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"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
She is shaking as she speaks.
"Oh god. Why did I put this off for so long. Oh fuck."
"Honestly, I thought it had already been dealt with or I'd have been pushing to make some moves." V takes a deep breath and stands. "Astrid is going to need to be- protected, or coached on answers, or- something. Does she know anything that links you to the disappearance? That you- were- eating people, or did eat him, or anything else like that? Does your store have security footage that could have captured it?"
Ylva reaches up a hand as V stands.
"I thought it had been but I was pretty out of it back then. Fuck."
She pauses thinking for a moment.
"I dont know. I dont think so but, she might have. We dont have cameras inside. Discretion for the bad days."
Another shudder of her hand. "I was only back for that one appointment before the Freehold grabbed me. She knows how to lie to cops, just needs to be told what to say. Fuck."
"The easiest lie is one you think is true. Tell me what you HAVE shared with her so I can make sure I don't make her lie about anything extra?"
"I dont know V." She is basically hyper ventilating at this point. "I was super out of it. I dont think i told her anything. I didnt think it was real, thought it was just a bad dream. I just went to work like normal. She just thought I was out with a friend for the night."
"Okay. Then- honestly, we can probably leave her alone. Strange figures appearing right after thr broadcast would imply guilt and an active attempt to evade justice. If she doesn't know anything, there's nothing to worry about. And honestly, if things go entirely south, there are harder things to do in this life that help someone disappear from prison or jail. But that's last resort."
"We'll want to talk to Winter when everything is over. So we can see what steps we can take to protect her and you. Ideally, we'll want to just make sure there's no evidence he ever showed up. It... sucks. It sucks bad, but him just disappearing without connection to your shop is... likely the best case conclusion."
"We can send Klaire to talk to her? She knows Klaire." She looks up at V. "Is that a good idea? Can you tell Klaire im okay. I know she'll be worried right now."
"I was so close to going home. Fuck."
"The big issue is you being taken in for questioning. You know what happened and they'll want to dig that out of you. I think the best play is somehow securing a "confirmation" of what "really" happened before you end up interrogated and trying to lie under duress."
"How do we do that though?" She is shaking back and forth. "Without me going Ironside. Are you really going to ask me to stay here while yall handle it?" (edited)
Vorpal stopped and turned to look at her. "You are the only thing that can turn Astrid from a bystander into an accomplice. You are also the only one with anything to fear from this investigation, which can't reach you here. Am I really going to ask you to stay here while we handle it?
Of fucking course I am, Ylva. This isn't a fucking movie. You're not the chosen one who's the only one that can set this straight. Right now, you're the damsel and if you don't stay in the castle, you're gonna get snatched up by the dragon and make everything worse. You won't mean to, but you getting arrested is exactly that."
"Fuck. Okay. Can you make sure Klaire is okay atleast?"
"Of course. Bones was concerned too. I told her you were someplace 100% safe this morning. I actually thought you were here BECAUSE of that."
"Okay. Have a god night."
She wanders off into the thorns unless stopped.
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