"That part I heard from a half-drunk boor by the name of Christopher Larkin. I am hardly inclined to take his word as authoritative, whether or not he believed what he was saying."
A pause. "Though I might surmise that this story isn't entirely new to you. I apologize if all I've done is dredge up an old stale rumor; it quite alarmed me."
"Iiiit's certainly not news to me, no," Dahlia replies. Gods, she hates lying. But what choice does she have? She doesn't really know Cassandra, and if she ever wants to...
"I imagine there are plenty of things my family kept secret. I don't claim to know all of them. And there's certainly an air of mystery to our... situation. I've heard it said that we're cursed, that we're the reason the island is cursed, that we've got tiefling ancestry--- We're at the heart of a dozen conspiracy theories. If you're looking for proof of whether or not it's true, there's... not much I can offer you in either direction. But I try not to take the words of drunks and fools too seriously, for my own peace of mind."
"I'm interested to hear Larkin described that way, though. The former mayor was once considered a pillar of the community. He was extremely well-liked in his time. I never would have suspected he had such a dark side."
She studies Dahlia's face as she speaks, her expression sober.
"A 'dark side,' yes, I suppose you could put it that way. Drunkenness wasn't the half of it; he seems to have been part of a cult, and they certainly seemed to believe what they were saying. Enough to kill for it." Her eyes don't leave Dahlia's. "Which is why it's taken me this long to come to you with this."
Dahlia makes a puzzled expression. "The cult to Aster?"
The look on Cassandra's face is bad. She needs to leave. This isn't like it was with Cerrit, where he slowly eased his way into her life beyond the curtain. Nor is it like Daisy, where they had something they shared. This feels more like bait. Is Cassandra making her sweat it out, in hopes of her snapping?
"I don't know how much you know, but Aster is Prince of the Dark Feast. Consumption, cannibalism, taking advantage of others, manipulation. It would make sense that one of their rituals would involve taking life. It's... possible you were eaten. Gods, if Larkin was eating people..."
Cassandra shakes her head. "Not Aster. None of the demons I've heard of here. The name they gave was one I don't know if it's safe to speak aloud. As to how much I know ... not enough, I'm afraid."
For a moment, her lips press together in what looks almost like pain.
Then, barely audible, very quickly: "I think it very likely that you're in an impossible situation. Much as I was, not that long ago. I would like to help you and I don't know how."
Dahlia smiles tightly. A strange blend of cold, defeated, and wry. "Aren't we all in an impossible situation?" Sorry Cassandra, Dahlia didn't let Erin get any closer yet either. Too much, too soon. But it's good to know it comes from a place of wanting to help, at least. That might come in handy later.
Dahlia goes back to sorting papers. "Anyway, there's really altogether too many cults on this island, I think. Someone should really see to that."
"Indeed," says Cassandra, almost lightly. "Someone certainly should. I don't wish to take up too much of your time; do please let me know if you'd like to hear more."
"Of course." Gods, Dahlia hates it when people imply things about her. Especially when they take that tone and make that face and take long, uncomfortable pauses. Even when it sounds like concern, Dahlia can't understand how it's meant to be anything but threatening, or at the very least some kind of guilt trip. "For the time being, though, I think I ought to get back to work."
Taking advantage of others, she said, and manipulation. It's hard not to wonder whether Dahlia herself is a victim or a perpetrator of those -- except that Cassandra knows all too well, down to her bones, how one can be both at once. And how difficult it can become to see anything else.
"I'll say good day, then." And she steps back, and slips out of the room.
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thethirteenthchild
no subject
Date: 2024-07-12 12:47 am (UTC)A pause. "Though I might surmise that this story isn't entirely new to you. I apologize if all I've done is dredge up an old stale rumor; it quite alarmed me."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-21 01:50 am (UTC)"I imagine there are plenty of things my family kept secret. I don't claim to know all of them. And there's certainly an air of mystery to our... situation. I've heard it said that we're cursed, that we're the reason the island is cursed, that we've got tiefling ancestry--- We're at the heart of a dozen conspiracy theories. If you're looking for proof of whether or not it's true, there's... not much I can offer you in either direction. But I try not to take the words of drunks and fools too seriously, for my own peace of mind."
"I'm interested to hear Larkin described that way, though. The former mayor was once considered a pillar of the community. He was extremely well-liked in his time. I never would have suspected he had such a dark side."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-21 02:27 am (UTC)"A 'dark side,' yes, I suppose you could put it that way. Drunkenness wasn't the half of it; he seems to have been part of a cult, and they certainly seemed to believe what they were saying. Enough to kill for it." Her eyes don't leave Dahlia's. "Which is why it's taken me this long to come to you with this."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-21 05:07 pm (UTC)The look on Cassandra's face is bad. She needs to leave. This isn't like it was with Cerrit, where he slowly eased his way into her life beyond the curtain. Nor is it like Daisy, where they had something they shared. This feels more like bait. Is Cassandra making her sweat it out, in hopes of her snapping?
"I don't know how much you know, but Aster is Prince of the Dark Feast. Consumption, cannibalism, taking advantage of others, manipulation. It would make sense that one of their rituals would involve taking life. It's... possible you were eaten. Gods, if Larkin was eating people..."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-21 06:09 pm (UTC)For a moment, her lips press together in what looks almost like pain.
Then, barely audible, very quickly: "I think it very likely that you're in an impossible situation. Much as I was, not that long ago. I would like to help you and I don't know how."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-21 10:53 pm (UTC)Dahlia goes back to sorting papers. "Anyway, there's really altogether too many cults on this island, I think. Someone should really see to that."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-23 01:45 am (UTC)"Indeed," says Cassandra, almost lightly. "Someone certainly should. I don't wish to take up too much of your time; do please let me know if you'd like to hear more."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-27 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-28 04:30 pm (UTC)"I'll say good day, then." And she steps back, and slips out of the room.