I still regret every word, that day, I never said

[matchbreaker]

[ This trial was a mess. Hard on everyone, filled with conflicting emotions, and the twists and turns in it made it unsatisfying for everyone involved. That's probably become the norm at this point though! As have the gatherings in the aftermath of them. This time around the letter comes under everyone's door fairly quickly into the evening, following only a short delay for those organizing it to get things together and console themselves enough to be presentable. ]

Come to the dining room if you want to be with people. I will have board games, cards, food, and drink. We also will be writing letters to the dead, if you want to do that around others.

- Elda, Hanyuu, and Mikazuki

[ The dining room's set up is once again fairly simple. Hanyuu broad board games, Elda brought some rpg books though she doesn't expect anything to come of it, and there are a lot of envelopes, paper, and pens from the mail room. The mail room's going to close tonight, of course, but most of the letters will probably be written privately anyway. Elda just wanted people to be sure they knew they could.

Food wise, there's grilled meat and fish, rice, cream puffs (all Hanyuu!) Mikazuki's tea (both black and green!) and Elda's ... spicy fries. Some of them are more mild! However, the mild ones are covered in sugar so uh... that's probably not better. Either way, have at ]

Comments

[firstaid]

Alright. So I just see where I have runs or sets, correct?

[She'll pick up her cards and look at them.]

[tsugomori]

I'm... alright, I think. I'm glad you're doing okay.

[ Outside of timeline-related things, Mikazuki doesn't think he's tried to lie before like this, because he doesn't want to try Estelle trouble, even if by standing here he feels himself upset, and it feels bad, it feels wrong.

She can probably also detect his responses sound distracted. ]

I am a little worried about some of the others. They were... well, quite troubled. For quite obvious reasons.

kitchen;

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki heads into the kitchen, and well... he spots Guzma making some hot cocoa. He's probably about to make more tea himself. ]

I suppose I couldn't interest you for a cup of tea? If you're going to have some of that cocoa stuff.

[ Maybe there was an attempt to be light-hearted here, but whether that worked is another story. ]

[matchbreaker]

Before I speak of that, allow me to make my own apology.

[ Still hugging, her, the older woman gently scratches Lusamine's back, her nails digging in a little, but not fiercely - it's a gentle, almost maternal sort of motion. ]

... I suspected you, Lusamine. It was for that reason I fought with Hanyuu and for that reason I shouted, and would not betray the trust you and Gangrel had. In some part of my mind, I suspected that you had killed Vanille, and that Gangrel had finished off Phi when you were incapable. That was the drama I'd concocted, and I meant to apologize to you.

... Do they bow, in Alola? They do in Japan, and I intended to put my forehead to the ground for you.

[feistytrader]

He's really passionate in combat.

[...He could do better than that, but he thinks he's making his point anyway. It's hard to put combat into words, especially when it's, well, him.]

[firstaid]

Of course we will. No matter what, we'll do what it takes to win.

[Against the Wordsmith and against others here. She was right to be paranoid earlier this week and she still is. However, it's clear to her now that she needs to find her alliances. That... may be easier said than done.]

[elepe]

[...she's not all that sure, if her expression is anything to go by. But...]

Do you know something that would help, in a situation like this?

[matchbreaker]

Yes. And if you can play nothing - and at first, you must come out with one of either of three, so a set of three and a run of three, or two runs of three, so on - you must either draw a card, or draw from [ And she flips over a card to be the beginning of the discard ] the top of the discard.

And finally, end your turn by discarding.

[firstaid]

[She studies him for longer... Yeah there's definitely something off about his responses and it concerns her.]

Are you truly okay, Mikazuki?

[Wasn't... he probably close to Gangrel? As much as she didn't care for him at the end, it's still okay to be hurt by loss. Her... numb emotion toward the Mad King... is something she will attempt to shove aside for now.]

If you need someone to speak to, I can do that for you, as you've done for me in the past. I... I'm a lot stronger now so I can help you if you need it.

[matchbreaker]

[ He's getting a look. ]

... More is locked in your heart than that, Silver.

It doesn't matter if it doesn't flow. We can edit it.

[elepe]

Of course. It's no trouble.

[She...pauses a bit at that, looking away. She's unsure, that much is clear, but...]

I'm afraid I don't know, in terms of subjects. But...I would not like to be alone, if that is fine.

[feistytrader]

...Crying, mostly. Clefable's probably good to cuddle.

[If he's being perfectly honest about it.]

Other than that, I've got ice cream, the last of my stash of volcano burgers, and some boxing gloves, if you want to take it out in the dojo.

