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]

[Rin shakes her head; raises it a bit to peek over her knees.]

It's not as hard for me as it is for the rest of you.

[It's hard to tell how much of this is truth from fiction. She's watched every execution closely, without looking away. Every death has disturbed her, but not with shock. Until today, none of the deaths really affected her, but even then she was able to get close to both Tabby and Sigrun's bodies.

...Rin's not a normal girl. She's very aware she's not a normal girl, and that makes situations like this so much harder.]

I don't usually bottle things. When I'm sad or angry, I'm able to handle it on my own, and I trained my whole life for a situation like this. So the things that bother you won't bother me, and vice versa.

If it's a problem, I try to fix it quickly. [Wiping her face with her sleeve, she laughs a little, and it's not unpleasant.] Shirou told me once I get my regrets out of my system, I pay everything back twice over... But I don't know how to do that here.

[Even Archer... Once they'd walked home, she'd been able to come up with a plan of attack that very night. Here she has a rough one, but there's nothing she can do until she's home. If she can make it home.

She can't think of a single time she's been unsure of her path before, or so helpless.]

[sleepytimegal]

...Yeah, this place is kind of an exception in a lot of ways... I... Maybe exploring, or investigating? How do you get it out normally? When you've got the freedom to...do things?

[ Alex figures the best way to help Rin is to figure out something for her problem. Maybe, at least. She speaks gently, but with purpose. ]

[heritrix]

...depending on the problem, whatever's fun, or most productive. My investigations have had zero pay-off so far, I'll admit. I'm not going to give up, but I just wish I could find something.

[sleepytimegal]

I...understand that. I- I wanna find something too, to do something and help. But it doesn't mean you're... I don't know, useless. You help us out a lot, in trials or...just I dunno...talkin' last week. I know that probably doesn't help, but, um...I wanna find something to help.

[heritrix]

[Rin tries to think of the things she likes; what is and isn't available to her with the limitations they have here. Maybe it's because of what they discussed earlier, but the first thoughts that come to mind isn't her usual solo activities, but her daily high school life.]

Maybe we can just... Talk about normal things. I miss pretending to be normal.

[sleepytimegal]

...I think that's something I can help with. It...seems like something I'd really like too.

[heritrix]

That might be something to try then. [Rin sniffs, wiping at her nose before managing a small, watery smile.] Thanks, Alex.

[sleepytimegal]

[ She smiles and...very lightly bumps Rin's shoulder with her fist. ]

Don't worry about it. That's...what friends are for, right?

1/3

[heritrix]

[...Alex would consider her a friend?]

2/3

[heritrix]

[There's a bubbling feeling in her chest as she raises her head, and she can feel her cheeks heat up. Glancing away, then back to Alex again, the ensuing redness will be mistaken for her crying earlier if she's lucky.]

[heritrix]

[But genuine surprise fades to genuine warmth. Rin smiles broadly, without any restraint.]

Yeah.