I don't believe in fretting and greiving, why mess around with strife?

[greenmamabear]

[In some ways, this trial was simpler. The killer was lacking in remorse, the victim innocent. The lines were clearer. Was that better, or worse?

Either way, Fern and Alex make up something of a green team, preparing a meal in the kitchen. Nothing particularly complicated. Coffee and water for whoever want it is at one end of the dining table. Along the rest of it is a variety of foods. A plate of cheese and crackers, a bowl of salad and carrots for the healthy people, some handy finger sandwiches, and... a big pot of mac and cheese. What they lack in presentation they make up in sheer volume of food. That's a big tub of mac and cheese.

They struggle with the invitations for a bit before eventually coming up with possibly the most awkward phrasing possible. These notes are quietly shoved under doors with little fanfare more than a quick knock.


We got food in eat place. Food is good to eat. Enjoy food with us?

- Fern and Alex

[The dining area is lined up with some appropriate decorations, quick paper streamers and even some doodles that have been taped to the walls.

Its possible too simple. But maybe people need something simple to gorge on after a complicated day.]

Comments

[blackmass]

[...how eloquent.]

[Kirei didn't bother much with the afterparty itself, relegating himself to the kitchen and keeping his hands busy with what appeared to be the beginning of vegetable fried rice. A bucket of mac and cheese was all well and good for some people, but others might have had standards. His sleeves were rolled up partway as he worked, those weird faint scars on his right arm visible again.]

[All in all, he seemed to be in a fairly decent mood after that.]

[heritrix]

[Are we making Chinese food. Dammit, Kirei, she's a FSN character, she can't miss the siren song of food prep.]

A stir fry would pair well with that.

[Rin is comparatively grumpier, but trying not to show it to middling effect.]

[blackmass]

You are welcome to start one, as I am rather occupied at the moment.

[heritrix]

I will. That went on for a while, and I don't feel like macaroni and finger foods.

[Or she just wants something to occupy her hands. She'll just get ingredients out then as she talks, keeping it quiet.]

So you made a new friend today. [It was weird and unnatural.] Did you hear what he said before you left the room?

[blackmass]

You may be surprised to realize few things escape my notice.

[yes, in other words.]

I thought it a magic circle until I overheard him, but that's no alchemical ritual I've ever studied.

[heritrix]

Neither have I, but I've heard of stranger magics since arriving here.

[Hm. Yeah, this meat will do nicely; Rin sets it aside and crouches to access the vegetable drawer.]

I was willing to accept it as something I don't understand, but Kimblee's second note bothers me. He said that technique was unique to the man he knew who used it.

[blackmass]

From such a description, I would hesitantly compare it to a Magic Crest.

[this is normal conversation to have while cooking, obviously]

Though I doubt the finer specifics would translate, the idea seems similar.

[heritrix]

[Absolutely normal, and you can bet your mullet she'll change topics if anyone walks in.]

It was like that last week, too. The way that trident appeared reminded me of Projection.

[blackmass]

It did have some similarities to the process, yes.

[Kirei didn't say much else for a moment or two, frowning slightly before looking over his shoulder at Rin.]

...But that leaves the case of Yosuke Hanamura. That was something I fail to think of an adequate comparison to.

[heritrix]

[...yeah, that was definitely something.]

If they inserted something inside of us, like bombs, would you be able to tell?

[blackmass]

Under ordinary circumstances? Yes. Regrettably, that is not the situation that we find ourselves in. My limited circuits as well as capacity for healing both seem to be utterly inaccessible.

[heritrix]

Mm. I thought that would be the case, but didn't want to underestimate your skill.

[There's the potential to check the old-fashioned way, but without magecraft it would be invasive. Dangerous, even. If Kirei's not entertaining it, it just can't be done.]

Sorting out what that was still feels prudent, however. We need to determine whether our bodies have been tampered with, or if that was another display of ability.

[blackmass]

Agreed. I'm inclined to assume the latter given what we have seen to far, but there is no reason to ignore a more mundane reasoning.

[firstaid]

[Estelle finds herself wandering once she realizes she can't sit still and a book isn't going to do her any good either. At first she's curious about what Kirei is making, but then she notices the scars on his arm, not really sure what to make of them.

It's almost out of habit that she attempts to touch them. Then again, by this time, it's clear she's near Kirei so he has more than enough time to react.]

An injury of some sort?

[blackmass]

Of some sort.

[i mean, sure, let's assume injuries are shaped like whatever the fuck this is. He stepped away from Estelle, under the pretense of looking through a nearby cabinet.]

[firstaid]

How did you get it? It looks painful.

[And almost intentional given how intricate it is.

In any case, she won't attempt to go near him now that he's moved away. Not that she knows if he did due to looking into a cabinet or for her to not touch him-- she's not offended regardless.]

[blackmass]

Oh, it's not very important.

[firstaid]

[Her arm reaches across her body to grab the upper portion of her other arm.]

Is it really not? [Then again he probably got it somewhere that wasn't here so she shakes her head.] It's no matter.

In any case, how did you feel about today's... um... well... what happened?

[blackmass]

That certainly did transpire. I didn't expect it would be long before we had more than a mere accident.

[firstaid]

So you believed something like this was inevitable then?

[She didn't want to believe it, but she also doesn't deny that someone else was going to die, either.]

[blackmass]

I did. Particularly if we truly are still under the time limit set by our hosts.

[firstaid]

I suppose there's no arguing that then. In retrospect, between that and the motive it seemed certain someone was going to act. It's... sad, but... what can we do? It's not like before were we had hope there was an exit.

[blackmass]

It is possible that there is simply nothing that can be done about our situation.

[firstaid]

Perhaps not, but... [She thinks for a moment.] I did find a button in the library hidden behind some books. When I pressed it didn't do anything, but it must be connected to something.

[blackmass]

Did you? I wonder if perhaps it was meant to open a passageway of some kind.

[...because i mean. who doesn't put those in libraries?]