The world is all one! Unity mind!

[brandnewday]

[Another week, another set of disasters. Hibiki’s head is still reeling from the lengthy ordeal that was Solf J. Kimblee. But it’s because of that exasperation that she’s able to turn her restlessness into something useful. It’s too late to set about making curry for everyone, so it’s time to make some easier dishes. A replication of Fern’s mac-and-cheese, somehow she’s whipped up some kind of donut to go with her animal-shaped rice balls. There’s coffee, tea...hopefully it’s enough? And if it’s not, Rin has provided some delicious Chinese food. And that always tastes better late at night, doesn’t it?

And for the adults (or the exasperated teenagers), Susan is carting down booze from the bar. Joy. Hibiki’s never written to the group en masse before, but she delivers a piece of paper to everyone while Rin and Susan finish up the preparations. Each paper has a drawing of an animal on it, too.]

Too much has happened today. Whether you want to get angry, cry, smile, laugh, or just be out of your room, you don’t have to do it alone. Rin and I have prepared food for everyone, and Susan’s brought the drinks downstairs so none of us have to go into the bar tonight.

Even if it’s just for a little while, won’t you think about joining us in the dining room tonight? Being together is just as important as working hard. And remember, nankurunaisa!

-Hibiki Ganaha

[Three more candles are lit today. Tabitha Smith. Sigrun Eide. Solf Kimblee. They’re all Cabanela’s doing. There aren't any decorations, but the food is spaced out so everyone should be able to grab something and munch if they need it. It’s not clear how many people will come, but a serious attempt was made this time.]

Comments

ballroom;

[hesperos]

[ It's practically his last stop on a late night walk before thinking of heading back to his room, and he keeps on walking into the room. ]

Hey, Archer. Mind if I join you for a bit?

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer looks up when he's addressed and after a moment he nods.]

I don't mind.

[He likes Yuri well enough, anyway.]

What brings you in here this late at night?

[hesperos]

Felt like swinging on by here after a walk. Figured it'd be good to wander around for a bit before heading off.

[ Too long of a day for him to stop by the dojo, but something like a walk wasn't out of the question. ]

What about you?

[sadisticwarfare]

I just woke up again. I didn't think I'd see anyone out and about at this time.

[But he figures it's safe to be out this late since there isn't the threat of the timer to worry about anymore and there isn't another incentive to push someone into killing (yet).]

[hesperos]

Yeah? I guess I just happen to be one of the few night owls around here.

[ Well, that's not an unreasonable assumption for now. ]

So, a gald for your thoughts? A lot's happened today and all that.

[sadisticwarfare]

[what's a gald. Well, he gets what Yuri's going for, so he doesn't really need to ask. It's just weird to think that other worlds have different currency...]

Yes, a lot certainly has happened.

[It takes him a moment to collect his thoughts and he settles his hands on his knees while he thinks.]

I didn't think he'd kill someone. I assumed he'd want to wait this out, to see what would happen at the end.

[His voice and expression are relatively calm, but his grip has tightened on his pants.]

[hesperos]

I guess he got a little impatient.

[ It sounds to him like Kimblee wanted to do his thing whenever he wanted and decided that the time for it was then. And that was that, besides that weird shit he was going on about. ]

... It might be a bit too soon to ask, considering, but. You gonna be okay?

[sadisticwarfare]

...I don't have a choice. It's either find a way to keep going or paint a target on my back.

[There's no sense in hiding it anymore; he's a paranoid wreck. Still, it's nice of Yuri to ask, which is why Archer bothers answering truthfully in the first place.]

[hesperos]

Yeah, that's true.

...And, well, I can't say there's much else that can be done for now other than to take it easy while you still can.

[ If... Archer is still capable of doing that, even for one day, in light of like. Everything?? Because, yeah. ]

But, if you want to continue to have an ear for some more of that earlier stuff, I've got time right now. If you feel like it sometime else, the offer still stands.

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's not often someone offers to listen to him like this, and he wouldn't have expected it from Yuri, of all people. He just sort of stares for a moment before turning his attention to the piano keys. The first few notes he plays are a bit hesitant, but he quickly remembers what he's doing and begins to play.]