[...]

Or we can bust out the pillows, I guess.

[If there's a better way to deal with things other than food and beating stuff up, he doesn't know what it is.]

[tsugomori]

[ Finally, Mikazuki finds himself drifting into the dining room, even if he feels pretty awful. He feels a little numb himself, and it definitely takes effort to drag himself into here, but he goes through the motions of everything like it's just as usual. Last week, he had lost someone important to him, and he wasn't able to mask it well, even if he tried.

Gangrel had been an important person to him...and yet, right now, so many people were hurting, so he found himself trying harder to put a smile on.

After which he couldn't do so any longer, he dragged himself to Gangrel's room for a bit, and then finally retired to his room, where he was sure he'd have privacy enough to finally cry for a bit. Although the door was unlocked should anyone want to enter. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Each trial, she cries, and this isn't different. Hanyuu has remembered a lot more, and she knows more to be hopeful. How to, the importance of believing. She won't let herself not believe. ...But it's still something she has to do, take some time alone, for catharsis. It's in her own room, before the notes for the party have even gone out, and then she's out, helping with the party.

At it, she focuses on making sure people are fed (and avoiding Elda's spicy fries), and/or occupied. She has her special beat-up deck of cards with her, and that's all she'll use to play, really.

Writing letters is part of the night's events as well, as she already has a few she wants to send out. Maybe...she should work on them a little more.

It only feels right...after everything...to stop by the shrine in the foyer, where she leaves some creampuffs, the reheatable kind, as well as a Chocobo plush and a bottle of hair-dye, which she'd retrieved from Phi's room. ...She prays, quietly.]

[firstaid]

Oh, okay, I think that's simple enough.

[For now, it seems like she doesn't really have anything, so she draws, and it seems that helps as she has three of a kind that she lays down, and then discards a card at the end.]

Like this?

[feistytrader]

...Fine, fine.

[He pauses to think about it for a moment, then;]

But there's more to a man than his circumstances. Combat is a language in of itself. It's intense, and it can tell you a lot more about a person than words alone. And in Gangrel's case, it made him completely come to life. Every time he fought, even if he was distracted or upset by something else, he was eager and passionate. If you slowed down for even a moment, he'd barrel you over. And when it was over, he'd almost always look pretty satisfied with himself, win or lose, like

[That's about as far as Silver gets before the tears start welling up. He's got a straight face, but he can't exactly see what he's writing anymore, either.

Damn. This is uncool of him.]

[matchbreaker]

Yes, precisely! In some rulesets you can't play your first until you have two, but we're learning.

[ Elda...

Draws.

And then discards. Man she got nothing. ]

You can also play off what is on the board. On all sides.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Hah.

Elda reaches her hand out and she-

Pats the back of his head. ... No, he'll realize, it's not a pat. It' a scratch. A very maternal movement where she is gently scratching the back of his scalp. ]

[tsugomori]

Then, I'll happily provide company.

[ Mikazuki seems relieved at that, anyway. He doesn't like to be alone himself, and he just decides to seat himself on the bed. ]

What about your home? If you don't mind, that is?

profiles

[foundfate]

[Watanuki is headed towards the profiles too, but he stops when he sees Elda there. He should have expected this, but he still doesn't feel like he's ready for this confrontation. He takes in a shaky breath before he speaks with an even voice.]

Elda.

[feistytrader]

[...He has to got to stop doing this to Elda. He's very quiet about it, at least; he's doing his best not to make it into a production and wipes at his face. Where was he again?]

And when it was over, he'd almost always look pretty satisfied with himself, win or lose, like it took him back to something simpler. Maybe even something fun.

That's all I've got.

[matchbreaker]

[ She turns and... in spite of the situation, she's actually smiling, just a little. Sidelong. ]

Kimihiro.

[feistytrader]

[...Silver isn't expecting the blond hair or the ears. But he doesn't say anything to Sportacus, not right away; instead, he makes his way into the kitchen and brings him a banana.

A banana that, this time, he can open fairly easily and hand to him.]

Sorry about the other day.

[That's not very important in the larger scheme of things, but it's a start.]

Vanille's room

[foundfate]

[He checked a couple other rooms first, but eventually he does find her! And he sounds sad as he speaks too.]

Orihime, do you want to be alone?

[tsugomori]

...

[ There's a small sigh that comes from him, not because of her words or Estelle herself, but because he's a little tired. ]

I'm sorry, that I wasn't being honest.

[ He's not saying 'no' to being spoken to, though. ]