I dreamed of a world so far from here that's not on the map

[matchbreaker]

To my Fellows,

What is "good" and what is "evil" is something that can be debated for longer than most of you will ever live, as is the nature of men. These debates are without meaning in my eyes. Despite that man's belief, men are not born to be good or evil, and what flaws they have in personality or character are things that can be overcome through their choices. Both for better and, as we've seen, for worse.

Life is not without suffering, but I should hope that every one of you is loved by someone. Loves someone. Many of you probably know that some of those loved ones are entering into an experience similar to our own. The terror of that is an undeniable sword which hangs above our heads.

Do not isolate yourselves, and hold onto what belief will best inspire you. And if you wish to join us for another one of these gatherings, meet us in the dining hall at 8PM.

Sincerely yours,
Elda Marker

PS: Those who can taste will once more provide food.

[ Well that sure is a lot of words which is being put under your doors, put on the fridge, and generally distributed around. It... uh, sure is a letter? It's in the same impossibly perfect cursive as last week, and is written with an almost angry bravado. Because even if she was vindicated at the end there, she was vindicated by a (by his own admission) evil priest. So. That feels bad.

Anyway, with some effort, the dining hall (which now has a lot of candles at Cabanela's little shrine, even with adding the two more here) is filled with food: Susan's got the booze as usual but also a big pot of mac and cheese. Adelina's done her noble best with some finger sandwiches. Yuri's brought some sweets that Estelle might've made. As for Elda, well, she still basically can't cook, so what she provides instead is:

A few board games including a Settlers of Catan, Sorry, and Candyland knock off. I guess we're playing games. Or at least she's suggesting it, who knew? ]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

The priest's words are eating you?

[hesperos]

That bastard could blink and he'd make most people feel like acting in a rage. So it didn't look like you were 'making a fool of yourself' to me. Just getting pissed off with his crap.

[ ...So, yeah. He gets it, probably for obvious reasons. ]

No problem--we already saw what happened with me. No need for a repeat of that.

[ Or worse, if Kirei was feeling particularly sadistic and wanted to cause shit amongst them all but that's besides the point. ]

[hesperos]

[ Elda...okay that amuses him a little, but. ]

Susan's a pretty good artist. But, I think you've done good on your end too.

[bloodisthicker]

Oh, he didn't alter his looks.

...

The backstory is definitely a thing he made up, though. He disappeared for a few decades and came back a deranged revolutionary.

[bloodisthicker]

I am definitely on my way to being the model of self-confidence and emotional stability. Now it's just a matter of working out everything else.

[bloodbiter]

[She doesn't make a noise again until the piece ends, and then she gives a light round of applause.]

Thank you, Elda.

[bloodbiter]

I would love one.

[She looks down at the sandwiches she's working on.]

I'm not sure how good these will be, but... Is there anything particular you'd like inside a few of them?

[chessturner]

We'll have to work hard to reach your level of enlightenment and self-confidence. Who'd have thought you'd be our objective to reach?

[If you're in mood to do sardonic comments, then you're fine. Good job]

Are you worried you may not survive?

[chessturner]

Does it at least look like this predicament will end well for your granddaughter?

[If she's fine, the exact details of how she was kidnapped can be found out later]

[heritrix]

[Rin has also been fucking wondering after every party, and has frankly assumed no.]

I should try my hand at baking. [Rin sighs.] We've been here for six weeks, and I've just cooked Chinese dishes, for the most part.

[heritrix]

[Rin shakes her head, setting down the plate, then bracing her hands against her desk with her head bowed. No, that's the problem.]

All I could think about was wiping that look off his face. I wanted to beat him, over and over again, but it was a blind rage. My body just moved on its own. [Hushed, her voice shakes slightly.] I wasn't thinking about killing him at all.

[heritrix]

[Rin shakes her head.]

Rushing him like that could have been a deadly mistake, but it made sense from your perspective. He was a practical stranger to you, who murdered your friend. [The look on her face softens somewhat, then settles back ]

I've been "pissed off with his crap" for as far back as I can remember. He was always trying to get under my skin, and I caught onto that even as a child. Unlike you, I knew better.

