trusthell | pageant of the bizarre

[Throughout the late afternoon and early evening, Stan seems to have put a surprising amount of effort into setting up the dining hall. It's not usually something he would do without any kind of potential gain, but hell - there's not a whole lot else to do here. And really, if he hangs up some of the ribbons from the sewing room, well, it's not like anybody was using them. He knows how to decorate for parties.

There is a conspicuous lack of glitter in any of the decorations, though. Too soon.

The only dish currently set out is a pan of cinnamon noodle kugel. It's a potluck, bring your own shit! He has bothered to make some punch, at least, as well as bringing down some booze from the bar. Maybe alcohol on Murder Night isn't the best idea, but he'll keep an eye out for anyone who decides to indulge. He'd have to anyway. Apparently passing out in the dining hall will end in explosions.

Speaking of rude and arbitrary rules: off to the side, there's a table labeled KINGMAKERS. There's only one piece of paper there now, a well-done drawing of what looks like a young, ostentatiously emo Mitt Romney. It's obviously Stan's, since he got here first, but he hasn't bothered to sign it; apparently you can submit anonymously or not, however you feel like. As long as we're all participating in the public mockery!]

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[... True... But he could be putting on a brave face.]

It's got the best view in all of Dalsnes.

[It's in that voice that begins one of her stories, and she sets the lie burger aside as she leans back against the table with a small, wistful smile. It's been a while since she was home after all.]

The sky is impressive enough, and you'll probably be looking at it so much your neck'll get bent out of shape, but it's pretty much the same scene on the ground. The streets are always lit until sun up, so even when the rest of the houses are dark there's plenty of light to be found down there. We keep some fire by the shores too, just in case there's a sea beast that needs to be taken care of.

... Even in the daytime it's nice, though. I'm sure it's nothing compared to the place you're used to in Hotland, [she knows that she's not the most technologically advanced person here, okay, fanciness aside,] but it's really warm? It's kind of weird to describe it like that, it looks warm even when it's chilly.

And you can see the sea better in the day time. You'll be seeing all the boats that come in and out of the harbor, not just from ventures to hunt beasts but from farther off with people who'd like to join up with us.

[She pauses there, waving her hand a little sheepishly.]

But you'll be seeing all that yourself, I guess, there's no real reason to talk about it...

[He'll just kind of take that in for a moment; he's quiet, just kind of thinking, eyes closed partially until she breaks off.]

No, no - don't. I like hearing you talk about it.

[Well, doesn't that just tickle her pink.]

I think you just like hearing me talk.

[Which is good, because she likes hearing herself talk, and she gets comfortable.]

Give me a place to start and I'll tell you all about it, honey. Otherwise I have noooo idea where to begin.

Tell me about your favorite place to be there. I'm curious.

As much as you want, I'm not going to stop you. After all, you're right that I like hearing you talk.

And who wouldn't? Except the Kingmaker, I guess, he called me an annoyance once.

[And she's oddly proud of that.]

But anyway, my favorite place, huh... That's a pretty good question.

There's the mess hall where we eat, since it's crammed full of people, loud and comfortable and honestly the direct opposite of this place. I sit at the second highest table in the room because I'm a captain, on the top level is my mom and dad and the rest of the generals, and on the bottom level is the rest of the soldiers. There's no refugees or civilians in Dalsnes unless they're training with us.

... The docks are pretty nice too. I had a lot of nicer ideas of what seafaring was like when I was younger, but when I got on board -- well, I mean, it was great, it's pretty much in my blood to find fun at sea, but if the sea beasts are too big we end up just dragging them onto shore and let them die there. The easy way. There's no honor in not cutting your foes down [which is why she's okay with the pit tbh] which is why I like being out on land instead.

[She crosses her legs, humming thoughtfully.]

The streets are nice, the infirmary's nice, the sparring circle's really fun too...

-- Oh, I know! It's definitely the mountain! [look at those feet go] I like climbing up there, just me and a rock face, and whatever gets in my way is pretty damn easy pickings. There's not a lot of things up there that can grow any bigger than my head.

I mean, it is dangerous to be up there at night time, just like any place outside the settlement, since a swarm of the little bastards can really mess you up, but it's also really rewarding too? You can practically touch the sky! The world's got no limits when you're up there, every horizon stretching on and on and on, but best of all? Dalsnes looks so small! And so does every worry I might have going up! It's a great place to clear my head and kick some ass if I need to.

[... It should go without saying that she's taking Mettaton to the summit one day.]

[That's good, really, because it's the description of the summit that catches his attention - both because of the idea itself just being one that appeals to him (who in the Underground hasn't wondered what Mt. Ebott looks like from the other side?) and also because she just seems so damn excited about it.]

You know I'd love to see it, sweetheart - it sounds beautiful, for one thing.

For another, it sounds like it's important to you.

[He shrugs after that's out there, though he still seems pleased with the entire idea of it.]

Really, though. The entire thing sounds wonderful - though I think you were right, I'm going to be staring at the sky so much it's going to be hard to get me to stop for a while. People talk about missing the sun sometimes, while they're in here - I've never seen it, and I am looking forward to it, but I'm guessing it must be pretty great if it's worth missing like that.

[Important to her... Yeah, it is. It's a nice place anyway.]

It's warm.

[That's how she'll start off, anyway, trying to figure out how to describe what's so great about a ball of fire in the sky.

... I mean, that is the awesome part of it, but still.]

Your soul reminds me of it, honestly? It's bright and warm and comforting, though it's a ball of pure fire that's kind of just sitting there in the blue sky! Isn't that cool?! And it's yellow instead of white. But people miss it because even if you're having a really shitty day, if the weather's nice and the sun's out, it's hard not to be cheered even a little.

You can't look directly into it though. Well, I can't, but I'm sure it can't be too good for you either. It'd supposed to burn your eyes out of your sockets.

Really. Well, that's definitely something we don't really hear about in the Underground. The eye-searing part, I mean.

[That's so awesome.]

But if my soul reminds you of something like that, then it looks like I'm doing something right.

You do a lot of things right, sweetheart! I mean, you don't do everything right, but who does? You do enough right.

[Compliments with the viking.]

Normally I'd argue with you on that second point, but I'll let it slide for now.

[...Thanks, Captain Ego.]

[What a charmer.]

Then I'll let your list of wrongs slide away for now, too. And besides! There's something even more important about you than any of that.

Well, you can't just say that and not expect me to ask.

I have a time and place to tell you, sweetheart. It's not here.

[sorry]

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