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]

[ ...Sigrun's not in her room, and her plate is still there, so he picks that up and—after a very quick stop at the chapel to set Misa's lamb by her picture and murmur a small prayer, Black sets out to find her.

Music room—nope, of course not, who the fuck is going to be there. Workshop? Work—ah, there she is. ]

Miss Sigrun?



[ And after he's spent some time with Sigrun (and dropped off her plate of food and a solid bottle of gin, whether she wants either of them or not), Black'll wander back downstairs. He peeks into the dining hall, considering it, then turns on his heel and goes to the library instead.

He's not hungry—he rarely ever is—and he's not trying tonight. Tonight is a time to get lost in fiction and slowly set books aside in piles like he'd done the first week. He won't say no to company, but... he's not particularly seeking it out. He's not really sure anyone is. ]

[captainobnoxious]

[It'd been the first place she came to do... something, though that something has mostly been staring at the project she'd been working on all week until Black calls her. Her head snaps over and her eyes are still noticeable puffed and red, every sign points that she's been crying, and she doesn't even have the energy to force a smile.

Just... turns back to the Mettaton she'd been working on, fingers tracing the grooves she'd so carefully etched and the section that opens up. The only reason it's closed it because she's afraid of what she'll do inside.]

Hi, kitten.

[penduli]

[ ...it feels private and quiet, but Black joins her by her project; he ignores whatever's left of the day's... events, placing her plate and gin close by, and leans against her side.

God. ]

I'm really sorry, Miss Sigrun. [ ...he doesn't know what else to say there; he's useless in a situation like this, with anger still quietly simmering in him and a heavy heart at the state of someone he'd become so fond of. It feels a lot like when White'd come home crying after some bad break-up, only—Sigrun isn't White, and this isn't a break-up, it's a lot worse.

He'd just held her then, but leaning against Sigrun is probably enough for now. He hugged her earlier, after all. (She probably appreciates the contact more than the hug.) ]

[captainobnoxious]

[She does appreciate the contact a lot!

She... also doesn't know how to respond outside of just humming softly, acknowledging his words. At least at first.

Eventually she will open the box - it's just like she said, it opens kind of like a chest, except it's more like a suitcase honestly from the way it goes bottom to top - and take out a few of the orange-white hearts, not minding the glitter that comes off onto her fingers.]

I learned something interesting at that drawing contest the old man did.

[penduli]

[ ...the one he asked Mettaton if he'd like a sheep at too, oh, he's

going to fulfill that request and then tear it up. That's how he feels right now, but he's careful not to let it show. Not in front of Sigrun, and especially not when things are the way they are. ]

What was it?

[captainobnoxious]

Apparently, [and she twirls the hearts around with a smile that might seem a little wistful, a little rueful,] in Cherryblod's world, I was engaged.

[To Mettaton.]

I wasn't really sure how to feel at the time, even if I didn't mind it all that much. I didn't think about that kind of thing a lot back home either, and here it seemed a little.

[She shrugs.]

Well, you know. This place is pretty unpredictable, huh?

[Sigrun's doing her best.]

[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. ]

[captainobnoxious]

[It sinks deeper in her than she'd like and she throws the hearts back into their container before she hurts one of them, going full-tilt on Black.]

Sorry I kept pushing you to go for it. I... can't regret it though, you know? It was a lot of fun. I really, really liked him.

[Though that doesn't sound quite right, and Misa's words about love rears its head, though she's shaking the thought out of her own.]

... I was lucky that I got to tell him all the things I did, ask him the questions I wanted to, before he died. I just want to make sure you get that chance too. So don't be too afraid, alright? It hurts more than any wound a troll could put on me and I can't even put a bandage on it, but it could've been worse.

[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.

[amygdalae]

[Bruce, of course, notices the lack of Black's presence in the gathering, and though he doesn't want to be rude and intrude eventually he takes a plate of food and some tea out and goes around to find him.]

--hello. [He starts, once he's spotted Black at the library. Even though his voice is soft its loud enough with how quiet the library is.]

