Despite never actually falling asleep, Cloud does not get out of bed until the sun is high, and only because she recalled the mention of company. She can’t remember if Ale clarified a time of arrival, but Cloud feels immensely uncomfortable having that many strangers around when she's not alert. So, she drags her legs over the side of the bed and sluggishly shoves herself up. The yukata is quick to pull over her shift. Cloud ties her hair back and straps the knife she brought to her shin, electing to leave the larger blades behind so as to not frighten anyone. She's skilled enough with the knife to comfortably walk downstairs with it alone. Still, she jumps at Belle's cheerful, "Good morning! Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."

"Good morning," Cloud replies in a graveled voice. She hasn't used it since she violently screamed into her bathwater—as sane people do—so she supposes that tracks. After clearing her throat, she follows up with, "That's quite alright. It's not a feat to startle me." Belle giggles, laughing off the statement. 

"Would you like breakfast? It's probably lukewarm by now, but it's nothing that would go bad that quickly," she offers. Cloud's about to absentmindedly agree before her instincts catch up to her. This isn't the castle. She barely knows these people. She didn't see this food being cooked. Sliding her mask in place, she holds her hand up and offers a perfunctory smile.

"No thank you. I'm not usually hungry in the morning. Thank you for the offer, though, that's very kind of you." Does saying thank you twice sound weird? She didn't want to just say "No.” Whatever. It doesn't matter. Belle beams at her.

"Well, let me know if you want anything later! I'll be around."

"I will, thank you," Cloud states. She won’t. "Oh, is anyone here, yet? Mr. Strong mentioned visitors." Belle blinks, blank for a moment.

"Oh, you mean Mr. Gushiken!" She smiles again. Cloud's eyes widen. She knew this woman lived with him, but to use his Heiwanese name so casually- "Yes, well, a young woman named Tailor Carder is with him and Mr. Farrow in the living room. They're waiting on one more." So, Nicolas's last name is Farrow?

"Thank you," Cloud repeats. Gods, she needs a thesaurus. As Belle walks away, Cloud steps into the doorway of said sitting room, just next to the stairs. They're muttering amongst themselves. It better not be on her account; she’d feel bad. This Tailor woman has a neat bun in her sunflower hair and wears what Cloud assumes are work clothes. Her demeanor reminds Cloud of the maids around the castle. To avoid getting caught scanning the room, as well as the young woman, she knocks on the doorframe.

"Ah, there she is," Ale declares. How had he introduced her? Why had he introduced her? How does she respond to that? 

Tailor grins at Cloud. "Hello, Miss Flash, it's nice to meet you." Okay. Alright. Basic enough. Cloud kinda wishes she picked a better alias.

"I presume you are Miss Carder?" Cloud replies. The woman nods. Before anyone can say anything else, a strong knock on the door catches everyone's attention. Cloud's closest to the door, but it's not her house, so she just kinda awkwardly shuffles into the room and out of the doorway so Ale can rise from his sofa and pass her.

"Come sit," Nicolas beckons to no seat in particular. Cloud selects a chair, not wanting to share a seat with strangers. She trusts Ale on Tulip's indirect endorsement, and she seemed to know Farrow, but who knows if she knew these other people. Ale leads a young man with apple-red hair and eyes into the room. He points to Cloud, raising his eyebrows in a silent inquiry. Cloud resists furrowing her own brows. Rude. Understandable, but rude.

"Everyone, this is Crown Flash. Miss Flash, you've been introduced to all but Red Wood. I'll explain her presence in a moment," Ale begins, sitting back down beside Nicolas. Cloud can feel Red eyeing her suspiciously, but doesn't hold it against him. Not much, anyway. She's the same, just more subtle. "I had planned a completely different meeting," Sake states. He leans forward on his knees. "You'll note Tulip Garden's absence." His eyes flit to Cloud for a second. "It is with deep sorrow that I must admit she was killed." Tailor gasps, sharp, while Red simply forgets his wariness of Cloud to stare at Sake. The silence hangs, reviving the nauseating twist of Cloud's stomach from the previous night.

"What do you mean she was killed, sir?" Red mumbles, pale. He laughs, airy as he glances at Nicolas to see if he'll reveal that this is actually some ill-tasted joke. Tailor raises a hand to cover her mouth, eyes glassy. "Why would they kill the lady in waiting for the princess at her birthday party? That doesn't make any sense. You're lying. You're lying, right?" But it does make sense. If you know the queen, then it does make sense. “Why? Was she charged with something?”

“You know what she was charged with,” Sake replies, cryptic.