[hesperos]

... Yeah.

[ Yuri is sure his friends would've flipped if they knew what they did too--his other friends, honestly. He's kind of expecting a lecture from at least two people here later on regarding that. ]

I guess so, but he did just deliver one hell of a bombshell. If I 'knew better' and hadn't just tried to charge him already I sure would've given it a go. Guess we're lucky we have people around who were there to stop us, huh?

[heritrix]

Yeah. They're good people. [...] I bet you've gotten a lot of visitors already.

[hesperos]

[ Also since the mun forgot the timeframe of this thread, pretend that 'later' was totally he 'expected a lecture' or something. Anyway. ]

They are. Kinda glad to have them around.

[ ... ]

I've gotten a good amount of people. Y'know, just checking in. What about you? I imagine you got a few too, after all of that.

[evilfrenzy]

[Rideaux lets out a light sigh.]

I must admit that seeing you cry would be...difficult to deal with, so that is fine. [The awkwardness would be up to maximum, he is not equipped for that shit.] Still, glad you think so. I don't extend a hand often, but...I am not going to sit here and lie to you by saying you haven't left an impact. Even if you are prone to acts of rash stupidity.

[He probably wasn't going to get through this conversation without calling Yuri out on that. It was rash and stupid, but rage will do that to you. He'd like to say he's above it, but he really isn't.

As Yuri lies back, Rideaux finally takes a sip of his drink, pondering the execution.]

Yes. It was particularly gruesome, wasn't it? An eye for an eye, I would say. What he did to Estelle's remains was rather unnecessary.

[Maybe...not for the same reasons that Yuri would think, but...]

[ninehundredlives]

Oh, I don't know. You could make some grilled cheese or something? A lot of people...that's a sort of childhood food.

[hesperos]

[ Even Yuri can't imagine himself crying. It's such a disturbing image he wishes it away, like jeez, and ah, there it is. Well, that is two for two with him being called out for doing something stupid. ]

... Good. Can't imagine you being anything else than honest with me anyway.

[ Even if he's lying down, he is going to be sipping the drink because he can't be assed to sit back up now. Amazingly, he doesn't spill any of it all over himself. He closes his eyes.

Yuri's glad he could say something like what he did, though. ]

I kind of figured that it was really just to be a horrible piece of crap, than anything else. It'd have implicated him less to have carried her around ... and then do all of that.

...Hell, while we're talking about this, what do you think about the idea that there's even an extra candle up for him now? You think there should be one at all in the first place?

[sleepytimegal]

[ She grins and mimes smoking a joint. Sayaka has to know that, right? ]

Rough, indie rock. They're called the Redheaded Bed-wetters.

[sleepytimegal]

I never said it was, don't call me wise.

[ She's...just barely able to make a joke here. ]

You appreciate that I'm admitting that? Really?

[sleepytimegal]

Just...a full 'nother sweep? Ugh... Yeah, sure.

[ninehundredlives]

...it is pretty irritating. I'm still mad that I can't find a way into any of the things in the game room...

[ninehundredlives]

Oh, so you were a politician.

[...she shouldn't joke. Even if she's not really joking about that because politicians are terrible.]

If you don't want to be like that, then don't. I know that's easier said than done, but fuck destiny. You're the only one who gets to decide what you're going to be.

[matchbreaker]

You're right, I am! That card's inspirational, and it's well needed if the mood's going to be soured this much from one damned priest!

[ She... yeah, that's - we're sure shouting with a open door now. The vampire hisses a little and lurches out to try and yank at the girl's wrist. Or at least grab it? ]

[matchbreaker]

Memories matter and lessons matter, but dead is dead. To give them prominence over anything else...

[ She waves a hand somewhat dismissively as they disentangle, hanging her head. James is dead.

... To think he matters now ...

Well, it's better to focus away from that. ]

Very very well, that was too callous.