...Originally I sought Kimblee out because he was interesting, but he reminds me of someone from the memories we've been receiving. They aren't the same person, but their names are very similar. Kimbley - the one from my dreams - is insufferable and annoying, but I think I've grown to tolerate him. Even so he's not Kimblee - the man here.

I know it hasn't been all that long, but I'll miss him.

[The words come easier as he keeps playing, but it's still a lot to admit.]

[hesperos]

[ Yuri can't say he would miss Kimblee, in Archer's shoes or not, because he knows he wouldn't miss him at all -- he'd just be super steamed, to be honest. But Yuri gets the idea of getting attached to people and they turn out to be absolutely batshit and you still miss them anyway.

He listens to what Archer's playing for a bit, before he decides to speak. ]

Getting attached to people here in a place like this is easy and can happen quicker than some people might think. I guess that's why you still miss him, even if he pulled crap like that.

[sadisticwarfare]

[To be honest, Archer isn't even mad about everything Kimblee did. He probably should be mad and maybe he will be later, but for now he just feels sort of hollow. Sure, they won against Kimblee, but how long is this going to go on? What if they don't win next time?

...]

I usually don't get attached to people very easily. It's strange, being here and enjoying some peoples' company.

[FRIENDS ARE DIFFICULT AND HE HAS NONE]

[hesperos]

[ Archer...damn, well. Loss (?) is certainly a thing. Yuri in the meanwhile is glad that they manage to somehow catch Kimblee at all, honestly. ]

You don't, huh? I can see that.

[ Considering Archer's everything, really. ]

Well, usually it isn't so bad. Having company can make a situation like this more bearable.

[ Or it can bite you in the ass (see: Archer.) ]

[sadisticwarfare]

I suppose so. There were times when I genuinely wasn't bothered by the situation here.

[And isn't that strange to think about. He hates this place, he hates the game the Coordinators have set up... but sometimes it isn't all that bad.]

[hesperos]

[ Yuri's...definitely had his moments where he's forgotten about how everything's shitty and wasn't bothered because he was goofing around or something nice was happening.

Sometimes he feels a little mixed about that because of the reality of the situation, but then he figures it's better than feeling stressed. ]

Yeah...I feel you on that. Sometimes it's pretty weird, but I think it can be good to have moments when you're not bothered by stuff here.

[sadisticwarfare]

Maybe it is. It just feels odd to forget about the situation for even a moment.

[He shakes his head once that's out there.]

I appreciate the discussion tonight, Yuri. I take it this will remain just between the two of us...?

[He's a paranoid mess and everyone knows it now, but that doesn't mean he wants Yuri to go blabbing that to everyone.]

[hesperos]

I'm not one to go blabbing to other people about someone else's private stuff, so yeah. Anything spoken with me here isn't gonna go to some other person's ears.

[ Yuri's pretty much good at keeping mum. ]

We've enough to worry about, you know?

[ So even if he was the type, he wouldn't want to add that to the list. ]

[sadisticwarfare]

Agreed. Then there's whatever incentive they decide to give us next...

[It never ends, does it? This is the cycle we're stuck in until someone wins or we all die.]

[hesperos]

[ The only real way out here is to break the cycle. ]

Yeah, their incentives aren't something to scoff at. I think what might make them a little worse is the whole 'let's just keep talking about this great thing you'll get if you murder someone and condemn the hell out of everyone if you get away with it' and it just messes with people's heads.

At the point when he's half-way through talking about it I'm thinking of how great it'd be for someone to put a sock in his mouth.

[ Like, goddamn. ]

[sadisticwarfare]

He certainly does like to hear himself talk, doesn't he? It's irritating. I wish someone would shut him up. Permanently, preferably.

[archer also likes to hear himself talk but he's not that bad!!!]

[hesperos]

[ Thank goodness for small miracles that Archer isn't. ]

Oh yeah, I'm with you on that one. All the way.

[ ... And to nobody's surprise Yuri would've done so already if he had a way and the rules wouldn't you know. Screw him over. ]