dead hearts are everywhere

[goodforsomething]

[Stan arrives at the chapel early. It doesn't take long to re-create his ghost summoning setup from yesterday; he left all the materials stowed under one of the middle pews, where the hymnals should have been. He sets it up exactly as it was, right down to the angles of the candles. Honestly he suspects the mirror was the only really important part, but he's not about to risk technical difficulties. Not tonight.

The rest of it was all gathered up earlier: there's some coffee, to ward against people falling asleep outside the rooms, and a lot of extra notebooks and pens taken from the storage room. He didn't tell anybody what to bring, after all, or what to expect. Secrets are easier for one person to keep, even if only for a day. Some of the rest might have gotten excited, the Kingmaker might have gotten curious, and then what?

As the meeting time draws near, he tears a page from one of the notebooks, scribbles his little symbol and a message on it, and slides it in front of the mirror.]

You there?

[To the others, he turns with a grin. In a voice somewhere between a gravelly whisper and his Mr. Mystery act, he says:]

Thanks for comin'. Our friends on the other side have been waitin' for us.

Comments

[isafraid]

A certain number... [something something strength of will]

uh
It's glad to hear that you're all in high spirits.

[trustharder]

["Speedwagon was that intentional."
"SPEEDWAGON"
"SPEEDWAGON PLEASE I CAN'T DIE A SECOND TIME"]

[isafraid]

...Oh!

[SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE]

NOT AT ALL
POOR CHOICE OF WORDS

[Now he's got to grab another piece of paper...]

It really is nice to know you're all alright.

[goodforsomething]

See? I told you all you'd lift their spirits!

[isafraid]

[stan please

this should be a serious and heartwarming moment]

[penduli]

[ this is

made fucking perfect by unintentional puns ]

[trustharder]

["You sure are making a specter-cale of this situation."]

[goodforsomething]

Nah, just the opposite! We snuck up here this late just to make sure he wouldn't see!

[.....]

We're being very scare-ful

[trustharder]

["Thank you, Speedwagon. Though I'm concerned that Yato might laugh up a lung. At least he's not making relationship charts this time."

Underneath that is another note: "I ALMOST FORGOT TO SHOW THE REST OF YOU MY RELATIONSHIP CHART" and then there's a shipping chart placed on the mirror. I'm so sorry.

...Oh, and there's a couple more: "Yato, please stop with the charts, you're embarrassing everyone."
"They're not embarrassing unless you think love is an embarrassment!! Are you saying you don't think these couples are cute??"
"I do think they're cute but-- that's not the point!"]

[pokexplorer]

[If it's the same one from yesterday... Colress sees that chart. He sees that chart, Yato.

He just. Gives it the most blank stare ever, but rest assured he is screaming internally.]

[isafraid]

[that... that sure is a ship chart. Wow.]

Still matchmaking, I see.

[How... embarrassing, is he on there? Oh god is he.]

More to the point, found out anything on your end?

[trustharder]

[Looks like they have!]

[isafraid]

Great work! We tried looking for something like that just last week!

[And failed miserably... but... progress?]

We'll get down to it soon enough!

[penduli]

[ jjhhgf ]

Yosuke and I aren't— [ oh my god wait, paper, right, hold on

slapped the fuck down ]

YOSUKE AND I AREN'T A COUPLE

[trustharder]

["not YET ;)"

And also: "How do you think I feel. I'm over here with my face in my hands wishing I was... oh, wait, that wish came true."]

[penduli]

[ ...oh my god that's terrible to laugh at but he is?? oh my god ]

friendship > relationship
i'm sorry you have to suffer with this, at least he isn't doing it with you guys? mostly?

[ there's.... there's tarrlok on that chart but there's not like dead people ↔ dead people ]

[pokexplorer]

I am so sorry, Tarrlok.

[HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS TO BE OVER THERE WITH THE ONE SHIPPING THEM.

...yeah he's still reeling from seeing it himself though.]