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

[sadisticwarfare]

[He's quiet for a moment before he speaks up again.]

I'm not sure I can trust anyone else in my space. You understand, surely.

[It isn't anything personal, it's just that he's a paranoid mess, as Kimblee oh-so-helpfully revealed during the trial.]

[perpend]

Of course. I can't exactly blame you.

[Kimblee was a jackass to do that, holy shit.

Even if it was kind of obvious.]

.....Would you care for a cup of tea?

[sadisticwarfare]

After that, I believe I'll swear off of tea entirely for awhile.

[This will probably last a day at most.]

[perpend]

[He laughs faintly, because honestly... he can't blame Archer.]

Coffee, then?

[He will make it in front of you to calm your paranoid ass.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[...]

That's acceptable, as long as I can watch you prepare it.

[NOTHING CAN CALM HIS PARANOID ASS OKAY.]

[perpend]

Of course. That's reasonable enough.

[He smiles, motioning for Archer to follow him to the kitchen.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He'll follow, though he's quiet as he does so. It's only once they're in the kitchen that he speaks up.]

...It's appreciated, by the way.

[He knows Cabanela doesn't have to go to this much trouble for him. It's... nice, he supposes.]

[perpend]

Don't mention it.

[He smiles, getting to work on preparing the coffee, making an obvious show of doing it in clear view of Archer. No poison here!]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He watches carefully anyway, even though it seems pretty pointless. If someone wanted to poison him, they wouldn't do it now. Probably.

Thanks for indulging his paranoia, though.]

[perpend]

What have you been through to end up so paranoid, anyway? I've met military types, and they're usually not so on-edge.

[He's probably not really expecting an answer.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[This expression.]

It doesn't hurt to be paranoid in a situation like this, you know.

[Yep, sorry, Cabanela. No answers here.]

If anything I should be more paranoid. I let my guard down and look what happened.

[perpend]

[Archer.....]

It's not something to be ashamed of. Kimblee was an incredibly charming man; detecting ill will from him would have been difficult, to say the least.

[sadisticwarfare]

I should have known better than to trust anyone. I only knew him for a month. I should have been suspicious the first time he wanted to make tea for me.

[It's probably the stupidest thing to beat himself up over, but this is how he's handling Kimbley's death. By uh... not handling it at all, actually.]

[perpend]

....It's not your fault, you know.

[Just putting that out there.]

[sadisticwarfare]

I know it isn't.

[The words come easily, but the sentiment that should be behind them isn't there. He should have stopped this, somehow.]

[perpend]

...Do you?

[His tone is questioning, like he's not sure he believes Archer, but he leaves it at that.]

I'm not really a fan of the coffee this place has given us, but it'll do.

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's a good thing he does, because Archer isn't really sure himself.]

...It's dreadful. I usually prefer the tea we have here.

[But he'll still drink the coffee and after today, it seems like a much safer option than tea.]

[perpend]

Your cup might need a bit of cream in it, then.

[He doesn't really blame Archer for wanting to avoid the tea forever.]