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

[hesperos]

[ It was an offer, so he'll move along. Yuri's not expecting the question, but maybe he should, considering what's happened. ]

Yeah, of course you can, and I know I can trust you.

[ He's saying it before he can think twice about it. It's been a long few-- well no, more than just a few weeks. It's been a long five weeks now, and he's in no mood to just lie down, ready to think it's futile. ]

I wouldn't give up that easy. You feel the same, right?

[firstaid]

[Estelle smiles a bit upon hearing this. There's no hesitation in his voice and maybe that's what she needed. It's like all question of her distrusting Yuri was wrong (though she's learning to distrust everyone in general). However, it's not something that feels natural to her so this entire program and stay just feels wrong.]

Of course... Of... course...

[Yeah she can't keep that up for long before she starts hiccuping again and moves in with an attempt to embrace Yuri. She just... needs someone. She stopped going to Yuri because she was afraid... because of so many things that her dreams messed with her and just this stay in general.

But one thing remained. He was always there supporting her when she had to get through her doubts.]

[hesperos]

... Yeah.

[ Of course Yuri will allow Estelle to hug him; he always has whenever she's done anything like this anyway. This time it's less of a surprise, considering recent events, but it still registers as one enough that there's a small 'woah'. But there's the usual smile when she does and he pats her back a little.

He can't really think of any words to give her for the moment, but he'll let her hug him as long as she wants. Yuri's not about to leave a companion of his hanging, after all. ]

[firstaid]

[She's holding on to him-- a familiar scent and a familiar feel as she can feel herself calming down some even though she's still shaking a bit. It's been a rough five weeks, but she can be grateful she still has Yuri.

'You're lucky you have someone you can trust' is something she's been told a lot. Now it's becoming real to her.]

We're going to... find a way out, right? We're going to keep fighting so we can escape... right?

[hesperos]

[ Yuri muses over her words for a bit--when he was having those dreams in those two previous weeks, it was admittedly hard for him to think things through more clearly. But he does have an answer. ]

Yeah, we might have a long way to go, but we need to keep looking ahead and moving forward ahead with our two feet. We'll find a way. It'll be hard, but we're pretty tough too.

[firstaid]

[She holds on to Yuri a bit longer before she lets go and takes a step back. Now she's a bit calmer and can think things through a little more clearly. Like Yuri, her positive dream last week helped a lot despite all that had happened prior. This trial hurt a lot, but she needs to move forward... for her own sake.]

Yes, we'll find a way. I'll help to find one, too-- I just know we can't give up. I know when you're with me that I feel like I can overcome just about anything since you've always been so supportive.

[hesperos]

[ He watches her step back. Well, at least that's one thing settled. ]

Heh, glad to hear it--you know who to find if you feel like you need anyone telling you to keep your chin up or otherwise. And now that we've got our spirits up...

[ He gestures to the food. ]

Did you get a chance to pick out anything yet?

[firstaid]

Not yet. I'm not entire sure if I'm hungry right now.

[Hey at least she's not turning to alcohol this week or stupidly manic. Just... sad. Betrayed. Though it's small blessings that it wasn't Yuri that murdered or was murdered because if it was...? She would be destroyed.

That much she knows.]

I'll try to eat a little bit, though.

[hesperos]

That's fine with me then.

[ He's glad she's definitely doing better than before -- or at least seeming to feel a bit better. ]

How's everything with everyone else, not relating to trial stuff, been going for you this week?

[ So basically 'everyone else who isn't Terumi and Mikoto'. ]

[firstaid]

[She can get the hint of not thinking about Terumi or Mikoto. She never spoke with Terumi, but Mikoto.... was a different thing. It's best to just forget about that right now.]

I think it's all been fine. Elda is still upset with me, but I've accepted it. [And she knows what she did and she just... well, she's not dwelling on it.]

[hesperos]

Well, sounds good that things have been going alright for the most part.

[ That's for the best, really. He'll lean against the wall nearby the table. ]

For now I guess it'll be good to just try to relax tonight before whatever happens tomorrow.

[ By that he means whatever Jericho said at the end of trial--he assumes she at least was able to catch that. ]

[firstaid]

Yes, that's the plan. I'm... a little afraid of these changes, however, we need to just... play it by ear, I suppose.

[hesperos]

Pretty much.

[ ... ]

Is there anything else that's currently on your mind you wanna talk about?

[firstaid]

[Estelle shakes her head.]

Not really. I'm still trying to get my thoughts together if I'm being honest.

[...]

Mikoto was really kind to me this week, so... I'm just trying to figure it all out.

[hesperos]

Yeah, that might take a bit.

[ Since it just...recently happened. ]

Well, I'll give you time to do that at least. I'm still going to be around in here if you need me for anything too. So just let me know, alright?

[firstaid]

I will, Yuri. I promise.

[If she can get her thoughts in order, at least.]

Is it alright if I stay by you for a bit? Though if you wish to be alone then I'll respect that.

[hesperos]

Yeah, it's no problem.

[ He's planning on spending a long few hours in the ballroom, so he's not adverse to her hanging around him actually. ]

The night's still got a long way before it ends and everything, y'know?

[firstaid]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[For now, she'll just sit in a chair as if to make the statement she'll be staying for a bit.]

It's scary, you know? Knowing that every week now someone perishes.

[There's a beat.]

Though I've been good about staying in my room on Thursday nights because I think people get anxious when they know the timer is going to be up now. I find that timer to be scarier than the motives, if I'm being honest.

[hesperos]

[ ... You know, that is certainly a thing he agrees with. ]

That's a good idea--I've been pretty much doing the same thing for those exact reasons.

I think the timer's more of a real threat than most motives they've offered since they pretty much have proven that they're not kidding around with that.

[ Sure he knows they had up the secrets motive soon enough but some of the motives he's seen presented are a ... bit much, even for him. ]