WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT? OUR TALES RIVAL JUST TURNED INTO A ZOMBIE!

[bloodisthicker]

[...so, uh, that was a thing that happened. Tarrlok was completely ready to do the politician thing and come up with a speech or something for most of whatever the hell that excuse for a trial was, but everything got all confusing, baffling, and horrifying and completely inexplicably, he can't find the words.

Maybe he just... needs a day. Tomorrow will probably be fine. For now, though, Misa volunteered to make brownies, and he was going to make a Northern Water Tribe comfort food specialty.

...even if they only had shortening and not actual animal fat and it'd been a while since he'd made it, but it tasted... alright? Definitely not as good as the stuff back home, but it was hard to get that good, anyway.

...there's also the matter of setting things up in a location other than the dining hall, because even though that's cleaned up, it still feels pretty tasteless to hold a wake literal feet from the place you found someone's bloody corpse.

So, a little later on in the day, a lovingly personalized note will be slid under everyone's doors:



And if the Survivors choose to head to the library, they'll find a... well, okay, it's a bunch of boxes from the storage room of comparable size stacked up on each other to kind of resemble a table. The dining hall ones don't even seem like they'd fit in the library, so Team Afterparty clearly had to improvise. One side is filled with plates, bowls, and spoons, and the other is filled with brownies, cookies, and a big bowl of berry aqutak. There are also chairs dotted throughout the room in a sort of vague circle --- close enough together that if people want to talk, they can, but far enough apart that it'd be easy to drag it off for some privacy.]

Comments

[garudynamic]

[Yosuke doesn't come to the library right away. In fact, if anyone goes looking for him he spends almost an hour in the kitchen, washing his knives. Washing such little things certainly doesn't take that long, but he keeps going over them again and again... if just to have something to do with his hands.

When he eventually does make it to the 'party' he makes a small face at the Akutaq, but eventually tries some. And even manages a little food. No break downs, no dramatics. Just... quiet and non engaging for now, as if none of this had really set in just yet.]

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod's in the kitchen too, to make tea for anyone who wants any.]

...I think they're clean by now.

[garudynamic]

[He doesn't respond at first, then offers a small self depreciating laugh, setting the little blades off onto a towel to dry]

Yeah. Guess I'm just not ready to go back to the others just yet.

[cherryblooded]

That's fair.

Do you mind if I keep you company, or should I leave?

[garudynamic]

[he unplugs the sink, letting the slightly pink water drain out]

I don't mind. Don't stay on my account though.

[And now more water, fresh soap. There were still a few dishes to do after all. Stuff from Tarrlok and Misa cooking. A few glasses and such from the night before that were likely meant to be washed before breakfast. The like. Might as well be productive.]

[cherryblooded]

Not at all.

[He does have this tea to make for everyone, though he would've left if Yosuke asked him to.

At least it smells nice.]

[bloodisthicker]

[...well, at least he isn't alone in repetitively doing something in the kitchen, even if Tarrlok is mostly busy with experimental cooking. ...he really can't help but notice that, actually... and he can't help but comment.]

...you know, I'm really not sure what good those will even be at this point.

[garudynamic]

[He makes a small, almost amused sound of agreement]

Even if someone attacks me, if I defend myself I might just go on trial too.

[bloodisthicker]

I'd say it's probably for the best to learn non-lethal means of self defense, but that's really easier said than done, isn't it?

[He measures out a cup of sugar.]

Then again, that pretty much sums up any solutions I can think of to this ordeal.

[garudynamic]

Mouri-san was talking about teaching everyone judo if we can figure out a way to do it safely.

...but yeah, I got nothing better either.

[bloodisthicker]

...Judo's a martial art, isn't it? That... isn't really the worst plan, though, thinking about it. There's no reason we can't get a little rough as long as we don't aim to kill.

[ratingspoint]

[It's not that Mettaton is deliberately intending to be in the kitchen so much as he just...ends up there; he can't really stay still for too long, it seems, and the sound of the running water is what draws him in here.

He isn't too sure what to do with Yosuke, admittedly, especially after the...that; he'll try for now, though, and if the guy wants to be alone he'll leave him alone.]

...How are you holding up, sweetheart?

[garudynamic]

[He's not sure he wants to talk to Mettaton. But after having tea with Cherryblod he's feeling somewhat more sociable]

...better. I think.

[ratingspoint]

Good to hear it.

[He leans back against the counter a little, a slight distance away.]

Hey... Sorry about earlier. Downstairs and all.

[garudynamic]

... you were right.

[He shrugs, smiling in a way that's not really very happy at all]

So don't worry about it.

[ratingspoint]

...No, I...

[He's quiet for a moment before he shrugs a little; when he laughs it's a dry, humorless sort of thing.]

I think it's good if you're having some sort of problem with that sort of thing. It proves you have a lot of compassion still, you know? That's admirable.

library

[lackinginfaith]

It's not that bad, you know.

[Caren gestures to the akutaq, which she's on her second bowl of.]

We didn't have it at home, but it's good.

[garudynamic]

Yeah?

[It doesn't look too bad, but it's new and he's not too trusting of new food]

What is it? Squished berry stuff?

[lackinginfaith]

I think so. It looks like something you'd find in those northern places, like Alaska. I've never been, but I've always wanted to.

[garudynamic]

...not really what I usually think of when it comes to Western food.

[He grabs a spoon, taking a scoop. It's not as sweet as he expected- but not bad]

Huh... not awful.

[lackinginfaith]

Me neither, but they're all varied, aren't they? It makes me wonder what everyone's homes make.

[amygdalae]

[Yosuke is still clearly affected and Bruce can't blame him. He's just as shaken, too.]

Are you alright? [He asks quietly once he approaches close enough, not wanting to startle the other.]

[garudynamic]

[For once the skitish boy DOESN'T jump. Instead he shrugs]

Good as can be expected? I guess? What about you?

[amygdalae]

As well as I can ever be.

[He gives a tired smile as he says that.]

[garudynamic]

...

'Ever be?'

[For how awkward and goofy Yosuke can be, he's pretty good at picking up cues. There's something about how Bruce said that that makes it seem like this isn't a new thing]