstairs. Only door up there.




--35-- <BGM: Lacks Beauty>
I climbed the stairs with all the cheer and dignity of a prisoner going to the gallows.
The dressing room was cramped, with barely enough room to move around.
The back wall was a mirror.


--36-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
I pulled off my jacket and shirt...then gasped at the sight in the mirror.
I had a burn mark in the middle of my chest: an angry red, fist-sized,
half-healed circular patch just below my breasts...


--37-- <BGM: Hidden Petals of Poison>
Right where I'd been 'branded' by the demon in the trial.
It had really happened...?!
I stared wordlessly at it for a long moment.
"Meara, stop stalling!" came a shout from Vivian downstairs.

--38-- <BGM: Look at My Cool Makeover!>
With a groan, I pulled the scandalous dress over my head, and tugged it down around my body.
Rather snug, but not as tight as it had looked.
I put on the absurd elbow-length gloves too.


--39-- <BGM: Look at My Cool Makeover!>
I returned downstairs. Time to go face judgement.
"Wow," Vivian stammered, "...I'm kinda jealous."
"I...I can't accept this, Kiandra."
"Then I'll put it on your tab."
"That's not what I meant!"
--40-- <BGM: Look at My Cool Makeover!>
Kiandra smiled. "You look ravishing. You'll knock him dead."
"I'd just as soon get through the night without killing anyone."
I have a feeling that this is going to be a long and awkward evening...


[end of chapter]