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

[matchbreaker]

[ Almost first name, huh?

Elda presses her lips together. More and more people have gotten fond of her, haven't they? It's just just some strange quirk of Sigrun's. How strange. ]

You'd suspect it would be bad for her?

[destage]

She's...she's blank faced, sometimes, but...not usually like that.

[...Maybe it is just because she's fond.]

...I guess I'm just worried.

[matchbreaker]

No, if that is your suspicion, I'll take it somewhat seriously.

[ She thinks about one of their more recent encounters... huh. ]

Ultimately, better something against her than against us though, I suppose...

[destage]

I'd rather something happen to none of us.

[...there's a surprising amount of force in her words, but she...dampens it, once that's out there.]

But I...I get you. I just...yeah.

[matchbreaker]

[ Alena isn't a part of "us," she almost corrects... but then, can she say she 100% believes what she wrote on the invitation? Her eyes open with some surprise, and then she corrects. ]

Did you invite Alex yet?

[destage]

[...huh?]

She was...in here earlier, helping me out with the cookies. [...] Or did you mean something else...?

[matchbreaker]

To Shihaba. Unless you've decided to have me rescind my offer.

[ GIRL. ]

[destage]

Oh! Oh...oh my god, I need to talk to her about that. I am so sorry? That completely slipped my head while we were working...

[Two guesses to who feels like a dumbass, and the first doesn't count.]

[matchbreaker]

[ With a flat look and a flatter tone: ]

You've had a day or two beside that too.

[destage]

I-I'm sorry! It's been a stressful last couple of days, okay? I won't forget to ask her tomorrow, then, I promise.

[orz]

[matchbreaker]

Well no, go at your own pace [ Why can't you just do it tonight...? ] but please, do remember to do so! I've arrangements to make, and it'll be simpler if I don't need to kidnap her there.