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

[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.

[clearasmud]

I know. Thank you for caring about me, Logan.

But promise me you'll do the same - look out for yourself. Be careful.

[ If it doesn't occur to him, then she's just going to bring it up. ]

[decrees]

I will. I have to.

[For Albion. He'd give everything for Albion.]

OUCH

[clearasmud]

I'm glad.

[ It's terribly reassuring. She really doesn't need to worry about him, in regards to that. Not any more than the minimum this place necessitates. ]

If the worst happens, and you kill someone in self-defense - tell me, alright? Tell me before you make any kind of decision.

[ Because that's the only way Logan might end up dead. Everyone relies on him and what he does for the group, and anyone hoping to destroy morale would have to best Logan in a fight first.

So: accidental murder in the name of protecting someone else it is. ]