Not Like This

The band had all gathered to her rallying call. First Segin, sweet and loyal as ever. Second, Gypsy, who had made such incredible strides to be more independent. Third, Duchess, who was little more than a ghost of herself. Lastly, Indigo. Oh, Indigo... If Duchess was a ghost, Indigo was nothing more than a memory of the glory the Fatalis man had once been. How the mighty had fallen to be lain so low. Emersyn regarded the brokenhearted pair with mournful eyes, but kept her walls up. Emotions had gotten her hurt by Indigo in the past. Emotions were what had gotten their band into this mess in the first place. Em would keep her mask back on, the same one she wore when she was ripping limbs and throats in the coliseum. Right now, the band needed strength and stability, and she could be that. She wouldn't let their family break apart. Not like this.

"Ever since the... tragedy, our family has been wayward, adrift without direction, without purpose, without leadership. That ends today." Emersyn had no qualms getting right down to the matter at hand. Indigo had fallen from grace and failed in his duties to the band. She would have to step up and take the helm while the captain was down. "I'll be leading our band to make sure our family stays together. Segin, Gypsy, you've both been the glue that held our family together, and I can never thank you enough for that." Duo-toned eyes turned to look at Indigo and Duchess, focusing in on the littler woman in particular. "Duchess..." Emersyn's voice was harder, but by now, much of the hate she'd held in her heart had burned away into apathy. The problem had dealt with itself for the most part, but that didn't mean Em couldn't feel sympathy for her. "I'm sorry for what you had you endure." She would not kick her from the band, even though she had the power to. That would solve nothing and only bring her down to Duchess' level.

To Indigo, Em said nothing. She simply regarded him with disheartened eyes before she addressed the band as a whole again. "If anyone has anything to say, now is your chance. If anyone wishes to go, I will not stop you. But if we stick together, we can maybe find some of the life we believed in when we first came together. Will you stay?" She left the floor open to her family. They could decide for themselves. Stay, go, or challenge her. Em hoped they would stay. She would bring them down to Auster for the winter, and to plan their next moves. But this had to be their decision. She had been a slave her whole life. She would not force her decisions on another.

"Emersyn"