and it takes, and it takes, and it takes

[acherontiastyx]

[It... definitely takes a while for the weekly after-execution note to arrive, but it does --- kind of scrawly and on ripped paper rather than nice stationery.]

EY. YO. WE GOT EFFIGIES IN THE DINING ROOM AND WE'RE GONNA BURN EM.

FOOD TOO. THE USUAL AND HOT COCOA. GOOD FOR THE SOUL. GET SOME. MAYBE TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR ROOM IF YOU HAVE TO. JUST GET SOME.

[Anyway, in the dining room, there's plenty of mugs set out, with a janky looking arrow sign pointing into the kitchen to where you can get your hot cocoa. On the table, there's Vichyssoise, a pot of green tea, and some booze. There's also a cookie tray on the floor away from the table on which to burn the Wordsmith and Kimbley effigies, which are handily placed near the food on the table.

...also if you go in the kitchen without shoes on just. Watch the northern corner. There's no kidneys, but there's a lot of broken plates there for some reason...]

Comments

[feistytrader]

[Silver, to no one's surprise, isn't coming to the after party. He rushed right to his- to Gold's room, it's Gold's, it's theirs- and hasn't come out since.

He's not very inclined to answer the door at the moment, but he has left paper and a pen outside of his room, in case someone wants to talk. That's the most he's willing to deal with right now.]

[neverheardofhim]

[This time, he’ll be at the afterparty. He’ll be a little, having gone to the workshop and thrown together two effigies, each one covered in spare sheets to loosely resemble clothes. It’s shoddy workmanship, but it’ll make a few people happy, he figures.]

[He’s also had the time to get to his post-trial ritual, which he posts up on Gold’s profile in the foyer, as usual. Knowing as little as he did about the kid, it had been a struggle but… He hoped it might suffice.]

The kid sat at the bar, grinning and acting all together like his shit didn’t stink. A drink was in his hand and a bottle nearby, while three women nearby offered him matronly glowers. At his feet, his Pokemon sat, chewing idly at marshmallow food while he drank and smirked and enjoyed his time.

And then the door to the bar swung open. The kid turned, gaze expectant, and leapt from his chair. He’d been waiting, they’d all been waiting. Things were safe, their world had been saved thanks to their efforts, and now all that was left for him to find his friend.]

And here he was.

Gold threw himself at the man, knocking him to the floor. He reached out, snatching a hat from a tousled bunch of red hair and shoving it back onto his own head.

“Took you long enough.”

[With the story written, Varric headed to the gathering. He’d recite what he’d written at some point, and set up the effigies for Guzma or whoever to have a grand old time with, but for the most part he was quiet, off in the corner. So far he’d condemned billions to die and sentenced a child to death. He was terrified of what the next week would bring.]

[At one point though, he would rise, approaching Elda with a fresh new piece of paper. He’d sit down across from her, and hold it out.]

I couldn’t think of anything for Kimbley. You knew him better so… I figured you might be able to help. [He offered her a weak smile.] Your stories were… they were something.

[elepe]

[Lusamine is so tired today. Just...so drained. She did the shouting, she did the defense, she did the sobbing...her head hurts from crying so much, which is the first thing she does when she gets back to her room. She's...gonna be pretty sleepy, but you're welcome to try her door. She may or may not answer, depending on who it is.

...It takes a while for her to come out at all--probably closer to night, but she doesn't really want to go near anyone even still. She goes to the Dojo and sits off to the side with some paper. She doesn't really look like she's doing anything other than staring into space, though. For...better, or for worse.

Today has been a hideous day.]

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric had set to wandering the halls after a short stint at the party. He'd be back later, but he'd made a promise. The kid had to be somewhere, and he wanted him to know that there was a shoulder waiting for him, should he ever need it.]

[The paper and pen in front of Mischievous' room was obvious enough. He knelt before it and scribbled something down, then pushed it beneath the doorway.]

This how we're doing things? It's Varric. Can we talk?

[tsugomori]

[ Well... Mikazuki figures that this will be a very, very long night. But, he's very much composed enough, that, despite what had happened, he will be looking for the red head to speak to. Of course, he knocked on the wrong door, until he hazarded a guess that Silver was in Gold's room, and not his. So, he ventured to their instead.

