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

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? ]

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[She somehow missed the candle throwing, but that doesn't lessen her concern for the other girl. A few hours after the party, Hibiki receives a knock on her door.]

Hibiki? It is Adelina.

[There's a response to the first part waiting on her lips, but it's what Rin says next that throws her off guard. It's not hard to hear the pause before she speaks or the mixture of confusion and curiosity in her voice.]

You do? For what?

[She sees Alex looking over the list of names, and it's not too difficult to discern what she's referring to.]

...It is difficult to know. So much of it depends on the motivations they might have been presented with.

[Incidentally, she comes here after she's already accepted that Sayaka doesn't want to be found. All the same, as she walks into this room to find new supplies - she hears the voice, and it's enough to bring her closer. There's definitely concern as she speaks up, approaching the barrier.]

...Sayaka?

[Adelina happens to be in here, making (much simpler) sandwiches, but she's watching Susan's progress at her cooking with interest.]

Have you known how to do that for long?

Is it really so impossible?

[ She says it mildly, discarding two. She taps her finger on the table and... despite her letter, despite what she said to Kirei at the end... ]

I don't think it's impossible of myself.

Noble... ah. Ah, there, I suppose I get it now.

[ She laughs a little to herself, following his gaze. She hums, ]

... I can't help but think there should be something else.

[ Mmm. She closes her eyes, exhales and... well. She nods a little, leaning forward on the table. There's much more to discuss there. But no, tonight is probably a bit much here. ]

I keep thinking I should reach out more for you, but I'm always so confused about the approach of it, if I'm honest.

[ Ah well. ]

You invited me in the moment you opened the door!

[ In fact, she's going to shove Rin towards her bed!! So there!! ]

[ . . . "You're one of those people."

Elda- feels very weak in that moment. She squeezes the other woman's hands, frowning slightly. She... she can't promise anything about that, can she? Not really. She's relieved Susan has answered like that, but. Mm. ]

I can't have you thinking of me with contempt.

I imagine it would be tedious to worry about two different matters like that, yes.

[ Her foot rocks, and leans back in her seat. ]

... My granddaughter's been kidnapped. That's the most recent update I've gotten.

When we first met and you asked about my father, I lied by omission. [...] We didn't know each other well then. It's not the sort of thing you say in an introduction.

I never will. You are mine, and I shall see you until you grow old, until you've come to the end of your days. I shall kiss your brow, and know you lived a long, fulfilling life. I-- I swear this.

[ Because elda won't die before her. It's the promise she can make. She keeps holding her girl a moment longer, but then squeezes her gently. She... pulls back and then shakes her head ]

... But I shan't presume that solves everything. I know I brushed past more. Let us... speak of it.

Calming... huh?

[ She nods, and she considers a moment before, well... let's go for something more simple. Something that she knows she can do. ]

[RUDE. It's not even like they were that close to the bed, arguing by the door as they were, so that probably turns into a stumble and a well-executed recovery to keep herself from falling on her ass.]

You wouldn't leave even if I told you to! I asked you what you wanted, and you just kept kicking my door like a brute! You're definitely not here because I want you to be!

[Yuri is the only person Rin seeks out today, though it's pretty late when she does so. Just after the time most people would be heading for bed, she knocks at his door lightly.]

Yuri? It's Rin.

[ Oh Luca... ]

I'm sure she still considered you to be a good friend, you know. Estelle's really not the type to hold grudges, and she forgives easy. So, I can't really tell you not to bother you too much, but it's not like...

[ He sighs. ]

I don't know. It's been a long day.

You take care too, Sayaka.

[ He's a bit tired, but he manages a slight smile, for a moment. ]

I'll be fine. [ He pauses, because it was just him saying out of habit if anything. ] But if there's anything bothering you, just let me know. Or I guess I'll just figure it out later when we talk sometime again.

Yeah, no candle for the bastard.

[ That's not what she meant, he knows, and he just reels it in for a moment. ]

Maybe there should be something else. For her.

I can't say I know what she'd want hanging around besides any of this, though.

[ Yuri's a late sleeper, so it works out just fine.

He's just lounging around in his bed. ]

Yeah? What is it.

[ Oh- oh, goodness, here they go! In the excitement of the moment, she nearly stumbles, but Alex doesn't care. This is what she needed. What Sayaka needs, to distract from the reality come morning.

A peel of laughter escapes Alex's mouth as she hits the bed and rights herself, the stray strands of hair slipping into her face. ]

I- I don't, I don't! You could be a total blanket hog and I wouldn't mind! [ ...Ehhh- ] Much. Cuddly, not cuddly, it's... It's you, right? So that's all that matters.

[ Oh, that's... She turns her attention to Adelina. ]

What do you mean?

Rationally I know that, but it still would have meant more to actually say something.

[He chuckles a little, but it's hollow.]

I suppose Kirei's words got to me. They made me want to at least try to be a good person.

...Yeah? Well...it's kind of the same here. Out of my experience. I may have those guys in my head, but...dead military dudes out of time are kind of different from a hundreds-of-years old vampire.

Then I am glad as well, to be here and help.

[He's being honest too. It's not one of those hollow platitudes like he always gave out at the university when asked to do some inane task. He actually wants to help.

Funny, how a few weeks in closed quarters with people will do that.]

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

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