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

[evilfrenzy]

[The target on the board gets a strange look from Rideaux once he actually notices it. Probably around the time he sets down his drink and moves to grab a box of darts by Aligula's board. Interesting choice of target...]

It is an aim and accuracy-based activity. Of course it's not going to be easy the first few times you do it.

[He takes some darts out of the box and lines up a shot on the nearby board.]

It takes a lot more concentration and steadiness than you might expect. It's not so simple as just throwing the darts and hoping they stick.

[Thwack! goes the dart near the bullseye.]

[innocentloveholic]

It seems like it totally would be, seeing as that's, like, all you're doing anyway.

[ ugh |T ]

I thought I'd just get good at this thing before I put up all the runner-ups for the contest up so then I'm not, like, totally making a mess in front of everyone else, but I miiight jsut, like. Sit out from playing and watch everyone else make a fool of themselves instead.

[evilfrenzy]

Oh, you're going to do that? I was actually hoping for it.

[He was discussing it at the party proper, how nice it would be to see who had good enough aim to hit Jericho in the jugular or forehead.

Hmmm. He starts lining up another shot, though he lingers on it, considering something.]

Obviously I can't help you much with aim, as you're only going to get better at it if you practice. But do you at least want to know the proper stance? That way you can still participate without looking like a complete embarrassment.

[He's sure there will be others looking like complete embarrassments anyway like Aligula says, but he gets wanting to keep appearances up.]

[innocentloveholic]

[ ...Hmmmm. ]

Yeah, sure. [ She doesn't take tips that often, so feel honored or something. Though— ] What's the catch, Evaluating? I didn't take you for one to do stuff because you're nice or a bleeding heart or whatever, and it's not like we're friends or anything.

[evilfrenzy]

[...

Placing his hands on his hips, he turns to Aligula with an expression that reads, "Really?"]

You're saying that like I've just pledged to save your life. But you are correct with your assessment, I'll give you that.

[He is like the furthest thing from nice or a bleeding heart. Why is this man in the medical field again?

Before he gives his reasoning, he just shrugs.]

I can only take so much of the same routine in this place. Is it so wrong to want to do something different for a change?

[innocentloveholic]

[ Her friends trade favors for the littlest things, Rideaux, give her a break.

...Or don't. She hmmmmmms like she's unconvinced, but shrugs too, after a bit. ]

I guuuess not... I mean, that's why I keep thinking of different parties to do. [ They're parties, but they've got variation as far as activities go. ] People keep going like, "Another party already?" but like, it's not like they're doing anything to make up for the lack of mass entertainment.

[ so. ]

[evilfrenzy]

[This is probably another reason why Rideaux does not have friends.][Because things got boring quickly, as Aligula predicted.]

The problem is, activities like "fun" party games and silly themes are difficult to find genuine when we all know in a few days someone is most likely going to be brutally murdered and then, assuming we make it through the inevitably exhausting trial, we'll be throwing ourselves a glorified pity party not long after. Rinse and repeat. [His tone is a bit intense at this point.] What we've done so far has been a poor attempt to candy-coat the fact that this shitty situation we've found ourselves in isn't going to change until the Coordinators decide it is. And wouldn't you know it, according to Jericho that is exactly what is going to happen now.

[...okay, tirade over with. Just let him...take a moment to throw this dart.]

...my point is, we've been here long enough that even your little parties are beginning to become routine, Aligula.

[It just took a salt dump to get to said point, apparently.]