audio; un: alucard

[reposing]

[The video feed turns on, and Alucard can be seen combing out his hair thoughtfully, his brows knitted into a tight frown. He considers his words carefully, then he begins:]

I recognize that we've been successful, at least, in assisting in stopping the attack at the end of the festival. It seems we'd adequately identified that they were not related in any way to the Empress of the Crashing Wave.

However, I felt it important to mention to the rest of you that during combat, I did slay one of the masked warriors. It brings me no pleasure to inform you of this. At the time, it felt necessary. Looking back on it now, I regret my lack of restraint.

I hope that this does not reflect badly upon our mission. My apologies.

[Alucard bows his head.]

I shall end this message, though I welcome your questions and comments if you must.

Comments

[reposing]

She attacked another. I responded instinctively, and killed her without any suffering.

[He's careful with his words. He doesn't want to make Lucina feel responsible.]

[eyedrop]

That's a little vague.

[reposing]

What sort of details do you desire?

[eyedrop]

From what I saw, they weren't explicitly targeting civilians. So what do you mean by 'attacked'?

[reposing]

I did not say it was a civilian. It was a member of our own group.

[eyedrop]

[ HENCE. HIS COMMENT. ABOUT THE VAGUENESS. ]

That'd be a detail you want to include.

[ Lucina's spilled the rest of it, anyway; no point in grilling this guy any further.

He sighs. ]

Well, you made a stupid mistake. But I'm sure you already know that.

[reposing]

I don't see how it necessarily changes anything. The woman is still dead, regardless of who I was defending.

[He's not upset with Lucina for revealing herself, but he was hoping to keep her hands clean as possible.]

I am quite aware. I have no joy for the end result.

[eyedrop]

Either come clean or don't. If you go halfway, you're going to get questions. That's how it is.

[reposing]

I came clean about the death of a person. That is enough.

[eyedrop]

You made a public confession about something you obviously thought was wrong, and then you didn't expect questions? You look a little too experienced to be this naive.

[reposing]

I should think that I anticipated some questions, in accordance to my initial response. I did not indicate otherwise.

I refused to share more on behalf of another. I explained why I did not include her. You may accept that, or not.

[eyedrop]

You thought just making a simple statement was enough. It wasn't. Because this wasn't just about you.

[ He shakes his head. ]

Moot point, anyway. She stepped up.

[reposing]

Precisely. This debate is a waste of time.

Do you require anything else?

[eyedrop]

Mostly I'm just wondering what you expect to get out of this.

[reposing]

Nothing. I thought to be forthcoming with the information of a slain woman, should it impact us at all. It may make no difference, but I saw no point in keeping it a secret.

[eyedrop]

I expect any consequences remain to be seen. There's nothing to be done about it now, anyway.

[ The mountain clan probably isn't going to care. But the sea clan ... ]

[reposing]

No, there isn't.