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

[housenurse]

[she smiles-- her first real one of the whole day-- and just shrugs.]

Like I said before, Dio Brando. There's worse things.

[midnightsea]

Are there?

[Leave it to the one called 'Abiding' to think death was the Worst Possible Thing.]

I thought humans were supposed to fear their mortality.

[housenurse]

We do! I mean, I know I do... But, I'm only afraid of things like never getting to see my family again, or making my loved ones sad. And if I die here, it'd be such a burden on everyone, too! They'd have to investigate everything, and then have a whole trial and...

[shakes head] But, if the choice was between not getting to be myself and living, or being myself and dying, I'd know which I'd want.

[midnightsea]

Why?

[Without thinking, Dio half-snapped the obvious question he'd never asked his mother and hated Jonathan too much to think to ask at all.]

What makes kindness like that so valuable that you'd prioritize it over even your own life?

[housenurse]

... I don't know! It just is. What's the point of a life if you can't spend it making others happy?

I'm sorry I don't have a good enough answer for you, Dio-san. I've never really thought about it before. It's just how I am.

[midnightsea]

...I just can't understand something like that.

[Because to him, the point to life was one's own advancement.]

[housenurse]

Hm... That's a little sad, I think. But, you must think I'm sad for thinking it, so it's all about how you see things!

If you don't want to be kind to people, I'll just have to be twice as kind for both of us! [that's how it works right]