He knocked at the door at first, almost, until he saw the paper and pen. At the very least, even though Mikazuki can be slow to the uptake, he can pick up cues...eventually.

He'll begin to write to the man. ]

Good evening, Silver. Would you like to have some tea?

If you would like for me to sneak you any snacks through the door too, let me know.

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda writes a note. If Silver's never seen her script before, it's penmanship is impeccable: the sort of neat cursive that you'd expect from a lady born in the 18th century. As for the content of the letter, ]

Dearest Silver,

Any apology I would make for assisting in the execution of your beloved would be insincere, and I refuse to allow either of us that recourse, though it might well be kinder to do so. Just as you would never do anything to endanger the life of your boy, I will never allow my family to live on without me, unknowing of my fate. I had promised to myself on the first week, and I will continue to uphold that promise: I will never hesitate to ensure that salvation.

And furthermore, though I dared not admit it until today, it would pain me to allow Hanyuu to pass a well. This perhaps also holds true for Lusamine, and yes- I wished to spare you as well. I confess, at this time, I have not examined by feelings very strongly. I doubt you now have the wherewithal to do so yourself either.

Know this, however: though you might be Lusamine's more and though Tethras and Hanyuu may well be kinder; that I, Elda Marker, forgive your humanity. And I thank you for allowing me to live another day in the face of a man I had so spited's mad revenge. Should you wish to speak with me, I am, until such time that this game ends, next door.

Sincerely,
Elda Marker.

[iaspis]

[It's probably not a surprise that Jasper doesn't show up to the party. She stays in her room, the door shut but not locked.

She's come to realize she doesn't like being alone, but she'll make an exception for tonight. Anyone is free to approach her, if they want.]

[plegia]

[Well, this trial was a huge disappointment all around. Even worse, Gangrel's got a few half-formed feelings and he'd rather not deal with them, so! Time to aggressively ignore them.

You'll find him in the kitchen for a good amount of the evening. He received one of those large tea bags from the vending machine that's probably Alani's, so he's in here trying to make Tea of Mourning. It's uh... not going too well. But an attempt is being made and he'll keep at it until he can manage a single cup of this stupid tea. It's super bitter and he hates it.

He'll only stop in to the dining room for a moment and that's only to get some food before he heads back to his room. You're welcome to catch him as he's getting food or knock on his door; he'll probably answer.

But really, he's not feeling very talkative tonight. There are a few people he'll seek out, but otherwise he just seems... listless as opposed to his usual obnoxiousness.]

[byday]

[For once, he's at the afterparty. He has a cup of green tea and is...increasingly concerned with the broken glass. Okay, I guess that's normal.

He's mostly isolated, however, not entirely willing to intermingle with the party. But he'll gladly speak if approached. Eventually, he slips off to the gym, mostly intent on gaining some form of catharsis. Feel free to join him.]

[firstaid]

[Before the party is announced, Estelle is in the kitchen making her usual. It’s routine anymore, one once in a while she’s found crying and wipes her tears and continues stirring, cutting, what have it, as she prepares the meal. Every week it feels like she needs to prepare less, but this week it hits her that she needs to make so much less after all the death that happened.

But it’s clear she’s not making this out of kindness – partially yes, but mostly it’s her escape right now. She’s not the time to sit alone and cry, she’s the kind that would try to do anything to forget. It just happens that her gesture may come off as kindness. This week, that is definitely not the case.

She’ll be in the dining hall for a bit just to be around people, and eat her own food, and drink the tea and hot chocolate as she finishes her cups.

After a bit, she resigns back to the kitchen and this time seems to have ingredients out for a dessert. Probably a cake. She just wants to do something and keep active and a book won’t help right now. A book means she has a chance of being lost in her thoughts – and no happy book could help. So she needs to stay busy… It’s a shame she’s not the type to go to the gym or the dojo and let out angry energy, but she’s not.

She just wants her escape.]

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric'll bite. He hadn't really spoken with Lusamine much since the first week, so he isn't sure if it'll really work, but he'll knock at her door all the same.]

