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

[garudynamic]

I know.

[He was the last to talk to Caren. She was in his arms, the side of his clothing is still slightly damp. He can't forget it]

But more... the details? Stuff we might be able to use later. something.

[amygdalae]

[Ah. That's understandable. Bruce gives a nod, an almost sad smile on his face.]

What have you got so far, then?

[He'll try to help however he can.]

[garudynamic]

Not a lot.

[He pushes his notebook over. It's a passable diagram of the court room and the... arena? The space under it. As well as a doodle of the weapon Pearl had produced.]

It was so dark. The lighting made it so hard to see anything in the rest of the space.

[amygdalae]

Not to mention how far we were from it, too.

[He picks up the notebook and glances at the diagrams, taking a moment before he takes Yosuke's pen and adds a few more annotations that Yosuke can see when Bruce passes it back to him - specifically arrows pointing at the areas where Caren, Pearl, Zagi and Kamui's podiums would be.]

I do wonder why they all seem to come out at these particular areas. [It's an odd thing to dwell on but it nags at him for some reason.]

[garudynamic]

I was right at Caren's podium too. I didn't see anything like a lift... but honestly I wasn't looking for one either.

[amygdalae]

The general lack of light doesn't really help us much.

[Although he wonders if that is all intentional in the first place... that entire room is rather specifically designed, after all.]

[garudynamic]

It kinda gave an atmosphere, huh?

[amygdalae]

This entire place has quite an atmosphere.

[One of death.]

[garudynamic]

[He laughs- it's not a very happy sound, but it's something]

Yeah. Like it's built just to drive us all crazy.

[amygdalae]

Considering everything we've been through so far, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the general idea.

[garudynamic]

Add in us seeing the dead come back... it all kinda folds into this 'taking responsibility' thing. Like he wants us to kill then judges us for it? It makes no sen-

[He pauses, head tilting, eyes wide.]

Wait... we agree, that was a fake Pearl, right?

[amygdalae]

I think it's fairly established at this point.

[Her real body wasn't ever a real thing, after all. It was just the gem - and that gem had been with them the whole way.]

[garudynamic]

Then if the Kingmaker can make doubles of us... and knows pretty much everything about us...

Couldn't he make fake versions of our loved ones too?

[amygdalae]

[Now that Yosuke has mentioned it--ah. It's... well. Bruce can admit that he didn't think about that.]

Then maybe... [He starts and quickly trails off, a twist in his expression. Perhaps... the incentive was just one huge lie in the end? It's certainly not a comforting thought, and it probably shows on Bruce's face.]

[garudynamic]

...shit. Sorry.

[He doesn't have to explain why he's sorry. Now that the idea is out the hope, as poison as if was, wants to dry up in his chest. If there was no way to save people...]

[amygdalae]

No--it's alright.

[Bruce takes a second and recomposes himself, forcing out a small smile to hopefully reassure Yosuke.]

It's a perfectly valid idea, considering what we've seen thus far. [And honestly, if that is the truth, Bruce can't say he would be too surprised now. He's been living in a lie of his own for a long time already, after all.]

[garudynamic]

...it doesn't counter the idea that he's lying about our worlds being gone.

[amygdalae]

But it doesn't support it either.

[Making fakes is easy after all - and its not like it matters if the original is still out there or not. What matters is what they believe.]

[garudynamic]

Yeah.

[He doesn't really have an argument. But the lack of information is all some of them are holding onto right now]

[amygdalae]

[It's... well, there's certainly an irony to it.]

Don't dwell on it too much, as much as we all like to. It hurts, but we'll have to do our best to keep going.