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

[forcegalactic]

[Mordecai locks himself in his room for two straight hours after the trial. When he emerges, he doesn't looks too worse for the wear. Another week, another murder, another execution. With all that energy, he's spends a lot of time in the kitchen preparing enough mashed potatoes for the entire group (minus Dio), sprinkled with a mixture of cheese and green onions.

You know what? Let's fry a few strips of bacon for the folks that may want it.

He hands out bowls of it to everyone in the dining area.]

Here. Can't go all day on an empty stomach.

[perpend]

[The Inspector gives a friendly smile, setting his tiny notebook aside in his coat pocket before taking the bowl of mashed potatoes.]

Thanks, Mordecai.

[...]

How are you holding up?

[forcegalactic]

It's nothin', Inspector. I got some bacon bits ready if you want some.

[This bowl only has the onions and cheese on it. Better be safe than sorry when it comes to dietary restrictions.]

Not too bad, surprisingly. I'm mostly surprised from the execution, but after a while, the shock wears off. Can't say the same for the rest of us here. [He tilts his head to the other side of the room.</sall.]

[perpend]

Bacon bits sound great, actually!

[He's not a vegetarian, fortunately.]

What happened to Undyne was... probably the most shocking part of the execution.

[How depressing that had been.]

I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't... that. To be hoooonest, it looked like the Conductor hadn't been expecting it either.

[forcegalactic]

[He nods and heads back to the kitchen with the bowl. In less than a minute, he returns with plenty of bacon mixed into the potatoes. Ready to serve.]

I wouldn't have been surprised if her blood was a different color, but poofin' into dust? Not expected. [It sort of ruined the whole tension.] You think her species actually made of nanotech, or whatever they call it in her country?

[mortyfied]

[You know, Morty's actually surprisingly hungry as hell, so he'll take that bowl with a smile.]

Th-thanks, uh... [Oh crap, he forgot Mordecai's name. That's.. that's a little awkward.]

[forcegalactic]

You can call me Mr. Jiminy. "Barkeep" is the usual designation, but ownin' a saloon ain't the qualification I meet no more.

[He slides into the next chair over and folds his arms on the table. He's not spoken to Morty at all since he arrived, despite how bad he felt for the kid for being related to someone so awful a Rick. He looks at Morty for a few moments, mulling over what to say.]

You're a brave kid, you know that?

[mortyfied]

[He starts digging in almost immediately, after learning what to call him. He'll make sure to remember Mr. Jiminy in the future, even though it's kind of a weird name. But, he doesn't judge!

Anyway, the statement kind of throws him off guard and he gives Mordecai a bit of an awkward glance.]

Um... yeah, I - u-um. [He doesn't want to seem rude by being like "oh yeah totally" but he doesn't know if that's something to thank someone for saying?]

Y-y'think so?

[forcegalactic]

Sure I do. Can't think of many kids that can deal with all this, stayin' together even if they're afraid. [And deal with Rick.] I don't know what Rick has against you, but whatever it is, I bet he's wrong.

[There are child soldiers and warriors among them, and here's a regular kid thrown into chaos. He can't help but feel sorry for him.]

Thanks for keepin' him in line durin' the trial.

[zomgboom]

[takes it and almost says something about how you can, but it's not fun when she thinks of something better.]

Hey, is Mars food, like, different from Earth food?

[forcegalactic]

[Let him feel domestic once in a while and put his skills to good use. Mashed potatoes are an excellent comfort food and easy to prepare.]

Well, we got prepared meals that some in a box and space versions of lotsa food up there, but it ain't specific to Mars. Well, apart from hypercattle beef, that we raise in Mars.

[zomgboom]

Is that, like, super buff cows?

[Great, now she has images of cows on steroids. Is this a thing furries are into.]

[forcegalactic]

Sorta. They're a lot taller and have three heads. They're easier to raise on Mars while providin' plenty of food.

[ninehundredlives]

Thank you.

[Susan takes the bowl. She doesn't look quite as downtrodden as some people around here, but she hasn't been eating either.]

Have you eaten, too?

[forcegalactic]

Just leftovers for now. This is for everyone else.

[Potatoes are easy to digest, something ideal for those that are upset over the trial.]

I can always get you more, as thanks for bein' a big help.

[ninehundredlives]

Don't worry about it. This is enough.

Anyway, I didn't do that much. We never would have found her if it weren't for that perfume.

[forcegalactic]

Well, it helped us narrow it down, and you're one of the best people we got in the trial room.

[She and the Inspector are the two essential members of this group when it comes to investigation. Brilliant inspectors and calm during discussions: that's what they are.]

You used to work in medicine?

[icysemblance]

- that smells really, really good.

[...as evidenced by her stomach growling.]

Thank you.

[forcegalactic]

It's about time you had somethin' to eat.

[Seriously, you wake up and it's straight to investigating and solving murders. The Conductor leaves no time for a regular meal.]

Thanks for all the work you did.

[icysemblance]

I think you're absolutely right.

[She's polite - her table manners are perfect - but she'll want a few bites in her before she answers.]

There's no need to thank me. We're all in the same boat, as far as trials are concerned.

[forcegalactic]

[He sits down on a neighboring chair and leans on the table, looking relaxed, but judging from his stiff shoulders, not completely.]

Well, we all are, but some of us ain't as willin' to help out as others, or they don't have the nerves to talk it out.

[He nods at Weiss. She's not a member of either category, and that's a good thing.]

[sunsong]

Oh, thanks...

[ She's always willing to eat, regardless of circumstances. ]

You ate already?

[forcegalactic]

[He gives Sol a pat on the back. She's a smart girl, but she's young. Too young for any of this, for that job she has back home in the South.]

Ate while I was cookin'. Thought I'd make somethin' for all of you. [He holds onto the back of a chair with his hands.] You did a good job there, Sol.

[sunsong]

Thanks for cookin'...it does look really good.

[ And it means she doesn't have to cook for herself which is always a bonus. ]

As for doin' a good job...I did lead us all on a wild goose chase for a bit there, but I'm glad it didn't distract us into a wrong move.

[forcegalactic]

Well, I thought Dio was suspect, bein' one of the strongest guys I've ever seen, but if you were listenin' to me, we'd all be dead. Instead, here you come tellin' us to follow that awful perfume clue, and we find her.

[He doesn't betray any hint of sadness when he talks. He hadn't had much of a connection to either Byakuren or Undyne, and once the shock of them dying wore off, he had been back to normal.]

Findin' criminals part of your job in the South?