trusthell | do it for love

do it for love

[ Every week is the same song and dance, but it never really gets easier, or works, or ever seems like it’s going to stop.

There will be time for everyone to rest before Black comes knocking on their doors (a moot point, given the soundproofedness of them) and slipping a note beneath them. He needed the respite too, and they needed to prepare food, and… he still thinks it’s a little weird to have a party after a trial, but he’s starting to really understand why it’s not a bad idea, either. ]

[Name],

Misa would’ve wanted us to keep a smile on our faces, or at least put a smile somewhere. There’s a pancake bar up in the chapel, if you’d like to come by and make a few happen. If you don't want to come, that's fine, too. The offer's open all night.

Ever yours,
Black

[ …the ending is something he’s never quite shaken, unfortunately.

Those that make their way up to the chapel will, indeed, find a pancake bar, courtesy of Yosuke and Stan (because Black never feels that hungry after trials and someone needs to stress bake here). That is, there are pancakes! There are syrups, whipped cream, fruits, berries, candies, etc! Sprinkles! Hot chocolate, ice cream… everything you could want for your build-your-own-pancake masterpiece. It’s all set up on some tables shoved against the chapel’s walls.

…special Stancakes (or pancakes with a hint of Stan in them, aka some of his hair that might’ve gotten in there accidentally, whoops) are also available.

There’s also alcohol—dessert wines mostly, to pair with their overwhelming sugar bias, but there’s some ordinary stuff there too. Pancake bar.

The framed photos are where they’ve always been on the center area, along with their matching stuffed animals. …or most of them; some haven’t been made, some pictures haven’t been put up, you get the idea. ]

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[And the noise that gets out of him is quiet but assenting; it's a fair enough point, anyway.]

You don't have to stop just because I'm here, darling.

[You know, with the whole flute thing.]

Oh, no, I... I mean, I know I don't, because you'd probably like it anyway, but...

[How to... do this. Say this.

... This is taking too much of her mind right now, so she'll just gesture for him to take a seat.]

I'd feel bad if you weren't up front and center to enjoy it. There are just some songs you've got to be closer for, since they're softer. Flutes aren't much for the bloody stories I've sung with my lyre.

[...He gets it, okay. And he'll come over and join her easily enough.]

I'll listen to anything right now, sweetheart - flute-playing or otherwise.

[Well, since he's said that and he's so close now, that flute is not being played just yet because she's taking his hand instead.

... One, because she's still thankful it wasn't him on the ground, and two is because physical contact is the best thing she needs right now.]

I don't know why people keep putting faith in me when every week there's been someone else who's died. [She said it. She externalized it and now she has to deal with it.] I'm a fantastic leader, I'm the best for the job, but what's even the point of saying something like that when it's just going to happen again and again until there's no one left?

[And it's certainly going to happen again and again, in her mind. Humans are too wanting of freedom. She knows.]

[...You know what, right now he's totally fine with the contact, all right? It's one of those nights where everything is shit so this is sort of...good, maybe. He still doesn't really like the feelings aspect of it, but it's better than keeping it all in everybody's respective heads.

So he'll just kind of listen, and he's a little less manic and a little more steady for it, even if it takes him a moment to find something to say to that.]

They're putting faith in you to get us through this until it stops, sweetheart. You aren't failing any of us.

[Right to the heart of that. Failure. She scrunches her nose though, taking her hand away to lift the flute and pause.]

A leader's only as good as her people. [A clear note. Unlike her heart.] And if her people keep dying, she's not that good at all.

[A short tune. It's... oddly jovial. Definitely trying not to be, you know. The heavy thing this is. It really matches her more detached tone when she starts again.]

People die all the time no matter what you try to do, where I'm from. I know that and I've told you as many times as I have anyone else. You can do what you can and accept that it's just a fact that sometimes you won't be able to stop what's going on, and the things you can stop you do. [She takes in a breath... but lets it out without playing anything, shaking her head.]

