One day we'll reach to emotions: unexplored, unprecedented

[matchbreaker]

[ Sometime shortly after the trial small notes will be folded underneath the doors of everyone still alive, and also posted to the staircase leading up to the upper floors. Not many of you have probably seen Elda's penmanship yet unless you checked that Penmanship check a while back, but it's impossibly impeccable fancy cursive script, to match with her old timey appearance. ... She also writes a lot more proper than she talks. ]

To My Fellows,

The half of you who didn't assist me in this are cordially invited to a celebration of our continued living, and to the memories of those who aren't. We are a mismatched group,
but it has become increasingly clear that we are together in this. Do not allow yourself to be alone.

We will be congregating in the ballroom for the rest of the night.

Better chefs than I will be providing food.

Sincerely,
Elda Marker

[ she's being somewhat facetious about half the group, but the fact does remain that she got more offers than she expected, when she set out to do this. She had expected that Sayaka would help, and indeed both her and Alex provide cookies and curry for the tables. Elda herself sets up the tables, dotting one longer central one made of smaller ones in the ballroom for things to sit on. The bulk of the food's provided by Tarrlok of all people, Chinese food by any other name. Susan, bless her, provides alcohol. Hibki, once she was clean, decided to run backup on preparing the food.

And then perhaps fittingly, Aligula provided the decorations. Steamers line the room, and little cut outs hang around. At Elda's instruction, it's a mix of cats, snakes, and bats. The majority of them have little faces on them. And finally, as and afterthought more than anything else, Elda makes some tea.

... Said tea is black tea and is impossibly dark and bitter because she can't taste it, but maybe that's what you want on a night like this. Who knows. ]

Comments

Dining Room

[destage]

[Sayaka goes to seek Hibiki out, actually--she's a little out of it, but the girl's company is something she appreciates. She was gonna immediately go to the bar with these, but Sayaka comes over to sit with her, plate of dango just...kind of in the middle, if Hibiki wants to grab one for herself. Sayaka doesn't mind.]

You did a great job at the trial today, Hibiki.

[brandnewday]

[Hibiki is, for the most part, managing. Even with the increased number of bodies, it, uh. Wasn't a Kimblee trial. It feels a lot less intense this after-party because of that.]

Haisai, Sayaka! Everyone did so well...I'm so relieved. I never thought we'd be dealing with two culprits like that.

[destage]

[Damn right it doesn't. Sayaka nods her head.]

Honestly, if we didn't notice the connection between the two...I think we would've just voted for Terumi-san, and that would have been horrid.

[She'll...pluck up one of her dango and eat it to kind of fill the silence. Once she's done.]

How are you feeling, though?

[brandnewday]

I really don't wanna think about that. Even if it would've been better if it was only Terumi...-san.

[She doesn't want to add a -san. She hates that he thinks he's Susanoo.]

I'm alright! ...That was pretty scary, though. What Jericho said at the end of the trial.

[destage]

...I understand, then, I'll drop it.

[Ahaha, that...that gets Sayaka's gaze to avert a bit, and it's an uncomfortable subject. Even still, though...]

...I'm scared too, honestly. I don't want to think about what those changes could possibly be, not...not at all, really.

[brandnewday]

[Ahaha. Here they are, two idols who seemed to have hit on the worst two topics of all. What would have happened if Mikoto had gotten away wit hit, and what's going to upset their life next.]

H-hey, but we've been doin' our best at gettin' by, right? I'm sure you and I will be able to handle it! Nankurunaisa!

[But even Hibiki sounds a little defeated.]

[destage]

[They are doing great at this, they are professional as hell. Maybe next thing they can do is play feeling parkour--]

Of course we will. We're strong girls, and stronger than what this place can do to us. We'll...we'll be fine. Nankurunaisa~!

[...Honestly, that's just fun to say? And honestly, she can see why Hibiki says it. It's...nice.]

We just...need to keep faith.

Now I'm just picturing a murdergame where a parkour accident happens and everyone is stumped

[brandnewday]

[Hibiki knows how to calm a stampeding bull and how to ride a shark. Clearly, it's time to pas on those skills.]

Eheh, that's exactly how you say it! I'm so glad! If I'm not here, you're gonna have to keep sayin' my word for me, alright?

[She says this so cavalierly that she doesn't even realize that she's said something pretty dark.]

If we keep doin' right by ourselves and right by others...we'll find our way outta here. I really believe that.

Oh my god, that'd be absolutely terrible

[destage]

Don't worry about it--I'm more than happy to.

[You are asking the wrong person about saying dark shit, it's cool as far as Sayaka's concerned. It's a real concern, but she doubts Hibiki could ever let something happen to her.]

We just have to keep moving forward--it'll be an arduous path but...I know it'll be worth it in the end. We just have to keep believing that...there is a path forward, and it's one that'll lead to a brighter end.

[...]

Um, hey, would you like to try one of these? [Sayaka points to the dango on her plate--there's plenty there.] I haven't made these in a while, so I was hoping I got the proportions right on them...

a parkour accident is definitely the worst kind of self ko

[brandnewday]

That's what I think, too. What you're describing is kinda nankurunaisa, too, but in your own words. Hehe, I think that's really cute.

