Aftergathering 6

[clearasmud]

Rule 17 hits like a gutpunch. The plan she'd talked about, as improbable as it already was, had just become much harder.

But something - someone - digs its heels in inside her, the same way it did prior to their most recent trial. The presence of their latest, insurmountable hurdle, has the odd effect of only making Youko more determined.

They're going to win.

There's hot soup, rice, and tea in the kitchen. We're holding a meeting tomorrow morning in the conference room. I want you to be there.

- Youko

Comments

[announcemyvictory]

[Elise didn't want to come. Still, it doesn't look like there's a choice, so she walks in with a fruit from the machine and sets it on a plate.]

What are we going to do?

[clearasmud]

We're going to win. [ stated like one would say "the sun will rise tomorrow", or "there are stars in the sky". ] We just need to figure out what that means, although we're getting close.

...Hopefully even closer after the meeting tomorrow. You'll definitely be there, right? We need all hands on deck.

[announcemyvictory]

R-right. Of course. We'll need everyone, after all. Have you found anything new?

[sunsong]

Keep on going. That's...all we can do, right?

[announcemyvictory]

All we've ever done. But he knows now. He's stopping us.

[openterrain]

[ For once, Jean doesn't go right for the afterparty. Instead he seeks out Bakugou as soon as the two are clear of the trial room, reaching out to grab hold of his wrist. ]

Katsuki. You said that Mordecai's room was unlocked, right?

[blazeit]

It should be, yeah. [ He's now fairly certain the key must be in Tabby's room, but it's not like they need it. ] Do you wanna go check it out?

[icysemblance]

[Weiss doesn't want to be there. She looks like she's been crying, and she's not up to being social.

But she's there, and she's taken a cup of tea even if it does look untouched.]

[announcemyvictory]

He knows about the seances now. He's posted a rule.

[openterrain]

[ Truth be told, Jean doesn't look a whole lot better. He's making himself go and making himself eat - hadn't he lectured Mordecai about taking care of himself just the other week? - but when he sits down across from Weiss he doesn't seem to be in any rush to drink his tea or eat his soup. ]

Hey.

[ What a greeting, right? Jean has learned that he's not very good at being comforting by now, though, so he'll just... let that sit. If Weiss wants to talk he's here, and if she doesn't he's content to stay quiet. ]

[sunsong]

That's gonna get cold, y'know.

[ Sol's...tired, but this is still easier to bear than the week they lost Luna. She's still not over that - she's never going to be over that - but she's up to two letters and fucking counting of the dead telling her to win against the damn Conductor.

So...she'll fake it until she makes it. Maybe.

Luna and Yuuri are watching, right...? ]

[clearasmud]

[ Youko will join her with her own cup of tea - or at least, an attempt will be made. ]

Do you mind if I join you?

[blazeit]

[ Well, if Youko's not going to do it, Bakugou will light some candles when he shows up, delayed from raiding Mordecai's room. It feels like tradition at this point, and he's been lighting a bunch of candles everyday in his wayward attempt to attract ghosts anyway.

... He only does five, though. He's pretty sure it's an indicator of immaturity or something that he doesn't want to light a candle for the guy who killed Hibiki and Yuuri, but he doesn't particularly care. Tabby still gets one, though, because haha what are consistent standards.

He looks pretty tired. Less upset than he normally seems most-trial, and more just exhausted. ]

[icysemblance]

[That makes two of them. It's not right to light a candle for - that jerk.]

...are you holding up okay? None of us are all right, I'm not even going to try and pretend otherwise...

[sunsong]

Wonder who the tattle-tale was.

[ about their ghost thing...she gestures to the new rules, looking annoyed. ]

[oftheland]

[There's a bit of a rush after all of that finishes up, and certainly, he prefers that over any lingering discomfort about what went on with Rick, but... they can't be alone with their thoughts too long, can they? If nothing else, maybe a little liquid fortitude will keep people going... ah, but their resident bartender died, didn't he.

...he'll pour out a few drinks at the bar for Mordecai, Rick, and Tabby, and then he'll bring a few bottles downstairs and set up in the kitchen, in case someone wants something a little stronger than tea. He wishes there was some more alcohol he was personally familiar with, but eh... what can you do. Not everyone will enjoy Cheri wine, especially if it's not what they're expecting...]

[sunsong]

[ Is anyone willing to let the youngest person left drink maybe not...Sol seems to have acquired a chocolate bar from somewhere, and happens to just be eating that. ]

Yo, old man. [ the only person she still stands beside in court...bless. ] What's that taste like?

[ninehundredlives]

[Hibiki is dead.

Susan doesn't think there's anyone left who would bother to come to her room if she just went and locked herself in the rest of the night. But that's partially why she doesn't want to. It'll make her think of them. So after everything is over, she slinks quietly off up the stairs, until she can't go any higher. Hibiki's letter is too heavy in her pocket. She settles in the office to read it.

Anyone who ventures that far from the dorms might hear the sound of muffled sobbing coming from the office.

She's trying to be quiet...]

[sunsong]

[ Walking around is better than sitting still and doing nothing, really. Besides, maybe they can't communicate with the ghosts, but...the ghosts can still do shit in their direction, right? Maybe they left another note somewhere. Or something.

...Really, she's just trying to get her mind off of things. When she hears the crying, though, Sol finally has a sense of direction as to where to go. Peering into the office, she can't help but feel a little surprised. ]

Susan?

[clearasmud]

[ ..........well that's



...No. She can't run. "There's more than one way to fight," she'd told Cabanela during the trial. She had to stand by that.

Softly, Youko calls out. ]

H... Hello...?

[sunsong]

[ Sol hangs out in the kitchen after the trial, unlike the last two times. It seems she's at least back to forcibly holding her head up, if nothing else. That said, she made a detour to Yuuri's room beforehand, and can be found reading a few letters as she sits on the counter.

Later, she goes to track down Blue, flagging the other girl down if she's out and about or knocking on her door if she's not. ]

Blue? ...Got a second?

[withabigsmile]

[Blue very much vouched to stay in her room, for several reasons; she peeks her door open, then opens it fully for Sol.]

What's up?

[She can't quite manage a smile, but who could blame her, really?]

[clearasmud]

[ There were two people she'd promised to speak to after the trial: Jean, and then Cabanela. It likewise follows that, once the food is finished, all the notes are delivered, and some conversation is made, Youko returns to Jean's room to knock on his door.

Cabanela comes later, whenever later decides to be.

It's not quite the same story, however. Youko knocks on his door, but she's not alone - she carries Logan's crown with her, in plain sight.

When later comes around again - well, it's far too late to eat, the kitchen is quite closed. But there's always the option of knocking on the door to her Logan's Reaver's room.

...Everyone sure did find out about that at the trial, huh... ]

[openterrain]

[ Jean has had one hell of an emotional night, but he seems to be holding up well when he answers the door. He looks exhausted, but he's freshly showered and mostly dry aside from his still damp hair. He's looking better than he had before. In his pajamas the leather cord he's taken to wearing around his neck is visible. ]

Youko...?

[ And then he remembers... right, the two of them had agreed to talk. He takes a step back and pulls the door open further, in case she wants to come in. ]

That's right. You said you wanted to tell me something.

[perpend]

[Cabanela hasn't been holding together very well-- when he does finally answer the door, he looks like he hasn't slept at all.]

Youko?

[It takes him a moment to remember the discussion.]

Come on in. You can take the chair.