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

[heritrix]

[Blood, she gets. Love... Rin thinks of Shirou and Sakura, and the hole in her heart hurts more.]

Love is absolutely complicated. [This is grumbled without thought, mostly to herself.]

I wouldn't say that's what got Blue killed. So far, she's the only culprit I've been able to sympathize with.

[That's why she offered what she did. Though they never spoke before that day, Blue has been the only murderer Rin felt she could understand. For a day or two after that trial it bothered her, and she brings her hands to her chest now recalling it, eyes downcast.]

But she was impulsive, and didn't think things all the way through. She was scared, and that was her downfall more than anything.

[matchbreaker]

That's true, but there's something a lot more basic than that. If that's what you've gotten out of it, then you're missing the heart of the thing.

[ she licks one of her fingers, and then points that long nail at her., ]

Loneliness killed her.

1/2

[heritrix]

[While she doesn't respond to that right away, Rin's eyes fly wide at Elda's words.


A mother who left her behind, to chat cheerfully to ghosts of ones no longer there. Who spoke her name but never saw her when their eyes met.

A girl who looks sad and never smiles, and she can never talk to seriously. Not even to ask a question. "Do you miss me as much as I miss you?"

A house that's too quiet. A house you can hear every sound in if you listen hard enough, whether your upstairs or downstairs, because it's been a decade since more than one person has really lived and breathed in it.

How it felt a little more alive when Archer was there, dependable and by her side. How much it hurt when even he left her.

How happy she was when a stupid boy rescued her.]

[heritrix]

[Rin bows her head. Maybe she understands what Elda is talking about a little better than she thought.

She bites her lip as she turns away, because she's sure if she didn't she would cry. It takes a second to seize back control of herself.]

Do you think loneliness will kill you too?

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . She... That's recognition in the girl's eyes. She's seen some tragedy, and perhaps never thought about how to connect that pain to other people. Maybe she never considered it in herself? She's not really sure what it is. The fact is that Elda doesn't want to deal with that girl's pain now, even if she should.

And...

She bows her head. ]

... I would have fallen to it, after that tragedy I told you. I'm intensely blessed to have been courted by my James there. That he gave me two centuries of marriage, a child, three grandchildren. ... I'll never be alone again, that's what I thought. And now, here... Well, I'm apart from that beloved family of mine.

[ . . . ]

When I explain it like that, it's no surprise I found those people I decided I liked here.

[heritrix]

[Sayaka's the one that comes to mind first.]

Do we remind you of them?

[matchbreaker]

Not by a longshot. Not a a one of you could begin to stand in for them.

[ but... ]

Rather... I don't want - no, I wouldn't survive being alone.

[heritrix]

[Rin actually looks more satisfied than not by Elda's answer, taking that with an immediate and firm nod. That's good. She'd rather be recognized as her own person.]

Maybe there's an Option 3 after all, then.

[matchbreaker]

Yeah?

[ Girl you clearly just got thrown for a loop here, but... ok. ]

[heritrix]

Yes, though it's more like a combination of the two.

[Accepting certain humans for the sake of survival.]

That probably turns your gut even more, but given everything you've admitted, it sounds the most like you.

[matchbreaker]

[ Bah ]

How regrettable, that I came in here just to hear what I already knew.

[ It's giving her hives, she swears.

But... no, that is the only logical answer. ]

[heritrix]

Seriously. It means you kept me up for nothing.

[Except you know, sometimes you need to talk through these things.]

[matchbreaker]

Oh, I suppose! But I do like you well enough, so it's okay.

[ . . . Logic???

Either way, she's leaping back to her feet with a laugh. She feels... not quite better, but perhaps lighter. She intends to walk back to the door after Patting Rin on the back. ]

[heritrix]

[I mean, her cheeks are coloring a little at that.]

If you mean that, be more considerate. Geez. [Rin gets up to see Elda out. At least she looks less down in the dumps.] It was a difficult day, so I'll forgive it this once.

[matchbreaker]

Would I say something I don't mean?

[ with a fanged smirk!

... she's going. ]

[heritrix]

...I suppose not. [She's still going to huff a bit.] Good night.

[And she'll close the door behind her.]