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

[spiritform]

[Milla would not have done something like this on her own-- but having seen the way some of the others reacted to that horrible display, she did want to support them. Unlike the others, she didn't have any skills for cooking and the like.

But if anyone looks particularly down she might just hug them and pet their hair.

Cuddling. She's read that humans are comforted by this kind of thing!

Otherwise, she'll be there to sit and talk if you want.]

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric might have thought to stay home, but the fact that it was addressed from three of the girls he'd been taking care of drew him from his wallowing. In any case, the words he'd been hopin to write came quicker than expected, and he figured that everyone deserved to see it.]

[He remained silent and against a wall until he figured that everyone who was coming was there. Then, he lifted a piece of paper, cleared his throat, and began to read. He was no skilled orator, finding that his words sounded far better on paper than in someone else's mouth, but he got the job done. It wasn't the first time he had to tell an emotional story. He sure as hell hoped it would be the last, though.]

Legends will speak for centuries of the brave princess, Adelina, who crossed worlds to save her sister. She, who with a clever story on her lips, would not only craft her way out of the lair of the dragon, but wrench the cure from its claws.

And so she would return home, and embrace her sister. Together they would rule, content in their happiness with each other, until time and only time took them from one another.

[Once he finished speaking, Varric returned to a wall, this time clutching the strongest of whatever had been put out. He needed it after all this shit.]

[avoidcomplications]

[What. The absolute. Hell.]

[Just what was it they had seen at the end of all that? Had those ghost stories really summoned a monster, or maybe this was some kind of 'ability'? Like that brat's 'Harvest', or...]

[Kira took a slow breath, hands steady as he picked up a cup of tea. He just had to remain calm. This had happened once, and there was little doubt it would happen again now that they had all seen how truly dire the situation was. Someone would get desperate, and someone would absolutely try to throw them under the metaphorical bus to save their own lives.]

[...He desperately needed to find what had been taken from him, and quickly.]

[ravagers]

[ For a little while after the gathering starts, Vanille ducks out of the library. Looks like she has some things to do, for those who choose not to come.

When she comes back, though, her eyes are a little wet, aren't they? Nonsense. She definitely hasn't been crying. She's still cheerful as ever, but it's appropriately muted; after a thing like that, she's sure no one would blame her. But she's still here for anyone who wants to talk, and with a cup of jasmine tea in her hands, she mills around, looking for anyone in need of a shoulder to cry on or an ear to talk into. ]

Hi. How're you holding up?

[ Additionally, later on in the night, she's at one of the tables, reading one of the books Estelle's picked out. She looks a lot more pensive and thoughtful, and nowhere near as cheerful. ]

[tsugomori]

[ He's not sure what he is supposed to do here, so he just... gives a few claps. ]

That was quite a good speech that you've made.

[ravagers]

I think she'd like that story.

[ Hi, Varric. Here's Vanille, with a cup of tea, leaning against the wall next to you. ]

[tsugomori]

Well hello Miss, how are you doing?

[ That was... quite the trial, after all! ]

[tsugomori]

...Quite the surprise, hm?

[ He's holding his own tea carefully, and then he takes a sip soon enough. ]

[officerhops]

[Judy had been worried about Vanille since the execution, so she was glad to help out with this sort of thing. She couldn't do a whole lot, but support during a time like this really helps. And given how aggressive they had to be at points during the trial, she knows things will be tense for everyone.

But if anyone is looking for Judy, they'll find her sitting at (on the edge of, actually; she doesn't feel like having to strain to see over the table right now) one of the tables with a cup of tea and another mug with a few cut vegetables inside. Carrots, celery, cucumbers, things you can easily pick up with your hands.

She's quiet, looking over the notes for all the profiles she'd made during the week. You might see her carefully adding addendums to both Adelina and Kyrie's, for her own reference of course. Her usual force and drive to do things has clearly been taken from her for the time being, though.]

[sportadork]

[the walk back to his room was, perhaps, the slowest he's ever taken in his life. because with every step, he became more and more certain what he was going to find when he got there.

if he were the type to curse, there would've been one hell of a blue streak out of room 26.

he shows up to the library relatively quickly. he's actually sitting at one of the tables, but he's still moving: his foot taps, and he's rapping something hard and plastic against the table. he seems distracted, and other than the rhythmic tap tap tap, is completely quiet.

of course, this is only when he thinks no one is looking. getting his attention will cause this to completely stop-- well, except the foot tapping. that is not going to stop.]

CUDDLING!!

[ravagers]

Ah--

[ Well, she hadn't expected that from Milla, but... heck, she's not going to complain. Milla's been so kind, but it's okay to take a little more, isn't it...?