But the thing is, there are things you can stop here, and... it just doesn't work. So. I'm stuck there. Failing or not, you've gotta admit, this is not working out in our favor.

[He's quiet for a moment at that. Thinking.]

Sometimes you have to know when to walk away from something. When you need to cut your losses and accept that everyone is going to die, and if that's the case then you need to make sure that you don't.

[And that's...sudden, but it doesn't seem rash. More like something he's thought a bit too much about.]

There's a way to win this game easily, you know. I'm sure you've seen it.

And I'm not doing that, Mettaton.

[That is harsh sounding. A definite reprimand.]

Just because their faith's misplaced right now doesn't mean I can betray them like that just to save my own skin. That's not how it works and that's not how I work. Even if I can't save them all, there's no point in damning them either.

[... Sorry, it's the orange soul firing in her. She's fearful of another failure to save someone, but she's going to continue on so she can save everyone else.]

If that's what you want to do, sweetheart.

[He shrugs a bit at that. Noncommittal.]

Just because it's not how you work, though, doesn't mean that isn't how it works overall.

[The noncommittalness of it bothers her a little, but not enough that she'll bring it up. It's not something she really wants to talk about anyway.]

... Yeah, I know. I've just never liked the easy way. No honor in it.

[Sigrun glances at him, then back to the flute, cracking a little grin. It's mostly forced.]

I know you said you'd listen to anything, but I'll bet this is not what you had in mind. Sorry to be a downer.

Really. No more than anything anything else has been tonight.

[god, doesn't everything about tonight just suck.]

I'll be fine tomorrow, anyway. It's just been a rough evening, that's all.

[Tonight just blows.]

I'll be fine tomorrow too. [Or she'll have to be, anyway.] I just haven't felt like this since... well, that's not a story I'd like to get into tonight, so I'll save it.

More importantly, you were really cute when Misa told you to kiss me already.

[avoiding feelings is so fun when you can replace them with teasing]

Oh, said like you weren't.

[...basically yes]

[The hardest, if loving, punch Mettaton. Ow.]

Oh, shut up! I was not expecting her just to say that in front of everyone!

[Sigrun, you announced at the trial that you two were dating just before that. Please. If it wasn't obvious then it's obvious now.]

It caught me off guard, that's all.

[Well, that might get a weird noise out of him, but thanks...?]

I wish I could say I was all that surprised, personally.

[Don't... What was that.]

Of... all the things to say though. [...

She's gonna punch him again?]

[...That. That is really nice judging by the other fucking noise, uh.]

Enjoying yourself, or...

Maybe? I'm not entirely sure, but it sounds like you are.

[Her robot boyfriend is into this?]

Are you going to make those noises when we spar too?

[...]

Yes!

[This is gonna be awesome for at least one of us!]

[.......]

Okay. I guess this really answers my question about if you feel things though.

[Does... Does a constant knocking do the same thing to him? Is this what it means to knock him up?]

I am so not telling Misa about this.

[...ARE YOU ACTUALLY DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT actually feels really nice in a really weird sort of way?

like a really unsatisfying way too, but it's a good sort of unsatisfying

...jesus christ actually do something or don't do anything good lord- ]

I'd hope not!

[Rat-a-tat-tat. With the flute!]

Whip, bullets, or wooden sword?

You know, I have entirely too many whips and wooden swords that I wouldn't mind working that out with.

[Sigrun's not sure if she should feel embarrassed or what but she sure is feeling something.

also she's just gonna shove him oh my god??? forget hitting on you just go away with your.... whatever this is]

I can't believe you're so into this, holy shit. Maybe I should have squeezed your soul when I had the chance.

...You know, I mentioned the possibility to someone once? Because really. It occurred to me that if anyone would be tempted to squeeze it, it would be you.

[...]

It also occurred to me that I didn't know if that would be a good time or not, but I'm curious as hell.

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