drove to Chicago, all things know, all things know

[cherryblooded]

[This is getting so routine.

Cherryblod had thought about napping the rest of the day, like he'd said, but there are people to take care of, people who'd been closer to Aiden and Shirazu than he had been. So after about an hour in his room to decompress, he'd headed to the kitchen and started cooking. At some point Stan and Bruce had both joined him.

Almost everyone seems to want to take care of those who are remaining. Almost everyone.

The food this time is mostly soup and sandwiches - nothing fancy, nobody's in the mood to appreciate it - but it's there set up in the dining room by the time everyone (alive) receives notes under their doors. ...He slips an extra one for Sigrun under Mettaton's door, just in case.]

[name],
If you want to spend this time by yourself, that's fine.
If you'd rather have some company, there's food in the dining room, and you're all welcome there.
If you want to take some food and go, that's fine, too.
Take care of yourself.
-Cherryblod, Stan, Bruce

Comments

[captainobnoxious]

[Heheh. Noisepress is still such a better name for it.]

Whichever you want, though I've always liked strings better myself. Obviously. The noisepress sounds like it might be listening to too though.

[cherryblooded]

I'll see if I can manage the song I have in mind on strings.

[captainobnoxious]

Is it another old favorite?

[cherryblooded]

Yes, but that's not why it has to be yours.

[sleepingkogoro]

Ran is very good with music. She can play the piano and her voice is enchanting.

[Sounds like a proud father here]

Nowadays she doesn't practice very much - she is into martial arts and that is her focus now - but she does have talent for music.

[pokexplorer]

[Colress comes in a little later after spending some time alone in his room with his Pokemon, but he doesn't seem to be in a terrible mood or anything when he does plop down with his food. Just a bit solemn is all. It is getting rather empty at these gatherings, after all.

He's reflecting a lot as he pokes at his food, occasionally stopping to write a few notes down. The ones today are about Shirazu and Aiden- notably what went down at the execution. So many talents that only really showed themselves at the trials and down in that pit...

He does have regrets about not getting to know either of them very well. But...maybe that helped him stay focused during the trial in the long run, as awful as it seems.

Still...this really does need to come to an end. They have to do something and try to stick together.]

[goodforsomething]

[Stan's way on the end of the hall, but he's taken to scanning it before he turns in for the night. Seeing Bruce, he wanders down to join him. There's silence for a few moments.]

...if Sigrun's set on stayin' in Mettaton's room, maybe the rest of us can move down here instead. It'd feel better stickin' together.

[For all that it never helps, of course, when Thursday night comes.]

[goodforsomething]

[Stan's helping to make sure everyone gets some damn food and drink in them, but he pauses as he passes Black.]

Hey, lemme know if you need some help with those. [Nodding towards the animals. He knows Shirazu was on that project too, so...]

[goodforsomething]

[Another week, another death. It's almost becoming routine.

Stan's gotten used to a lot of weird shit before. Seems like this shouldn't be one of them, but it's getting there. That's fucked up, isn't it? Once he's done helping out with the food and drink, he finds a table and sits with a glass of whiskey and a sketchbook. No worries - he's not getting too drunk. Not here, anyway; this isn't the time to make other people responsible for getting him back to his room okay.

It looks like he's making a pencil drawing of Aiden, guns blazing. If it were Stan, that's the way he'd want to have his memorial.]

[pokexplorer]

[From his spot, Colress just smiles a little bit.]

Your company, perhaps?

[He...feels like he should probably say something about the trial. He did come off as a little suspicious.]

[pokexplorer]

[Colress stops his note-writing to take in some of Sigrun's music. It sounds...really lovely, actually.

When she's between songs, he decides to strike up some conversation.]

Despite the unfamiliar subjects that surrounded the crime, I thought you performed rather well at the trial today, Miss Sigrun.

[He knows that kind of stuff isn't the best thing to be proud of, but...they all could really use some positive reinforcement right now. Things are pretty grim with their small numbers.]

[pokexplorer]

[Having noticed Stan working on something too, Colress can't help but lean over to see what he's working on.

...Oh!]

Recreating the execution, Mr. Pines...?

[It's a little strange, but the execution itself was strange, wasn't it? How did Aiden get those guns, anyway?]

[isafraid]

...Suppose you wouldn't mind sharing a bit of that?

[Cause he totally gets it if Stan doesn't want to. But boy would that help a little, not that he likes the thought of becoming irresponsibly drunk himself.]

[cherryblooded]

Ah - [his eyes widen the tiniest bit] - I can do that.

...For starters, I really need to apologize for implying your Pokemon might be accessory to murder.

[Like who does that.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce glances over to Stan when the man comes over, only thinking about it before he shrugs.]

I can bring it up on Monday. [Although...] It might be safer to stay in our own rooms still, at least on Thursdays, since they won't lock anymore.

['They' meaning the doors belonging to the rooms of those who had already lost their lives.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce shakes his head at the question, giving Cherryblod a small smile.]

No, I'm fine. Thank you for asking, though.

[amygdalae]

That sounds lovely.

[Hello, Sigrun. Bruce will just be coming over now to... settle down beside you? Yes. Hopefully you don't mind.]

[amygdalae]

Feeling any better?

[Bruce isn't trying to fuss as Cherryblod is doing that, but Bruce can't help but check up on some people anyway. They've all been through so much, after all, and it'd be a lie if Bruce didn't care for any of them in some fashion.]

[amygdalae]

[It takes a while before Bruce goes over to Colress, but when he does its with his Ubiquitous Notebook out which he plops beside the other as he settles down.]

Do you mind if we trade notes?

[captainobnoxious]

Then next week, we'll focus on making your first song to impress her with.

[Very, very decided, disciple.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Hmmmmm.

It's probably really pumping and bloody then! A fight song from under the sea! Or one of those rock and roll songs.]

Well, are you gonna tell me why, or are you gonna leave me hanging?

[captainobnoxious]

[Even if it's something one shouldn't be proud of, she's beaming anyway.]

Thanks! If it wasn't for the rest of you though, I would've been as good as a beast out of water. Your nerdy scientist stuff really came in helpful.

[captainobnoxious]

[She never minds company.

... Last week she minded company. This week, and every after, she's going to be there for them no matter who's what.]

Well, you are listening to the best musician in and out of Dalsnes, doctor, if it wasn't nice to listen to I'd be a sham! But thanks, I know. I just wanted to lighten everyone's spirits a little.

[cherryblooded]

I'll tell you when I play it for you, and no sooner.

[pokexplorer]

[It'll only be hours later until he realizes how forward that sounded.]

Oh no, you have no need to apologize! It was a fair hypothesis. And, well, this murder was quite scientific.