Vanille leans into the embrace, wrapping her own arms around the other woman. ]

[introspects]

[ This is far from a party--for Orihime, anyway. The trial was extremely stressful, both from trying to piece together the evidence and from seeing people's true colors, and seeing Kyrie killed by...whatever that was. A Hollow? No, it was something worse. Even if Kyrie committed a crime, that...that just wasn't right.

Orihime wants to know what Ichigo would do in a situation like this. He would undoubtedly be pissed and try to find the Wordsmith to give him a piece of his mind, wouldn't he? If only he were here--no, it's good that he isn't. She's glad she was the one to be taken and not him or anyone else.

Funny, how only a few days ago they were all getting to know each other, calmly and peacefully finding resolutions; now, it's clear that those days are over. There is reason to fear, there is reason for doubt, and trying not to give in to those even after that just happened isn't easy at all.

She's sitting off to the side, not isolated from everyone but away from where most of the traffic is, curled up on her chair and slowly picking at the pieces of one of Viktor's pancakes. ]

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki will first be taking a walk through the halls, and then eventually heading down to the library to help himself to a gracious amount of tea. He'll be definitely looking into those pancakes soon when he feels a little hungry.

He'll soon take a quiet seat with the tea and calmly smile at anyone who comes on by. ]

... Well hello there.

[firstaid]

[The books Estelle had laid out are all lighthearted adventures with happy endings. If anyone asks about any of them, she would be happy to talk about them. After all, books are the best distraction from anything and everything. However, there's one book she holds against her chest that she refuses to let go of. It's titled "The Tale of the Lost Princess" and one would think that it would be one laid out to read given Adelina, however, it's because of Adelina she refuses to let it go.

The books around that are recommended by her are of all genres. Barry Hatter, Starlight, King of the Jewels, and all such other obvious knockoffs books are there. She's by herself not really sure how to interact with others right now or what to talk about.

After a bit, she will start reading that book, once again, that she refused to let go.]

[avoidcomplications]

It was far from anything I expected or even imagined, though maybe that was just because I couldn't possibly be prepared for anything like this.

[spiritform]

[How was she doing? There was a lot to think about.]

I believe "concerned", is the most appropriate term.

[She's worried about everyone, in truth, but doesn't have a clear idea of how to properly fix that.]

[firstaid]

[Once she feels Milla hug her and pat her head she leans in her direction. There's no need for words, but the comfort is something she wishes for at the moment.]

[neverheardofhim]

Yeah? [He lifted his gaze, glancing up at the woman for a split second. A smile toyed at the corner of his lips, one that faded as quickly as it came.] I would'a preferred to hear the real one. From her. [He leaned to the side, head resting against Vanille's arm.]

Stick close to me, will you? [He gave her another look, this one fraught with words he couldn't speak. 'Don't let me lose you too.']

[tsugomori]

Hahaha... yes. I think it'd be a miracle of anyone did expect something like that.

[ There's a wry smile. ]

Well, I suppose now something like that makes sense as to why we were so easily taken here.

[neverheardofhim]

She deserved more. Better. [Still, he gave Mikazuki an appreciative look.] Thanks though.

[ravagers]

... Mm. I didn't talk to her much, but she seemed real amazing.

[ Vanille doesn't shy away from the touch at all. It's actually comforting. ]

Long as you stick close to me, too. And, erm... [ She fidgets a little. ] Thank you... for helping me back there.

[avoidcomplications]

If we assume we're dealing with something impossibly supernatural, you mean? Yes, that does make perfect sense.

[...]

As much as something like that can make sense.

[iamthatsea]

[ The first thing Alani does is go back to Room 16 for a little while, visibly shaken, but if someone wants to talk to her right away she'll definitely respond to knocks.

Eventually she does go to the party, though, hair wet and face... not cheerful, but not not cheerful? She grabs some cookies and leans against a bookshelf, Thinking to herself, or even later on in the corner lying on her back and looking at the ceiling. While reading a book. Well... it looks like she started reading, but sort of stopped and is just staring at the pages now. It's been a while since she turned one, let's put it that way. ]

[ravagers]

[ Ahh, Orihime... Vanille is half-tempted to curl up with her, but she isn't sure how that'd go over. So, she opts to pull up a chair next to her. ]

Really good pancakes, huh?

[spiritform]

[Vanille tried to act strong-- Milla knew what that looked like. But she was still human. Something like that bothered even Milla so she knew that it had to have gotten to the gentler girl as well.

She wants to say it'll be alright, however-- she cannot say what the other remaining individuals will do with this, knowing what they have learned today.]

Their deaths will not be in vain.

[Neither of them.]