Cloud murmurs in Paixan, "You know what she was accused of?" Honestly, Cloud wouldn't have been surprised if she was completely innocent. She wouldn't be shocked to learn that she had somehow induced her mother's contempt without any unlawful behavior. Blaze has learned along the way that hurting Cloud herself won't do much but harming those around her will. Cloud simply has to find out what she did this time. What did she do that was monumental, offensive enough to warrant this? How could she let this happen?

Sake must take her tired gaze for hostility. "Maybe I should have told you earlier. I'm sorry." 

"Why would you tell her?" Nicolas questions Sake. Red and Tailor exchange glances, used to this. Red wants to cut in, say this isn't the time for side conversations, but he's outranked. He doesn't know about of this Crown Flash character, but he's not stupid enough to interrupt Farrow and Gushiken.

"Do not waste pleasantries on me, just spit it out," Cloud snips. Sake sighs.

"Since they used the Yellow Jackets, I guess they correctly convicted her of espionage," he states. Farrow’s face is a mixture of shock and confusion. Cloud's tired eyes are suddenly much sharper.

"Hold on, the Yellow Jackets got her?" Red asks, uttering the title as children do curses. He falls back against the couch. Tailor's hand shifts to his shoulder.

"We should have never let her out of our sight," Cloud states. "Especially me, that was home turf. I know the castle. I know its inhabitants. I should've kept an eye on her-"

"-Hold on, this is not your fault," Gushiken cuts off. "You didn't know. This is on me, entirely. Garden even mentioned that the queen could potentially be on her trail. I knew that. I should've been more careful."

"Well, I don't know what Tulip told you, but if any of it was about the queen, then you know exactly why I should've been more on my guard!" Cloud snaps. "I can't believe I let this happen!" She raises her shaking hands to rake her ponytail through her fingers.

Tailor straightens her shoulders. "Neither of you are responsible for this," she declares. The room shifts its focus to her. She meet's Cloud's eyes. They're the same color as her mother's, yet softer, somehow. "I don't know you, but I believe you didn't want this to happen."

Red cuts in, "Tailor-"

"-I'm not finished," she hushes, holding eye contact with Cloud. "If you think this is your fault merely because you let a perfectly capable woman out of your sight, you're wrong." She shifts her eyes to Sake. "You, I do know. Therefore, I know you understand Tulip Garden did what she did of her own free, informed consent. She knew her position could produce great rewards as well as bring equally grave consequences. Don't pretend you made her decisions. You know as well as any of us that she wouldn't want you to blame yourself." Tailor is correct, Cloud rationalizes. Still, that doesn't mean the remorse deep within her bones dissolves.

Red sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "Okay. Well." He folds his arms. "What do we do now? Yes, we've lost a friend, but also a valuable member. What are we going to do without her?"

"I will replace her," Cloud decides, says before she can even fully comprehend that she's made the choice.

"Right. Gushiken, why is she here?" Red questions, irate. “Does she even know what she just volunteered for?”

"Crown," Sake utters. "You have no idea what you're agreeing to."

"If Tulip risked her life for you all, I'll gladly do the same. I believe in her and her choices," Cloud claims. Sake grips his hands together. "I mean, I don’t have all the details, but I've got the gist. Based on what you said to me last night and, well, this-" she gestures around the room "-you're high up in some rebel organization. Tailor spoke as if you'd be the one in charge of Tulip, so I'm assuming you're involved in intelligence. You've all actually got a chance to threaten the throne, too, if you got the lady in waiting for the crown princess on your side. I trust Tulip; I owe her my life, and you know I want the queen dead. I don't see the issue! What more do I need to know?!"

"She knows far too much, Gushiken," Red warns, jabbing a thumb in her direction. "We can’t just let some rando waltz the street knowing all that! Why did you bring her here? How is she useful?" Cloud crosses her arms and looks at Gushiken. It's up to him to decide just how much to reveal. He gives her a similar look, like revealing herself would endanger her, like she's not sitting closest to the door and could bolt at any moment.

"It's your house!" She clips after a prolonged pause. Based on how they interact with him, all these people are ranked below him. That said, he seems to know them well on some sort of personal level. Being the most trusted and knowledgeable, the call is obviously his. Sake skims her face before turning to Nicolas.

"She is right," Nicolas shrugs. “It is your house.” Huh. Unexpected, but appreciated backup. Sake sighs, long and ragged.

"Crown Flash is an alias," Sake decides. "This is Tulip's dear friend, Princess Cloud Spark."