Didn't we just do this last week?

[perpend]

[It's starting to look like this is going to be a weekly occurrence.

Just like last week, Cabanela waits a while before he makes his rounds, writing everyone quick notes and sliding them under each occupied door.]

Stay strong.
If you don't want to be alone tonight, meet in the dining hall.
-Cabanela

[Like last week, Cabanela hasn't bothered to provide anyone with food-- that would just be... rude right now, he thinks. Upon first entering, you'll notice that there are now four lit candles in the center of one of the tables.

Feel free to leave mementos for the dead; it's probably appreciated.]

Comments

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[After all of that, all Ashley wants to be is alone at first...but no, eventually she emerges, though it does take some time...and when she does arrive, it's with a freshly-finished scarf.

"I just started on it last night." Well, it looks like she works fast...or maybe she already had more of it done than she'd let on, if her sleep schedule is any indication. Probably that's why she took so long to emerge, honestly. It's a weird sort, looking like three scarves braided together-- blue like Undyne, an almost golden-mustard yellow, and soulful red. The three colors had been harder to pick out than she'd thought...but when she'd gotten started on it, it had been a nice thought- that Undyne would like it.

Now... Well, what now?

Ashley sets it near one of the candles and sighs. Everything's kind of a mess, isn't it?

The rest of the night...well, she's got paper and a pen, and she's getting to work on something at the dining room table. No food right now...and no more crochet either.]

[rickdiculous]

W-what-[urp]-what-whatcha writing.

[Rick kind of wanders by with a mouthful of sandwich and he's burping and is just pretty gross all-around.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[...Hi, Rick. She doesn't really want to deal with him, but like- well, he was nice last time so...]

I'm getting ideas out for my next letter to the Conductor. I want to have it done tonight.

[rickdiculous]

Draw a big middle finger on the back of it. Big - big fucking huge one.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

I think he's going to be getting enough of that from the rest of you. [She crosses out a sentence.] Not that I don't think he doesn't deserve it, I'm just trying to get answers in...a different way.

[announcemyvictory]

...hello, Ashley. I'm. Sorry, for what it's worth. For all the trouble in the trial.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[...the writing slows. She only just glances up. ...Though Elise might notice her also glancing around to make sure a certain someone isn't there.]

I- thank you, I just...it didn't even help to solve the murder.

[announcemyvictory]

Neither did Mr. Sanchez's ranting about politics and nudity, and he isn't sorry about it. At least you weren't trying to make everybody strip. I knew there was a risk, too. I mean, going with anything that will keep us alive, right?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Really? I... I barely even thought he had anything to do with the trial. Just the thought of the letter, and...I panicked. Like always.

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka watches as Ashley set down the scarf. It sets off an odd feeling inside her, a mixture of sadness and worry at the fact that all of this happened again.

She moved a little closer, looking up to the older girl with an expression that conveyed just how she felt about this mess.]

...Sorry. I think she would have liked it.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...Probably. [Ashley's very tight-lipped. Especially since Rakka... Rakka was so messed up about Byakuren and Undyne both...]

I just- I couldn't leave it unfinished. When the night's done... Maybe I'll tie it on her doorknob.

[charcoalfeather]

[IT WAS A HARD DAY FOR RAKKA, ASHLEY.]

Uh, [a little nod.] it would be nice if you did.

.... [Speaking of... she turns her gaze away from the scarf, almost a little pained to look at it.] Umm, Ashley? I wanted to, uh... thank you, for earlier.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Thank me? You mean for...when Hibiki...?

[Ah. This is awkward...]

[perpend]

That's a lovely scarf.

I'm sure she would have loved it.

[It's... not much. But it's all he can say, isn't it?]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Thank you.

[Yeah. Yeah what to say after all of this?]

...I'm sorry. You were...really broken up, back there.

[perpend]

[He gives a sad smile.]

I didn't know her very well, but she... she was a good person.

[It was... harder for him, because he understood her actions, a little too well.]

I just wish I kneeew what her motivations were.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

She had people to save. Wasn't that obvious? She... All that talk about the Underground, getting there and back...

[She sighs.]

I could probably piece it together with...time, or maybe a few more conversations, but...we can't have the second one, and isn't it better to just let her rest?

[ninehundredlives]

Are you alright?

[That sure was a thing that happened at the trial, huh]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Ehhh?

[That sure is an answer. Ashley sighs.]

Not horrible. Just...a little freaked.

[ninehundredlives]

You know we're not going to let anything happen.

[She probably doesn't need to say what she's referring to.]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Oh, of course not.]

You all were really great, weren't you?

[sunsong]

Looks nice.

[ The scarf, she means. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Oh, well...]

Thanks. It's...you know, the least I could do.

[sunsong]

...I think she probably would've liked it, right?

[ She'd seemed to like Ashley. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

I..I think so. I hadn't talked with her about fashion, but...I think she would've.

[Yeah. Considering their first meeting, Ashley can barely understand it.]