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

[cherryblooded]

At least once. You've gotten my respect again after that, though.

[So, you know, there's something.]

[sleepingkogoro]

It wasn't long after that day Mettaton talked to me. I had taken it as a chance to start gathering evidence to prove he was no more than an accomplice. I feigned patience and asked questions, but...

...I don't know, the more I talked the more interested in him as a person I was. I threw away that theory and tried to know him better. I suppose...I wanted to see him as a person instead of as a suspect.

[Short silence. He had just blurted all that without thinking much.]

Uh, sorry for having turned all this about me. I didn't mean to do that.

Do you even know how you got so close to Mettaton, what got you to...be so close to him?

[cherryblooded]

...Mettaton was bad at feelings. Really bad. Even without the excuse of what his job was, he was just - his feelings, other people's feelings, they weren't his strong suit.

But he tried for me. He gave me hugs when I asked for them, supported me when I needed it, told me I wasn't evil when that was a real concern I had. He was there for me, despite how difficult he must have found it, and I wanted to be there for him.

[sleepingkogoro]

[Well he is right. Mettaton was real bad at feelings, but he tried, at least, although Mouri now couldn't avoid wondering how much was performing and how much was sincere]

I don't think he ever had someone dotting on him ever before. His past life, then being a celebrity...it didn't sound to me there was someone trying to take care of him.

Despite what he said I think he appreciated your support much more than he admitted. Otherwise I don't think he would have tried to support you like you say he did.

[At least Mouri wants to believe that]

[cherryblooded]

...Doesn't really matter to me. He's my dear son, no matter if he cared or not.

[It matters more than Cherryblod admits, but probably not as much as it should. Still, he can manage a weak smile.]

I said something like that before, that my children are precious to me even if I'm not in their good graces. Think I did, at least.

[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.]