Where the fuck was EJ?
Esthrielle had, initially, been willing to let the little ghoulette wander. The second-living surely had to piss sometimes, right? They had bathrooms in, like, every building in Vitus, even ones that were only really frequented by the undead. All that blood had to go somewhere, obviously, so... Well, EJ telling her girlies how she had to use the washroom made plenty of sense. They had eaten before testing, and... Well, it had been some days since EJ had last mentioned anything of the sort, so...
Well, Est hadn't thought a damn thing of it. Why would she? Why would anyone second-guess their lover about saying they had to hit the bathroom real quick? Even thinking that to herself, she still couldn't push down the rising tide of internalized self-loathing that lapped at her heart.
How could Est have been so fucking stupid?! EJ... EJ was overly emotional, a little dumb, and way too caring. She meant well and did things with her heart, all the time, no matter what it was. Frankly, if they cut open her little blonde noggin and popped the top, just to find a twin to the drum buried in her breast, Esthrielle wouldn't have fucking blinked at this point. And so... logically... if EJ was following her foolish, well-meaning heart like the act-don't-think girlie she was, what would she have fucked off to do?
A single glance down at Purity, who still lay snuggled closely to Est, her head laid atop the Wayward's chest to make a pillow of foreign flesh? It told Est everything she needed to know. Esper James Price-motherfucking-Wynnfield was going back to the lab. Purity had been set to topple like a house of cards from the drowning scare; Est had, well... Zofi would be remembering the sensation of her arm's disconnect alarms blaring unheeded for the next few decades, at least.
Esthrielle's LED irises swapped their focus down to her own hand, inspecting her own fucked up fingers. Rending a metal limb free of its housing wasn't easy, and it had left damage on her as well, even as she inflicted such a brutal maiming. At least it wasn't an organic limb, of course. The way that the lab had looked, with the observation area doused in that deep sea-green of spilled nutrifluid?
Well, it was good that Zofi had only gone into shock from pseudo-bloodloss and activated her own inbuilt fail safes against exsanguination. Those fail safes included passing the fuck out, of course, but all it took was a split-second of browsing internal files for a solution to all the water in the room. A solution that Est had enacted in tandem with her own gut instinct: smashing the window with a thrown piece of lab equipment, the heaviest thing she could find that she could still heft without real difficulty.
Eugh. Mistakes on everyone's parts, then. Est didn't think Zofia had intentionally drowned her girlfriend for kicks, or for study purposes, but in hindsight everything was 20/20. In the heat of the moment, her instincts - trained and natural both - had forced her to act, and she had acted in a way that she was frankly proud of. There's a certain sort of pride that comes with fucking shit up in a simple act of devotion.
Est snapped herself from her reminisce, slamming her eyes shut and screwing up her face in an attempt to shake thoughts of the lab from her brain. Seeing Esper James drown and hack and cough on water once was enough - Esthrielle didn't know if she had the strength within her to live it again, even through the lens of a mentally archived moment. Quite frankly, that was something else Est was kicking herself about, for similar reasons. She had been so happy to let EJ do whatever she wanted, purely for the sake of comforting her, that Est had just let her and Purity's little lamb wander into the lions' den.
The Wayward leaned down, going to plant one fine and gentle kiss upon Purity's forehead. Her reward was a sleepy grumble one could potentially describe as 'cute', and Est certainly thought so as well, but they had more pressing matters to attend to. No, not 'they', not the both of them. Purity was unbelievably drained from the initial 'wow EJ just went through some kind of torture or something like that' grief, anyways. Tracking down the pair's shared lover, the girl with the golden hair, was gonna be a solo mission.
"Purity, sweetie... I've gotta pee too. I'll be back soon, okay? I promise you won't miss out on anything fun or interesting." Est spoke softly and sweetly, despite the pressing nature of her selected mission. Purity just nodded and offered the other woman a squeeze, mumbling beneath her breath in a tone slow too low and a cadence too fast to really tell what she was saying. Attempting to say, anyways - Purity was nowhere near intelligible, the thoughts that her head once held secret and safe now so snuggled 'neath layers of mental earth to evoke a body in its tomb. Bodies and tombs were sitting, at least, or so Est thought.
The Easterner slipped up and free, quickly throwing on her own habit and going to drift towards the door - she made extra careful to make as little sound as she could manage as she did, succeeding in some bastard child of a speed walk and an assassin's hushed footfalls. She knew how to do one of those things very intimately, at the end of the day - though she never expected this sort of scenario to be where she put it into use.
The doorknob was barely turned before she could hear feet outside. She had been pinging the convent's comms channels to try and get some sort of word from anyone who had seen, heard from, or just generally interacted with the diminutive ditz. She had received a firm stonewall of any sort of information - apparently, no one had seen her, heard from her, or detected her heat signature nearby. It was like she had disappeared into the fucking sunset, and Est knew damn well that that was bullshit.
They were hiding Esper James on purpose. As a punishment, for what Esthrielle had done to Zofia? Doubtful. No chance at all, really - not while Luca was here, at least. Frankly, Est could probably get away with murder while Luca was under the convent's roof and get away with a slap on the wrist and an extra long session of penance with the mother abbess. And, the more she considered it? The more murder seemed to be an appropriate course of action.
