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]

[There really are so few of them left.

And good call, Cherryblod, because Mettaton's room is exactly where she buried herself to decompress a little, writing a letter quietly. It's... something she'd been doing, lately, to clear her mind, but this one's more feverishly done.

Not that anyone's gonna see it.

After that, Sigrun joins those who choose to come in the dining room with her lyre, playing a more jovial tune than should rightly be appropriate considering what happened. But some light music should help a mood, shouldn't it?

And yes, she still has the stilettos on for now. She needs to get used to them. They'll be taken off as the affair goes on though.]

[sleepingkogoro]

Hello, Eide-san.

I'd like to ask something...

[Mouri seems to be in good mood, despite having just gotten out of a trial. He also looks at the stilettos for a moment, because they are like a beacon, okay? Hard to not to notice it]

[captainobnoxious]

[Yes, notice her fantastic legs.]

Go ahead then.

[sleepingkogoro]

I don't know if this is the best moment to ask this, but do you think we could continue the flute lessons next week?

[He has missed them, alright. It had turned into a routine for him, and Sigrun seems to be feeling better now than she did a week ago. Asking is worth a try]

[captainobnoxious]

[Aww. This is a good question, and her grin should say so.]

Of course! I'd missed them too, especially since you were coming along pretty well! You'll be able to play beside me even with a week off. Think of it as having taken a little break.

[sleepingkogoro]

Glad to hear that.

I didn't think I would be playing the flute for as long as I have now. It's almost surreal to me.

[cherryblooded]

I'd ask if you take requests, but you wouldn't know any of the same songs as I do.

[Cherryblod has a seat near her, a soft smile on his face that probably isn't a hundred percent fake.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Even if it is, she'll tilt against him.]

Hum them and I'll try my best, sweetheart. I'm fairly good at that.

[You kind of have to be, when everything is sung and played the way it is without sheets.]

[cherryblooded]

Not sure if I can manage it just by humming.

[That said, he hums a melody. It's really not meant to be done by one person, hummed or not, but what he can manage might be lovely on a stringed instrument.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Sigrun listens for a little while and she starts to hum herself, fingers picking at the different notes as she practices them bit by bit. While it isn't exact (there's still a few notes she's picking at each round to see if it fits right), while it'll take a bit longer to perfect and add her own personal flair, there's something like it being played now.

Thinking about it, she never really knew if Mettaton liked it when she played the song by his home. He'd liked the song she made for him well enough, so maybe that's fine.]

How's this? Not bad, right?

[cherryblooded]

[He listens, continuing to hum so she has something to compare to. His eyes close, and for a moment-]

It's good. Feels just like being home again.

[If he closes his eyes, he can almost pretend.]

[isafraid]

An evening for music eh? I'm not against it.

[it does lift the mood a little. Nice legs by the way.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Thank you. She toned them herself.]

Glad to hear it. I know it's not all that right since... we usually mourn these times and all, but hey. I'm really tired of being sad.

[isafraid]

Me too. [He got a seat near Sigrun, currently trying to enjoy some of the soup Cherry, Bruce and Stan made.

If it's possible, he might have run out of tears by now.]

How long have you really been playing that thing?

[captainobnoxious]

Hm... For a long time now. Ever since I was young. I held a lyre before I held a blade, but they said once I got my hands on the second I never let go.

[She misses her dagger, really. And her gun. They were parts of her as much as anything else is, though she's gotten used to not having them now.]

It's just tradition where I'm from though. You sing, you play, you kill, you live.

[isafraid]

Ah... [That's a lifestyle alright. And, now that he's hearing it from her... it actually makes sense.]

Your people really are a type of viking, aren't they?

[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.]

[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.

[pokexplorer]

Haha, well, I'd say Mr. Banner and Mr. Knight had it down better than myself. I am afraid that I am at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to Earth-based information. Rather embarrassing, that!

[He really does feel a bit embarrassed about it, since this should've been his jam.]

We really did come together, though... It was nice to see, even if the circumstances were not the greatest.

[captainobnoxious]

Don't be so humble! Sing your own praises or let someone sing them for you, sweetheart, you've gotta feel good no matter your mistakes! Or lack of smarts in something. Besides, with our other smarty guy touching the body up like usual, I wouldn't have trusted anyone else to think about looking in that sciency room.

[Aiden was smart and modern, knew about chemicals, but she wouldn't be able to hazard a guess from his occupation if he'd think to look there.

... Well, now she does, but then she didn't.]

[pokexplorer]

[Oh... That does get him to smile.]

Thank you, Miss Sigrun. I suppose you are right that my scientific intuition didn't fail me at least.

...Have you ever been in there, by the way? The chemistry lab.

[He figures he knows the answer, but...]

[amygdalae]

That sounds lovely.

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

[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.

[amygdalae]

A woman of many talents. [Said with a smile - to be honest, he didn't expect that from Sigrun, being... how she is usually. But he's quickly figuring out that there is a lot more to her than her boisterous exterior.

He gives a small nod towards the lyre in her hands.] And I think everyone here does appreciate that. [It certainly does help to set a nice enough mood after what happened earlier. Those trials are always exhausting, no matter what.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Her boisterous exterior is 90% of what she is, yes, but that's mostly because her 150% effort into everything she does lends her to be that type of person. She's also good at shadow puppetry.]

I hope so. I'm tired of sad things, so I'd rather just play something happier. Celebrate what's left of us.

[...]

Ten's a fine number. Five's my favorite, but ten's a good number, so let's not let it drop any lower, alright? I'd hate to see anyone else in that pit.