[penduli]

[ —ah. Black looks up from his book, eyes straying momentarily to the food, before he lays what he's reading flat on his lap and folds his hands over it. ]

Hi. [ His voice is equally soft, though he clears his throat to make it just... a touch bit louder. ] I guess that's for me, huh? That's very thoughtful of you, Mr. Banner.

[ ...the gratitude doesn't quite pull through, but he has a smile that isn't tight. Just tired. After all the mad he's been, he's tired. ]

[amygdalae]

[It's alright, Black, you don't need to try and force anything for his sake. He's just here to make sure you're alright for the most part.

Bruce goes to place down the food for Black to deal with it as he wishes, stepping back after that.] You weren't around, but I thought you could do with a bit of something to eat and drink - it's been a long day.

[penduli]

[ He never gets the chance to eat before investigations, it's rude to eat during them, and then there's... not a lot of time to actually do that before trial starts. ]

Thank you. I'll try to get something down. [ ...he's never hungry after trials, but the drink is nice; he'll take a sip of it and smile more genuinely. ] How's everyone else doing? I'd guess they're not exactly in high spirits, but we never are.

[amygdalae]

[Yeah Bruce has noticed that they rarely get to eat until now... which is why he's trying his best to make sure everybody does have some food at least. Especially now that Cherryblod isn't around to do the fussing.]

Everybody's doing their best to manage. [...a soft sigh.] Mister--Cherryblod is doing his best to cope. I'm not surprised that Captain Eide wasn't around, either.

[penduli]

I found her in the workshop earlier. [ By her project. A soft sigh, too. ] I convinced her to go back to her room so she wouldn't pass out outside of it, and she said she'd try to sleep, but...

[ A shrug. ] I don't know if she'll be able to. I wouldn't blame her if she couldn't, though.

[amygdalae]

I don't think anybody can blame her.

[Bruce at least certainly can't, having spent countless sleepless nights here--but that isn't the point, really. Nobody can expect Sigrun to just be okay after... everything that happened.]

...I just hope she'll be alright. [Eventually, that is. And perhaps never at 100%. But they do still need their self-appointed leader.]

[penduli]

I think she will be. [ She'll have to be—he's sure that's what she's thinking. Be strong for everyone.

...he just hopes she knows she can still rely on them as much as they can rely on her. Black frowns for a moment, then sighs. ] It's... hard losing someone that important to you, but Miss Sigrun isn't the type to do something stupid, so we don't have to worry about that. She thinks more with her head than she does her heart.

[ Even if... sometimes, the heart overrules. You can't account for it all the time. ]

She wouldn't do anything that'd put us at risk. [ ...she even gave on the Mettaton front, as much as that must've sucked. ]

[garudynamic]

[Yosuke remembers that night, so many weeks ago, when he found Black in the storage room. By now he knows better then to bring food, or try to talk his friend into coming to the gathering. But it'll be awhile before he ushers Cherryblod to bed before he passes out on the table in grief, so he can afford to come visit]

Find anything good?

[penduli]

[ It's fine that he didn't; Bruce's plate he brought for Black is beside him, as is the tea—the former more or less untouched. The fact he's glancing up from his book after a moment is just the same as the first week he'd done it isn't lost on him, though it's not just... stare at Yosuke, this time. This time he shrugs and motions to his growing pile—they're not particularly thick novels, but the size is still impressive.

Fast readers, man. ]

There's nothing really bad here. [ Sure, some of them aren't exactly his... thing... but bad? Not particularly. ] I'd invite you to come read with me, but you're not really into that.

[ And that's not a bad thing, judging by the quick grin he has, but that's what it is. Quickly there, quickly gone, and replaced with the blank tiredness from before as he turns his attention back to his book. ]

...you can sit down though, I don't mind. [ Not if it's Yosuke. ]

[garudynamic]

[And he'll take that invitation, thumbing through the pile]

I dunno... I'm running outta stuff to do every day when I'm not poking the corners.

[Well that's one way to describe his usually fruitless investigations in every cranny of the vault]

Maybe I SHOULD start reading more.

[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.

[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]

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. ]