Take...Responsibility?

[kingmakereffect]

Unlike previous weeks in the Vault, there was no specifically allotted time for investigation; for the first time, this weekend the elevator doors remain closed at the end of the first floor corridor. There's no getting down into the courtroom from here – but then, you don't need to. After all, no one is dead. Just the same, however, a crime has been committed; perhaps not one that warrants any sort of death penalty, but one of your number was attacked by someone else still walking among you. The dining hall has been chosen as the allotted meeting place for the day; it's not the same as the trial circle by a long shot, but even so, the portraits of the deceased watch the proceedings from the far wall. Ten Survivors still remain. Let's see who wanted to lower that number by one – or nine.

Comments

[amygdalae]

[What the--]

Jesus christ, Sigrun!

[Bruce instantly goes over to go and help Cherryblod.]

What the fuck are you doing? You should know better than this!

[cherryblooded]

I'm fine, really, it was just my shoulder. I've had worse.

[It hurts like hell, but he can focus on that later.]

[amygdalae]

That doesn't mean you should bear with it.

[He's going to try and roll the sleeve of your shirt, Cherryblod, sorry... while still glaring at Sigrun.]

[cherryblooded]

[It's somewhat red where she hit him - definitely going to bruise.]

There are more important things to deal with right now.

[amygdalae]

[Yeah, Bruce can tell that much.]

I know. [A sharp sigh.] But that doesn't mean I can't do anything to try and make it better.

[Unlike a certain somebody.]

[cherryblooded]

Appreciate your kindness. Let's just deal with the trial first.

[amygdalae]

Not a trial.

[More automatic than anything else. This isn't out to punish anybody or to condemn them. They were just here to talk things out.

Why can't people just understand?]

[cherryblooded]

Bit heated for a discussion.

[amygdalae]

It was fine until somebody decided that punching people was the way to go.

[Sorry he's a little bit snippy, Cherryblod.]

[cherryblooded]

[He lowers his voice some, enough that Sigrun probably won't pick it up.]

She has her reasons. Don't be too harsh on her.

[amygdalae]

[Bruce clenches his jaw, clearly not wanting to let it go out of spite--but after the anger burns through he forces himself to take a breath, exhaling loudly.

His voice is still tight when he speaks, though.]

I expected better of her.

[He's so fucking disappointed.]

[cherryblooded]

[He doesn't really have an answer to that. He just rubs his shoulder.]

[isafraid]

Don't worry. We'll get some ice on that as soon as we can.

[After they deal with... whatever the hell this was turning into.]

[cherryblooded]

...Thank you.

[isafraid]

...We'll piece this together, we always do.

[cherryblooded]

Don't doubt that in the slightest.

[isafraid]

[...Just quietly, enough so that Cherryblod can hear.]

This is a bloody disaster.

[cherryblooded]

[Also quietly.]

No one's dead or going to die, and that makes today a better day than every Friday we've had before. I'll take a few bruises in exchange for that.

[isafraid]

That's right enough. It's a sight more bearable then any of the last Fridays we've been put through.

[...]

How are you feeling?

[cherryblooded]

It's painful but it's nothing I can't get through.

[isafraid]

A bit like all this, eh?

[cherryblooded]

Exactly like all this.

[isafraid]

[He clenches his jaw, and says nothing.

Looks like he won't have to.]