Looks like this will be a weekly thing

[forcegalactic]

[This whole week has been awful. This whole experience has been awful. Mordecai wants to go straight to his room and deal with his frustrations, but that's not what a mayor does. A mayor takes charge, a mayor fixes what's wrong, a mayor makes things better. Even if he can't do everything on his own, he's has to do something.

Two hours after the end of the trial, the living will find another note slipped underneath their doors.]

There's cookies in the kitchen. The dining room is ready for anyone who needs a quiet place to talk it out. I'll be in the bar if you need a drink, alcoholic or something more appropriate for the underage crowd.

-Mordecai Benmont Jiminy

[There's a pile of warm chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. Two more candles are lit at the memorial - one for the victim, one for the culprit - and Mordecai has left a pile of blankets from the storage room on one of the dining room tables.]

Comments

[decrees]

[...there is nothing even remotely "normal" about the royal family...]

Ah, of course. Take what you want from the drawer.

[There's a lot of jewelry in there and it's not like Logan is ever going to need any of it. So take whatever you want!]

[clearasmud]

[ Never one to say no to STUFF, Youko skips on over! ]

You have so much...!

[ Rummage, rummage. ]

We should drink this tea together! Um, what else...

[ Rummage, rummage.

Youko's pile eventually contains the Love Affair Ring, a Crane & Tortoise Diamond, one Tears of Asura, the Water Flute, one Meteorite Arrow, the Gugelhupf, two Sweet Roll Bags, one Silver Ring, and Hundred-Year Potpourri.

He said she could take whatever. ]

Are these alright?

[ ...There's something else, but. That deserves special attention. ]

[decrees]

[WELL YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT SHY ABOUT TAKING HIS STUFF but he really doesn't need all of that, so!]

Yes, of course. I've received entirely too many coins, so you might as well take whatever you want.

[clearasmud]

[ HAHA HELL NO, ARE YOU KIDDING. If this wasn't Logan and she didn't care about what he thought of her, she'd be even more brazen... ]

Thank you! I love it, all of it!

There's something else, though...

[ At that, Youko shyly holds out two Blueberry Solid Golds. ]

These bracelets are beautiful, aren't they?

[decrees]

[Headtilt...]

Yes, I suppose they are. You can have those as well.

[...of course he's not following, what were you expecting.]

[clearasmud]

[ NO, IT'S OKAY, SHE SORT OF EXPECTED THAT... ]

I only want one.

I'd... like you to wear the other, actually...

[ *delicate maiden blush* ]

[decrees]

Ah... I don't wear jewelry.

[He's never been fond of it. Besides, he always wears gloves.

...Sure he could wear it under the gloves, but.]

[clearasmud]

[ Youko's face immediately falls. ]

Neither do I. Kan-chan's bracelet... is a special exception.

[ And her choker doesn't even count, of course! ]

But I'd like to make one, for you. For us! [ and she's perking back up again! ] It's like a symbol of our bond, given physical form! And this way... we can never forget about each other, not for a single moment, because we'll always feel its weight, and it'll keep us from doing anything rash or dangerous without thinking-- well. [ ah, the blush is back. ] That's what I thought, when I saw it. That it would remind me of you, remind me to be careful.

[decrees]

[That's... really touching, actually. It takes Logan a moment to stare at the bracelets and consider (because again, he doesn't wear jewelry and it'll take some getting used to), but he finally nods.]

It's certainly worth trying.

[He can't meet Youko's eyes though because that's really sweet and he honestly has no idea what to do with it.]

[clearasmud]

Really?

[ She did it! Oh, wonderful!

...It's probably for the best she doesn't recognize the significance of this to Logan, otherwise she probably wouldn't be able to meet his eyes either. Instead, she only reflects that it's strange he won't meet hers. ]

...Could you possibly put mine on? I really don't wear jewelry, usually, so I'm not sure I can do this for myself... I can do yours for you, in exchange!

