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

[heymcfly]

[ Marty takes the moment to be greedy. When he feels the hand on his back he starts to sob. His body shakes, he cries without shame. For the first time he really feels homesickness. Mordecai is the closest thing he has to a parent now. The idea of never seeing his parents again is way too scary.

He finally gets a hold of himself after a while. ] So-sorry.

Are you okay?

[forcegalactic]

[Mordecai never had a son. He and his wife had no time for children, and life on Mars was troublesome enough without having to worry about a family. Marty is the first thing he had resembling a kid, in so far that he's young enough to be his own and Mordecai looks after him.

Perhaps "mentor" better fits his feelings towards him.]

I'm...alright. [It's a lie. He had been throwing accusations everywhere during the trial, and he hasn't calmed down completely from it yet.] It's hard, knowing that there's people like Asuka and Reaver and Undyne out there who're willin' to kill, but...we don't know if there's anythin' we can do to stop them.

[There has to be a better way instead of waiting for a murder to happen. Unless they do something to protect the safety of the room, Mordecai could easily be the next victim, and Harriet will never see him again.]

[heymcfly]

[ Marty doesn't quite believe that Mordecai is okay; was anyone right now? But he keeps quiet. The idea that at least someone is calm makes him feel just a tad better.

He sniffs, wipes his eyes on his jacket. ] Should we do anything? For her memorial, I mean.

[forcegalactic]

[He glances into the dining room, where some others have begun placing gifts in front of the candles. It would be better if they had a proper memorial, but when they are trapped, they have to make do with what they have.]

I'm thinkin' of leavin' the scarf she made me. Her givin' it to me was the last time I ever saw her. [He was there when she was working, he wasn't there after he got the gift. She was gone all of a sudden.]

[heymcfly]

[ Jesus, that was sad. A good idea though. Marty feels like giving up his hat is a good idea, but he doesn't want to. Not when she made it for everyone. Her beanie sits on his head. ] 's a good idea.

Are we supposed to go through this every day?

[forcegalactic]

...No. [Not every day. In a few days, they might finally be finished grieving over a friend they knew for three weeks, but when someone else dies, what then?] We'll find a way to get over this. I've known plenty of folks that died on Mars; I learned to get over stuff like this easy.

Only this buildin's much more deadly than Mars, and stayin' safe is gettin' ever harder.