i feel the love, and i feel it burn, down this river every turn

[oyashiromama]

[The trial, as usual, was taxing. It's for different reasons every week, but what it all comes down to is there are fewer of them than there were, and that keeps on happening. The note comes, as it always does, earlier than last week, but still with some delay. There's a note slipped under everyone's door. ...One under Gold's door because of course Silver will be staying there, she knows.]

Please come to the dining room, if you would like not to be alone. There will be food, and there will be some cards and board games if you need a distraction.

- Hanyuu & Elda

[True to that, there are a variety of foods. It's nothing too fancy. Rice, grilled fish, eggs in various styles. ...No creampuffs this time, it seems Hanyuu thought that would be a little in poor taste. Also a bunch of fries? ...Really spicy fries, like incredibly so.

On a far table, board games brought from the games room have been left out, along with many decks of cards.]

Comments

hallways;

[tsugomori]

[ Well... Mikazuki had left the room for two reasons. One was to check on Estelle and one was to grab his Internal Affairs wear clothing. But his mind is still a little fuzzy so his walk becomes aimless and then--

He's suddenly holding some hot cocoa. He's still never tried this... whatever this is. He's forgotten what it is too. ]

Ah... what is this?

[matchbreaker]

Oh, can't imagine. Your nails are much more fragile than mine, aren't they?

[tsugomori]

[ Then, if it is something definitely commanding, he'll stay. He is quite used to taking commands, and honestly, he wants to make sure she's not facing this alone.

If he hadn't had someone then...he closes his eyes for a bit, almost feeling like the tears may come back. Somehow he manages for them to hold back as he reopens them. ]

No, it's fine, it's not your fault...it is hard to ask, when you're like this, isn't it?

[iaspis]

Oh.

[She doesn't really get it.]

Like how some of the humans don't like sweet things?

[iaspis]

There are plenty of people here who will feign everything being okay.

...I can't say I blame them.

[matchbreaker]

I suppose it's similar...?

... Well, no, for example: My darling grandson Ren is attracted to human stress. Those who are dealing with difficult times in their lives poorly will have their blood sing to him, and his body can't help but react to how delicious that smells. My Henry is attracted to human pride: the boastful, those who hold themselves erect, perhaps even beyond their station make him react. And then for myself, I've always been attracted to that weariness that middle aged humans exert.

[iaspis]

I... see. Strange.

[She doesn't really get it, but.]

I haven't heard of anything like that before.

[matchbreaker]

Well, you also aren't a vampire.

[ Not like the whole blood affinity thing is super common knowledge. ]

[firstaid]

[She watches him. She sees the hurt, the fact that he's definitely trying to hold tears back. It's enough to make her hold back her own feelings. Someone's hurting worse than she is...

...as much as she hurts, she needs to be the comforter. So she gets out of the bed and moves in to give him a hug if he'll let her.]

I'm sorry...

[She'll repeat those words once more.]

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki is too tired to say anything back now for a moment, he wants to say she has nothing to be sorry for, but sometimes you just... don't even want to bother to say that. This is the exact kind of mood he is entirely within, and holding her as a result of her giving him a hug. There are likely few instances where he'll resist someone reaching out to him and he'll just release a breath that he's been holding back. ]

...

[firstaid]

[Sometimes things just don't need to be said. There should be no fighting her apology because she is sorry. She's sorry he's dealing with this kind of loss. Yet she doesn't want to pull back because... perhaps she needed this comfort, too.

She doesn't know how to deal with this at all. With loss. With pain.

That she isn't as strong as she pretends to be at times.]

[iaspis]

Yes. That's true enough, I guess.

[ravagers]

[ She walks over and pulls her in for a hug. ]

It's alright.

hallways

[ravagers]

[ ...! She's a little surprised but she takes the cocoa anyway.

(her eyes are kind of red, too.) ]

Thanks, Leader...

pool

[iaspis]

I wasn't expecting anyone else in here.

[She seems surprised that Lusamine's Pokemon aren't around.]

I haven't been in here since...

It's been a while.

profiles

[ravagers]

[ ... boy, these are kind of a mess now, huh? So many additions. ]

... Trying to write stories for them?

dining room

[ravagers]

[ Hi, mom. Vanille takes a seat right next to her and gives Clefable and Lilligant each a pat. ]

What're you writing?

outside varric's room

[ravagers]

[ Truth be told, she might be a little scared of going in there. But... she'd stayed in that room a while, and some of her stuff's in there...

And then she starts crying, because it hurts so much. Vanille sinks to her knees, hands pressed tight over her face. She doesn't even notice Orihime's in there. ]

[ravagers]

[ SHRUG ]

You listened to me talk. And made me feel better. And you confided in me, little though it was.

[ She nods. ]

So, that means a lot to me.

[elepe]

[Lusamine brings her hand up to cover a bit of laughter. Not the usual kind--it sounds a little closer to the tone she took with Killdia.]

I simply do whatever it takes to keep entertained. Sometimes it's being the mother figure, and sometimes it's being who I truly am. One is more acceptable than the other, around everyone else.

I find it rather fun to be careless, from time to time.

[matchbreaker]

So it's not that surprising!

[ A beat... ]

... However. I suppose it's also good to ask, and not assume.

[elepe]

Whatever works. If you have a specific time, I'll make sure to get out of the new floor to meet you.

[Elda seems happy, at least. Lusamine flares her nails out when Elda speaks up though, smirking a bit.]

I must admit, I did not think red would be my color...but I have been pleasantly surprised. They're truly lovely.

[iaspis]

It's not like I know much at all about organic beings. I know the most about humans, but even that is very little.

afterparty

[ravagers]

[ She's not sure if Guzma's brought along any hot cocoa... so she opts to bring Jasper a cup of cinnamon tea. It's got a little milk and sugar in it, and she sets it down in front of the larger woman. ]

I hope this helps a little bit.

[iaspis]

Thank you.

[She sniffs at the tea curiously, but like with everything edible (or drinkable) she's been given, she drinks it, and looks pleased.]

This is good. What's it called?