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

[blazeit]

... Well, it was kind of obvious what you were trying to do. [ He's surprised people were taking her at face value... ] He was suspicious, but the evidence didn't add up like that... that's all.

[ Anyway, he's not going to bother being polite here and just sit his butt down on the bed. ]

And yeah, I guess I do want to talk to you. About, I don't know. The incredible mess that turned into in the last part of the trial, when suddenly everybody was talking about morals and hypothetical scenarios and shit like that.

1/2

[clearasmud]

Hey, not to everyone! [ and Youko is genuinely chalking that up entirely to her Incredible Acting Skills ] But you know, Katsuki-kun... you didn't have to say what you did, when it came to pointing out you'd also gotten the gun and whatnot. Don't think I was too out of it to notice you defending me, either. [ and generally telling her to check herself before she wrecked herself, as much as she didn't listen. ]

2/2

[clearasmud]

[ that other thing though. ]

...Right. I suppose you have an opinion on the matter too.

[ she is convinced she knows what he's going to say and is not looking forward to this, but. better to get it over with. ]

[blazeit]

... I mean, sure, I do have an opinion on the matter, for whatever exact matter it is, there was kind of a lot of shit going on back there. But that's not the important thing.

[ Everybody, according to the way he thinks, is entitled to their opinions. They're entitled to have bad opinions, too. He just doesn't care enough to make a big deal out of it, the important thing is that his opinions are his opinions. ]

[clearasmud]

Then what is the important thing, Katsuki-kun?

[ This isn't what she expected, but that could still change at any moment. ]

[blazeit]

I guess... I realized this isn't the kind of game I thought it was. [ Game is not the right word, but he isn't looking for detail here anyway. ] It's not about who's fucked-up enough to kill, it's about who can be made fucked-up enough to kill.

[clearasmud]

[ Well that was. Food for thought. ]

...That's very observant of you. I can't say I'd picked up on that, myself.

So you're saying that girl was...?

[ 'not actually a psychopath to begin with?' ]

[blazeit]

... Well, we keep on shitting all over those motives, but they also keep actually working, don't they?

[ Some of them are being pressured, he figures. They just aren't admitting it to everybody and anybody. ]

[clearasmud]

What?

[ That takes her by surprise. ]

No one's doubting the power of the motives... are they?

[ Has she not been paying enough attention? (probably)

Softly, after a moment: ]

Why do you think I was so upset at the trial? It wasn't just because of the crime scene.

[blazeit]

Well, there was kind of an unfortunate implication there that you thought the king was likely to have killed Ashley. Is that what you mean?

[clearasmud]

[ ... ]

I'm not an idiot, Katsuki, nor did I mean to imply I think you're one. I was referring to the strong connection Logan has to guns.

[ Ahh, the things we inherit from dead loves. ]

...Even if searching that room for clues did add to the stress of the situation.

[blazeit]

... No, really, that's what I was asking if you meant or not.

[ Because that was one thing he was confused about. From his perspective, if she had confidence he didn't do it, then she shouldn't have worried so much, but what is an emotional attachment ay. ]

[clearasmud]

[ That's exactly the thing - she didn't, because Youko is a damn mess.

In some ways, she can't afford not to be. ]

...Then for both of our sakes', please work on your tone.