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

[uncouthhatcher]

You live in a bar and you're not even besties with the tender.

[... Now, does he mean tender as in money, or as a short for "bartender."]

[stepout]

[ ... ]

We're friends, but I wouldn't say we're best friends.

[ he's her best by virtue of being her only friend, if she has to go with that. ...and he's her friend in the first place by virtue of being the only person she spends a decent amount of time with and is friendly with and talks to???

this is sounding as pathetic as my other characters why do i only play friendless losers ]

[uncouthhatcher]

[see look she's in your character comfort zone]

Do they live in the bar too?

[stepout]

[ shut up

also, the most straight-faced reply: ] Yes.

[uncouthhatcher]

... So you live together, but you ain't anything more than friends.

[dude]

What're they like?

[stepout]

Serious and good at making drinks. [ ... ] I'd say he's kindhearted, but it might just be that he just doesn't know how to be rude. On purpose. He's also much more suited to being an... a bartender than a comedian.

[ so. ]

I like talking to him and he helps me understand things when I ask him to. [ Decim's so great. ] I've been working as his assistant for...

[ .................. ]

I'm not sure, actually. Time has a habit of just... getting away from you there.

[uncouthhatcher]

[... Sounds like a great guy. Huh.]

What's a bartender need an assistant for, anyway? And... you guys don't have a clock or anything like that there? Calendar? How do you know when you're gonna get paid or whatever?

[stepout]

One question at a time.

[ So she can figure out what to say. ]

[uncouthhatcher]

Are you into him?

[that wasn't one of the questions but it sure is now]

[stepout]

[ WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHH ]

I... What?

[ ...she's just so ??? she's not even like, blushing or anything. ]

[uncouthhatcher]

You know, diggin' his looks or anything like that! I'm tryin' to figure out your type. I figure a straight-laced chick like you'd probably be into the type of guy you could lose yourself around a little.

[stepout]

We're friends [ because he's literally the only alive-ish-whatever thing I talk to on a regular basis ] and that's all.

[uncouthhatcher]

[Boring.]

So what's he need an assistant for?

[stepout]

To assist him.

[uncouthhatcher]

With what?

[stepout]

[ .......uh. ]

Greeting patrons, helping them understand game rules... things like that.

[uncouthhatcher]

What, like with darts and stuff? Who doesn't know how to play that?

[stepout]

People who've never played before. Our rules are a little different than the usual too [ they sort of encourage violence, if you and your boyfriend talked you might know this already ] so.

[uncouthhatcher]

[they or may not have talked]

Right. The whole violence thing. [they talked.] So why're you guys encouragin' violence anyway? Doesn't seem like you'd get your kicks off it.

[stepout]

...It's more like we don't disallow it. [ really. ] But we like to see patrons see games through to the end, and... that's up to them to decide how they get there.

[uncouthhatcher]

Eh, sounds like every bar I've seen in movies. They just ask people to take their fights outside if it gets too disruptive.

[... Games, though.]

So if it turns violent, it's because of them. And you don't do anything to stop it?

[stepout]

We do if they keep going after the game is over. [ ...because at that point it's not really affecting the outcome of what they're playing. ] Otherwise? ...No, not really.

[ ...they also do it if things don't seem right for one reason or another but she hasn't gotten that memory so she can't say that!! ]

[uncouthhatcher]

You've got one hell of a bar, lady. How'd you even end up in a place like that?

[... Because he likes her and wants to trust her, even if Silver thinks she's pretty shady.]

[stepout]

I don't know. [ ...It's technically true. ] I was just brought there and told that I'd be helping, so I did.

[uncouthhatcher]

[... Huh.]

That's weird. How does someone not know how they got somewhere?