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

[cherryblooded]

Thank you for putting this together.

[Cherryblod hasn't been without a drink in his hand all evening, and he has a full glass when he sits down next to Tarrlok.]

[bloodisthicker]

It was nothing, really. You... had a rough time.

[...he had a rough time too. Everyone had a rough time. Christ.]

[cherryblooded]

Could say the same about you. You're just handling it a little better than I am.

[As far as he's aware, Tarrlok didn't have the urge to go destroy something.]

[bloodisthicker]

Well, I'm... making an attempt, anyway. We may just have slightly different mechanisms for coping with the... whole thing.

[cherryblooded]

As long as mine don't actually get anyone hurt, I suppose there's no harm in it, but yours seem a bit healthier from where I'm standing.

[He takes a small sip from his drink.]

[bloodisthicker]

...what did you even do...?

[cherryblooded]

Ripped apart one of the bouquets from the machine. There's wood pieces and flower petals all over my floor now - I should get a broom.

[He takes off one of his gloves to show a hand - it's a bit scratched up from breaking all that wood.]

[bloodisthicker]

...I... don't know whether I should be envious or not, honestly. I've been feeling like I want to get righteously angry for weeks, but every time... well.

Is that better than just feeling kind of hollow and tired, I wonder?

[cherryblooded]

Both are understandable. Think it's because we're different kinds of people, or our situations are different.

...That said, I'm sorry to hear that.

[bloodisthicker]

It's fine. I'm... just going to have to get used to it, that's all.

...it'd be nice if I didn't have to, but...

[FRUSTRATED SHRUG...]

[cherryblooded]

...but what else can we do, really. Other than 'not kill people' and 'not die'.

[It sucks. A lot.]

[bloodisthicker]

...and we keep failing those steps, too.

...

Maybe one of these weeks the Kingmaker will really just blow it on an incentive.

[cherryblooded]

What kind of incentive would we just not care about? 'Kill someone and win a fabulous copy of our home game'?

[bloodisthicker]

You get a brand new car that you can never take out of the Vault. You just look at it the whole time.

Also, there's no engine.

[cherryblooded]

[He chuckles at that.]

But it's brand new. And you have fantastic insurance, considering you'll never drive it.

[bloodisthicker]

...ah, now you've got it sounding like a bargain. And you'll never actually need to wash it...

[cherryblooded]

It'll never have a flat tire either. What more could you ask for?

[bloodisthicker]

Well, your life not to be a complete and total mess, for one.

[cherryblooded]

But that's impossible. Set your sights on something more reasonable.