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]

An apology doesn't mean much if your heart isn't into it. It can wait.

[He more thinks that Yuri is just drained now, and that an apology would be better later, when he can actually feel something.

But Luca is going to go ahead and sit on the edge of the bed, because sitting down would be helpful now.]

...we had an argument, you know. Myself and Estelle. It was one of the last times we talked, before...today.

[heritrix]

[...]

I love my father. To me, there was no one more splendid, and he was everything I wanted to be. But mages live their lives expecting their own deaths, and he passed ten years ago. As the current head of the Tohsaka family, I'm sure he'd be cross if I came to his rescue at risk to myself and our legacy, when there's no place for him in the world anymore.

[destage]

...Like I have a problem with that, you silly goose. I'd love that. Either room works, but...since we're here, how about we stay here?

[Sayaka giggles, brightly--she doesn't want to be alone, but...well, the one time they did this, it was on accident, kind of. But now they're doing this together, and it makes Sayaka happy.]

How...how do you want to do this? I don't want you to be uncomfortable...

[notaccurate]

[The response he gives comes after much deliberation, and if Rin looks closely enough she can see a few times where he started to write something more diplomatic but crossed it out.]

That is bullshit. Any father would be happy to see their daughter, especially if their daughter had grown into a wonderful young woman and was the one doing the rescuing.

If you think he would feel anything besides pride for you, you're wrong.

[heritrix]

I knew that. [Rin breathes in, voice tight with a wince.] I've always known that.

dining hall

[sleepytimegal]

[ Alex sits near him, and after a moment. ] That's him? ...I didn't get a good look back there.

[sleepytimegal]

[ Any other time, there'd be an urge to tease her, to play coy or joke a bit. Right now, though... Alex replies, very sincerely: ]

I won't be. Whatever you want to do... I won't be uncomfortable at all.

[bloodbiter]

Ah, no. I meant more... A specific mood than a specific piece.

[Since they come from different time periods (not to mention different worlds) and all, she isn't certain how much they would have in common.]

Something soothing and calming, perhaps.

[heritrix]

Is that how you'd feel if your son came for you? If you met him as a young man, and found out you died without seeing him grow up?

[destage]

[...Somehow, that's not surprising. Considering the dig he made at everyone who didn't act, at everyone who's been trying to keep their hands...you know, free of blood? Maybe she shouldn't have been surprised by that.]

...Thank you, Luca-san. [She says that sincerely.] And...I apologize, for allowing myself to sink that far in the first place. It was quite unbecoming.

[destage]

[...Sayaka thinks about it for a bit. There's a lot she hasn't done before, a lot of things that have kind of...just been off the table, forever? But she's got this girl in her arms right now, and she's so close already...

...]

Can we...um...can we share the bed?

[notaccurate]

Absolutely.

[That answer comes almost immediately after he finishes reading Rin's response.]

[notaccurate]

[Luca smiles a little at that.]

We all have our moments. I suppose it's good we have others to pull us back up when we sink down, hmm?

[hesperos]

[ He's not even expecting them to be that fancy, honestly. Yuri's tastes are simple, but that's not to say he wouldn't want to have some.

Yuri is going to be helpful with directing and gesture lazily across the room. Then, he'll just settle for patting the spot next to him. ]

I never thought I'd hear you ask me that.

[ ... ]

I'm doing better than I thought I would.

[ Actually, Yuri is not doing 'better', he's just sort of ... sitting there, holding the drink. He's sort of on autopilot, which probably isn't healthy at all, but after being angry for so long his emotions have decided that it was time to shut off so he didn't crash or something. ]

[bloodbiter]

You can call me Adelina. [That's followed by a small pause, before—] Addie, actually, if you like.

[She doesn't want to rush into this with him seeming so preoccupied, so she'll wait for the conversation to feel natural first.]

[hesperos]

... We're friends. Just thought you should know.

[ He considers them to be that much, anyway. ]

[bloodbiter]

["I wanted to see how you are" seems too false to her. After all, while she not know the significance of what Kirei told Rin during the vote... It's obvious how she was affected. It takes her a moment to think of the right words to see.]

I wanted to be certain you weren't alone if you wanted company.

[The fact that she didn't leave her room might suggest that she doesn't, but... There is a difference between one person giving her company and having to force herself to interact with a large group. Adelina wants to make sure she's neither lonely nor overwhelmed.]

[hesperos]

[ He doesn't respond to that--it's true, though. His heart's not even so much as a bit into it, and most of it is because he is emotionally tapped out. He was angry for hours and that wasn't even the full brunt of emotions he was feeling. ]

What was it about?

[ Because it's clearly time to be nosy if Luca's going to be bringing it up. ]

[sleepytimegal]

Sayaka, I would truly love to.

[destage]

...It really is. It's not something I really ever expected to have in this place.

[Sayaka grins a bit.]

I'm...glad you're here, Luca-san. You're really great to talk to, in times like these.

[destage]

[...That gets something a bit more genuine out of Sayaka, and she winds up bowing her head.]

...We're absolutely friends, then. [She picks her head back up, beaming.] Take care, alright? You've...been such a good help to me, and I hope I can do the same for you.

[notaccurate]

Long story short, she found out my marriage isn't a very good one in one of the worst ways possible.

[Because like hell is he going to admit that this all started over Luca complaining that Yuri was too dense to pick up on flirting.]

She...well. I'm sure you know what she thought of 'true love' and such. So she got a little upset, in the way she would get upset. And I may have said a few things a bit more harshly than needed.

I meant to apologize for it- for my tone, that is- but I never got the chance to.

[destage]

[Sayaka practically squeals a bit--she'll be sorry in a bit, but get over here, you, she's just kind of pulls Alex toward the bed and practically just. Flops on it?

...She'll be sorry in a bit, but she practically bounces a bit, there are poor stuffed animals on the floor and blankets joining them because Sayaka has no self control.]

I'm--I'm so glad...I've never really had anyone to...I don't know, snuggle up with in my sleep, so it's...honestly kinda amazing? You...don't mind if I'm cuddly, do you? I don't know how I am when I sleep, but I hope I'm not a bad bedmate...

[heritrix]

Oh.

[...]

I'm constantly surprised by answers like that, but maybe I'm the strange one. I'd personally find it traumatic.

[heritrix]

Your concern is appreciated, but not necessary.

[...That's too cold. But she's always been like this; it's why she went to her room. When other people are around her, she can't be herself. If she's upset, she can usually shake it off quickly, or resolve it later, but there was no way she could manage that with a day like today.

Adelina probably deserves better than that. After a slight pause, Rin speaks again.]

But I do owe you an apology, incidentally.