Afterparty 5.0

[forcegalactic]

[There's not much that can be believed about that trial. Or that execution. Still, like before, two hours after everyone leaves, they'll find a note slipped underneath their doors.]

We have to stick together. The dining room is there for anyone that needs a quiet space, and I cooked dinner.

Hibiki made some coffee and dessert for all of us.

-Mordecai Benmont Jiminy and Hibiki Ganaha

[Today's selection includes potato pancakes and a light coffee cake. Hibiki has lit two more candles in the dining hall. It doesn't take long before Mordecai lights a third.]

Comments

[perpend]

[This is such a goddamn mess.]

...I don't know. If he had told me, I...

[No, he wouldn't have believed him. He wouldn't have gone along with it.]

There must be another way to save everyone.

[Though for once, he doesn't sound confident at all.]

[decrees]

...There must be. I...

[He shakes his head. It's an agitated gesture.]

We will find some way to bring everyone back. Everyone. Asuka, Reaver, Chie, Undyne, and Dio as well.

[Murderers, monsters, whatever everyone else wants to call them, they're still people. People who made stupid decisions and tried to get everyone killed, but they didn't deserve being stuck in a murder game any more than anyone else. ...Probably.]

[perpend]

That's riiight.

[He has more emphasis in his voice than he's had all day; he sounds confident, for once.]

We're not going to leave anybody behind.

[They may be murderers, but so are the rest of them. They've all voted to kill; as far as Cabanela is concerned, none of them are innocent.]

[decrees]

[That's exactly how he thinks of it. It was for survival, but none of them are innocent here.]

Of course not. I will do everything in my power to ensure our survival. Finding a way to bring back the others is equally important, but for the time being we need to focus on those that are still alive.

[The dead aren't entirely safe from the sound of it, but it would be best to prevent more from joining them.]

[perpend]

We've lost nearly half our numbers.

The survivors need looking out for, right now.

[Cabanela really should include himself in that, but he can't bring himself to.]

[decrees]

[...]

We all need that. You included. Pushing yourself to your limits will not aid anyone. Take care of yourself as well.

[ADVICE LOGAN SHOULD PROBABLY LISTEN TO TBH]

[perpend]

[That earns a smile.]

Of course. You should do the same, you know.

[decrees]

...I'll try.

[That's surprisingly honest instead of the usual "Of course I will" he'd normally give.]

Youko has been making sure I'm doing well.

[As well as possible, at least. Though that seems to be better now that he's aware of Reaver's status as a ghost.]

[perpend]

Good. I'm glad someone has been checking on you.

...Our patrol numbers may be down, but I belieeve we still need to keep it up. We might be able to stop something yet.

[decrees]

I will step up to help fill in the gap Dio has left. I cannot take every night, but I can attempt to sleep in later to make up for it.

[and then logan became nocturnal]

[perpend]

[Cabanela shakes his head.]

No, I think....

We can't spend the entire night away, none of us.

[decrees]

...What would you suggest, then?

[perpend]

I dooon't know.

This keeps happening, though; I think we should pick a day, one day, and patrol.

With the help of Giovanni's Pokemon, maybe we shouldn't be looking for a potential killer, but that.... whatever it was that was impersonating Dio.

[decrees]

One day might not be useful. I'm not certain. I do like that idea though - we need to see if we can find it again to learn more about it.

[He's convinced that wasn't Dio. It's probably dumb to believe Dio after everything that just happened... but here we are.]

[perpend]

If it really wasn't Dio, then Beedrill would probably run into it again, assuming Giovanni gets lucky for a third time.

I want to believe he was teeelling the truth about that, he seemed like he believed he could solve this problem-- why would he lie about wandering into the kitchen to make a weird snack?

[decrees]

I don't believe it was him that the ah, bee saw.

[WHY IS IT A BEE]

He would have no reason to lie about that. There must be something else at work here.

[perpend]

[He doesn't understand why it's a bee.

How does the bee talk to Giovanni, anyway?]

There must be. I'm just not sure what.

[decrees]

[Hopefully bee charades.]

We don't know exactly what the Conductor has at his disposal. That shadow creature is not like the ones I fought.

[And that is totally okay with him.]

[perpend]

There's also the matter of... whatever it is that he has on his side.

[decrees]

Exactly. I'm not sure what to make of any of this just yet, but perhaps the new floor will reveal something else.

[We'll have to tear the rooms apart again, but Jean clearly has no problems with that.]

(frozen comment)

[perpend]

Here's to hopin' we find some answers in the next floor.

I wooonder how big this place could possibly be.