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]

...No. Out of everyone here, I think, you...come the closest to that.

[But...]

Maybe it's presumptuous of me, too, though. But...I feel safe, around you. Not even Blue-san's words could take that away.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Hah.

Safe, around her. ]

... You're so delicate seeming, you know. That's not the truth, or at least not all of it, I'm sure. But no, it's fine to be presumptuous.

[destage]

[...ah, that...actually manages to get Sayaka to seize up, shaking her head.]

No...No, I'm...pretty sure this is who I am, at the end of the day. That's...just the way it is...

[matchbreaker]

[ Is it? Like she said, she doubts it. all the same, what with the seize, she'll pull back her hands, putting them gently at her sides.

... She's so gentle with Sayaka in general. ]

... Mm. Sit, girl. Talk to me.

[destage]

Ah...of course.

[She'll do as she's told, easily sitting alongside Elda.]

What would you like to talk about...?

[matchbreaker]

You. The trial, what Blue said to you? I don't know, whatever you figure needs saying.

[ She brushes back her hair. ]

If you feel safe with me of all people, I might as well take responsibility.

[destage]

[...well, that third bit seems to strike the hardest, so let's...talk about that.]

...What Blue-san said, it's...how I've been able to survive in my business. Thinking like that, it's something I'd gotten used to, over there. It's...

[...]

It makes me scared, you know? Because I...I really like these people. I even trust some of them, too. I...felt like I could let my guard down and now I just...I don't know...

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . Mmm.

She nods slowly, settling into a crouch on the floor, so that she can pick up the blood packet, but also now that she looks up at Sayaka. ]

What made here feel different?

[destage]

...With some of you, I can just...be, you know?

[She...pauses a bit at that.]

I don't have to be that perfect, wonderful Idol. I can simply be a girl, and enjoy everyone's company without having to worry that they won't be upset. It's...nice, honestly.

[matchbreaker]

[ Not for the first time, the vampire thinks about how if she seems to hate it so much, why she got involved in the first place. But she thinks better of it, playing with the cold bloodbag between her fingers. ]

That's probably still true, for the most part, honestly. Certainly, it's true with me. I don't even understand this idol thing.

[destage]

There are a lot of expediencies on us to maintain a squeaky clean image. But...in return, we get so much love, and it's...

[It's her driving factor, is what she wants to say, but the words die off quickly.]

It's just...nice, to be a girl.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . She nods. ]

I'm a difference in kind from most of the these people. ... Hell, from you, too. To some extent, that makes trust impossible. I'm not saying your own concerns aren't real, because anything's as real as when you feel it. But the thing of it is, ... well, no, let's back up.

Why's Blue dead?

[destage]

[...Her look goes a little more downcast at Elda's words, but...]

Because she didn't trust us at all, not to harm her.

[matchbreaker]

That's ... well, I suppose that's a big part of it, but if you ask me, if she's a girl who can go on about how you can't have trust a few minutes before she's crying over her folks, it's a lot more simple.

[ Her hand reaches up. One's holding the blood bag, but this on goes up to once more brush at Sayaka's hand. ]

Loneliness is the most insidious killer.

[destage]

[...heh.]

...It really is. And that's why Chitoge-san's dead.

[...she doesn't flinch away from the touch, more just...kind of looking down.]

I...I don't understand it. Her reasoning is easy to understand, but...

I don't...feel anything. I felt something when Caren-san was executed, but when I was watching Blue-san, I...couldn't feel anything.

[matchbreaker]

[ She nods, her hand remaining there, floating over the girl's ]

There's any number of excuses or answers I can make, about how you just had a shock or the like. But really, not like I can answer for who you are and what you feel.

[destage]

...Isn't it bad though? I'm supposed to feel something, right?

[matchbreaker]

No, it's not.

[ Well... no, perhaps in a certain sense it is, but... hmmm ]

Not really. What people feel's based on the sum of their experiences, and it can't be helped. Like I said also, loneliness is a killer. Hatred without and outlet's blinding, is something my husband used to say. Lord knows fear can numb you to any other outlet. The fact of the matter is, that human was fit to see us die. My own misguided sympathy's much more odd in that context.

[ . . . It's worth noting she says human as if it were a curse. ]

[destage]

[...she was like that before, wasn't she. When she mentioned that she was as human as the rest of them...it's...

Sayaka doesn't necessarily settle, but at this point, she has to ask.]

...Humans, we...as a whole, did something very terrible, didn't we.

[She's not expecting a detailed answer, but...it makes some sense, doesn't it?]

James-san, he has a good idea of it, though. If one lets it take over them for too long, it makes them do horrible things. Make rash decisions that they'd never really want to do, in the first place...

[matchbreaker]

[ For a moment, she considers answering that, but... she nods. ]

You... they, they did. It's something I'll never forgive, as long as I live.

[ Despite what James said, urged her for. Sure, that man healed her heart, abated her anger. But to let go of that hatred is to let go of herself, and those memories of her family. Those happy times which were taken from her. It's as good as saying that's all in the past, it's all okay now.

... It's not.

It never will be.

[destage]

...Marker-san...

[...What the fuck have they done? Sayaka's...honestly kind of struck when she hears that, not...really sure what to say, and just...

She'll...move to hold onto Elda's hand, if she'll let her. She doesn't know what to do, but that's...something to start.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Her hand is so warm. She can feel the pulse running through it. She shifts her hand, smiling in spite of herself to hold it back. ... She's a human girl. Just some insignificant human girl. She'd probably grow up to hate her under any other circumstances. But she's also young, not much older than Karin. She's holding her hand...

Elda has a sharp intake of breath, and then ... She wants to smile for her, she does. But the juxtaposition is simply too great, just in this moment. So instead, trying to boil down her anger, she just accepts the girl's holding of her hand.

... She'll never be friends with a human, she had told James. This is still true, but she had also told Sayaka she would keep her safe. So...

So this is fine. ]