It keeps happening

[forcegalactic]

[After that horror show of an execution, Mordecai is still restless from the investigation and trial. He has too much pent-up energy, and plenty of others are sure to be upset, too. Ashley was loved by nearly all of them, the trial was mentally draining, and that execution was crueler than it should have been.

Two hours after everyone has returned to their rooms, they'll find a note slipped under their doors.]

We can't go on with empty stomachs. There's food in the kitchen, and the dining room is always open if you need someone to talk to.

Please keep anything outside of eating and civilized conversation away from the dining hall. That room is meant to be a peaceful place for those of us that need it.

-Mordecai Benmont Jiminy

[Today, there's cream of tomato soup warming up on the stove with a set of bowls besides it. It's a more mindless dish to prepare than mashed potatoes, as much as Mordecai wants to vent his frustrations on the potatoes.

He decides to follow Cabanela's tradition and lights one more candle, and after some consideration, lights a sixth. Let those who cared about either girl pay their respects.]

Comments

[perpend]

[It's..... probably for the best that someone else has handled the mourning after the fact this time.

What Asuka did hadn't been something he could ever forgive, but to see so many people hate her for something all of them could do-- what they had all done already, it unsettles him on a deep level. They're all people, here-- well, maybe not Dio. Aren't they all capable of making monstrous decisions in the heat of the moment, in order to ensure their own survival?

That's what this is about, after all. Desperate people who desire to survive.

Cabanela has shut himself in his room, and won't be coming out-- not without some convincing, anyway. He won't be opposed to anyone coming to visit him, but for the moment he seats himself at his desk and begins to write.

Lynne,

It's been nearly three weeks since]

[decrees]

[Well, after the... execution shitshow, Logan is going to pull Cabanela aside for a moment.]

I need to speak with you, privately. If you would like me to wait for some time, I can stop by your room later.

[It isn't urgent, but he needs to talk to someone and right now it's a bad idea for him to talk to Youko.]

[perpend]

Of coourse.

[He sounds grim, doesn't bother to smile, but he's receptive to the idea, so that's... something.]

Juuust knock, I'll be in there.

[decrees]

I will.

[You'll get about an hour before Logan shows up to knock on Cabanela's door. Aside from seeming more agitated than usual he's fine and he doesn't look like he's been a goddamn mess.]

[perpend]

[Well, that's two of them that look like they're not a mess, at least. After the trial and execution today, there's probably no one in the entire building that believes that Cabanela isn't a hideous mess, but he can still pretend he isn't, dammit.]

[decrees]

[He understands. He really does.]

Cabanela. I apologize if I haven't given you enough time.

[But he's not moving to leave or anything because holy shit does he need to talk to someone and you are the Responsible Adult he's friends with.]

[perpend]

[He steps aside to let Logan into his room.]

I don't think time is on our side; come on in.

[He'll be taking a seat on the bed, because the reverse is probably seriously awkward.]

[decrees]

[Yeah, that is kinda awkward...

Logan takes the chair, sinking heavily into it and resting his hands on his knees. He's still sort of slouched but it's not quite as bad as his posture usually is.]

I apologize for how sudden this is. I... need to talk to someone. Normally I would seek out Youko but...

[You saw how she was behaving at the trial. She was furious and out for blood and all of the things she said...

Well. It didn't sit well with Logan.]

I don't even know where to begin, however. I don't mean to hold you as a captive audience and force you to listen to my problems.

[...]

You were... terribly hurt by Ashley's death as well.

[perpend]

[Even at his most vengeful, Cabanela is not the sort of person who can be out for blood. He understands entirely. He gets anger, he gets hatred but... that had been something else entirely.]

Ashley... reminded me of someone veeery dear to me.

It's strange, she doe-- didn't even act very much like her, but I... I guess some people are just like that.

[decrees]

[Normally Logan would have been right there with Youko. But his situation is a bit too close to Asuka's and there are so many things that have happened both here and back in Albion that have made him realize just how fucked up he is.

