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

[tsugomori]

[ He'll have approached her at some point! ]

Hello Miss, keeping yourself busy?

[firstaid]

Just reading a little, I suppose.

[Her voice sounds depressed and forced.]

[tsugomori]

[ ... He'll definitely take note of that, and probably place himself in a seat so he's sitting at least and not standing. First, he'll to see if talking about something uplifting could help. ]

Can you tell me about your favorite book in the bunch?

[firstaid]

This one I'm holding is my favorite right now. It's about a brave princess who instead of staying at her palace chose to be along the commoners to help them. A knight ends up meeting her and finding out that she's the true heir to the throne. It's truly a heartwarming story of a royal who truly loves and wants the best for her people.

[It's what Estelle wishes she could be.]

[tsugomori]

I don't think I've had the chance to read any of the books here, but...

[ There's a small pause here as he appears to be considering it. ]

I think it sounds like it could be my favorite too. I believe uplifting stories are among the best ones.

[firstaid]

They are. I rather enjoy stories where the hero or heroine, or even both, get a happy ending.

I believe--

[She's about to say something and she stops.]

...Is it possible to achieve a happy ending here after what just happened?

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki had waited patiently for whatever speech or sentence the woman was about to convey, although he did not necessarily expect the segue (considering what happened though, it is not a surprise to question it). ]

It is entirely possible.

Of course, even when we do escape with our lives, the events of what happened here will forever remain etched in our minds, and it may be difficult for some to come to terms with it. We will just need to keep pursuing our wish to return to whatever lives we lead outside of here, while looking out for each other, so we don't fall apart at the end, or before we get there. At least, this is what I think.

[firstaid]

Yes, I agree. We have to keep together somehow. I just don't know how... I was so certain that no one would resort to killing like this.

[That they could get out of this together that they would prove to the Wordsmith that they would trust one another.]

[tsugomori]

Well, I'm sure if Miss Ushiromiya knew that she would possibly become attacked by such a thing in the case of failing, she may have not acted.

[ Judging by her personality, he doubts the power of friendship would have been the thing to have stopped her. ]

... Either way, I suppose I didn't expect anyone to jump so eagerly at killing. But, as terrible as what had happened, maybe because of those consequences shown, it could stop anyone from willingly doing the same? At least, so soon.

[firstaid]

No I don't think anyone knew that the one who was 'responsible' would have been attacked by such a thing and perhaps that will also stop others from acting as well as you've said.

[That thing was terrifying. Really, really terrifying.]

[tsugomori]

[ Even Mikazuki had been... yeah. He doesn't really want to think about it for obvious reasons. ]

In the meanwhile, maybe we'll be able to find some hint or piece of information about our situation soon? I'm sure there's another way out then one of us killing another at any rate.

[firstaid]

There has to be another way. I want to believe that us supporting one another will eventually leads to our escaping.

[She'll hope and be optimistic that this can be done, that more lives don't have to be lost.]

[tsugomori]

[ He'll nod. ]

Ah, not to mention I'd love to share some tea with someone under the moonlight sometime soon.

[firstaid]

In that case, I hope that can happen soon. Given this place, I suppose you can have tea, just not under the moonlight.

[The only thing they have to go by is the clock for time and assume that it's correct in regard to day and night.]

[tsugomori]

Hopefully it can. There's no windows to show what time it is besides the clock. The Wordsmith claims he's too powerless to make a window himself, but I just don't think he wants to do it.

[ He'll give a small shrug. ]

I suppose I can try reading one of those books to also help pass the time. Besides the one that you're looking at, which one would you recommend to start with first?

[firstaid]

What kind of book would you be interested in? I believe knowing a genre you would enjoy would help me to better find a book that fits your tastes.

[A bit of a wider smile appears on her face. Talking about books always made her happy, and it seems this case was honestly no different. Escapism is one of her strongest traits, unfortunately.]

[tsugomori]

I'm afraid I'd be one for, ah, fantasy? Something like that... maybe with some adventure about heroes, too thrown in there somewhere.

[ Well, either way, he figures it'd be nice to have a distraction. ]

[firstaid]

I'm sure I read one like that this week, let's see.

[Right, the fiction were around this area. She traces her fingers over the spines of the books until she stops at one called "Stella Blanca" and pulls it out.]

This one was an interesting one. It's a story about a goddess named Stella Blanca and the hero goes in search to find her to hopefully save his land. It has a really happy ending!

[That's the most important part, she thinks. While she likes books with bittersweet endings, people need books with happy endings right now.]

[tsugomori]

[ He holds his hand out to her so she can hand over the book, his attention likely caught by her quaint description. ]

I think I'll love it, then. You're quite the reliable source for books.

[firstaid]

Oh, thank you. I've read many books since I was a child, so I believe I can be a good judge of a book.

[She'll read terrible ones too, if it means keeping her entertained. And reread books. And textbooks... she'll read just about anything.]

[tsugomori]

Hmm, no wonder you are quite learned.

[ Mikazuki makes a mission to probably look over as many books as he can manage. He knows he hasn't had the chance to necessarily read a lot of books, but stories on the other hand, are things he's heard and has always been curious about... ]

...Oh yes, and thank you for helping me pick out a book. As is obvious there is quite the selection to sort through in here.

[firstaid]

Well, books are all I had for years, so I suppose that's why I appear this way.

[She traces her finger over the spine of a book on the shelf while looking to the ground with a wistful smile, then soon shakes her head at his second statement.]

It was no problem whatsoever. I'm glad I could be of help.