now listen good and listen straight, you're not the master of your fate

[bloodisthicker]

[Another week, another murder, another absolute shitshow. Tarrlok kind of just wants to lock himself in his room for a while, but... well, he volunteered. So... it's definitely going to be much later in the day before a note advising everyone to meet up in the bar for some comfort food is slipped under everyone's door.

At least Tarrlok didn't have to take care of everything alone, though; while he spent most of the time cooking by himself, Speedwagon and Yosuke helped take some delicious pork buns up to set them out across the bar so that everyone could drown their sorrows in stuffing their faces. And, you know, alcohol, maybe that too. There's also some vegetarian stir fry for people who don't like pork, too, of course.

There isn't an official bartender to start out with, but there is live entertainment courtesy of Yosuke, who's strumming his guitar over in the corner there.

Hopefully someone will step up, because lord knows everyone in the Vault needs a drink right now.]

Comments

music room

[penduli]

[ HELLO, SIGRUN, BLACK IS HERE TO TEACH.

He's joined by a full bottle of scotch and a plate of pork buns, which he'll set.... .... he'll grab a chair and set them on there, there. ]

Not feeling any better?

[captainobnoxious]

I don't see why I like him.

[Bang bang bang.]

He's stupid. And vain. And a real pain in the ass. And he's stubborn! I can't stand him!

[-- She doesn't bang this time, just grabs one of her flasks and takes a gulp from it before laying her arms on the piano keys with a satisfying amount of cacophony.]

I don't know what to dooooo! Cherry's had an argument about like, this same kind of thing before, I think? And it didn't go over well! At all! All the gods know that if I talk to him I'm just gonna end up wanting to pull his pretty little head off!

[penduli]

[ so not feeling better.

He takes a seat beside her and kind of... gently pats her arm. ]

It wasn't really the same, so I don't think the advice I gave him'll work now. [ ...uh, but there's no use in talking about this while she's pissed.

So, just as gently as he patted her arm

he presses a key.

And it is a soft sound. He picks out a small melody of gentle notes--it's no song, it's nothing really except something that sounds okay as he makes it up, but it's a demonstration of piano's piano qualities. ]

...it's important to be able to stand your ground. [ White always complained that he never did, but he did when it was important, didn't he? ] It's also important to know when it's time to step back and cool off. A heated head never makes for good decisions, especially for a leader. Right?

[captainobnoxious]

[... She can gently press the key too, though it's a louder than his.]

Yeah. [She's half-deflated. That's just how Sigrun is.] Honestly, I don't usually get this heated. Even in times of real danger where a single mistake could wipe a whole team out...

[Tap tap tap.]

I don't think of anything but them first, me second.

[She has a cool head.]

But... I mean, when it comes to that stupid head, I just lose it. [Bang.] Why?

[penduli]

[ He jumps at the bang and... keeps playing his soft melody. He can't drink while he's talking, it'll go everywhere. ]

Because he's important to you?

[captainobnoxious]

I have plenty of people who're important to me.

[... tap tap tap tap]

I mean, they'll all probably die one day or another on the field, and things here are still pretty spotty too so it's not like he won't...

[Sigrun seems to be struggling to a certain point, hands uncertain on the keys before they return to her flask -- though she doesn't take another drink. Just holding it.]

... I think I want to save him out of anyone.

[penduli]

[ ...ah. Black doesn't reply immediately, slowing his notes to an end before he leans against her. This always helped his sister, too. ]

As long as you know what you have to do, I think that's an okay thought to have. [ If Mettaton ever ends up dying, if he ever ends up being a killer--the same goes for people he's become friends with here, too. ] If you can just save one person, if you can just keep them safe, that's good enough.

It's impossible to save everyone, after all. [ ...as nice as it would be to be that way. The return on the cynic. ] You've been doing a good job so far, Miss Sigrun. Not one of us would ever pick someone else to lead the charge--I don't know what we'll do if we ever lose you, truth be told.

[captainobnoxious]

[It does help. It also just makes her want to lean against him back, so enjoy the tilt.]

I don't think so. For either of those things. You should always maximize your survival, not diminish it by playing favorites. If there was anyone I should keep an eye on to save it'd be someone useful like one of the doctors, but when I think of losing them it's just "Well, they were useful while they lasted," and I can only think of how we'd have to pick up the duties they left off if any.

[... But with Mettaton, as useless as that bag of bolts is, she just plain doesn't want him to die. It's not easy to say though.]

Don't get me wrong, I know it's not possible to save everyone, but we've got to focus on saving everyone we can. And if we come out with a group that's even six or seven strong out of what we've got right now-- well, no matter who they were, I'd call it a success.

[She just... also wants those to include Mettaton.]

... And if I died, there'd be someone else to pick up the slack. Don't worry. There's always someone else.

[penduli]

[ OOoooooooooooooooooh fuck he's gonna fall. No, no, he's good. ]

Realistically speaking, it's easier to just save yourself and maybe one other person, though. More than that would be nice, but--it's a lot harder. [ He's not gonna argue with her, though; he has his way of doing things, and she has hers. ...he knows in his heart of hearts it's better to try and save everyone you can

(he's always had such a kind heart, as his family's always said)

but it is easier to look out for you and your own, whoever that "own" might be. ] Don't beat yourself up too much over it, anyway. It's a normal person thing.

