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]

[... She's... being invited to science?

That's. Really unexpected, obviously, judging from the look on her face as she tries to figure out if she wants to see something fun to do with chemicals or not. Or maybe do something fun with them herself. Wow. Huh. Uh.]

I... Yeah. I guess so. I'm kind of curious. Even if it's not really my kind of thing and all, I kinda wanna see.

[penduli]

[ HAHA oh my god ]

...I could probably make that, yeah. [ King Possum or Possumaker, guys? ] I figured if I was making one for everyone, I should make one for him too? It's only fair.

And I can make a couple of them if people want to use them for less-than-nice things.

[penduli]

I guess I can't blame her. How often does anyone get invited to fancy dinner parties these days and get the chance to dress in their best?

[ ...well, high-society folks probably have them all the time. Him, not so much. ]

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod gives a short nod. Yeah, that would have made him only more suspicious, given everything.]

You know me. Always trying to give people a fair chance.

[penduli]

Interdimensional postage isn't unheard of, I guess. [ ..... ] I wish we didn't have a letter that needs to get somewhere, Miss Sigrun.

[goodforsomething]

Don't get me wrong - I'd rather we didn't do any of that again.

But I've been wantin' that every week. [And, well, look at where we are.]

[goodforsomething]

Just make 'em real ratty. Like it's got mange.

[Stan considers the other proposal.] You oughta make a few for the shooting range. I'd sure be more interested in tryin' out the crossbow then.

[captainobnoxious]

More than anyone, Black, I understand.

[And she's letting a little tiredness show through in her smile, just a little.]

But the fact is that we do, so we'll make sure it gets there one way or another. Even if we've gotta burn it.

[amygdalae]

[...yes, the first meeting - the one about their powers.

An uncomfortable lump works its way into Bruce's throat, but he does his best to ignore it. It shouldn't matter in here since its not as if he would transform, anyway, but still--there's still a feeling of guilt from not being fully upfront with all of them.

That's something to dwell on later, though.]

That has been something on my mind for a while. [He taps a finger against his notebook.] Why do these copies have powers that we apparently have lost in our arrival here?

[amygdalae]

[Well its still better to be safe than to be sorry.

Still, Bruce does agree - at least with the latter part, and he lets out a slow exhale before he nods.]

All of us are more than aware what's at stake. [With that said, though...] But I suppose he was just... desperate. We've all been in here for so many weeks at this point.

[Anybody would be on edge.]

[amygdalae]

We've all been burdened long enough by what's happened as it is.

[And its not like they won't remember, but they've just lost so many already at this point. They need to move on, no matter what.]

...I like ten, too. [A smile as he says that.] And I certainly wouldn't want to see that number shrink as well.

[Just... yeah. Bruce just doesn't want to think about it as much as he can. Even if a deep part of him knows he'll have to contend with that knowledge.]

[penduli]

[ Mangy possums, alright. ]

Got it. [ Shooting range. ...maybe the dojo too?

He feels kind of disappointed they're going to just get torn up, but he offered... ] I'll get started on them tomorrow. Expect to see them by... hopefully the end of the week? Assuming nothing comes up.

[penduli]

[ ...right. ]

Okay. [ ... ] He's left instructions about who the leader position should go to and what they should do about his little sister. I—

[ a hard swallow, because that part's still the one kind of hitting him way too hard ]

I want to complete that second one, somehow? Because I don't want her to suffer, either. She's in the hospital just like White was, but her situation sounds much more serious. There's nothing we can do though.

[cherryblooded]

Well, I try.

[...even though he's not too sure how much good he really does.]

[cherryblooded]

Not too often, so you can't deny her the chance to have fun now and then. Even if it means wearing heels.

[penduli]

[ ...he has to ask. ]

Is she okay walking in them?

[cherryblooded]

It's a bit harder for her than for me, but she manages.

[penduli]

[ okay good because imagining some poor giant lobster tripping all over herself is really

not great ]

That's a relief. I'd be afraid of someone getting hurt if she couldn't. [ Either herself or... literally everyone else. ] Does she go all the way and wear a beautiful dress too?

[ ......giant lobster dress... ]

[cherryblooded]

She would if she could, but she can't. The few times we've tried she ruined the dress within an hour.

She does look stunning in hats.

[penduli]

[ Why does talking to Cherryblod always leave him with more questions than answers. ]

I bet so. What about cute ribbons?

[cherryblooded]

Of course! Ribbons, bows, bonnets...

[captainobnoxious]

Yeaaah, that sounds tough... but I guess that just means that no matter what I'll have to find a way to his world to take care of his sister then. What's he want us... or whoever... to do about her?

[amygdalae]

[He does a lot of good, don't worry.]

As are all of us.

[penduli]

To let her die peacefully.

[ ... ]

From the sounds of it, he's paying for... whatever treatment she needs right now, but he won't be around to do it anymore. It's not too much of a stretch to say he'd like us to pull the plug to keep her from going through any more pain. [ That's what he's always imagined it as; hospitals, dying peacefully. ...just letting people die because it's better for them to, as opposed to letting them live when it hurts.

(Except he's in no position to judge people like that, is he?) ]

[goodforsomething]

Yeeeeeeah. God knows I get the whole sibling thing.

[Stan sighs. That's been a very recurring motive - frankly it's disquieting. Mere months ago, he'd have told you that he'd do anything to get Ford back and safe, and now he's passed that opportunity up time and time again. Maybe he didn't understand himself as well as he thought. Maybe he has still got some scruples left.

He obviously had the wrong expectations of Ford, so why not?]

I just figured my brother could take care of himself.