we're all living under loaded gun

[amygdalae]

[Every week was bad, but this one? This one most likely has hit them all the hardest.

All well, almost all of them. Bruce certainly can't speak for everyone here... not that there's a lot of them left now.

Anyway.

Working with Speedwagon in the kitchen the two of them whip up a decent, simple fare of food just so that their stomachs won't go empty - Bruce knows that a lot of them won't have much of an appetite at all after what happened, and he can't blame them. He doesn't have much of one himself even after the food is done.

Once everything is set up in the dining hall a couple of hours later after everything that happened downstairs Bruce goes around to slip a notice to every body's room. (Everyone that is still alive, that is.)]

I know what happened was hard to take in. I feel the same as well.
If you wish to be alone I understand, but if you need company, or somebody to talk to... there is food in the dining hall made by Speedwagon and I.

I sincerely hope to see you there.

- B. Banner

[For Sigrun and Cherryblod respectively, he'll have the note along with a plate of some food from the gathering by their door.

As mentioned earlier, there's a small fare of simple, light food and snacks for everyone to eat if they have the stomach for it. For better or for worse there's alcohol too, although Bruce certainly isn't going anywhere near it. But if anybody needs that drink after what happened, he can't blame them for the need for it, either.]

Comments

[garudynamic]

[Seeing Speedwagon, Yosuke sits next to him, peering at the locket.]

Spot any secrets?

[sleepingkogoro]

I'm sure you must have said that at some point. It does sound like someting you'd say.

[Mouri prides on having a relatively sharp memory, but he doesn't remember that detail. Huh]

So...now what? What will you do?

[It's somewhat obvious Mouri doesn't mean what Cherryblod will do right now at the afterparty]

[cherryblooded]

...Yosuke's still here, and I can't give in until I have the Kingmaker's head.

[He can't give up and fall completely into despair for those two reasons.]

But... I'll be mourning for a long time. I hope not to get in your way.

[sleepingkogoro]

You won't get in anyone's way, don't worry about that. Even if you did nobody would be angry with you.

Hanamura-kun seemed to be affected by what happened during the trial. In a way I think he saved us all.

[Yosuke gives himself less credit than he deserves. Mouri hopes he'll be okay]

[cherryblooded]

I'll look out for him.

[More than usual, he means.

After all, Yosuke is probably his only family left in this or any world. So he has to.]

[sleepingkogoro]

He'll do the same to you, you know. Maybe Mettaton-kun won't be here anymore, but Hanamura-kun will do his best.

I'm not in a position to give you orders or anything like that, but even though you may be hurting don't be afraid of getting close to Hanamura-kun. It would do you well to have someone like him supporting you.

[cherryblooded]

...Thank you, detective. I'll try my best.

[And if Yosuke dies next...

Well. Then they'll see what will happen.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce at least doesn't keep the hug going for long - soon enough he pulls back, and tries to give a smile which doesn't quite work out.]

You don't need to apologize. You or captain Eide.

[Mettaton did this knowing exactly what would happen. It's neither of their faults for doing what they did.]

[cherryblooded]

...She'll have it even worse than I do, I'm sure.

[Cherryblod was able to put personal feelings to the side, sort of. More like halfway shunted out of the way and creeping back in at inopportune moments.

Sigrun wasn't able to do that.]

[pokexplorer]

It is possible that it is too soon to tell. And when it is...I suppose that is something only you can decide. I am afraid I cannot say much on the matter.

[It might've been easier to tell if the level of betrayal Cherryblod just faced wasn't so high. Even Colress is still trying to process everything that happened, and he was nowhere near as close to Mettaton.

It was all just so...unfathomably awful.]

[cherryblooded]

No, I know. I'm not asking that.

I just... I don't know.

[He wants to go back to his room and hide, but he knows that won't help. Instead he stares down at his food.

Not much of an appetite tonight.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce was only more successful if only because it was Aqua's death that was motivating him. Even though he liked Mettaton, too, but he couldn't just let Aqua's death slide. Not like what he had to do with King.]

Losing somebody who had been so close to you... [Bruce hadn't really realized how close they were until then, honestly, but now... he supposes it doesn't matter.] It never gets easier, despite whatever circumstances.

[Speaking, of course, from experience.]

[cherryblooded]

It doesn't.

[He might be in the same position with Doloz. He might not. The uncertainty is the worst part.]

[amygdalae]

[...yeah, probably a bad line of conversation. But again: Bruce has never been good in these things.]

...I don't want to keep you. I'm sure you must be tired.

[cherryblooded]

Not so tired I'll fall asleep, but... if you want to fuss over the others, you should.

[isafraid]

I'd like to think that.

[too bad he can't]

[cherryblooded]

Really. Just... give me some time.

[Like decades, maybe.]

[amygdalae]

I probably won't do it as well as you can, but I'll try my best.

[cherryblooded]

You'll do better than I could right now, and that's what's important.

[isafraid]

[Come and join the party, Yosuke. We're all smiles and fun times here.

He gives Yosuke a quick look at the interior, and the gear design.]

Just trying to fathom what this design could mean. Have to admit, I'm rather stuck.

[isafraid]

[Seeing as the party was just starting to drain out, it looks like maybe the whole idea was as good a cause as he hoped.

His gaze levels with Bruce, flickering briefly to the snacks and tea.]

You're quite welcome, doctor. [He says with an automatic smile. He'll take... the tea, at least.] Someone has to keep these parties happening.

[isafraid]

Time is one thing we do have.

[At least until things get worse. But that's simply not possible is it.]

[cherryblooded]

[Don't jinx it.]

I'll see you tomorrow then, I suppose.

[isafraid]

You can be certain of that.

[He'll be sure to check up on him.]

[penduli]

[ ...this is worse than his sister's simple break-ups. ]

That's why I'm not interested in dating while I'm here, Miss Sigrun. [ It's horrible of him, but there's the small thought of I knew I was right with regards to his conversation with Yosuke a few weeks ago that makes rounds in his head, right up there with What can I do?

There's not much he can do, he knows, except hear her out and not be an asshole. ] I... got told once that you need to get your happinesses while you can. I think it's good you managed that, and that you gave Mettaton the same in return, even if it hurt and it's going to keep hurting for a while longer. It isn't to lose someone important to you.

[ As he knows, as she knows, as Cherryblod knows, as... a lot of people know now, really. ]