[captainobnoxious]

I'm not allowed to be a normal person.

[Plain and simple.]

Sure can act like it. No point in being a strict leader over a bunch of people, especially in a situation like this, that'll only worsen things. But I'm not.

[penduli]

[ ... ]

You are though. [ ??? ] You're as human as the rest of us, Miss Sigrun, with human emotions and feelings and flights of fancy. Unless you're not human, then--disregard that, I guess.

[captainobnoxious]

You have never had the honor of being a leader before, Black.

[She's ruffling his hair a little. Definitely a kid.]

We're held to a sliiightly higher standard than others. At least, back home. [She goes quiet for a moment, scrunching her nose.] No mistakes allowed. Save as many as you can. Don't hesitate in putting others before yourself.

[... Or maybe that's just the thing she holds herself to...]

More importantly... I still don't know what to say to him next time I see him. Because, as stupid as it is, I do want to hang out with him still.

[penduli]

[ He's never wanted to be a leader, and he still doesn't want it. He'd be a shit leader, Sigrun. ]

It's not stupid. One fight's not going to ruin everything between you two, you know. [ Unless you let it, but-- ] And I know you don't want it to--and he probably doesn't either. Maybe you shouldn't... talk about it unless it come sup? Or apologize, if you're really bothered by it. Not for your feelings, but for not thinking about what it'd mean if you really did act on them.

[captainobnoxious]

[He would be. That's why he wouldn't be the replacement leader.]

Thaaat would be a lie. I knew exactly what I was doing when I said that and intended to act on it, I just... couldn't, because I'm more useful here than I am in the pit.

[Even if it would've been satisfying. So satisfying.]

... I'm just bothered because I know that I'm as stubborn as he is. I don't have anything to apologize for. Neither does he. I just want him to get that this isn't something that'll change about me, not for anybody.

[penduli]

Apologize for not considering how other people might feel if you did it? [ ...she probably knew that, too.

Then: ] Apologize for not caring about how other people might feel. He gave you a scare last week that you were mad about, and it's the same this week--except you switched positions. Or... I don't know, Miss Sigrun. I'm not really the person who should be giving you advice on this.

[captainobnoxious]

I won't ask you advice. I just want someone to complain to.

[And to teach her to play the soft piano.]

... He said he didn't care though. Thaaaat is the worst.

[So. Guess what might be the real thing bugging her.]

[penduli]

If he really didn't care, he wouldn't have said anything in the first place. [ There there. Back to playing. ]

[captainobnoxious]

[This thing really can piano and forte.]

That still doesn't give him the right to say that. It hurt. It was hard to think that just earlier this week, we...

[...]

Did something. Kind of intimate? I guess. It was a heart-to-heart kind of thing.

[l i t e r a l l y]

[penduli]

[ It can also forte and forte really well. Black... Black did not want to know that much, thank you Sigrun. Especially before you added "heart-to-heart". ]

Then just... have another? Heart-to-hearts are good for relationships.

[captainobnoxious]

... Not sure if he'd let me that close to him again.

[Not because he'd think she'd hurt him or anything. But he can't talk like that and she knows it. Holding him hostage wouldn't be his favorite thing, especially if she was talking at him.]

Or if he'd see a point to it. I could ask. I just don't know if he'd be down for it. I've been wanting to do it again anyway, it was warm. Nothing I've ever experienced before.

[this piano fortes well doesn't it black]

[penduli]

[ HE DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, HE THOUGHT HEART-TO-HEART WASN'T THIS. ]

Then--just talk to him, Miss Sigrun. Listen to what he has to say and ask that he does the same for you. Agree to disagree if you have to--relationships aren't always going to be sunshine and rainbows. [ As romantic and nice as that'd be. ]

[captainobnoxious]

[IF SHE COULD SAY "HEY I TOUCHED LITERALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE PART OF HIM WITH MY BARE HANDS" SHE WOULD, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM VERY RIGHT IN HER MIND.]

Meeeehh. Ehhhh. Nnnnn. Okay. I will.

[Back to leaning against him. Tilt.]

Now tell me about your family and stuff. I'm tired of talking about that stupid face.

[penduli]

[ THAT WOULD NOT MAKE THIS ANY BETTER, THANK YOU FROM REFRAINING FROM THAT. ]

What do you want to know?

[captainobnoxious]

[SEE? SO THIS WORKED OUT.]

I have no idea where to begin. Just start someplace.

[penduli]

[ ...um. ]

My sister and I once rode our sheep when we were much younger. Her idea. She wanted to see if they'd jump over one of the cobblestone walls with us on them. [ ... ] They walked around it instead--I think they were too tall and we were too heavy. She got mad at them for not doing it right, and I just remember being really relieved that they didn't jump. It would've been terrifying.

Another time, Dad gave the two of us whisky without telling Mom. We were... pretty young then too, actually. It might've been the same year as the sheep. She scolded him and us, but she let us finish our drinks, have dinner, and sent us to bed without dessert. She made our favorite, too... [ huff. ]