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

[penduli]

You'd get smarter. [ Black looks up again, watching him a moment too long, before deciding no, we're not confronting this eye-to-eye. ] Not that you need it, after what you showed at the trial.

[ ...he hadn't taken his moment of genius well, but-- ]

It was really clever of you.

[garudynamic]

[He winces- normally he'd flush red at Black complimenting him, but... well this was different. Not that he regrets it of course, but still]

You know, about half way through all that I really thought I might have sent us all on a wild goose chase? Got us all killed.

[isafraid]

....Just being clear on it, 'H' wouldn't be connected to you in any fashion, would it?

[garudynamic]

Me?

[He blinks, then realization hits]

Oh! Cuz Ha-na-mur-ah, right?

[The way he drags out his name is a little awkward- like what he's saying isn't translating 100%]

Nope, nothing to do with me. It probably wouldn't be a letter if it was.

[isafraid]

Felt a bit like it was never going to end for a while there. [As though it was going on for hours...]

....Don't suppose I can ask why that is?

[penduli]

It wouldn't have been anything different than usual. [ Black fingers the edge of his book, then carefully marks his page and sets it aside; he scoots closer to Yosuke and pauses, uncertain—

before leaning against him. They've been closer at this point (an embarrassing thought), and this isn't going to kill either of them. ] I mean, Miss Sigrun does that every week, doesn't she? And every time someone calls for a strip search—Mr. Cherryblod had his theory last week with Misa that sounded way too out of this world, but he was right. He could've sent us on one then too, but he didn't.

And you didn't do it this time, either. Besides, Mettaton was making it really obvious that he was the culprit—he's never made such a big deal out of being suspected before, and he was leading us around by our noses until we had the right questions or accusations.

[ ...like Cherryblod and Sigrun had had. ]

It reminded me a lot of Yato, actually. [ Maybe it's just those types of people. ] ...what I'm trying to say is you shouldn't worry so much. Gut instincts are usually right, and if they're not... it isn't the end of the world. Someone'll figure something out something to counter your point, even if you do start running us in the wrong direction. No one wants to die here, not even me.

[garudynamic]

[He leans into the contact, eyes closed, absorbing the warmth.]

I know... we're not great at keeping things on track sometimes. [But he's right, Cherryblod last trial, bloodletting catching Kamui... he honestly wonders if Mettaton honestly didn't expect them to check the phones due to some weird sense of honor over all their privacy. Or that at least one other person would refuse to show. Guess there's no way to know now]

I guess I just feel... guilty?

[It's dumb- of course he's not guilty over helping save all their lives. And it wasn't like he was the only one pressing Mettaton. Bruce did, and one things started to roll down hill so did Cherry and Sigrun. It's idiotic and illogical to feel like he does.]

Have you seen Cherryblod? It's like... like we gutted him. Emptied him all out. How can I NOT feel like that's partly my fault?

[penduli]

[ She's lucky he's used to this now, really, because of how often she does it to him. ]

I'll think about it. [ It rings a little less hollow than he thinks it should, and maybe he really will think about it, but—things are still... it's still... ] I got to hold his hand on Sunday. It was nice. I almost asked him to stay the night with me, but I knew you'd be coming by, so I didn't.

[ ...that's so much, oh god. Leaps and bounds and he's still not sure if the guy likes him like that or not. ]

I... don't know if I'd regret not telling him if anything ever happened. [ Easy breathing. ] I might regret telling him more. That's why I haven't, really.

[captainobnoxious]

You two really didn't do anything, huh.

[She's amused, because the way Yosuke reacted said so much more, it was hilarious, but her mood becomes more subdued again.]

What makes you think you'd regret telling him more, though?

[penduli]

Miss Sigrun's the same way. I brought her back to her room, but... she was up in the workshop, and she'd been crying. I'm not surprised, but it's still... [ ...not something that he'd been prepared for.

It's not something he's sure he'd ever be prepared for. ]

It's something that had to be done. They know that. [ Even if it hurts and it sucks, for them. ] ...I don't feel guilty. I don't know if that's because I'm a little messed up [ he can't say he's not ] but... I'm mostly just mad. Or I was mad, I guess.

[ He's just... tired, now. Being mad is exhausting. He can be mad again tomorrow, but it's sort of hard to be with books around and with the night settling in. ]

[garudynamic]

Oh trust me, I'm pissed too. He knew this whole damn time. I just dunno if that's really sunk in yet.

...and you're not messed up. I mean, at least not too much.

[penduli]

[ ...he feels more and more pathetic every time he gets to say this. ]

I've never been good at making friends—so I never had a lot of them. Whatever ones I did have were usually just White's. It's different here, though. [ He wishes he had something other than the hem of his sweater to play with, but he doesn't. ] And... Yosuke's probably one of my best? That feels weird to say, because it's not like we've known each other that long, but I've told him things I haven't told anyone else.

[ Like—almost everything. And his name. And— ]

He's easy to talk to like that. [ A smile. ] And... I don't want to mess that up. Even if he was interested in guys—and he might be, or he might just be interested in the one guy he's besties with back in his world that's so incredible and wonderful—that doesn't mean he's going to be interested in me.

