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

[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?

[ninehundredlives]

[Susan is curled up in the big leather chair behind the desk, but she jumps as she's addressed, rubbing an arm over her face and lowering her legs back to the ground.]

Wh-what?

[sunsong]

[ "are you okay" is a stupid as fuck question Sol isn't even bothering to ask these days, so: ]

...Want to talk about it? Or just quiet company?

[ninehundredlives]

I...

["Neither" is the answer that immediately springs to mind. But Hibiki wouldn't want that, would she?]

I...guess company might be alright.

[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...?

[ninehundredlives]

[The sound of crying cuts off sharply, and Susan rubs her face furiously with her sleeves. Why is anyone even up here? Ugh, she should have just dealt with being in her room...]

Y-yes...?

[clearasmud]

It's just me! Youko!

[ and that's never felt more apt.

what the heck does she say now, though? ]

...Today was disgusting.

[ with that, youko finally steps into view. ]

[ninehundredlives]

[.......why. Why this. Susan rubs a sleeve over her face.]

Yeah. You - you could say that.