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

[oftheland]

[Welp, this might as well be a weekly ritual by now... but of course, this is going to require a trip to the infirmary rather than just to the bar.

...yeah, it really says something about him that he keeps having to pour one out for the murderers, huh? Though, it's not like he didn't expect that to happen.

Even the best of the best can expect all their transgressions to catch up with them eventually... but they can at least try and give it your all at the end and keep going until that final, fatal second.

So... Giovanni goes ahead and pours out a blood bag into a glass, because fuck it, have they ever even found someone alive enough for it to be worth it, and then pours himself a... more normal drink.

He then raises it to no one in particular... well, no one there, anyway.]

Good luck over there, you crazy bastard.

[midnightsea]

[see you around, you possible megalomaniac.]

[forcegalactic]

[Mordecai smiles weakly at the glass of blood. It would be nice if Rakka and Morty got some, too, so he takes a bottle of soda he brought down from the bar earlier and pours two glasses before sitting by Giovanni with his own. Of alcohol, of course.]

...Almost feels like we should sing a song in their memory, don't it?

[oftheland]

I'm not much of a singer, so you'd have to take the lead on that one.

But really, it seems as good a way to deal with all this as any. I really have to wonder if they'd be able to pick up on it.

[forcegalactic]

Ain't one either, but that don't prevent anyone as long as they got a beer in their hands.

[But there's a lot of drinking songs on Mars, and choosing one is difficult...hmm] Simple enough melody to make up somethin', though.

[oftheland]

...oh, well, that's always true. Still, I feel like we should recruit someone with a decent voice, at the very least.

[forcegalactic]

No, that ain't the point of singin' for dead friends. You gotta give it your all, and you'r feelin's will come out true.

...Which, when I think about it, sounds awful lot like what my piano was sayin'...

But I can at least show you got it goes. We could use a bit of singin' in these parts.

[oftheland]

...wait, your piano was saying it? Is this a Mars thing?

But... I don't know. I guess it can't hurt to give it a shot.

[forcegalactic]

The one upstairs in the bar. It used to have an AI, but it's been shot to death before I came here.

Sure...but I much rather not cause a ruckus while everyone else needs the peace and quiet. Wanna try the ballroom, in case you know how to play the piano?

[oftheland]

Oh, I see... well, that sounds pretty helpful, at the very least. I'd assume it had a database of songs it'd play?

...and no, I don't know how to play the piano at all. I'm really not musically inclined.

[forcegalactic]

Well, that too, but the AI was there to come up with its own songs from time to time. The plan to create radiation to force us to sing along was unintended.

[The necessary pause everyone required when Mordecai talks about Thrilling Adventure Hour.]

Well, don't mind me if I feel a bit nervous hummin' the melody, then. As catchy as it may be, I don't much like rememberin' the time I started singin' it out of nowhere.

[oftheland]

...Oh, I see. I guess that's just the risk you take with an AI, huh? Although, I really think it depends on the programmer.

[...he's a bit less fazed by that than one might think.]

Well, it's not really out of nowhere here, is it?

[forcegalactic]

[He likes that, Giovanni. You don't make him have to tell you about Thrilling Adventure Hour.

He really appreciates that.]

...When you qere liftin' that glass, that was prime time for a song about how much we miss 'em. But anyway, I'll hum the tune for you, you can think of whatever words you want, alright?

[oftheland]

[hey, he's been asked about Pokemon a lot.

he understands.]

Sounds good enough for me, then. Whenever you're ready.

[forcegalactic]

[As they walk out of the dining hall, Mordecai begins humming a little tune softly, as if he doesn't feel like singing it much. Once outside, he remembers the emotion of the song and hums the verse a little louder. It's simple, repetitive, but once he gets used to it, he sings one verse and the bridge quietly.]

Trouble won't leave me alone.
Botheration dogs my bones.
I guess I'll reap just what I've sown,
Poor me, pour me another!

Heaven help all these sad souls, the bottle's their damnation
But what's inside it soothes my woes, so serve up some salvation!

[And he hums the verse one final time before turning to Giovanni expectedly.]

Kinda easy to come up words for, right?

[oftheland]

...Yeah, it is.

[...oh god that was kind of expectant but he can't sing. he just can't. let him take a drink.]

It doesn't seem terribly related to any of them, though...

[forcegalactic]

[You asked him, alright? He didn't ask for the music life. At least drinking songs give Giovanni an excuse to drink to forget.]

But now you got the song, at least.

[oftheland]

[you staaarted it...]

I do indeed. Maybe I ought to work on it... or someone ought to work on it, anyway.

[forcegalactic]

Well, ask the Conductor, 'cause he's the one who likes workin' with music in the first place.

[oftheland]

He doesn't seem to actually like playing it, though, or I imagine we'd get a musical treat over the intercom one of these days.

[forcegalactic]

Then we can ask him to arrange it for Susan or Logan to play. It shouldn't be that hard for him to write something based off an existing melody.

[oftheland]

I guess the biggest question there is "will he do it," but I suppose it's worth a try. He can be cooperative on occasion.