Likes: executions was listed for a reason, after all.]

...I understand entirely. Ashley... she was like the younger sister I wanted instead of the younger sister I had. I saw a bit of myself in her, I believe.

[Scared, panicked, paranoid... That was what he recognized in her during their first meeting. It wasn't because she was anything like his sister, it was because she was like him.]

Who... Who did she remind you of?

[Is this a walnutty question? This might be a walnutty question.]

[perpend]

[It might be a bit walnutty, but he's asking the man who starting banging on the glass window blocking the Conductor from them to get the man to spare Asuka.]

There's a rookie detective who works for me, she and I.... go back a very long time, you could say.

She's a biiit like a daughter to me, I guess you could say.

[sunsong]

[ Sol just feels like everyone should eat something and...well, honestly, it's always worrying not to see people at the meet-ups after. Especially considering Cabanela usually sent out the notes.

"Usually". Fuck, when did murder become so everyday...?

She knocks on Cabanela's door at some point, balancing a tray with her other hand. ]

Yo, old man! Open up, would you?!

[perpend]

[It takes him a moment to answer the door, but he doesn't sound like he's distressed or anything, there's just some scratching of a pen and then him pushing away from his desk as he opens the door.

The Inspector isn't smiling, but he manages not to look worse for wear.]

I'm here, I'm heere.

[sunsong]

You should eat somethin', so I brought you somethin'.

[ Just soup and a sandwich...Sol, you're being ridiculous. ]

Old guys like you can't just skip meals without it bein' bad for them! [ ............stop insulting him casually, sol........... ]

[perpend]

[That actually earns a smile. It's tight, and a little sad, but it's sincere.]

Thaaaanks, Sol. It's appreciated.

[He'll be taking those to eat, naturally. He won't let food go to waste.]

[forcegalactic]

Inspector?

[Mordecai knocks on the door while carrying a bowl of soup. The man who usually organized these weekly events hadn't arrived yet, and that was worrying.]

If you can open the door, I'll leave this here soup with you.

[perpend]

[It takes him a moment to answer the door, but when he does, he looks almost normal.

He's good at a poker face, if nothing else.]

Heeey there, Mordecai!

Thanks for the soup, it's appreciated.

[forcegalactic]

[Cabanela is a giant compared to him, but Mordecai remains calm and looks as serious as he can. He knows a lawman on Mars that likes to pretend he has everything under control when he actually doesn't, though Sparks uses a deadpan voice to hide his troubles.]

You looked terrible back there, Inspector. You need anythin' else? Tea? Some coffee? Somethin' of the alcoholic type?

[perpend]

It... was a veeery difficult day today.

[It seems like a lot of lines in the sand were drawn.]

I could do with a cup of coffee, I suppose.

[forcegalactic]

That's puttin' it mildly.

[An incentive for Mordecai to stay with him. He quickly turns to retreat to the kitchen and shortly returns with a tray holding the cup of coffee along with a tiny pitcher of cream and a bowl of sugar. He goes all out when serving people, even outside of work.]

...Anythin' else I can do for you?

I swear I hit post

[perpend]

[Cabanela gives a vague smile.]

Weeeell, I won't say no if you stay and chat for a while.

[forcegalactic]

[Invitation accepted. Mordecai enters Cabanela's room, and before anything else, places the tray on an empty spot on his desk.]

You know, Ashley really reminded me of someone I knew on Mars. I never thought I'd lose someone I was close to in here. Never came across my mind.

[perpend]

I wiiish I could have believed the same, but I knew it was just a matter of time before someone I liked had...

As our numbers get smaller, it only gets more and more likely.

[forcegalactic]

...Y-you don't think we'll find a way out before that happens?

[You're the leader, Inspector. That's what lawmen do. Mordecai is only a humble bartender; he's no leader.]

[perpend]

[Wait a minute, when did he become the leader?? He didn't sign up for this!]

I... wiiish I could say I can get all of us out. But now...