The mother abbess knew she had to do what was expected of her, right? Had to keep EJ and Est and Purity safe, or face repercussions from within the church itself, courtesy of the doge of Venice putting in a bad word about her? Ugh. That bitch was playing around with stupid internalized church politics, probably... trying to one-up Luca and Est by pretending she didn't know where EJ was.
Blech. Est turned the doorknob, going to swing the wooden slab with no small amount of force, yet carefully enough so as not to slam it against the exterior wall. As she did, she was met by a familiar, but not particularly pleasant, face. Pale to the point of seeming ill or sun-starved, wreathed in well cared for blonde locks, and given bright sapphire motes for eyes as the cherry on top... Angelien. Est nearly laughed with grim frustration as she saw the other woman, the only one in the entire convent who would have had the gall to confront the Italian firebrand.
"Oooh... Hello, Esthrielle. Going somewhere?" Angelien's tone and expression were deadpan - she may as well have been addressing a nearby wall, or piece of furniture. The dismal dialogue drove like a needle straight to Est's nerves; that Angelien not only was obviously delaying her, but was also putting so little effort into the charade, was honestly insulting. If she hadn't already accosted Zofia...
Esthrielle allowed that thought to die in her mind's womb. Angelien didn't just have the gall to confront her, she had the prowess to actually put up a fight. They had all been through their training, yes... With guns, blades, hidden tools and single-use weaponry of varying forms... but Angelien, much in the same way as the unofficial Esippardi heiress, pursued it with a diligence many of the other women neglected to put forth. A heated brawl that would end with the both of them in the infirmary was one of the furthest things from what Est could afford.
"Ange... Yes, just going to check on my girlfriend. The ghoul. Esper James. I do so very much yearn for the feeling of her teeth upon me once again... I simply must find where she's wandered off to. She's keeping Purity and me waiting, and we are so very needy." Est drew up every bit of bitter snark she could muster, molding it as verbal clay into the most pseudo-respectful, sarcasm-drenched epithet she could imagine. It would have been obvious to a newborn babe just how much venom was poured into those false words, simply from her outright avoidance of anything approaching tact or subtlety.
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Angelien sneered - jackpot. The blonde Dutchwoman was particularly monastic, and distinctly conservative; even the implication of homosexuality or debauchery, especially with an undesirable like a second-living, would ideally cause her skin to crawl. The blonde looked away briefly, sneer still plastered on her face with the adhesive of true distaste, but she steeled herself after a moment and made her response.
"Oh? You and your little playmates were interrupted in a moment of lovemaking, hmm? You know, Esthrielle... perhaps it's a sign, don't you think? A return to the house of God, and hopefully, a return to his ideals. It has been a great deal of time since chastity was so strongly emphasized and demanded, however... perhaps mashing peaches on sacred ground isn't the ideal way to spend one's evening." Angelien's sneer faded, melting into characteristic stoicism, then freezing anew into a positively glacial smile.
Before Esthrielle could formulate a reply, Ange continued. "Besides... I understand that the living dead are quite resilient, but perhaps a woman drowned is not a woman who should be immediately made to drink, wouldn't you say?" A wink. A gentle cock of the head, blonde hair made to waver from the motion. A self-assured heart set to renewed fury. Est was inches away from jumping Angelien, tackling her to the ground to force her to eat those words along with her teeth. She could feel her self-restraint being whittled down to a bare thread at the returned provocation, and by God, there was some strain on that thread.
Esthrielle scowled, feeling false nails dig into false skin as each finger worked as one to form twin fists. If her hands were organic, their knuckles would have been white. "Ange, Ange, Ange... I know you're just bitter. All this talk of celibacy, but we both know it for what it truly is, don't we? Now - I know you know where Esper James is. Tell me. Now." That had better be the coup de grace that was demanded of her... otherwise, she saw no other option than to make her earlier treatment of Zofia look like playful, girlish roughhousing.
Angelien's smile only widened.
"Oh? I'm bitter? Well, Esthrielle, thank you ever so much for telling me... I don't think I would have been able to tell without your sage wisdom. Dear sister, you truly are knowledgeable - except when it comes to your so-called lover. Perhaps we should look into giving her a communications package, hm? Then she won't have an excuse to ignore you..." Angelien chuckled, ever so softly and inoffensively, through tight lips.
That was fucking it. To say, indirectly though it may have been, that EJ was ignoring her?! Est couldn't deny that her rival's words stung, especially in light of their recent maiden voyage as a throuple. Esthrielle still wasn't really sure what to think of all that, really... she did care about Esper James and Purity. They were sweet. Kind. Caring. Loving. They... They helped her be a little more normal, helped her melt away some of her old habits and old thoughts from an old, painful time in her life. But...
"Ahh, Esthrielle! Angelien! I couldn't help but overhear that you two were here; I thought I would do well to stop by." God fucking damnit. Nine times out of ten, Esthrielle would have been thrilled to spend more time with her sibling-father-friend-guardian-mentor figure, but right now, hearing those velveteen, dulcet tones only exasperated her in a new, horrible way.