Lucy...?

[neverheardofhim]

[And approach he will, though not before grabbing another two bottles of Teh-kill-ya from the bar. And some glasses as well, because they both need it at this point. He ambles back up to her room and knocks twice.]

Muscles? You in there?

dojo

[plegia]

[Well, Gangrel actually planned on leaving Lusamine alone because the last thing either of them want is to go back to their usual thing. Probably. He's pretty sure that won't help. But he came into the dojo to do his usual training routine (because it's better than trying to sleep) and uh...]

...Well, I didn't expect to find you here.

[The greeting is careful, guarded. Like he's not really sure what to say.]

[elepe]

[...well, if anything, there seems to be some movement--some groaning too. Usually she expected the company, but now was...]

What is it? Who's there?

[plegia]

[Knock, knock. Actually, the knocking is going to keep going until Jasper answers, because Gangrel's really damn determined to talk to her right now, so uh. Open up!!]

Kitchen

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric had set out looking for Estelle. He'd left her alone the past week or two, having been caught up in his own funk. No more, though. Everyone needed someone today, and while he was all over the place, he wouldn't neglect the princess anymore.]

[He approached with a thick book in his hands, and leaned against a counter nearby.]

Got a minute, princess?

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda is indeed there - she's changed out of her swimsuit she was in for the whole trial (man, that was a mess) and her hair might actually be a little bit damp still just because she allowed herself to step out before waiting for the whole huge thing to air dry.

... Ah. ]

In truth, I'm not sure I knew him at all. [ She didn't really allow herself to. ]

[feistytrader]

[It takes a good while for a response, to the point where it seems like there isn't going to be one, but then the note's slipped back, with a little extra added.]

If you don't mind talking like this. What's up?

[It's easier to sound casual in writing, isn't it?]

[neverheardofhim]

It's Varric, uh... [The words die in his throat. He wasn't sure what to say to her, what he would even come close to comfort now that he was sitting here. If it were himself, if it had been Estelle and Orihime up there...]

[If it were them, even if he couldn't be comforted, loneliness would be the worst thing for him.]

Can I come in?

[elepe]

[...it takes a couple seconds to respond--it seems like she was lost in her own head, but she looks at Gangrel after a moment and shrugs.]

I know people well enough by now. Someone's going to bother me. I didn't want to be in a place they expected. I figured they would leave me alone, then.

[...today fucking sucks, Gangrel. But she's waving her hand.]

...Do you mind my being here?

[feistytrader]

[It takes a moment for the paper to be pushed back with a response, but it's not too long, because-]

Weavile, Aibo, and Polibo would appreciate snacks. I'm not hungry, but they haven't eaten all day.

[oyashiromama]

[Alright. Alright, she can do this. She waits until her handwriting is more composed, but Hanyuu sits outside Gold and Silver's room, and writes.]

I promised Gold that I'd look after you and share your burdens. I know you told me to be selfish. But it's what I want to do. This is me being selfish right now. I won't leave you alone. I'll be waiting, as long as it takes.

I will try my best to protect you. I swear it.
- Hanyuu Furude

[deofoled]

[ Jasper is actually the first person on his mind once things are settled. He's not gonna come visit her alone though, as he actually went to go bake a cake first before knocking on her door.

He figures she might not want to talk, which is fine if she doesn't, but she's getting the cake either way.]

Hey, it's Killia.

[firstaid]

[She's just finished pureeing the potatoes and other ingredients so it's definitely a good time to talk. When he calls out to her, she looks to him with watery eyes, but it's clear she's doing everything to keep herself together. She's not the one hurting the most tonight. Therefore she must stay strong.

That won't stop her from wiping the tears away from her eyes before she speaks and gives him a smile.]

Y-yes, I do!

Room

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Man, what do you say to a woman that you got into that sort of argument with? Elda's not really sure, but she's also -

... Well.

She's going to knock, anyway. ]

It's Elda Marker.

[ And if Lusamine doesn't want to deal with her (and really, Elda halfway doesn't want to deal with White either) she'll just back off and maybe write a letter. ]