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

[sleepytimegal]

[ Alex is quiet for a moment, so maybe the answer Sayaka expects is a a less than favorable one. She frowns, and she's thinking, and... ]

Yeah. I still do.

[destage]

[...Yeah, her look...inititally disheartens a fair amount at the pause, but when she speaks up, it's...

...She was so worried, there, and she's honestly super glad. She'll mask that with a bit of a bow, though, trying to just...will down any tears she has.]

...Thank you, Alex-san. That...means a lot, after all of this.

[sleepytimegal]

[ She offers a tired smile. She's starting to see...Sayaka's smiles, maybe they hide a bit more than she initially thought. ]

You don't have to thank me. You've...listened to me, and comforted me, and...it doesn't just mean nothing.

[destage]

...I was worried, after what Blue-san said. I...it's...

[...no, that's.]

It's something...I want to talk to you about, some other time. But...I appreciate it, Alex-san. And you've given back everything two-fold...I want to be there for you, as much as you've been there for me. If anything, it really means the world to me.

[...let's get back on track, though...]

Is there anything I can help you with, though...?

[sleepytimegal]

[ That's always how it goes, isn't it? ]

Anything, um...I guess I'm thinking a little about some of the things she said too, that's all. About her family.

[ What she'd do for them... The picture of herself and Michael is at the forefront. ]

It's just got me thinking about my- my own situation.

[destage]

[...ah, lovely, all of that shit she felt absolutely nothing toward! She can at least fake it well enough, though, and Sayaka looks over the pictures as well.]

...Are these people here your cousins? Maybe your siblings?

[She looks to the picture she's got at the forefront, but she remembers all of the pictures. She takes her time, though, just...letting Alex speak.]

[sleepytimegal]

[ ...Oh, that... ]

He was my brother. Michael.

[destage]

[...was.

That's...that's one hell of a keyword there.]

Oh, Alex...

[...that's more of an unconscious drop than anything, but she corrects it quickly.] Alex-san--he's...very precious to you, isn't he?

[No 'was'. It...doesn't sound like she's had the chance to move on.]

[sleepytimegal]

[ She can't even really pretend to be fine there. She nods. ]

He was my best friend. I... He said my hair'd look good blue a few times, so...after he died, I took him up on it.

[ And yet in that picture, her hair... ]

[destage]

[...that's...

Sayaka looks at the photos--that means that he...]

...But he's...your hair, it's blue here. And he's with you, so...

[That doesn't make sense--]

Is it...possible that you could have found a way to bring him back to life?

[sleepytimegal]

[ She considers for a moment, but... ]

I- they said...I couldn't change anything. The...ghosts, whatever they were. But... [ Picture after picture where Michael's there, either instead of Jonas or alongside. ] I don't know. I don't- I don't even know what the cost of that'd be.

[ The cost. The price. That's what Blue's got her thinking about. The sacrifice involved. ]

[destage]

[...she doesn't want to think about that, it's...probably clear, but for Alex's sake, maybe she can...]

...It'd probably be a very high one, wouldn't it? Dealings with those sort of things...it sounds so scary, and like it could go so wrong...

[Jesus christ...]

[sleepytimegal]

[ A chill sweeps over her. ]

Sorry, that's...probably nothing you wanna talk about, we can just...let it be. ...I don't really wanna think about it, either.

[ She just kind of can't stop, in light of everything. ]

[destage]

...Do you want to go somewhere else and mess with something?

[Sayaka's smile is...gentler, and while she's tempted to reach out and put a hand on Alex's shoulder, she...refrains.]

If you want to get this off your mind, I'm more than happy to help. It sounds very scary.

[sleepytimegal]

[ ...Oh, ah... ]

I...don't really know what to do. I'm mostly here 'cause I can't think of how to distract myself.

[ Unfortunately the two floors don't really have anything that's keeping her attention. ]

[destage]

[That...makes sense, at least. Sayaka nods her head.]

Would you like me to walk you back to your room, then? ...Actually, I could stop by mine and give you something, if you'd like.

[Maybe Alex could use a little friend to snuggle up to.]

[sleepytimegal]

Yeah, I- ...what do you mean, like...something you got from the vending machine, or something?

[destage]

You like the stuffed animals as much as I do, right? I only really need one of them, so...honestly, you can have one, if you'd like. You look like you could use one.

[lord knows tonight is a 'cuddle and cry' night for her if tears actually show up]

[sleepytimegal]

O-oh- you got another? [ She did want one but instead she got flowers that made Susan freak out and a taser! ...So. ]

I'd just be borrowing it, alright, you- a girl needs as many stuffed animals as she can get her hands on, that's my philosophy.

[destage]

Yeah! I have that big shark in my room...I mostly hold onto the little guy when I need to curl up with anything.

[That moogle is one of the saving graces of this entire goddamn place, she swears.]

It's really fine, though...but if you want borrow it until you get something else from the machine or for the night, I'm not opposed.

[sleepytimegal]

Then... Sure. I'll snuggle up to a giant plush shark, that...seriously sounds like a good way to spend the night.

[ A shaky smile. ]

Thanks. I owe you one.

[destage]

...Alex-chan, you've already done so much for me. You don't owe me a single thing.

[...she holds out her pinkie.]

That's what friends are for, right?

[sleepytimegal]

[ That's a change of honorific there, but...Alex doesn't know enough about them for it to mean anything, other than "huh, that's strange."

But still, she locks her pinkie with Sayaka's, because...well, that's natural. ]

Right. How silly of me. That's exactly what friends are for.

[destage]

It isn't silly. Sometimes...the reminder is really needed, you know?

[Come on, let'sa go then, to her room! She'll just go get that shark once they're there, and pass it over.]

Take care, alright?

[sleepytimegal]

[ oh my god she can sleep inside a stuffed animal this thing is perfect- ]

I'll try. ...You too.