Luca, then. He had just wrapped about the corner of a nearby hallway, the very one that Est would have otherwise proceeded down herself. Perhaps it was a sort of karmic irony? The two ladies put on their best, most respectable faces and stances at the doge's approach, showing him the respect his presence demanded, and little more. He patted the air in a gesture of amusement, smiling wide and allowing ivory to flourish where once there had been naught but supple lips.
"No, no! At ease, hahaha, at ease! Esthrielle, you know well that we are kin; I do not expect any deference from you. Angelien? I have heard your name come up in my discussions with the mother abbess. Mother Liliana has informed me full well of you and your status here; I shan't expect you to show me any undue courtesy, either. Now, please... I must inquire..." Luca drifted closer, feet barely making a sound on the thick rug despite his footfalls.
Esthrielle couldn't stand any straighter than she was, regardless of her kin's assurances. Angelien seemed like she may actually metamorphose into a singular vertical line with the effort she was putting into standing at attention, never one to be outdone; in direct disregard for Luca's assertion that they could be 'at ease', neither woman dared back down. He continued regardless, not really seeming to pay any mind.
"Dearest sisters, why are you speaking aloud? Are your communications suites acting up? I know that Tsang has been looking into ways to disrupt them, but..." As he trailed away, his mouth sealed shut. No further words could, or would, be expected to pass them unless absolutely necessary. Both women heard him in their minds, though, information transferred at the formation of a thought and twice as expeditiously.
[[...we are far too deep beneath city streets for electronic countermeasures to have any effect. So what, pray tell, are you doing? You're both aware of the restriction on speech.]] His eyes, those gorgeous amber globes which were twice as pricy as the real thing, flickered and shimmered like the flame of a candle caught in a summer storm. The nobleman ceased his blinking, no longer devoting that mere modicum of focus onto resembling a true organic; eyes made of glass and rare earth minerals didn't get dry, after all.
A handful of seconds ticked away, neither woman wanting to reply first. In a normal conversation, this may have been a momentary lull - but when one could convey an entire conversation in a matter of seconds, without any explicit effort put forth towards doing so? It was more akin to an aeon. Esthrielle could only imagine this is what it would have been like to be a child, scolded by an elder for being naughty.
Eventually, however, Luca's kin-not-blood did find the nerve to reply first. [[Luca, I cannot find Esper James. I fear she may be doing something stupid, or foolish, or both. I am greatly concerned for her safety and wellbeing, because she can be the sort of woman who acts on pure instinct, while also overthinking to a phenomenal degree. As such, I would like to ensure her safety as immediately as possible. Do you know where she is?]]
Angelien's interruption was near-immediate, even in terms of digitized communiqué. That is to say, for the average person's perception, she and Esthrielle would have spoken simultaneously. [[ Doge Esippardi, please. Sister Esthrielle has been quite rude and directly salacious towards me - implying that I held negative biases and emotions towards her and her lovers purely due to my own vow of chastity. This is, obviously, quite fallacious. I am ever so pleased that you arrived when you did, if only so I may have proof of her misdeeds...]]
Luca didn't waste time blinking, sure, but he couldn't hold back the natural inclination to smirk - even grin - at these twinned admissions. He shook his head, shutting his eyes now to complete the expression of amusement and mild disbelief, but he didn't bother to open them one again when he had finished the gesture.
[[Sisters, please. You are both siblings in arms, and should not be quarreling so. I can understand, then, that you would have become vocal if only for the purpose of avoiding any observant flies on the walls from doing their work. Here - Esthrielle, you said Esper James is missing? Worry not, we have a woman posted at the only door. We will organize a sweep of the convent, scour it from top to bottom, and find her. Alright?]]
Alright? It had to be fucking alright. Est released an enormous sigh of relief, her shoulders lowering as if the weight that had been lifted was instead yoked upon them. She broke her stony visage to smile with steely sharps up at her beloved sibling, giving him an emphatic nod, though it was not one he could see; her communications suite conveyed the emotion of the response even without visual accompaniment.
Luca then directed his attention towards Angelien. [[Angelien, I understand that my sister's tongue can get ahead of her mind in many cases. She has always been strong of will and temper; I am sure she didn't mean it, she is simply distraught about recovering her beloved. Here; I will speak with her about her behavior. Please, be at ease, and be dismissed - go take a long, relaxing shower, or somesuch.]]
Angelien, too, gave a nod. She turned on her heel and made to exit; Esthrielle rushed almost instantly to throw her arms about Luca, taking him in a great big hug, burying her face into the soft fabrics of his robe. The embrace was returned in kind, of course, Luca's much stronger and higher-quality arms giving his little adoptive sister a squeeze. He opened his eyes once again, if only to look down at her. She had come so very far since their fist meeting... even since their first year as siblings, or as far as their third. Being in Vitus had, begrudgingly, been good for her.
But he had to admit... she hadn't grown smarter, or more cautious. It was bittersweet, seeing her agree to his plan so willingly. If only she could see the venom-drenched grin painted across Angelien's face as she turned about and strode off... maybe then she would realize that things were often different than they seemed.
Oh well. They had a search party to organize.