Insofar as anything here is justified, she was - extremely.

[ She thumbs over the note, considering it. ]

Who did you intend to kill? If you're asking something that bold, I hope you had some sort of plan.

That's... mmm. If you were going to commit to that, doing the whole corpse staring thing, then you can at least think long enough to make a real plan. [ She drums her fingers on the desk. ] Honestly, the more efficient would be Susan, myself, and Rin, I'd say.

[ Elda instantly feels some regret for making the girl jump like that, for watching the girl's movements play out. She pushes off from the chair, instead sliding on over to get next to Sayaka on the bed. She gently wraps her arms around the girl, squeezing her once to let her know that she's here.

Where to begin... ]

It is killing them, though. The fact of the matter is that if you're committing to a mad plan like that, the emotional requirement of it is to be certain of the worth of the lives you selected over the others. To not kill me - even if you then revive me later - also means that you're both trusting there's someone else you can outfox and that I won't find you out at the trial.

[ She knows she's being harsh. But much like earlier this week when she said only a gaggle of idiots would be killed off by Sayaka's room switch thing, she feels this - the facts of it - is reassuring. ]

... If I may touch what is sacred though, I don't think Kimblee intended for you to traumatize yourself.

Staring at a corpse - or for that matter, going to look at a man about to die - doesn't remember the man, it just remembers death. It just reminds someone of the finality of it, and of mortality. If you feel you need that reminder, that's all in well... but that's in no way how he would have intended it, or for that matter, why he did it.

[ She says all this gently, but somewhat filled with authority. It's better to be firm, right? The girl knows that she is loved, Elda spelled that out very plainly. But if she's going to continue to have these moods, then Elda...

Well, Elda will soothe it. ]

You aren't rotten.

No. Anything I can guess about the man is a result of my observation and experience, but if I'm to venture a guess...

[ She is still speaking in a fairly even done. ]

That man was far more warped than any of us still here. You, me. The lot of us. [ Well, maybe not Aligula ] He's a man who I suspect never felt alive but for when he was risking his life. Given some his reactions to executions, I imagine his mind had come to see carnage as something appealing in and of itself. That's a common enough way for a soldier's mind to shatter.

And so, I should think he remembered people to know he once fought them or fought alongside them. [ And on a base level, probably liked the sight of some of the corpses. ]

Oh... my dear girl, not at all.

[ She laughs at little at that, and she tilts her head to kiss Sayaka on the forehead. It's a gentle movement, and she hums a little, shifting her position to let the girl lean all the more. ]

People don't choose who's important to them. There's no shame in that.

[ ... Mmm ]

As I've said before, you may think however you please. Desire whatever you please - it's action that speaks more than both of those. If I were to police thoughts, then I've been more guilty every week.

[ She kisses her again, stroking her gently. ]

... I just hate to see you so hurt yourself.

Give yourself some more credit. You can go on and on about things you've considered, but please look at what you've done.

You could. ... You're a normal girl, I can't blame your psyche for being damaged by all this. Hell, I'm sure Ren would find you delicious smelling. ... Karin too. ... Hell, even little Anju might.

Surely I've told you about Blood Affinities before? The emotions that taste best to us?

Oh, okay, I'll spell it out more clearly then:

Mine's that tired, middle aged feeling that a man like Tarrlok has.
James used to be attracted to youth - so those feelings you have with Alex.
Henry's is pride, so he'd have a field day with Rin.
Calera's attracted to liars, so... well, I mean, a lot of people. Kirei?
Then Ren's is stress, so he'd just have an attraction to everyone here.
Anju's only recently awakened, but hers is loneliness.
And then finally... well, I've spelled it out before Karin's hardly a normal vampire as she doesn't take blood or extract emotion, but she still has one that makes her blood surge to go into someone: Misfortune.

Huh, what do you mean?

[ she seems to have missed a point here... ]

Oh, not a one will harm you, if that's your concern. I'll break Ren's arms first if he so much as flirts in your direction.

[ A sage nod. ]

You're mine. And they'll all respect that. Hell, Henry'll love you immediately.