#Also skdjwjdj sjdjsj Delara lowkey unsure and doubtful of how nice Burke sorta is

[idv-ask-the-empath]

She had nodded absentmindedly in response to his words, unsure if he meant them sincerely, or if he meant them more as… a warning. Perhaps, it was both? She could figure it wasn’t necessarily out of care for her, but rather, care for what her possible actions may entail… she supposed for now at least… she’d stay still. Who knows…? Maybe someone else will come along? Maybe they’ll stir the pot? No. She stops herself from thinking about it. That would be an unkind fate, for everyone involved. It was best not to wish these types of things at all, let alone even think about them in passing. It was dangerous… because at the end of the day, when this whole thing fell apart… what would happen then…? She’s fairly certain that the people here… most, if not all of them have long since passed from this world. Their life only being preserved in the manor… she’s not sure if any of them would be ready to go. She doesn’t think it would be fair to make some of them- especially the young ones- give up the chance to live their lives, even if it’s in such a grim, and awful place as the manor…

No… it was best not to hope for any sort of change. Not when things were as unstable, and enigmatic as they were now.

“Ah… my apologies, but as much as I am happy to help you, mister Lapadura, I’d rather avoid having to mend trust, or any distress that’s been caused… I think most already find me too troublesome to work with, especially since they’re completely unaware of my condition, and my abilities… it doesn’t help that I do tend to be a bit of a tattletale, as I’m not fond of the way survivors can be when they think no one is looking. I suppose, in short… I’d rather keep my company peaceful, if even a tenuous sort of peaceful. It’s too much work to maintain and nurture the little camaraderie I have… and, as you know… the emotional weight of it all, is exhausting.” She replied as she looked towards him with a tired but, nonetheless, sincere expression. Well, as sincere as she could get it. She still looked like she was about to topple over from the stress and exhaustion.

“But… that aside… thank you. I will be sure to let you know if there is anything that should be fixed or made. Take care, mister Lapadura.” She nodded at him as she walked forward, only glancing back at the man to speak once more. “Ah… and as I said before… please keep an eye on the Gamekeeper. I am sure you would do so without my asking, but… I do mean it… my abilities can be exhausting… but they are useful in sensing things that aren’t easy to spot or see with the naked eye… after all, emotion and intent is present in a lot of creatures. The garden in particular has been… ah… how should I put this…? There’s been rather… inquisitive eyes in the garden… and more in the forest…” She commented before taking her leave. If he wanted to say something, or continue speaking, he probably should have done it now. She seemed intent on getting her rest.

There was something strange going on. That much, Burke knew well. Something had happened during Bane's last match and he was determined to find out what. Unfortunately though, his old friend had hidden himself away in the forest again. This left Burke with just one option... the only survivor in that match which Bonbon hadn't seen. Luckily for him, he managed to luck into finding her on one of his breaks. "Ah, just the woman I was looking for!" @ask-burke-lapadura

She seemed startled when he spoke to her. She hadn’t been paying attention, and she was only mindlessly wandering so she could get her mind off of… she inhaled sharply before exhaling somewhat shakily. She supposed she should have known it was someone else when she suddenly felt a burning curiosity amongst her ever deepening concern… she turns to the older man, her brows knit together in a way that made her expression come across as confused and almost troubled. She hadn’t meant any offense she just… didn’t expect anyone to actively seek her out. And especially after her last game, she could recall her teammates collectively agreeing to simply leave her be so she wouldn’t have to worry about overwhelming herself… even the baron had sent her a letter the very next day to take a few extra days of rest for herself, and that he had requested the hunters to avoid speaking or interacting with her so as to not induce any more “stress related hallucinations”.

Ever since she got the letter, she had been… very on edge. She knew well enough when someone was lying to her, regardless of whether they were in person or not. She knew what she saw and what she felt… she knew what the Gamekeeper felt too. It was all… a mess. So much of a mess that she knew the only way to keep things clean, was to deny it all. Even if she knew what was true. She had been in enough positions to know that the truth tended to worsen problems…

“Oh… are you… are you sure it is me you want at the moment…?” She asks, polite but cautious as was usual for her. What did he want from her anyways…? She wondered if he was here about the Gamekeeper… after all they were close. She would t have been surprised if the events had put the hunter off, and made him feel… a little troubled, to say the least. But if so, did the mad scientist have to speak to her like this…? Then again… perhaps he wanted to tell if she were lying or not. Writing was one thing, but being able to read one’s face was another… still. At the end of the day, she concluded that it had to be about his friend. He didn’t seem to be keen on interacting with other survivors, and she figured that the the only reason why he’d bother her specifically, was to talk about… what happened. She supposed she’d let him know… in all truth, she was worried about the hunter, not to mention she’d do anything to lift the crushing weight of what she had saw. What she had felt.

“My apologies if there has been any trouble… but I assure you… it has nothing to do with me…” She says with more caution, anxiously looking at the paintings on the wall, and the corners of the hallway where the shadows seemed to be unnervingly dark in spite of the lighting. “However, if you’d like to discuss the nature of these troubles, I may be able to point you in the right direction as to the cause…? I must ask though… if we are to do so, may we go somewhere more… secure…? I would hate for anyone to hear me being a tattletale…” The way she speaks is a bit more… deliberate, and vague enough to connect to any thought. She’s speaking casually and even meekly enough that it sounds almost earnest, yet there’s a level of control that she had with her tone and the pacing of her words, that showed that she knew exactly what he may have wanted to discuss. She just hoped he understood that she wished for more security if they were going to speak… now that she had seen what she had saw, followed by the baron’s letter… she wasn’t sure if privacy was real in the manor. After the incident, she wouldn’t have been surprised if it wasn’t… she glanced to a painting on the wall… was it always looking in their direction…?

@ask-burke-lapadura