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

[alchemicals]

[...That's. Well, it actually gets him to go quiet for a moment anyway.]

...Yeah, I get that. Probably not for the same reasons, but I get it.

[stepout]

[ Good, she's not just talking to the air. ]

...Thanks. I mean it. [ She shuts her book gently, tucking it by her side. ] If we were at a bar, I'd treat you to a drink for putting up with the questions.

[ ... ]

Mind if I owe you instead?

[ If not a bar she'll just toss him whatever alcohol she gets, honestly; this whole conversation feels like it should've been over drinks instead of post-whatever-that-trial-was. ]

[alchemicals]

I won't say no if it clears your conscience, let's put it that way.

[Not like he cares about her conscience, but he isn't altogether sure why she feels like she owes him anything, if we're all being honest.

...At the same time, hey, free favor.]

[stepout]

It's not clearing my conscience, it's giving a drink to someone who should've had a round when this started. [ ...Because again, drinks are good and they're good to have when you start digging into things.

Also if we're being honest she kind of wants one, and there's not that many people who wouldn't appreciate an offer like it. ] I was under the impression people talked about their problems when they're under dim lights and with a glass in their hand, honestly.

[ ...Gold may have mentioned bartenders do small talk too, a lot of problems get screamed at during games anyway, let's just all pretend to be functioning members of society here okay. ]

[alchemicals]

[...you know what, that's fair.]

Well, you're not wrong about that - on a lot of counts, I guess.

[...]

Thanks for not freaking out or anything. About what I told you.

[stepout]

[ ... ]

It's not like I've heard worse, or like you don't have a reason to feel the way you do, or I don't think the whole "unethical" thing is pretty awful. [ Because it is, objectively. She'd let him off lighter if it ever turns out he'd gotten the responsibility pinned on him or something though, probably. ] There's just no point to freaking out about it right now. That was years ago, and...

[ ...She tilts her head away, watching what people remain. ]

It's nice having someone who gets how you feel about something.

[ She wants him to be a good person, too. Every human she's seen has been, in their heart of hearts. Even if Kyrie'd been more or less remorseless about the whole thing, she'd done it for her family. That's just how humans are. ]

[alchemicals]

...I see.

[It's clear from his tone that he doesn't, but at the very least he sounds sort of like he's making an attempt, which is more than he usually offers.]

Anytime, I guess.

[stepout]

[ ...An attempt was sort of made, a fuck was slightly given, etc. ]

Not the answer you were expecting?

[alchemicals]

...I'm not exactly the kind of guy that people come to for understanding, I guess.