at the end of the river, the sundown beams

[destage]

[Well...that trial was most certainly a thing, now wasn't it.

It's probably a while after the trial that some notes will be going underneath people's doors, written in a nice, clean scrawl--]

For anyone who hasn't gotten anything to eat, there will be food and refreshments provided in the dining room courtesy of Estelle-san and I. Feel free to take as much as you need.

Please stay strong, everyone.

♥ Estelle and Sayaka

[True to the word, there's plenty of food to go around--potato stew courtesy of Estelle, and curry courtesy of Sayaka. There's coffee and tea out as well, for anyone to drink, and...well, it's more or less an optional thing. After today, some might need it.]

Comments

[firstaid]

[Sweets are always a nice thing to have. So when Sayaka knocks and Estelle hears her voice, she opens the door.]

No, not at all.

[She gives a bit of a bitter smile. Not one of being bothered, but one of attempting to keep herself together. This isn't the time to break down on strangers, she feels, rather she thinks she should supporting others.

...without any consideration for herself.]

[destage]

[That makes two of them, at least. Sayaka presents the plate of cookies, gingerly.]

...Thank you for the help, earlier. I know it was incredibly short notice, but...I think it may have helped a bit. So...I made you something in return.

[firstaid]

[She looks to Sayaka, then to the cookies, then back to Sayaka as she gives her a more sincere smile. It appears this has really touched her and she's grateful.]

There's no need to thank me. We needed to do something to help with the morale. [It's a half-truth, but it's still a truth nonetheless.

Estelle reaches out to grab the plate of cookies.]

Shall I grab some glasses and milk and we can share these, Miss Maizono? [She's figured out '-chan' is an honorific, so she's replaced it with what she knows is proper for her.]

[destage]

[She's happy to see that, at least. It means she's happy, which...is a score better in her favor, considering Sayaka's expression doesn't really change.

The offer...gets a bit of a surprised stare from Sayaka though, and...well...]

Ah...are you sure, Estelle-san? I figured you might need these, after earlier, and I don't want to take any away from you--you deserve them.

[Not her.]

[firstaid]

[Her smile falls a bit, wondering what she did to deserve anything nice. 'Thank you's are all she needs, so it's weird when she gets a physical reward.]

I would feel lonely eating them by myself, so I would like you to join me. Although, I do understand if you didn't want to.

[Even though she hid in her room to be alone, but she's happy people are checking in on her. It... makes her feel wanted. Something that she's always struggled with back home, especially in light of recent events.]

[destage]

[Sayaka...honestly probably looks weird for a moment, just staring at Estelle's face, while she talks. Well...]

No, if...that's what you'd like, I have no problem joining you, Estelle-san. Shall we go off to the kitchen then and grab those glasses?

[firstaid]

Yes, let's do that!

[She smiles, though she's not bubbly. Right now, she can't channel that part of her even though she attempts to. So to the kitchen they go for milk and glasses!]

[destage]

[Alright, let's get a move on and get those glasses of milk!

Sayaka's admittedly quiet, until they hit the kitchen--a little distracted, definitely, but once they're in there, she'll smile.]

Ah, what are your favorite kind, though? Of cookies, I mean. I'll have to keep them in mind, if I make some next time.

[firstaid]

I like almost every kind. Though I do favor ones with chocolate chips in them.

[She giggles a bit as she goes to the cupboard to grab some glasses out of them.]

If you make cookies, let me know. Perhaps we could make some for everyone. I'll ask Yuri if he would like to help, too, since he's a really amazing cook.

[destage]

I'll be sure to keep that in mind, then.

[Sayaka beams a bit, even though it's forced. She'll get the milk--when Estelle gets the glasses out, she'll start pouring it in once they're nice and steady.]

I'd love the help, though. It'd be nice to do something for everyone again--we could make a nice, big batch of them.

[firstaid]

It would be nice. Keeping the morale up is important, especially after all that's happened. [She's weirdly decided on this role. One may never know why, but here she is.]

Wallowing in this sadness, I believe it's the last thing we should do.

[She refuses to give into this even if she's fighting it herself.]

[destage]

...You're right. It's a good example to set for people.

[It's what they're supposed to do, and what this is supposed to do. But the way Sayaka states it is far more...distant.]

We need to be determined.

[firstaid]

[It's okay. Estelle can understand why anyone would sound distant. It's a large task to take up, but she's determined to take it. All for completely selfish reasons of just distracting herself, but at least there's a positive outcome that it may help others.]

Right, determination will be key. We can't let this get to us, no matter how sad it is. We must keep fighting.

[destage]

[...Well, by this point she's got both of their glasses full--she'll take one and pass it to Estelle.]

I know Caren-san wouldn't want us to give in, if nothing else.

[firstaid]

Right, she really wouldn't!

[She'll take her glass and start heading to her room. Once again, she's grateful her room is stupidly close to the kitchen.]

So in her memory, we'll continue fighting.

[destage]

[Sayaka is to, honestly.]

It'd be disrespectful to do otherwise. And...Caren-san deserves that sort of respect. It's better than remembering what...happened, down there.

[firstaid]

Indeed. While I won't forget what happened, I also don't want to continually have to remember it. I think it's healthy to put distance between ourselves and what happened.

[Move on, but never forget.]

oh goddammit i missed this

[destage]

[...]

That's...a good point, but...I don't think I'm going to forget what was done here for a long time, and what happened to Caren-san.

lol you're fine!

[firstaid]

I'm rather sure none of us will. However, I believe the important part is that none of us should want to forget. Even if sad things happen, I think we must remember them so we don't repeat such events.