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

[prismbloom]

[ ...? ]

You're welcome, Mettaton. But why thank me?

[prismbloom]

That would be wonderful. Just don't make them too pretty to eat.

[goodforsomething]

Yeeeeah, sounds like somethin' he'd say. Stubborn kid.

[He sounds fond.]

[goodforsomething]

Who said that? I'm just sayin' I can't be doin' stuff like that. Maybe if you'd met me forty years ago...

[goodforsomething]

Well, lemme think...

...okay, when we were about twelve, I guess, me and this other kid were messin' around down on the beach. There's a lotta junk down there, old boats and netting and stuff. We found this abandoned little dinghy and decided we were gonna fix it up and sail off on a treasure hunt!

[uro_cyon]

[ He just smirks.]

Guess you don't like the Kingmaker either then?

[prismbloom]

But you care very much about him.

[notjustawriter]

[Well, Gabriel is pretty annoying, himself....]

You never know when he might get frustrated and slip up.

[notjustawriter]

Yellow.

[Isn't that something.]

Thanks for telling me.

[goodforsomething]

Does anyone?

[goodforsomething]

It could happen! Or he'll just quit answerin', but that'd kinda defeat the purpose of bein' able to call anytime.

[notjustawriter]

He'd probably find that pretty difficult, if we never stop calling 'im, right?

[goodforsomething]

We oughta do it in shifts. Keep wakin' him up in the middle of the night!

[ratingspoint]

It's best to not do this sort of thing alone, isn't it?

[uro_cyon]

I hope not. But people trust him enough to murder for him.

[captainobnoxious]

Awww, are you embarrassed?

[It's only going to make her hug him more, you know. Right now. More hugs.]

You shouldn't be! It's just a hug, you know! [though, like, when she lets go she's slapping him pretty hard on the back] You should take them when you get them! 'Cause I'm not giving them out, that was your one time thing unless you ask for another.

[... yea]

[captainobnoxious]

I think he's making stuff up. Have any of us even seen the things he talks about before? He's got like, a billion of those monsters "where he's from" [look at that mocking tone] but he just so happens not to have any of them here? Yeah, right! He's just trying to make us look like fools!

[captainobnoxious]

What are they? Like, monster-wise. Golems?

[are they fuzzy. maybe they're cat-like, cats are sweet and good people.]

[captainobnoxious]

[is it any surprise she's named after this great-grandmother of hers]

I've pretty much asked him everything I've been giving away at the meetings. The only things I haven't mentioned is the fact he won't give us a picture of what it's like outside and that the alarms aren't changeable. The rest's fair game.

[captainobnoxious]

For most. What's your problem?

[amygdalae]

That works. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[garudynamic]

Oh, sure. That's a good idea, actually.

[garudynamic]

As likely as anything else at this point.

[amygdalae]

[And Bruce, of course, is more than glad to fulfill her requests, bringing over whatever she requires and answering her inquiries to the best of his abilities. She's quieter, yes, but he doesn't pry and just stays as a constant presence, to let her know that he is here if she needs somebody to talk to.

When she does finally speak to him - in order to thank him - Bruce's only response is to smile and wave it off.]

It's nothing. I'm just glad you're alright.

[amygdalae]

Everyone has their own values and beliefs. That isn't going to change, despite the situation. [And it would be foolish to try and force anybody to change against their will - Bruce knows this well.]

Maybe we will find a better compromise, or perhaps we won't; what's more important is that we can all try our best to keep an open mind no matter what.

[To understand each other despite their differences... that's the real thing.]