pick a god and pray

[garudynamic]

[Like the weeks before, once everyone has wandered off their separate ways, notes are posted to each room that still has a warm body in it. Only this time the writing is much messier then any other notice]

None of us feel like celebrating, but I think Yato would approve if we don't spend the night hiding out because of him
There's warmed up food in the Game Room if you're hungry. Might be best to not be alone tonight.

-Yosuke

[And as promised there's leftovers in the Game Room; and eventually fresh stuff as Tarrlok gets to work in the kitchen. Yosuke is there, trying to set something up on one of the shelves, but otherwise you are left to your own devices]

Comments

[penduli]

[ It's about time Cherryblod got fussed over, anyway. Black sets a plate of spring rolls beside him, taking a seat across from him a moment later. ]

...Are you okay, Mr. Cherryblod? [ He seems out of it--well, everyone usually does after things like these, he's sure, but... he hasn't seen him like this before. ]

[cherryblooded]

Fine, really. Sorry to worry you.

[....He will take one of those spring rolls, though.]

[penduli]

[ Good. Eat properly. ]

Don't apologize. [ He's a huge worrywart, and... he likes Cherryblod, of course he'd worry about him. ] ...I didn't think you were capable of it, but you were actually pretty scary-looking near the end there, with Yato. It lends some credit to your past as a hooligan.

[cherryblooded]

Oh, really?

[Ahaha. Ha.]

I try not to be, most of the time.

[penduli]

I'd be the same way, if... well, I don't think anyone here finds me intimidating, and I don't even have that impressive of a track record as a kid. [ He was the bullied, not the bully. ] I'd probably come off as a dog with a Napoleon complex.

[ ...but this isn't going to be about him, this is going to be about Cherryblod. ]

You were going to have a talk with Mettaton, right? [ He remembers hearing that. ] How'd that go?

[cherryblooded]

It could have gone worse, but... not well.

[He sighs heavily.]

Should just ground him, really. Do you think that would keep him from doing something like this again?

[penduli]

Probably not. You can't get much grounded than "you're trapped in a vault with twenty-three other people," unless you took his phone or something though... but then he wouldn't be able to get back into his room.

[ ...wait. ]

Twenty-one people, not twenty-three.

[ They're down two. ]

[cherryblooded]

[The number change doesn't get much more than a frown in an acknowledgement.

They're dropping so quickly.]

He could stay in my room. Makes for a good alibi if nothing else.

[penduli]

He'd probably hate you if you made him do that though. [ ... ] I think my sister might hate me for the same thing.

[ ...he's not fixing that particular situation because it's just better if she stays grounded but uh-- ]

I'm not going to defend Mettaton for offering himself up as a sacrifice if nobody stepped up to kill someone, but... it was his choice. And yes, it was pretty inconsiderate of him to spring that on everyone [ just like it was kind of inconsiderate of Bruce to do the same ] but still. His life, his choice. Even if you don't like it, you have to respect it. Even if it hurts.

[ Even if you're kind of low-key salty about it three years later because you miss your parents but what can you do, it was for the good of everyone, and Casters pay with their life for that kind of stuff. ]

[cherryblooded]

I know. I know. It's not my place to decide for him.

But I wish he wouldn't treat it so... lightly. Like it doesn't even matter that he almost died. Like it would have been a relief if he'd been the one to die instead of the rest of us.

Can I at least ask for that much?

[penduli]

[ Wouldn't it have been? ...Black can't address that part of this conversation, he's the one who feels relieved every time someone dies and it isn't him.

That's not really the best emotional response to have to anything. ]

You can. [ ...ah. ] Is that why your talk didn't go well?

[cherryblooded]

Part of the reason. I know it's in his nature, but it's just -

If this happens again, and I know he won't act any differently, what am I supposed to do? I can't just let him die. Even if he does hate me for doing the same thing, I...

[He'd throw his own name in just for a chance that Mettaton might survive, is what he means.]

[penduli]

[ That's strong, and to be honest, Black's probably the last person Cherryblod should talk to this about because his solution for keeping his sister safe was "lock her in a hospital for three years and never let her go outside or have friends or anything like that because he was scared he'd lose her just like he lost everything else."

Also, he really, really wants to live; he'd be upset if people kept dying, but if it's not him, it's... better. Guilty, but better. ]

Sacrificing yourself won't ensure that he survives though--it won't do that for any of us. [ Every week so far there's been a murder; that could keep being a thing. ] You're better alive, and so is he.

[cherryblooded]

[Black, what are you even doing??]

I know.

...Ugh. Hate feeling this powerless.

[There's really nothing he can do, is there. Just wait and see, like he's been saying this whole time.]

[penduli]

[ PROTECTING HIS SISTER. ...LOOK, I KNOW IT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A VERY WELL-THOUGHT OUT PLAN, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'D BE RIGHT. IT ISN'T. BUT IT'S HIS. ]

...you should at least make amends with him. [ If it didn't go well, Black's assuming it... did not go well, jesus. ] You're both going to be miserable if you wait for the other to say something first. With the way Mettaton is [ self-centered as fuck ] I doubt he'd be the first to step up to patch things up, so it's probably up to you.

[cherryblooded]

You're right. But I think I'll give it at least a bit of time, so we can both cool down some.

[Well it could have gone worse, but no, it didn't go well.]

[penduli]

That sounds like a good idea. [ He did it. He handled this conversation without sticking his foot in his mouth.

#character development. ] I'd suggest bringing him food to help tide the amends over, but he doesn't eat, so that'd be pretty pointless.

[cherryblooded]

Maybe I'll play him something. But I'm still pretty bad at the ukelele, despite his instruction.

[Also, he was planning to die when he was teaching Cherryblod that, and that kind of stings.]

[penduli]

[ That's sort of an adorable mental image, thanks Cherryblod. ]

Why not sing instead? Unless you're not any good at it.

[cherryblooded]

Average at best, I'm afraid.

[penduli]

[ There goes his fantasies of everything under the sea being able to sing in sweet baritone. ]

I'm sure he'd find it charming anyway. You two are pretty close.

[cherryblooded]

[Trustfell 3: Kingmaker's Beginning, also a musical!]

I like to think so, anyway.

[penduli]

[ You have to sing your confession, true villain-song style. ]

You two wouldn't be having a fight if you weren't.

[cherryblooded]

[Currently calling Tim Curry for Kingmaker.]

No, I suppose not. Wouldn't be worth fighting over.

[penduli]

[ Perfect casting. ]

Yeah, so sing him the song of your people... or, well, one you really like, at least.