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

[heritrix]

[Well, that note gets Rin to attend if only to make sure Alex and Fern were just being cute and didn't have a stroke writing it. Initially you can find her in the kitchen; since Kirei started on fried rice, Rin ended up making a pretty tasty stir fry along the way, and there's a little bit extra of anyone else wants to have some. She's going to help herself to a few of those finger sandwiches too; they're kind of cute. Rin will be taking them to the dining room to eat afterwards, kind of staring at the streamers and smiley faces.]

I can't tell if this wants to be a funeral or a party...

[Maybe it's both, in a weird way. Bah, that's no way to live.

After a little chatting here and there, Rin will be heading upstairs to the second floor, poking around the various rooms in the same way most people would have on Sunday. She'd meant to check them out more yesterday, but got sidetracked helping Sayaka.

Perhaps because of that it's a little ironic that she yet again ends up in the sewing room, several long, colorful bands of fabric stretched on the table she's working at, by one of the sewing machines. Despite it's ancientness, she seems entirely comfortable with it. It looks like she's making hair ribbons, crafting them into cute bows.]

sewing room

[bloodbiter]

[When Adelina enters after stopping by the party, she doesn't precisely expect to see Rin, but it's not an unwelcome sight at all. Her eyes drift to the ribbons for a few moments before she looks back towards the other young woman.]

May I ask what you're working on?

[heritrix]

[The sewing stops for a moment as Rin's hand stills at the hand crank, glancing up from what she's working on. Hi, Adelina.]

These? It's nothing special, just a few hair ribbons. I have no plans for them, really, but I've always liked making them.

[bloodbiter]

It seems like something calming to focus on.

[With some curiosity, she takes a step into the room, sitting at one of the sewing machines with no intention to use it.]

Do you ever make anything other than hair ribbons, or are your efforts focused there?

[heritrix]

Only the ribbons, if you're counting things from scratch. It's easier to buy clothes, so I use my sewing machine to patch up holes or reattach buttons, more than anything.

[bloodbiter]

I see. You must have seamstresses readily available where you come from, then.

[She looks towards one of the sewing machines, smiling faintly.]

They seem like useful devices, certainly. I'd never seen one before I came here.

dining room

[sleepytimegal]

Uhh, yeah, we... It's kinda a poor-man's gathering, so...sorry 'bout that.

[ Hey, Rin. Here's Alex, sipping some hot chocolate and checking up on people. ...Oh hey she's trying the finger sandwiches, score, Good Job Alex. ]

[heritrix]

[Oh, 'sup Alex.]

I don't mind that, but it makes for a strange mood. Though that's less to do with the two of you, really, and more... in general.

[sleepytimegal]

[ She sighs. ]

Yeah, it's kinda hard to plan around something like...this. [ ... ] How're you doing? Like, in general.

[heritrix]

[Part of Rin thinks they should find a way to better balance it, and the other half of her is determined to never see it happen again. There has to be some way out of here... With the addition of the new rooms comes a new layer to the game. She needs to learn to play it as quickly as possible.]

I'm glad you added that qualifier. [Rin chuckles lightly.] You hear phrases like that specifically when no one knows what else to say, but it's not like there's a good response to it either.

[Especially at funerals. It's only somewhat better when it's for a person you didn't know well.]

But physically, I'm doing better. How about you? Have you been sleeping any better?

[sleepytimegal]

Never know what to ask, or how to respond, 'cause mostly it's always "like a pile of crap, how 'bout you?" or "empty as a balloon, thanks for askin'."

[ ...there have been a lot of those questions, in the past year uh. ]

I'm...yeah, I'm doing a bit better. Infirmary's helped with that, but you know, take what you can get.

dining hall

[firstaid]

It's probably partially a funeral and partially a way to regroup us after... everything happened.

[This is different from Caren's trial. Caren never intended to murder, but Blue... she did this with full intent and Estelle's now not sure how to feel about this. Her words left her thinking so Estelle, for the time being, seems a little distant.]