[ There. He said it. That's the portion he hasn't said to anyone else. ]

I like being his friend, Miss Sigrun. I'm happy being his friend. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be over the moon if it was anything more, but I don't want it to be anything less, so what we have now is fine. [ ...god, that's actually kind of painful to say? This is so bad for him. ]

[penduli]

That's very sweet, Yosuke, but you don't have to front.

[ He knows he's kind of messed up! And... being here probably isn't making that better, but hey. ]

I'm just not messed up enough to kill someone or run a murder game. [ ...that's the extreme end of messed up but regardless— ] Or to get close to someone knowing I might have to do something I'd regret to them if someone told me to.

[ ...Mettaton. ]

[captainobnoxious]

[... He has it baaad.]

Guess it's a little different than just me telling Mettaton we were dating, huh. Though... I didn't really get the whole weird feeling thing until after that. I think the first time might've been when he showed me his soul?

... No, maybe earlier than that. I told him he could stay with me before the whole dating thing because of what he told me and how much he seemed to like my world, so, maybe then... Or when I got mad at him for... I guess he wasn't sacrificing himself then, right? He was offering to kill someone then... Maybe that's when, since I got pretty wigged out at the thought...

[Juuuust a bit different, as much of a tangent as it trailed off onto. She'll decrease her tilt, but there's still the contact.]

That's fine, though. About you and Yosuke, I mean. If anyone has to step forward it'd have to be him, right? So just bide your time. Who knows, maybe something'll come out of it if you're patient.

[... Such a different opinion, huh.]

[isafraid]

Right, things of that sort. You're the only one here with that letter in your name. [In... English at least? He doesn't know Japanese...]

That's good to hear. What would it be then, if you mind me asking?

[garudynamic]

Well... I guess I'm kinda biased.

[He wouldn't have argued with Black so often if he didn't think his thought processes and emotional... everything... was wrong sometimes. He was just willing to over look it.

Something about the last thing Black says make him make a small noise. Kinda sad, kinda noncommittal. It is what it is]

[penduli]

[ ...such a different opinion. ]

I don't think he will. [ It's a hunch, and one he's torn on—does he want to be right, or does he want to be proven wrong? Both options give him an aching heart. ...he has it so bad. He wants to die.

This isn't what he planned on at all. ] You should eat a little, Miss Sigrun. Mr. Banner made it for you and everything. [ a beat. ] I got you the alcohol, though.

[captainobnoxious]

I'm not hungry.

[Automatic response, and she hesitates a moment before taking the gin.]

I have plenty of food back in my room if I get hungry though. Sometime.

[Ever, her tone leaves unspoken.]

... But I'll thank him for the thought later. Thanks to you, too.

[penduli]

[ ...he gets the feeling, on the not-hungry thing. ]

I was worried about you. [ ...he's gonna grab her plate then and hold out his free hand to her. ] Speaking of your room—let me escort you back? Everyone's in the dining hall, pretty much, so no one'll be stopping us on the way, and I'd really rather keep you around and not... around the way Taichi was when he fell asleep or passed out in the game room.

[captainobnoxious]

[...

Not a single part of her wants to pass through that hall. But she'll take his hand after a moment, stuffing the gin away so she can heave up Woodaton to carry it with them.]

Can we take the long way around? Not the straight shot to my room.

[Where it passes by Mettaton's room. She can't avoid going near Aqua's, since the girl had stayed in the room right in front of her, but... it's good enough.]

[penduli]

[ Black makes a noncommittal noise to that too—he really shouldn't be biased, it only clouds judgment, but it's not like he's in any position to say any of that. He's biased towards a few people here, too.

...for better or for worse. With the way his stomach is sinking, probably for the worst. It's not like he's living for his sister anymore though, not with her gone and... Black gently tugs another book over to him with his foot, bending forward just enough to pick it up before he goes back to leaning against Yosuke.

He doesn't really want to think about this. Time to think about something else instead. ]

Have you ever thought about what our titles mean? [ ...yes this is a very sudden change in conversation, just go with it while he tries to focus on reading and fails at it. ] Most of them are adjectives, but there's a couple of nouns and verbs too.

[penduli]

[ Because it passes by Mettaton's room.

...she's really taking that project with her, isn't it heavy—it's Sigrun, it doesn't matter if it's heavy or not. ]

I don't mind. [ Either way he's backtracking. ] If anyone tries to talk to you, I'll glare at them and send them running. Just like I did with all the boys that broke White's heart.



[ okay, well, you can guess how well that actually worked ]

[garudynamic]

[He'll allow the out, no reason to make things deeper then they already were tonight]

Yeah, a little. Most of them fit really obviously... some though, I really don't know. Like, I've just assumed yours has something to do with your job or something like that.

If I had to guess I'd bet mine has to do with my Persona. I use wind, and Jiraiya's upgraded form is a storm god so...

[captainobnoxious]

[That gets a laugh, yeah.]

Oh, I'm sure they all went running, honey. How many of them dared to break your sweet sister's heart anyway?

[penduli]

[ You don't believe him at all, do you..!! That's fine, he's here to make her laugh. ]

Not that many. She broke more hearts, I think. [ A thoughtful hum while he gently pulls her down the hall and the stairs... ] She called me a heartbreaker once though. Can you imagine?