#naythan

Nate, for once, listened attentively to the goings-on of the trial. He listened to Kami's story, everyone's commentary, and his intelligent, hot, gothic, objectivist gf.

Nate didn't disagree with what Kuroi had to say. It's just like his mother taught him growing up - own up to your choices, and don't deflect blame. (Which was kind of hypocritical, given how often Mom blamed Nate's shitty behavior on the school system, but that was besides the point.)

It's just that... well, Nate wouldn't have actually said it. But he figured this was Kuroi's prerogative - her honesty was something he deeply appreciated about her, after all.

Not really sure what to say, Nate just crossed his arms.

"...Hmph."

That's all. Just. Hmph.

Nate was trying his best to stay in his lane, but he couldn't help but snrk at Usami's commentary on Kami's eye. Deciding it was time to speak up, he stopped whispering to Kuroi and turned his head towards the class in general.

"...Can we stop focusing on the state of the girl's eye? It's not the eye that's important, it's the eyepatch."

Nate turned his head towards Usami and gave him a little "tsk".

"...Seriously, who gives a shit."

Were Nate wearing nicer clothes, he probably would have cared about the fact that black mascara was dropping onto his white shirt.

Luckily, paintball had taught him the value in wearing the cheapest clothes possible. So at least on this front, he was well suited for having a goth gf.

Ah, but then there's the matter of comforting his goth gf when she was having goth feelings...

Well, it's not that he didn't care, but. He didn't really know how to respond, other than continuing to make snarky comments in an effort to lighten the mood.

At least she had broad shoulders to cry on.

——

...Oh, looks like someone else has to die, then. Potentially someone random.

That's great.

Nate wasn't the type to be visibly anxious, but anyone who paid close attention to his hands would have noticed that he was pointing briefly at each of his classmates in turn, trying to get a headcount here.

Let's see... 27 seats. 3 of them empty, but... only TWO kids were dead?

Nate started over again, this time counting on his fingers to be sure.

...Yup, 24 people, 27 seats. Where'd the third person go, he wondered? He idly shifted his arms so that the girl sitting on top of him could rest more comfortably on his shoulders.

And Then It Hit Him.

Nate made a mental note to just let Kuroi do the thinking and Lily do the talking. Which was just as well, considering he was too focused on attempting to count to absorb what anyone had just said.

(But still... if they were to execute someone random, then what sort of odds would you get if you divided 25 by...)

🌟 A different family member:

Somewhere, in a long, distant line of Silvermoon blood, there’s a paladin with his cousin’s same complexion, and white hair with only the faintest hints of gold. Forellen has not met this elf for herself, nor knows of the undead that ripped out his tongue, but she has probably heard Naythan’s name in passing. Mute but brave, and scarred but kind. They might have gotten along.