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

[destage]

...Did you happen to hear some of Blue-san's words? About how we should view one another. What do you think of them?

[Her tone's...surprisingly distant, when she talks about that.]

[firstaid]

You... you mean about not trusting each other and just looking out for ourselves?

[Estelle's smile fades and shows an expression of confliction.]

I'll be honest-- I don't know how to feel about that.

[destage]

...Neither do I, honestly. Even if I'm the one she had in mind, and even if she had a point, I...

[...]

I like you guys, a lot. I don't want to lose that.

[firstaid]

I believe a lot of us feel that way.

[Even if Estelle has some doubts creeping into her, she still wants to believe in everyone. So she moves in a bit and makes an attempt to grab Sayaka's hands.]

[destage]

I would hope so after all of--ah!

[...Sorry, Estelle, she's going to jolt a bit back at that, hands going closer to her as possible.]

P--Please don't touch me.

[firstaid]

[When Sayaka jolts her hands back, Estelle stands there in shock for a bit before slowly retracting her hands to her chest.]

I-I'm sorry.

[destage]

...You didn't know. It's okay, Estelle-san.

[Sayaka's tone is...a little more gentle, even if it takes a few moments for her arms to go down.]

[firstaid]

[She just nods, not really sure what to say. Given she's a touchy-feely person, well, she's not sure what to do because only Repede rejected her like this... but Repede is totally different.

And also a dog.]

O-okay...

[destage]

[...oh no, oh no, she feels bad now--she should've just let her, right? That's...]

...Estelle-san, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that.

[firstaid]

[She shakes her head, even if she's slow doing that.]

No, it's fine. I... no, it's fine.

[She just does things that she thinks are acts of friendship or are helpful and she ends up hurting others.

...it's not the first time she's done this. At least Sayaka won't die from her attempting to hold her hands.]

[destage]

...No, it's...I was rude...

[...it's not fine.

It's not fine and Sayaka knows it, she's not supposed to be like that, even with Orihime, she--

Sayaka reaches out to try to take Estelle's hands in hers.]

[firstaid]

[Estelle won't reject it if Sayaka does reach her hands, but she doesn't grasp the other girl's hands... not yet. She wants to make sure she's okay before she does because she doesn't want to see that adverse reaction again.]

M-miss Maizono... you don't have to force yourself if you don't want to.

[destage]

No--No, it's fine. It's completely fine. I shouldn't have reacted like that. It was cruel to.

[...she's not quite looking up, but she's definitely chiding herself inwardly. Ugh. Stupid, stupid, stupid--]

[firstaid]

[Estelle grabs Sayaka's hands gently in a kind action as she calms down herself now that she knows it wasn't a rejection. That's what hurt her at first, but now she knows.]

If you don't like to be touched without warning then I don't think it's your fault.

[Some people are constantly paranoid, she just hasn't met someone like that before.]

[destage]

...Everyone else doesn't care. Everyone else, they just...touch each other freely and without any sort of care.

[Why can't she is the unspoken bit of this, and she just...kind of shakes a bit.]

[firstaid]

[Estelle has to fight an impulse to bring Sayaka into a hug, but she does fight it. After a bit she let's go of Sayaka's hands. She's not sure if that's what Sayaka wants, but she thinks it's the right choice.

She thinks.]

Most people do it as a friendly gesture... There's usually never any ill-intent behind it, and it seems like you know that and are upset you can't appreciate that. But it's okay, I think. You show your way of caring for others through actions. You sing, you cook, and you're always doing things to make sure people are smiling!