trusthell | I'll wait, so show me why you're strong

[And so the day's trial for the attempted murder of Gabriel Knight draw to a close with... charitably better results then usual.

They were alive, at the least, but that didn't mean there wasn't several blows against the trust that had been built up here. One mole that attempted murder, another that quit, and another that was given the offer no doubt put strain on several relationships... most notably Sigrun's.

It was all, in a word... frankly shitty. But now it's all out there, no sense in trying to get it back.

An hour (or two) after the "trial" ends and everyone's gone off on their own business, Speedwagon heads back to the kitchen. It was the usual plan in mind, what they did after every trial. And everyone, regardless of what was said or done, would soon find a note being slipped under their door.]

[Name],
There's gonna be food in the dining hall, in case anyone's got an appetite for it.
I know some might want to be alone after that mess of an investigation, but if you don't then the offer's as open as it's always been.
I'd say sticking together might still be safer then not.

-R E.O. Speedwagon

[And yes, folks that arrive in the dining hall will find a nice spread of sandwiches, soup, and what leftovers Speedwagon could scrounge out of the fridge. Speedwagon isn't the best cook in the group, but there's definitely stuff here that's good enough to eat.

...Sigrun's 'masterpiece' was, thankfully, left out of this. Keeping folks alive is the goal, after all.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Thanks! It's appreciated, he probably wouldn't have liked to go this entire meal with soup on his face.]

That's what will happen. I'm sure.

I'd say don't doubt your leader, but, well. You know.

[Doubt all you please. And not leader anymore, probably.

She'll nudge Black's side though.]

Kitten, can you spare your attention for a few minutes?

[ ...but he doesn't want to—

very hesitantly looking up from his notebook. ]

...yes?

[She's going to incline her head towards Cherryblod.]

He wants to know how you're holding up too.

[He does. And while the smile that he gives Black is maybe a little less full of affection than normal, it's not a fake smile.]

Doing alright, Black?

Oh, um.

[ ...he cares? ...that's unexpected. Black can't quite bring himself to look at Cherryblod despite the smile, though. ]

I'm... as fine as you'd expect me to be. [ He's shit, guys, but should he really be? It's not like he suddenly got told that someone he actually cared for was working for the bad guy all along, after all.

...he's a mess, and he's going to shrink back into his chair. How do you even talk to people you hurt? ] Thank you for asking.

Any time.

[How do you talk to people who betrayed you? And more importantly, hurt your child?]

Sigrun will take good care of you, I'm sure, so you at least don't have to worry about that much.

[ He hums in agreement, knuckles white. He... no, he doesn't have any right to ask, even if he is worried. ]

I know. I'll kind of miss my room, but— [ HIS ROOM oh, he needs his pictures from...

... ] I'll just... move some stuff in there, I guess. It'll be okay.

I'm sure she won't mind letting you pick up whatever you need from there.

[He knows what Black really wants to ask, though, so he might as well bring it up himself.]

...Yosuke's going to be okay. He said he'd talk to you later.

[ Well, that brings home the most panicked expression—rivaling the one he was sporting earlier before the whole mole reveal. ]

He—no, I can't talk to him, I don't even know what I'd say! [ ...or how he'd react, or...

he can't do this. He could probably avoid the fuck out of Yosuke though. ]

[And that finally gets a darker expression out of Cherryblod, and his smile goes a little lopsided.]

If Yosuke wants to talk then you are going to talk.

Cherryblod, back it up.

[Mrrrpgh.]

He hurt my child, Sigrun. I'm not asking him to do anything that's physically dangerous.

I understand that, and I know they've gotta talk, but Black's scared.

[Sorry for outing the obvious, Black.]

Don't push him. Yosuke went with the intent to kill at him, I felt that, and wouldn't you fear being hated by someone you loved? Think about it from Black's angle.

[ IT'S NOT LOVE IT'S A CRUSH, OH MY GOD ]

...I know that.

[He's not happy about this, but he'll settle back down.]

You'll be there. He'll be fine. They'll have to talk eventually and Yosuke's calmed down.

...I know we will.

[ And it'd probably be better if it was sooner rather than later. ]

But I just... I don't know if I can? [ ... ] I'm scared.

[ Of dying. Of losing people that are important to him, again. Of disappointing people. Of being hated. (Of spiders.) ]

...So is he. He told me so.

[And if there's anyone Yosuke can be honest with now...]

But I want to believe in you. Even if it's just a little. And I do believe in him, without a doubt.

[ ...really, how can anyone think about believing in him after all of that.

But Sigrun did, and Cherryblod wants to, so he... ]

...okay. I'll try. [ That's what he can promise. Trying, at least, to not bolt the second Yosuke comes in or looks at him. He can try. ] ...I'm really sorry, Mr. Cherryblod.

[ For everything, but especially for the regret that they found out and that he would've taken this secret to his grave otherwise. ]

I know.

[He can't forgive him so easily, and Black probably doesn't deserve that given... everything. But he does at least believe that Black's sorry.]

Should probably be heading back to bed soon. Tired.

[... Sigrun'll relax, not realizing just how tense she'd been. Would she have punched Cherry again for going at Black?

Yes. Yes she would've.]

Thanks for stopping by, Cherry, really. Have a good night.

[He doesn't need two bruises, cripes.]

You too, dear. Sleep well.

[He's headed back to his room.]

I'll wait, so show me why you're strong

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