[heritrix]

[Oh boy, Estelle, are we going to agree to disagree again. Even if Blue's words left some of their number trouble, everyone seems to be taking this trial better than the last. The shock value's worn off, maybe, and it didn't hurt others as much as Caren's execution did. So Estelle's in good company.

Rin's not. She tends not to understand how others feel, but she can already sense it in the atmosphere, looking at their faces and applying it to her own emotional state. They're bothered for different reasons, so she just has to deal with that.]

It should really decide on one or the other, or blend them better. It's awkward right now because it doesn't know what kind of gathering it wants to be. Funerals are a way, if not to grieve the dead we know nothing about, then at least a way to be sad with good excuse. A party is to make people happier; get an energy going and look to something brighter. It's difficult to do both at once.

[firstaid]

[Estelle's not nearly as defensive this time since there was no nerve hit in this trial-- just a reality that perhaps everyone had to learn. One that Estelle is trying to learn, too, but she's not going to force herself through it with meaningless hope and optimism.

She can see everyone look at each other with distrust, yet people want to trust. That conflict is driving many insane, or so Estelle thinks.]

I suppose there is that conflict of feeling, but people are still here because it's better than retreating to our rooms and reflecting over this and allowing despair to take over. It's true that the two don't coincide, however, I believe the intentions behind this were good. Perhaps the decorations are a bit much, though it does convey what we need to do as well as think over our own personal futures here and what to do.

[heritrix]

You read "think about the future" from streamers? [This isn't said with hostility, more like girl, is that a train of thought or a rocket ship?] I supposes there's the smiley faces too, but if that helps you, I'd be curious to see what inspiration you'd take from a motivational poster.

[firstaid]

We shouldn't dwell on this, but we should learn from it, is what I'm saying.

[She doesn't like dwelling on things like this anyway and instead attempts to find any way to not think about this.]

Dining Room

[ninehundredlives]

Maybe it's more like a wake, then?

[Susan is picking at a bowl of mac and cheese, because yeah generally speaking she's here for mac and cheese.]

People often don't know what to do, with death.

[heritrix]

There's only two or three ways to cope with it, right? When you cut all of the potential reactions down to the basics, at least. But I don't know what mood is right for this group.

[Honestly, this is the second time she's felt out of place attending.]

[ninehundredlives]

It isn't like a normal death. We're all still strangers, more or less...to each other and to them. We're all mourners, but at the same time, no one is. Not like...family at a funeral. Not like we could have been.

[For people they'd known better. For people who hadn't gone down in a failed effort to kill the rest.]

Maybe that's just me. I didn't know either of them very well.

[heritrix]

Chitoge was sweet. I only spoke to her once, and Blue not at all. And yet in spite of that, of everyone who's died so far I find her the most sympathetic.

[It's not mourning; she'd have to know Blue for that, or care about her life more than she does her own. But it's sad, isn't it? Everything that motivated her to act.]

[ninehundredlives]

[Susan...doesn't really agree with that, but to each their own.]

At least she did have a reason. One that wasn't just getting out. I don't...I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting that, but with all of us as the price...

[Too much.]

sewing room

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel hasn't really been... Here, for these parties, so she's a little surprised when she runs into anyone else up here. ]

Oh, uh... hi, Rin. Do you want to be... alone?

[heritrix]

[Hi, Angel.]

No, I don't mind the company at all. [Rin's just pulling a ribbon from the sewing machine, still attached by the threads.] I'll be up here for a while longer if you do, but you're welcome to stay?

[If Angel doesn't want to hang out downstairs, maybe she's looking for a place to be alone too.]

[didntgetdadslooks]

No, I'm... fine.

[ Mostly. Anyway, she walks over to look at her work. ]

What are you making?

[heritrix]

[Rin frowns initially at that, but Angel doesn't need her to tell her what to do. She'll eat herself when she feels like it.]

Hair ribbons. I don't need so many, but I've always enjoyed crafting them. [Rin's frown shifts into a small smile as she spreads them out on the table, showing off the colors.] Would you like one?