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

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

[...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.]

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[It's a traditional holiday thing!!! Sigrun doesn't know why, but hey! Tradition lives on!]

Sure, but that doesn't mean you have to be right away. Be strong when you're ready to be strong. Until then, you're allowed to be as miserable as you want, and that means not pushing yourself to smile.

[The softest flick on your forehead, Misa-Misa. She won't mom you though, just takes a seat.]

No one's expecting you to be 100%.

[ ...That seems to resonate with her a bit, because her smile goes right away at that when she sits down... ]

...It was that obvious, huh? And here Misa-Misa thought she was a pretty good actress.

I'm sorry for before, though. With the...whole, uh, knife thing. I didn't mean to freak out like that.

Misa-Misa might be a good actress, but I've seen plenty of people just like you. It's good to have a shoulder to lean on until you can be someone else's.

[And really, Sigrun's a pretty good shoulder. She chuckles a little at the apology though, shaking her head.]

And don't worry about it. Normal people aren't cool with someone nicking their skin, even if it has a purpose.

I guess that's true, but, I just want to make sure I'm helping, you know?

[ She sighs a bit... ]

After what happened, I mean...everyone's so down. Cherry and Aqua, and poor Lynne...I can't stand seeing everyone so upset, especially after we were all having such a good time yesterday. So I want to be that shoulder for everyone, even if it's hard. And that way, Misa-Misa can be her own shoulder, too. Seeing everyone happy will make me feel better.

[ Not that there's anything wrong with your shoulder, Sigrun. Even if it is bruised up because you didn't put ice on it. ]

I just don't like knives very much, though. ...Bad memories, is all.

[guess who's getting out of that ice thing tonight. its her.]

Just keep yourself in mind too.

[... Sigrun's not gonna ask about the bad memories though, just ruffle Misa's hair a little.]

If there's one thing I've learned about humanity, it's that we get used to things. The pain everyone feels now won't be easily forgotten, but if it happens again it won't be half as bad, and the same if it happens again after that.

[Not that she doesn't have faith in their batch of survivors to not kill each other, but she's realistic. There's gonna be more inevitables.]

And this pain's a source of strength itself. We don't want to feel it again, we don't want to see something like that happen again, so we'll do anything we can to stop it. Things'll get better in a few days too, okay? It won't be like before, but it'll get better than it is now.

...Are you sure, Sigrun? This...isn't the first time I've seen something like this. It's not any easier this time than it was before.

[ Not to get into too many details, but, it doesn't seem like the thing that becomes more dull with time. ]

I can see that, though. Using it to motivate ourselves...making sure we keep going and saying "never again"...

I guess it depends on the person, but whenever I have to make a hard decision like that now it doesn't hurt but a twinge.

[So maaaaybe it won't be something people get used to with time, but who knows.]

... And as long as we do that, taking it to the big guy himself won't be an issue. We'll be strong enough that we'll be able to stop anyone else from getting hurt, from thinking it's the only way, and to get out.

That must be because you're so strong, Sigrun...

[ Seriously. She seems to exude fortitude. At least, to Misa. ]

I'm really glad, though. It's great to have strong people here with us. It makes me feel a lot safer.

[If Sigrun seems to be shining with pride then, well, she is. She can't help it. It's nice to be recognized.]

If you feel safe, then my job's halfway done. It's only when we're actually safe that I'll consider it complete, but that's not something I can do on my own.

[Have a gentler ruffle this time, more like a headpet than anything.]

Your little get togethers, Misa, are going to be very important in the weeks to come for morale boosts and to keep everyone from sinking too deeply into themselves. Can I trust you'll still be doing them, minding your own well-being?

Do you really think so? Misa-Misa can be useful that way?

[ If that's the case, then... ]

Of course I'll be doing them! As long as I'm here, I'll make sure that we can all stay together as much as possible! You can count on me!

Then I will! I'm no good at bringing people together like this, see, so I'm glad to have someone who's practically a specialist at it.

[That's a good girl, Misa, you get another headpet before she'll take the origami star and gently tuck it into Misa's bundle.]

If I can give a suggestion, Mettaton's being dying to perform for us all, so why not work with him a little to see if you guys can't come up with something?

You mean, like, a concert or something? We don't have much in the way of a stage down here, but, that doesn't seem like a bad idea! Maybe we can try and figure something out like a talent show? That might be fun for everyone, right?

[ This whole thing is definitely making her feel a lot better..! And something like that would, without a doubt, make people get involved one way or another... ]

I'll talk to him about it later!

[Honestly, not a clue if Sigrun knows what a "talent show" includes other than Feats Of Strength. That said:]

I think a talent show would be perfect, especially so everyone can show off what they're best at! [Or whatever.] I'm looking forward to seeing what you two cook up. I'll even join in with a few stories of my own.

Well, we have to see what tomorrow brings! If there's something I can do to lift everyone's spirits, I'll definitely do my best! I mean, everyone was enjoying themselves a lot yesterday. And people seemed to like the crossword a lot, too...

Thank you for the suggestion, though. Maybe if I make a suggestion box and try to figure out what everyone wants, we can make a thing out of it...

And then we won't want for ideas either! That's a good plan, Misa.

[But Sigrun has other places to be and people to talk to, now that's she's satisfied with this one, so she points at the origami star as she gives her last idea.]

My second suggestion before I walk off on you is a little decorating for this place. I can show everyone how to make these and we'll tape them to the walls, and anyone else who knows how to do paper crafts like this can show theirs and we'll have this place looking less dreary by the day! Sound good?

Oh, so, like, a folding party! Misa-Misa knows how to make origami cranes, because they're really easy! If everyone figures out how to do them, though, we can make a whole bunch and have the place covered in them! Sigrun, you're a genius!

[~~this is going to be so much fun with the new art room they just got~~]

I know I am. [If she were a bird, her feathers would be so fluffed right now.] So a talent show and a folding party, things to keep our minds and hands busy, and a suggestion box for anyone who wants to drop an idea in if they want.

[This sounds solid to her.]

I know you'll do a good job, so let me say again: You make sure you take care of yourself too, alright? Anything you can't do yourself you let Mettaton handle, and if you're not feeling well he'll be a good person to take care of it too. Everyone's smiles will be a little hard to see at first, but they'll return with work, so don't worry if it's not going well at first or if someone says it's silly.

Even if someone does say it's silly, that's not going to stop me. I'm sure more people will be happy that they'll have something to do! I think these are all wonderful ideas, so, Misa-Misa's really excited now!

Don't worry, though. If things get a little bit tougher, Misa-Misa knows she's not alone. ...But that goes for you, too, okay? Just because you're strong doesn't mean you get to put everything right on your own shoulders and not let anyone else help carry the weight! We're here to help! Or, well, Misa-Misa definitely is.

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