The Circle Shrank

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov pulls his arm away from her, and crosses them over his stomach. He stares at Sayuka for a moment, not sure how to react. The thought crosses his mind that she is actually jealous or maybe even upset that he has never taken any interest in her.
"That may be." He admits.
"But it doesn't matter if I am insecure and weak, so long as others don't notice. And most Sayuka, don't. I am secure enough in my ideas and strong enough to defend them. That's all that really matters."

His voice is cool and low, but his eyes dart over her nervously.

"Ah well, I know how it must be for you. You are strong and intelligent, but no one notices you. I'm sure it is hard for a woman like you to be living in the shadow of other revolutionaries. You Sayuka, are a good woman and I am glad that we have known each other as long as we have. But I am afraid that you don't know me and that, your jealousy has tainted your judgement of me."

[Sayuka]

[glow=violet,2,300]"No Bassarov, I am not jealous of you. I don't need to be well liked or to be the leader in order to survive. You do. And I pity you for that."[/glow]

I lay back down, resting my head on his pillow and looking at the ceiling.


[glow=violet,2,300]"I find all the strength I need in who I am. Not in what others think of me."[/glow]

I close my eyes.

[glow=violet,2,300]"I hope you don't mind that I rest in your bed. I had a bad exprerience at the Ministry of Terror and need some rest. But I am sure that you, the great revolutionary, doesn't mind if I am sleeping here. It will be my first and last time in your bedroom." [/glow]

[Andrew Kasher]

Andrew acknowleges Surma's presence, without turning to face him.

"Um... there's a song we all have to sing," Andrew says. He considers humming it, but decides against it, since his singing can be distracting, and they all need to focus on Satsujin. Instead, he sends the tune to everyone telepathically. He ignores Soren's comment. Soren seems like an excessively angry person.

[Antero Black]

A light black steam wafts upwards from Antero's body as the prayer is being chanted. It is some the taint which has infected his body, however, despite the prayer, he is still infected.

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov stands up and puts his arms behind his back. He looks at Sayuka trying to understand where she is coming from or why she thinks so lowly of him. He is determined that somehow he will prove her wrong and warm her up to him. Had he known what she truly thought of him, he would have put more effort into befriending her. Her words are not untrue. He bases much of who he is off of how others percieve him. He thrives on being admired.

"That sounds like a challenge."

He turns and walks to the door, but glances back at her before he leaves the room.
"I'm glad that you are feeling better and it is nice to have you back with the rebels. Rest well and I will send someone to check on you later."
He leaves the room and returns to Zero.
"She seems to be feeling better..."
He will reveal nothing of what she told him and keep it to himself, as well as his secret ambition to impress her.

[Sayuka]

I close my eyes and feel that telling Bassarov how I felt accomplished nothing. I thought that perhaps he might gain some insight on who he is. I thought that, he might look inward rather than outward for approval. By my criticism of him has only caused him to become more determined to impress me. I bury my sore body under his covers.


[glow=violet,2,300]"Oh Bassarov, when will you learn?"[/glow]

I close my eyes and fall back asleep.

[Elijah Debs]

Elijah listens in his mind to the telepathic song. He appreciates music and can sing well, even though it is rare that he is ever required to sing.
Elijah begins to sing the song that Andrew sent to everyone. He hopes that the others will join in. And, although singing a song in battle may seem a little unusual, he doesn't doubt his friend for a moment.

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

I get up, and see that my apartment is strangely vacant, and see Bassarov.

"Hey, where'd everyone go? Did the anarchists find their house?" I ask inquisitively.

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov sees Mischa and gives him a hug. He is normally not that affectionate, but after talking with Sayuka, he feels down inside.
"Mischa, I'm so glad you came back. All of the anarchists left to help Antero with his demonic possession."
He pats his friend on the shoulder.

[Swan of Tounela]

I begin to sing the song that Andrew sent us as well. I land and turn back into a human so my voice is more pleasant than the call of a swan.

[Sakari Lehtinen]

Sakari watches as the events surrounding Antero unfold. Although he never knew Antero before when he was, um, messed in the head I guess you could say, he can imagine what he must have been like, and feels a strong sense of empathy for him and all he's gone through to reach this point.

I sit in silence.

[Mr. Futsu]

I wake up in Lady Violet's bed after a dreamless sleep and sigh.

"She just didn't get it..." I say, getting dressed, and inviting myself out the back door in hopes that nobody would have noticed that I was there.

The events of the previous night leave my mind as I am now concentrated on my daily work, and what needs to be done.

[Kankahattaret]

"I suppose that we should sing as well, Kelthassil." I stand next to him and begin to sing the song that Andrew put in our head.

[Joukahainen]

I check my watch and see that while I have work to do, most of it can be done tommorow.

"Yes, I believe we can do that." It's still early and Lady Violet doesn't quite have me under her thumb yet. "You should bring a jacket this time." I say, smiling.

She's so sweet and innocent.

[Soren]

Soren, who did not recieve a message from Andrew, stands alone in confusion. He drops his arms and figures that everyone has gone mad.
"This is great. This is just...great. Have all of you gone insane? Singing is idiotic, you all look stupid, and you sound like a choir of hyenas."
He shakes his head, plunks himself down on the pavement, and covers his ears in disgust.