Private Threads (R5)

[nachetanya]

This is the post where Tsubasa and Nachetanya have private threads leading up to Case 4/their deaths.

- Week 2, Tuesday Evening (after the Meeting)
- Week 2, Friday Evening (after the Afterparty, semi-nsfw)
- Week 3, Wednesday Morning (semi-nsfw)
- Week 3, Thursday Evening (semi-nsfw)
- Week 4, Wednesday Evening (after King's Game, semi-nsfw, title's wrong oops)
- Week 4, Thursday Evening (KILL LOG)

Comments

[halleberry]

That's a part of it, yes. But even after my round trip is finished, I'm not quite sure if my opinion will change.

...The marriages I've seen in my life haven't quite given me a rose-colored sentiment of the practice.

[nachetanya]

[ Nachetanya hums at that. No, she can't blame the other girl for that, can she? ]

The reason I say the ministers wouldn't approve is that you nor I could produce an heir among the two of us. If I survive the battle against the Evil God, that'll be a key concern for Piena's future, once I'm named Queen.

[halleberry]

Ah, that would be a problem for you, wouldn't it...

[ And with no mother or siblings, the bloodline ends with her, unless she has any cousins... ]

There isn't much we can do about that, I'm afraid.

[nachetanya]

[ She had said there were more distant relatives among the aristocrats or even princes of other nations, but ... yes. In terms of the core Piena bloodline, unless anyone allowed her father to produce a new child, the thing does end with her. She shakes her head ]

No, there isn't. I don't think there's even a saint power which could allow for a miracle like that.

[halleberry]

[ They're really getting into this? ]

...Look, on the hypothetical chance that this...fascination of ours goes far enough that we're concerned about that...in my time, there are ways that two women can still take care of a child. It won't be their biological child, on a technical level, but one of them could give birth through a scientific process and that'll be that.

[ On that note, though-- ]

But if we're thinking that far and we're being honest with one another, I'm not even quite sure how we'll be able to make something like this work to that stage, considering this entire...time-space situation. Will we simply cross that bridge when we get there?

[nachetanya]

[ And Nachetanya...

Smirks. ]

Oh, so you are thinking that far ahead, even a little bit.

[ She may or may not had been seeding it to see if Tsubasa would take the bait, and she squeezes her hand with good mirth. ]

That's amazing though, science if that advanced where you're from?

[halleberry]

Do you really think that I wouldn't consider something in the long-term? You're not the only future-oriented person in this facility.

[ It's not exactly something she's keen on talking about, though. ]

But yes, it's a process​ that's becoming more and more common...

[nachetanya]

Unless it sounds stressful for you, could you tell me about it? I doubt I can understand the science of it, but that sounds so alien!

[ lalala to the art room... ]

[halleberry]

If I were to describe it to you, I'm certain it would sound even more alien, but it's called "in vitro fertilization," and it's an extensive but incredibly safe procedure, with a rather high success rate.

[ At this point, she's content just to be led around by the hand and talk science. Better to infodump than to talk about more complex matters. ]

To simplify it as much as possible, let's say, for example, we were to get the procedure done, just as a hypothetical. So I would first be given medication that would stimulate egg production in my body, and the eggs would be extracted through a minor surgical procedure. Those eggs would then be placed in a glass dish and be fertilized by reproductive material from an anonymous donor, as there are many facilities set up specifically to collect that material. So my fertilized egg, now considered an "embryo," would then be transferred into your body through a small tube, and you would carry the child to term, and, viola, you have an heir.

It's a procedure that's often used in the event that there are complications with a pregnancy, but, it gets the job done.

[nachetanya]

[ Oh wow, that's a lot of shit? But she listens, working hard to understand. and as she hears it out it's... hmmm... So... ]

So it's a way that I could bare you child with - well, I suppose the genes would be from the man who donated their material, but it's closer because I would be bearing it?

[halleberry]

It technically wouldn't be your heir unless you were bearing it. But that's about as close as you're going to get to us actually having a child.

Hypothetically.

[nachetanya]

Of course, hypothetically.

[ . . Mmmm ]

That's true, though. That's fascinating, that you can do that in that world... Under Piena's circumstances, I suppose I would need to secretly spirit a man to my bed.

[ she sounds oddly calm about all this ]

[halleberry]

How very scandalous.

[ It's just an offhand remark, but Tsubasa can't help but think that this whole situation is filled with complications. Practically, it's a difficult situation, that much is clear.

They both can be as fascinated as they want, but, this has the potential to go quite negatively, if it blossoms further. It's quite the risk. Someone down the line might get hurt, but there isn't much she can do in the way of damage control.

She adjusts her glasses. ]

It's like something out of a fantasy novel.

[nachetanya]

I don't know who would bother to write a novel like this. It's hardly an uplifting situation.

[ and they come into the art room now, Nachetanya squeezing Tsubasa's hand. But as she does... she leans in a little to whisper to the other: ]

Did that make you jealous at all?

[halleberry]

That's what makes it good drama. A novel has to have a conflict. We just happen to have multiple conflicts, of varying urgency.

[ None of their situations are particularly improving, after all. ]

No comment.

[nachetanya]

Ooooh, I had hoped for a "yes,"

[ but oh well. Now they're here, she releases the others hand, and looks around the room. She tilts her head, and walks over towards the clay...? That said, a novel needs conflict... huh ]

But a novel needs a protagonist. I don't know if we have any one hero involved in our situation. I can't even think of who would fill the role.

[halleberry]

I know what you hoped for.

[ She's just not going to get it out of her that easily. She's more than content to just observe what Nachetanya's doing. ]

I'm almost surprised you don't consider yourself to be one. You don't think you're the main character of your story?

But on a more general level, that's not necessarily true. A novel can have many protagonists, and antagonists, for that matter.

[nachetanya]

I don't know if you can fairly call the predicament that all twenty-eight of us are in "my story," that's all! To call me the protagonist... you must really be dazzled by me, if that's the case.

[ She laughs a little at it. ]

[halleberry]

I didn't say I thought you were. I said I was surprised that you didn't.

But I do think you're one of them. Then again, I think we all are. I don't think any one of us are fit to be "supporting characters".

It's your story, and mine. Along with everyone else's.

[nachetanya]

[ She opens up a drawer, exposing some clay. ]

I think I agree. I still don't think that would make a very good novel, but I agree that's the case.

[halleberry]

I think it'd make a fine one. It might be a touch long but, it has a bit of everything. Conflict, suspense, a thrilling narrative, a mystery...

I'd read it. You wouldn't?

[nachetanya]

If it's that long and with so many characters to keep track of... not to mention an uncertain ending...

I'm not sure I would, honestly.

[ she picks up some clay. ]

[halleberry]

I didn't know you liked predictable stories, Nachetanya. You must have boring taste in literature.

[nachetanya]

I'm actually less well read than you'd expect.

[ she says, bringing some clay over to one of the tables. ]

A little under-developed in all the creative arts, actually! You'll have to teach me.

[halleberry]

I'm not sure how long I can continue to call myself fascinated in someone who doesn't engage themselves with stories. You're treading a thin line, my friend.

[ Nonetheless, she'll pull out a chair for her. ]

But I suppose even if you did, most of the books I'd talk about would go over your head regardless, so I suppose you'll get a pass, just this once. Anyone else would've been out right there.