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

[notaccurate]

I'm not your mother, I wouldn't be scolding you.

[He says in a scolding tone. An unintentionally scolding tone.]

[destage]

[...it takes a bit to get to the door, but she figured this was gonna happen. Someone's probably looking for her, due to being so scarce.

Sayaka opens the door without hesitation.]

Yes--oh. [...hey there, Alex. Sayaka smiles.] ...Come on in. Is something up, Alex?

[destage]

...Luca-san...I worry you're way too nice sometimes.

[...despite her words, though, Sayaka...actually manages the smallest of smiles at that. She sighs a bit, looking down at the red stones in her hand again before just...]

...I don't know if I could. I couldn't...even succeed the first time, and after seeing everyone else die, I... [...] It's...a bit of a heavy story, Luca-san. Do you want to hear it...?

[heritrix]

[It's not a note that's passed under the door next time, but a picture of a man who looks a fair bit older, perhaps in his late thirties or early forties. He has brown hair, and striking blue eyes.]

[brandnewday]

Luca?!

[That's not a voice she's expecting to hear. She recognizes it immediately because wow there aren't many guys left and he's not Yuri or Tarrlok?

She opens the door wider.]

I mean...Valentino-san, I wasn't expectin' you. Do you need somethin'?

[notaccurate]

[Well, that's because she doesn't know about all of his terrible secrets, but he won't mention those. He needs to focus on helping Sayaka right now.]

Of course, tell me.

[notaccurate]

[God damnit why did this hypothetical round get all the good-looking guys

Luca looks at the picture for a moment before passing it back, along with a note on a separate piece of paper.]

He looks nice. A relative?

[notaccurate]

[She got his name right at least, so.]

You seemed upset, and I wanted to check on you.

[sleepytimegal]

No way.

[ Sh- shot down...!!! ]

...Didn't mean that to sound...I dunno, hostile, I just...I'm real tired of it all.

[sleepytimegal]

[ Without a word, Alex walks in and hugs Sayaka tightly. ]

[heritrix]

[It really was Trustfell, the Dream Daddy edition.]

Yes. He's my father.

[If he was paying attention to the background of that picture, it looked a lot like the setup they're in now. The photo Rin showed Luca, and which she accepted back before passing her note, came from her motive envelope.]

[destage]

...In that school, I...got a motive, of my fellow idols collapsed on the stage. You were there when I destroyed that disc, right? They're...pretty much my entire world at home. I don't have a lot, there--just my work, my friends, and...well, I can't really even say my family, because those girls are the closest thing I really have.

[Sayaka doesn't quite look at Luca when she talks. This sort of thing, she's...been telling more people, and it's never easier, each time she does it.]

The boy in my motive...Naegi-kun. He tried to comfort me, when I ran away from the room we were all in. Later that night, I...put on my best act, that I was scared someone was trying to get me...so he'd switch rooms with me. He didn't know it, but I'd sent an invitation to another boy to come to 'my' room. I was...going to kill that boy there, and switch rooms back. So I could frame him, and...get out of there...

[There's clear disdain in her voice when she says that, and she shudders.]

...He managed to kill me. I...only lasted four days, in that school. That's awful, isn't it?

[destage]

[--oh, that...well, this is happening. Sayaka hugs back, but...]

Alex...? Alex? [...] ...I'll get the door, and...let's sit, okay?

[Come on, she'll take care of that, let's sit on the bed or something.]

[matchbreaker]

Yes, that stands to reason. I've not been hit overly hard by them I don't think, but... I am waiting on some resolution.

[matchbreaker]

[ KNOCK.

KNOCK.

KNOCK.... KNOCK KNOCK!!

... Kicks. ]

[heritrix]

[Well, there's only so many people who would resort to kicking. A note is jammed under the door eventually.]

What is it, Elda?

[matchbreaker]

Oh yeah? I guess the vague threats and promises are weird... like I'm still not sure how Blue was a traitor...

[matchbreaker]

People.... [ What a question. She brings a hand to her chin and she brushes the finger on her lips. The answer, in truth, is actually more complex than that. But in the end, ]

Yes, I do.

[ She keeps calling her that... ]

[matchbreaker]

[ . . .

KICKS AGAIN!!! ]

[sleepytimegal]

[ Inside, but...as soon as the door's closed, she kisses her. ]

[destage]

...Even murderers, whether they succeed or not? Or...people who've thrown one of their only friends under the bus?

[...She knows she's told Elda quite a bit. Did she ever go into the specific details...?]

[sleepytimegal]

Me neither. I already hate not knowing where my memories are supposed to stop or start, but all this...? Especially if it wasn't even us, but some...alternate reality us.

[matchbreaker]

[ Actually she's got!!!

...

Mostly elaborate dumb stuff but hey, she can deal cards. We might have chess. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ She's like a ninja. ]

Hello. You look like a truck smacked into you.

[destage]

Mmph--!

[...Oh.

There's...there's something she wasn't expecting, but you know, it...makes her feel so light, like...she can push away all of the thoughts from her head, just for a time.

Sayaka kisses Alex back, pulling the girl closer and just...okay. This is fine. This is very fine, and she's...happy with that much, as long as Alex is.]