In a dim and hazy purple void, six figures sat around a circular table with every seat filled save one.
"I call to order this meeting of the guardians," one of the hazy figures started, tapping their fingers on the table with the sound of a resounding gong. "Our first order of business is the latest developments between Lust and the summon, our latest Blessed, Silvie. Envy, could you please give us the summary of the situation."
"Why do III have to do it," The figure evidently named Envy sighed, slumping down her elbows onto the table.
"Because you're the one of us who has the least life," Another figure teased.
"Rude! I have work too I'll have you know! And what do you do, hit wooden swords all day?"
"My training saves lives!"
"Oh yeah? And what would your training be worth if I didn't fill their heads with memories first? Huh?"
"Enough!" The first figure's voice resounded and the room trembled with power. "Envy, please just get on with your report."
"Fiiiine, So the two were hanging out and getting along pretty well then they went into the baths, talking about this and that, but Lust spilled a little secret like she always does, and the blessed girl caught on, so Lust got all scared and ran away. There, happy?"
"That is…adequate I suppose." The first figure sighed.
"So we're gathering to discuss…what? What to do to bring them back together? Shouldn't we just let them figure that out for themselves?" Another of the figures asked.
"Care to explain, Pride?" Another figure turned towards the first.
"Indeed it was me and Sloth who proposed this meeting."
"Sloth?" Everyone's head turned towards one of the figures who had yet to speak and was only leaning back in their chair, covered in haze.
"We thought it best to keep an active eye on this situation given the current state of the situation in the Continent of the Gods. Sloth in particular thought that this Blessed might be the key to getting ourselves off the back foot when it comes to the approaching wars."
"Sloth, huh…" One of the figures tapped their finger thoughtfully on the table. "So is the consideration whether to give Lust free reign to share her secrets, or are we discussing other measures?"
"That is indeed one possibility up for discussion, but that's what we're here to figure out."
"I think we should just let them work it out themselves, you know? I don't think interfering does us all that good." Envy spoke up, playing with a ball she had summoned on the table.
"Of course little miss memories is all for non-interference, but sometimes you have to take an active hand in things or you'll…let life slip you by."
"Shut up Wrath! Why are you always picking fights with me? Do you even have a suggestion?"
"I say we give her the permission. Use it to test this Blessed and see if she's really on our side. Envy's going to go into her head again before she leaves, right? This is probably the perfect opportunity to fully get her on our side." Wrath spoke up again.
"O-ho, now you think I'm useful, huh?" Wrath and Envy glared at eachother.
"It's not a terrible idea," another of the figures spoke up. "But I just don't like the idea of making little sister Lust think we're looking down on her.
"Hmm, she's already been informed we're willing to grant her more leniency, right Gluttony?" Pride spoke again.
"Hmm? Uh yeah, yeah I informed them."
"Then what if we did this…"
***
"I understand that you have other responsibilities, Mistress, I really do, but you can't just go running off without giving any prior notice. The chief builder came for his meeting with you to discuss the new water feature, but not only were you not there, you hadn't even written any notes! Now the entire project is getting delayed, because you weren't around to explain what you wanted.
"Not to mention the Dereti brothers got into a dispute again and spent an entire day in the Town Hall bickering, refusing to leave until they saw you, and all we could say was 'we don't know when she'll be back.' Honestly Mistress, if you're not willing to take on the responsibilities of a mayor, then you should just appoint someone else to the position."
"Ahhh, we've been over this Marian," Rivi had been sinking deeper and deeper into her seat as her steward went on, so that now more of her body was out of the chair then in it. "Being Mayor is my punishment for dying. The sisters won't let me delegate, until I've 'learned my lesson' or whatever. Ughhh, they're so stupid, I don't want to do this anymooore."
"Maybe it's the fact that you're acting like a spoiled child right now, which is the reason why your punishment continues."
"Agggh, but I'm not a child. She sat up and crossed her legs in her chair. "I'm just as old as they are! And just as deserving of being treated with respect. Just because I do things differently than they do, they treat me like I'm lesser than."
"Just as deserving? My understanding of your punishment was that it was more for spilling secrets after your enemies taunted you, rather than the fact that you died."
"Shut up! They made me mad, with their stupid faces and the way they were treating my girls. They deserved to have a little truth slung at them!"
"Even though it set our strategic endeavours back potentially millenia?"
"You don't know that!" Rivi blushed. "You don't even know the secrets, stop acting like you're somehow in the know."
"Mistress," Marian said with a sigh. "Be that as it may, what do you intend to do with that new girl? You mentioned something about a special allowance?"
"Ugh, don't bring that up." Rivi grew depressed. "I don't want to treat her like she's some kind of get-out-of-jail free card, even if that's what the sisters are offering up. If that's what she wants, that's fine, but I can't help but feel like I'm taking advantage of her. And given the sister's reactions, I can't help but feel like they're trying to do the same thing. She's just a girl, and she's confused and overwhelmed, she needs time to figure things out for herself."
"Then what's your plan?"
Rivi slouched on the desk and started playing with a little toy there. "I don't knowwww. Both staying away and continuing to hang out with her feel like manipulative options. I might just stop thinking about it, and do whatever I feel like."
"Huhhhh" Marian let out a long sigh, putting her face in her hands. "Why are you always like this?"