that's not what we usually mean by 'dance with death'

[cherryblooded]

[That certainly did happen. Cherryblod's not the type of person who will judge one person's value as being more than another's, so he can't say whether it was better or worse than the first week. It came as less of a shock, maybe, but even so...

It's not the kind of thing people usually want to go through alone.

So, after he spends some time in the kitchen preparing (with assistance from Bruce), he'll slip some personalized notes under everyone's doors.]

[Name],
If you'd prefer to spend this time alone, that's fine.
If you'd prefer not to, I've made some food and set it out in the dining hall.
Even if you're just hungry and would rather not talk, feel free to come take some.
But if you'd like the company, we're here for you.
-Cherryblod

[Those arriving in the dining hall will find an assortment of food - a fair number of sandwiches and other, actual meal-like options since most people missed a meal or two, but also a goodly number of desserts. There's tea, as well as coffee for those who favor it.]

Comments

[ignorantly]

...Right. Sorry. [ He'll just... grab a single cookie next time. ]

How're you holdin' up?

[capyper]

I already have a cute little shrine, so the advertising is enough for me! ... Well, maybe someday a bigger shrine would be nice... but for now, I just want to get my name out there.

[ He's not kidding when he says cute and little either, ahah. ]

[sleepingkogoro]

[This Vault makes the weirdest things happen. Who would have though Mouri would be somehow be cheering up Mettaton?]

Only the best people know exactly who they are and what they are capable of.

[...which doesn't completely fit himself but who cares]

I have no doubt you know yourself very well too. Anyone who doubts that just hasn't talked to you enough.

[sleepingkogoro]

[Hahahaha, that is really a small shrine. Yato doesn't even fit in there]

Not so known as a god?

[Japan does have a lot of gods, Mouri knows that, who knows, maybe there really is a Yato in his world too and he never knew]

[bloodisthicker]

I see... well, I guess it would be a little bit hard to tell how many of them there were if they can disguise themselves as humans, so maybe they're not as rare as you'd think.

Would they be able to materialize spears out of practically nothing, though? Or at the very least, disguise some sort of attack to look like that.

[happysweets]

It is, but, there are some pretty strict standards in Japan. A model always has to maintain this image...most idols actually aren't even allowed to date. It's a way to make them more popular, because it ruins people's fantasies of being able to date them themselves...

[happysweets]

It was...Misa-Misa thought Caren was good company.

...Um, can you tell me a little more about that PokeStar Studios thing you were talking about earlier? It seems really neat!

[happysweets]

[ Go ahead, there's plenty left! ]

I haven't tried any! Misa-Misa doesn't like the taste of alcohol, even if there isn't any in this. But I'll gladly share with you, Mister Speedwagon!

[happysweets]

About as well as Misa-Misa can, considering, well, everything.

I can't believe this happened again..

[wokeupdead]

[Lynne seats herself next to Misa at one of the dining room tables, plate piled high with food from Cherryblod's buffet. It's a sight better than last week where she didn't show up at all. Which is why she probably shouldn't be the one asking this.]

Hey, you doing okay?

[happysweets]

A little better now that you're here! I wasn't expecting you...

[ Thank goodness. She knows how roughly she took the last one, so, seeing her here is a bit of a relief. ]

Do you want a drink? Misa-Misa doesn't do sake, but, a lot of people do!

[wokeupdead]

[It wouldn't do any good to worry people! She does feel a little bad about doing that last week. Lynne shakes her head at the offer.]

No thanks, I have to keep my head about me. Filling up on some good food is all I need. Got to keep fueled up.

[captainobnoxious]

Yeah, it is. Hopefully the others won't give any trouble in following along.

[She's gonna take a last swing of this tea and give the cup back, nodding with her thanks.]

Thanks for the tea, Cherry. I gotta get back to trying to figure out how to do a funeral for a rock, but I think I'm going to carve an old rune on a piece of the gemstone [a motion with the knife] since I think the both of them wouldn't have minded the meaning.

[cherryblooded]

Good idea. I think they'd appreciate that.

[Explains why she's holding that knife, too. He'd been wondering.]

I'll get back to making food.

[captainobnoxious]

[You'll have to forgive her for not saying anything at first, lest she nick her finger, but when she's done with one of the small branches she looks up at Bruce.]

Hey there, doc. How're you holding up this week?

[ratingspoint]

[He'll accept that, then; he's...not altogether sure what to do with that latter part of what Bruce is saying, but it draws a smile out of him anyway.]

It's a bit of a shame that I don't have Caren's, but I'll work with what I have. Of course, she probably wouldn't have wanted me touching hers, anyway.

[He and Caren made no secret of the fact that they didn't really like each other, after all.]

[amygdalae]

It's only fair after all the times you helped everyone else.

[He gives a small smile and gently pries away whatever Cherryblod is holding, then attempts to direct him somewhere to sit down and take that break that he clearly needs.]

sewing room

[wokeupdead]

[Of course Lynne will peek at what he's working on without asking. What are manners? She just doesn't know.]

That's a really nice idea. Are you going to put them somewhere special?

[She can at least tell that they're supposed to be the dead. Maybe not the bear part perfectly on the two flat pearlbears though.]

[happysweets]

It doesn't have any alcohol in it, though! So you can't get drunk on it or anything.

[ One wonders what the point is, then. ]

Fueled up, huh? Are you going to be doing a patrol?

[cherryblooded]

[Alright, alright. He has a seat at one of the dining hall's tables.]

I'm really alright, you know.

[wokeupdead]

[And that fact makes her screw up her face. Don't remind her...]

I got something like that from the vending machine before. I've never tasted wine that was so gross.

[She will swear off all vending machine alcohol, thanks.]

...Maybe not tonight. Everyone will probably be locked up or sleeping but I went to bed hungry last week and it ended with those weird dreams so I don't want a repeat.

[obviously the food was the problem.]

[penduli]

Yeah. [ no accidents here! ] Sort of like a memory thing, I guess? Not that I think we'd forget them that easily, but...

[ ...he hums, not really sure where to go after that, though he manages to remember something Misa said and chuckles softly. ]

Besides, if ghosts do exist, they'll have something to possess that aren't pens.

[amygdalae]

Me neither. And to think it was the two of them...

[Caren and Pearl. He didn't know both of them well, but they hadn't seemed like the type to go at anybody's throat at all. There's no telling what really happened now, though.]

[happysweets]

Ohhh! Well, we didn't exactly make much dinner anyway. Just brownies and stuff! I know you shouldn't have too much sugar before bed, so...

[ Hm. That's curious! ]

Hopefully we don't have any weird dreams again, but, Misa-Misa just assumed it was from all the stress and everything? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[happysweets]

...I didn't think Caren would do something like that. Sure, she was a bit on the grumpy side, but...Misa-Misa knew she was really sad.

I wanted to cheer her up, but...I didn't think it was so bad that she'd go and do something like this. To kill someone like that...

[ The idea of it is making her get pretty upset, clearly. ...More than upset. Even a bit angry. ]