[decrees]

Ah, of course.

[Hold out your wrist, Youko. Logan can't get the clasp open properly with the gloves on, so give him a moment to remove those.]

[clearasmud]

[ Holding out her wrist! ]

...You know... well, you probably could have guessed, but no one's ever put jewelry on me before...

[ How refined and ladylike... It's enough to make her shiver. ]

[decrees]

[...Doesn't that make this awkward, then...? Well, he's not going to hesitate. Once he has his gloves off he fastens the bracelet around her wrist properly and lets go.]

There. That shouldn't be too loose or too tight.

[clearasmud]

[ No, Logan, it makes it romantic! ...In the classical aesthetic sense, of course.

Lady Points: +10 ]

You're right. It's perfect.

[ She takes a moment to admire it, of course. ]

Now it's time for yours.

[decrees]

[He tips his head a bit, but finally holds out his right hand. He probably couldn't manage to get that on by himself anyway, so here we go?]

[clearasmud]

[ Here we go! Youko fastens the bracelet on Logan's wrist, but doesn't let go immediately. No, instead she takes a moment to admire the way they're a matched set now. She's never had something like this with someone else - surely there was no crime in appreciating it?

Spontaneously, she dips her head down to kiss it. ]

There. For good luck.

[decrees]

[He glances away at that and turns slightly pink.]

...I appreciate it.

[Logan has never put much stock in luck, but hey, maybe this will help.

He'll pull his hand back after a moment though, moving to put the glove and gauntlet back on. The bracelet fits under both, though it feels odd to be wearing something on his wrist.]

[clearasmud]

Well, so do I. Thanks for humoring me.

[ ... ]

...There is still one thing about the trial I need to get off my chest.

[ She doesn't want to burden him, but she doesn't want to carry this alone.

Selfish. ]

[decrees]

What is it?

[It's best to get it out in the open, right?]

[clearasmud]

...Hori-san looks like me.

[ and now he should know why that execution fucked her up. ]

[decrees]

Ah...

[It would be easy to imagine herself in Chie's place, wouldn't it? Logan considers that for a moment before shaking his head.]

I can't say I understand exactly, because I have not experienced anything of the sort. However... It isn't something you need to concern yourself with. You will never be in a situation like that.

[Because Youko will never kill anyone!!]

cw: suicide

[clearasmud]

...It's true. [ BUT... PROBABLY NOT FOR THE REASON HE'S HOPING FOR... ] If I kill someone in self-defense, accidentally or intentionally - I'd rather take my own life rather then let the Conductor do whatever he wants with me.

[ and what can she do but smile apologetically at that? ]

I would tell you before I acted, of course. Not that that makes it much better.

[ it's really, really horrible to think about, actually.

please, please let things not come to that. ]

cw: suicide

[decrees]

[Logan looks away at that.]

...If it was in self-defense then maybe...

[He doubts the Conductor would be that forgiving. A murder is still a murder.]

I... I don't know what to say.

[It makes sense, really. Why would you want to let the Conductor decide your fate? But... But that idea terrifies him and he really doesn't want to consider it.]

Besides... Nothing like that will happen. You'll be fine.

cw: suicide

[clearasmud]

[ She shakes her head before smiling again. ]

Well, it's a hard thing to know what to say to! So don't worry about that, at least.

As for the rest... I'll certainly do my best. I'll stick close to you, and I'll try never to be outside alone at night. [ Youko raises her wrist, calling attention to her bracelet. ] And now I have this to remind me.

...I'm grateful for that. I've never... thought overly much about my own safety before. I'm not inclined to sacrifice my happiness for anything, seeing as I may very well live forever. A couple of years more or less doesn't really matter.

...But now I have someone who needs me to stay alive. So things have changed.

[decrees]

...Please look out for yourself.

[Honestly it doesn't even occur to Logan that he should return that. He has to return to Albion, after all. He'll be fine because he has to be.]

I wouldn't want anything to happen to you, Youko.