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[perfectionner]

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LESTAT

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✉️ text — un: astarion.

[thirsted]

[ Unaware this is the second time Lestat is being asked this question today: ]

Why Devon?

[perfectionner]

[ really, you'd think this news would have circulated through the vampire group chat already. ]

I'll admit, the evidence initially seemed to point elsewhere. [ armand, in other words. ] But then it came to my attention that the boy has certain abilities his cohorts failed to mention publicly — power that could very easily be wielded while he was unaware.

Physically, he also matches the description the victim posthumously gave to one of our little self-appointed sleuths.

[thirsted]

And who told you what he could do?

If you don't wish to tell me, I'll accept that, but I implore you not to lie to me.

[perfectionner]

[ lestat sees no reason to protect a source here, so: ]

One of the young women from that team brought word to me of an apparent devil pact that can grant him power, after I was told his allies were claiming the exact opposite.

It seemed particularly suspicious, when paired with the physical information.

[thirsted]

[ After a sigh of relief: ]

Thank you, Lestat, for your candor.

I agree it seems strange. Each wishes to protect their own — including us.

[perfectionner]

Understandably so. Though Louis was assigned one of these so-called wolf roles before, and I highly doubt the game would make the same move twice in that regard.

I did, however, leverage a fair number of votes that we may have at our disposal heading into the next round, depending on how many of our kind voted similarly.

[thirsted]

You believe they'll repay the favor?

[perfectionner]

If they don't honor their word, that may very well dictate next moves.

[thirsted]

Lestat.

[ Though he leaves it at that, afraid to fully turn over the rock and see what lies underneath. ]

[perfectionner]

I was referring to the breaking of our so-called alliance, Astarion, not something more drastic.

[thirsted]

[ quickly googling "how to walk back the suggestion that i thought my friend was going to commit murder and i didn't like it" ]

Well, I'm certainly happy to hear that said aloud. Or written, as it were.

[perfectionner]

That all being said, I did not direct any of the other vampires to follow suit. If they voted alongside me, it was of their own volition. I can’t claim any widespread influence over our number, no more than any of us can.

[ although he suspects that louis, in part, simply didn’t want armand to fall first. not that he’ll admit to as much in writing. ]

[thirsted]

[ All in all, it's a fragmented picture, one that points to the disarray expected of the last moments before a vote rather than any significant subterfuge on the part of anyone but the girls. ]

What would you have done, if none of us voted with you?

[perfectionner]

You make it sound as though I would’ve been beside myself.

[ it’s not that deep dot gif ]

Really, you all made me look much more influential than I believed myself to be.

[thirsted]

Don't fret, I don't imagine your feathers to be so easily ruffled.
I mean with the girls. Leverage, you said, dependent on our votes.
I suppose you consider it no great loss, if things hadn't gone that way.

[perfectionner]

It's an advantage we may be able to use to our benefit.

But at the end of all of this, what will we be left with? Wounds to be licked yet again? Wounded pride to be nursed?
What if we simply refuse to play this time?

[thirsted]

Would that it were so simple.
Even if we don't engage, that doesn't guarantee we won't be slaughtered.
Even if we don't vote, that doesn't mean the Shepherd won't put our votes where he sees fit.
Or did you have some other idea on how to escape this mess?

[perfectionner]

[ ... ]

What we'll benefit from is letting clear heads prevail, then. Not falling prey to the easy traps that have been set.