[Hibiki thinks Sayaka is cute, though! Girls are cute.]

I don't mind if I do! Eating an idol's dango...ya know, there's a lot of people who'd pay good money for our food~.

[She reaches for one of the dango and she goes right for it. Well? Are the proportions good, or does Hibiki need to pretend to enjoy them?]

[destage]

[Perfectly proportioned! ...Maybe just the tiniest bit sweeter than intended due to some extra sugar, but the flavor, she be there.]

Well, thank you...I try my best, if nothing else, on both ends! I've always been pretty good at cooking--I didn't have much else to do, when I was young.

[brandnewday]

[Uwoah! Hibiki's eyes light up!]

These are really great! I love how sweet they are! [She'll even help herself to another.] Oh, yeah? Come to think about it, I don't know much about what you were like before becomin' an idol, do I?

[destage]

[Sayaka just beams at that. Phew, she's glad Hibiki likes them!]

Thank you! I'm super glad--I've always liked to make them a little sweeter than the recipe calls for, and it never usually clashes with the tea, either. Just means I need to add a little less sugar to it!

[...That next bit, it...gets a bit of her rubbing the back of her head.]

Well...there isn't too much to talk about, really. I was kind of a latchkey kid.

[brandnewday]

I really like how you made 'em! It's nice to have somethin' a little sweeter, right? And it tastes better knowin' you put your own personal touch in there. I do the same thing when I cook.

[Come to think of it, she should really make her special curry...]

Just a latchkey kid, huh? I dunno if I was excitin' or not before I became an idol. I just lived close to the beach with my family.

[destage]

I'm glad that you think so. I've always been fond of sweets, myself...they're kind of a weakness of mine.

[...Ah, that...mmm. It sounds like...a lot. She remembers Hibiki's secret, after all.]

...My dad worked so much that I didn't usually see him before I went to bed, and I barely saw him when I woke up in the morning before going to school. I'm...probably really lucky, that he allowed me to become an Idol in the first place. We lived in the city, but it always just...I don't know. It felt weird.

[...]

Was...everything okay in your family, Hibiki?

[brandnewday]

If I had a weakness, hmm...I'd probably say it's people who are mean to animals.

[That works, right? She listens to Sayaka's story. It doesn't sound horrible, but it sounds horribly lonely.]

My family was pretty normal until my dad passed away. He was really sick for a long time, so my mom and grandma had to make money to pay for his medical bills, yanno? After that, my brother and I started fightin' all the time, but...there we good times, too, I think. But I haven't talked to him for years after our last fight.

[That's a long time to hold a grudge.]

[destage]

...I think that's more something to get angry at...a weakness is more something you adore, I'd say?

[...oof. Sayaka doesn't have any siblings, but...that sounds like such a heavy subject. Losing a family member, having it get so bad that...

...Sayaka's lips purse a bit.]

...I'm so sorry. That...that must have been so horrible to deal with. Fighting like that, and causing your relationship to go down that far with your brother. I can only imagine, but...I bet they're all proud of you for getting this far. Yeah?

[brandnewday]

Ah! You're right! My weakness is cute animals, then! Rabbits, mice, dogs, cats, alligators, sharks, bears...I love 'em all!

[Some of these things aren't like the others but would anyone expect anything less from Hibiki by now?]

My mom and my grandma are happy for me, but my mom's really busy, too. Part of the reason I became an idol in the first place was to help with the money, yanno? But it's not the only reason! There are all sorts of reasons.

[destage]

[...You know what, she's not surprised after the bear conversation. Hibiki can love all the animals she wants, honestly.

That, though...Sayaka seems sympathetic.]

No, I...I get that. I was kind of hoping I could help my dad a bit when I got into the business as well, money-wise. There's nothing wrong with that, or having a multitude of reasons to want to get into the business. But don't think it's a bad thing, Hibiki...if anything, I'm sure your mom appreciates every bit of it.

[brandnewday]

I'm sure she does. I know she buys my CDs, and I get letters sometimes...but strikin' it out in the world on my own was pretty important to me. It's hard to be an idol based in Okinawa, but I knew I could do it in Tokyo if I tried.

[It was a little terrifying at first, as being a sixteen year old minor in a new city can be.]

Did your dad appreciate it, too? When you became an idol, I mean.

[destage]

That's so amazing of her... [Sayaka brings her hands up close to her heart, clasping them.] That sort of dedication is...absolutely what you need to succeed. And you know what? You will. You'll continue to make your mother proud, and be able to make your own way in the world. I promise.

[...]

I don't...honestly know, though. Now that I work so much too, we don't really speak all that much.

[brandnewday]

[That's amazing? She's so sure that any parent would do that, but...hmm. She's trying to keep in mind their different lives here.]

Y'know, she asks me sometimes about what other idols she should be followin'. I really wish I could recommend her to you! I bet she'd buy all your CDs and watch all your shows just like she does me.

[That's supposed to be a feel-good statement.]