raspberrylemonaid | CMO post for Xander

[It had been three weeks ago since this little 'game' had begun. At first it was a bit quaint. Perhaps some lord thought it would be fun to force such conditions the group. When she found out that Xander was also among their number it became a little less so. If it hadn't been for the fact that the clause for escape seemed a little too easy (and actually succeeding would mean her brother's death) she would probably been out on the first week.

Perhaps it was a good thing that Xander had been the other sibling taken to this strange 'game'. Leo would have tried on the very first week, no doubt. He might have been able to succeed (at least Camilla hoped he would) but the determination of the group might have been able to find some small detail that he left behind. Elise... Elise, the poor thing, wouldn't be able to handle the stress. Corrin would probably try to play the hero.

No, it was good that it was just her and Xander. The younger siblings didn't need to experience this.

For three weeks she had played along, waiting for her chance. Motives came and went: money, secrets, promises of power. Things that were ultimately useless to royalty. That's when the motive of the fourth week had been shown--or, rather--it was shoved under Camilla's door. It was a riding glove, made out of black leather, embroidered with a simple heart pattern. A pair of earrings made of rose quartz were tucked inside.

It had taken all of Camilla's self-restraint not to roar with rage. She knew those items well enough. There was no doubt who they were taken from since she could make out several small repairs in the glove that Camilla had made herself.

Elise was in danger.

She had been ready to find one of their group alone when she realized one thing. If Elise had been her motive, who was Xander's? That's when she ended up in front of his room, banging on his door. The others seemed scattered about trying to find reason in the motive. That didn't matter. Corrin? Leo? One of his retainers? That answer was more important right now.]

Xander, open up. We need to talk. [She knows it's not very polite but it's all she can do at the moment. In her other hand, the glove with the earrings still inside is clutched tightly. It would be clearly visible when the door opens.]

[He opens the door almost too quickly- clearly either expecting her, or about to leave himself. When he sees the glove the already tense look on his face tightens even more, and he steps aside to let her in.

If he got an item of his own it's not out anywhere obvious in his room. Once she's inside he closes the door and double checks the lock before:]

That's Elise's glove.

[That look does nothing to help. She steps inside quickly. Her grip on the riding glove only tightens.]

Yes.

[If he hadn't been here, if she had a proper weapon... This might have already been over.]

They're going to bleed for this, brother. [Their captor? The others? Perhaps both.]

Agreed.

[There's no doubt of that, but he looks pained by saying it. Xander walks, briskly and too stiff, to a corner of his room and reaches up-

-moving a loose panel in the ceiling tiles. There's a glimpse of items up there, but after taking what he came for he re-covers it too quickly to see much. With a flick of the wrist he tosses the item to her- a black circlet, a simpler version of her own, more like a headband then either of theirs. Something to keep back a mop of unruly blond hair, perhaps.]

But you must calm down first.

[She just grips the glove tightly as she watches him move the ceiling tile. That's just like him, hiding away things in some corner. Practical--not that it matters when she sees that circlet.

The tenseness in her posture doesn't break when she catches the item with her free hand. It's clearly worn, familiar scratches dart along the edge. Like the glove, it seemed to be genuine. Her visible eye narrows.]

With him gone as well?

[Leo. It's more troubling than Elise, somehow. He was clever and skillful enough to avoid capture and yet..]

All the more reason.

[Still, there's an edge to his voice. As if he was about to storm into a fray any moment. Barely contained]

... if they have our siblings- [And he assumes it's not just Leo and Elise.]

-then there's no telling what else they are capable of. I know you want to go out there and paint the walls red. And then I'd have to watch you be executed. I won't have it.

[There's no proof that Corrin was taken but proof was something that didn't cross her mind. As soon as she saw the circlet that thought had entered her mind. Her teeth grind.]

I've waited, Xander. I've played nice with all these adorable people but this isn't something I won't stand for. [Money, power... None of that had swayed her into action. The others might have seen her more interested in the executions than most but she had kept herself occupied.

It would be easy--] I can't do nothing this time.

CMO post for Xander

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