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

[ravagers]

[ Generally, people need time to cope and gather themselves after a... thing... like that. Unfortunately, that's not how Vanille sees it. Her thing is avoid, and once she gets out of that hellhole that's the courtroom, she makes her way to the supplies closet, then to the library. She spends some time setting up things, pushing things aside to make room. Once she's finished, and she's met up with the Party Brigade, she makes enough invitations for everyone. She slips them under everyone's doors, or hands them out if she sees someone walking around.



Inside the library, there are candles set up to provide some soft, comforting lighting. There are pots of tea, courtesy of Mercy, pancakes made by Viktor, and books (picked out by Estelle, of course) laid out on the surrounding tables. The others have provided their own touches, and Vanille's even managed to make something: sugar cookies, which are actually very good. They're flavored lightly with all sorts of flavors--not all in the same cookie, okay--and each plate is marked with whatever flavor she's put in them.

After a successful trial, it's healthy to indulge, right? Let's mingle. ]

Comments

[modernmedicine]

[There's only so much a person can take in a day. Mercy's exhausted both physically and mentally, but she's good at hiding it. She's had to be.]

How are you holding up?

[Later - much later - she'll let herself curl up in a chair, staring into her cup of tea. Seeing bad things? That's one thing. What she'd done? That was another thing entirely.]

[ravagers]

Hi, Angela.

[ Vanille approaches her later at night. Honestly, at this point, she's not prepared to leave unless everyone's gone. Vanille has her own cup of tea--she's been drinking it like crazy, honestly--and she stops in front of her. ]

Can I take a seat?

[modernmedicine]

[Mercy startles, despite herself, but soon pulls it together.]

Of course you can.

[ravagers]

I'm sorry for startling you.

[ She gestures to the tea. ]

You make a pretty mean pot of tea. I think everyone's glad for it.

[officerhops]

As well as I can.

[Judy looks up at Mercy, her ears drooping low.]

We're lucky we had you with us. I'm not sure we could have found out what happened to Adelina without you.

[modernmedicine]

I've been worried about you, Judy. I'm glad you're holding up, at least.

[She shakes her head.]

I wish I could have done more for her.

[officerhops]

Thank you, but you don't have to worry about me. I'll be okay.

[E...ventually.]

I'm...feeling the same. Honestly, it feels like...I failed her, you know? I was so sure I would be able to stop this from happening.

I guess I just didn't think someone would do it so soon.

[modernmedicine]

I'm a doctor. I feel like I should have heard something, or at least been able to get there in time to revive her. That was the first thing I checked when I found her...

[It's not realistic, and she knows it. Because of the soundproof rooms, she wouldn't have been able to hear anything even if she had been trying, but logic and emotions don't always see eye to eye.]