Post-Trial I Afterparty

[cellpreservation]

[They're down two of their number, and who knows how many more will follow, but for tonight at least... They have a chance to rest.

The school has already been cleaned, leaving no signs of the deaths that occurred on this very day, but that's just as well. After looking around to make sure of that much, Yuta marches into the kitchen and, after a bit of looking around, ends up gathering some snacks: boxed crackers and apple slices that aren't perfectly even in cut but look, he's not the chef of his group, he did his best. These he sets out on some plates in the cafeteria before finding his usual seat to lounge in, eating some apple slices off of a smaller plate he grabbed just for himself.

And then, he waits - to see who trickles in, and who doesn't.

Where is your character in the aftermath?]

Comments

[keyringwitness]

[While Yasu does manage to hold herself together until they're released, and even drifts into the cafeteria with some sense of purpose... as soon as she sits down on a comfy-ish chair off to the side, she collapses, sobbing into her own shoulder and clutching a porcelain doll so tight that it's a wonder that it doesn't crack.

The unintelligible crying dies down after a few minutes, but Yasu still refuses to get up and talk with anyone. Tears silently stream down her face as she just sits there and wallows in her own misery.]

[violence_ensues]

[Bat... hug...?]

[keyringwitness]

[She'll lean into it, but doesn't have the strength to hug back. She just sniffles.]

[violence_ensues]

...

'm sorry I couldn't save Reika from being killed...

[temmapathy]

[Emma also walks over, reaching out towards Yasu's hand for a moment before just wrapping her up in a big hug.]

[keyringwitness]

[Yasu has never received this much physical affection in her life, so that just makes her cry more, but it's nonetheless appreciated.]

[temmapathy]

[It's okay, Emma was crying too. She can't really sign like this, so she just rubs comforting circles on Yasu's back like her family used to do.]

[panglici]

[Well, that's the kind of crying where a just and loving god wouldn't let you sit alone while it happens.

As Carrie is quite confident there is no such deity, but even more confident that nobody should be alone when they're crying like that, she does pry herself up from the table she was at and walk over.]

Hope this spot isn't taken.

[She's sitting down basically at Yasu's feet anyway, leaning against the chair.]

I... you were really brave today.

[keyringwitness]

What're you talking about... all that mystery reading, all that stupid stuff... it couldn't do anything... I was clueless the entire time, I- [And here come more tears.

Yasu, in her own humble opinion, is categorically incapable of being "brave." That's simply not a state that Yasu can be in.]

[panglici]

[How do physical comfort from the floor? This was not something Carrie considered. So she just shifts around until she's kneeling, looking up at Yasu, and reaches up and gently sets a hand over one of hers.]

You tried. All I did was react. You wanted to make things fit together, and... and you were on the right track with the shoes thing.

[cellpreservation]

[Why are there so many girls crying here today

(It's because girls also got murdered in front of everyone, Yuta.)

He will figure out what to do about this in a moment, please hold.]

[canreallymove]

[After awhile, someone comes up to her.]

Uh...hey.

You mind some company for a few secs?

[keyringwitness]

Mmmph, [Yasu sniffles, not able to properly choke any words out... but she at least makes some room for Sonic.]

[canreallymove]

[He does slowly sit. Tellingly, he's not looking at her.]

...Hey, um.

[Deep breath.]

I'm sorry about what happened, man. That...

...

[How the heck do you even apologize for that?]

That...that never shoulda happened. Any of it.

[Which part? Yes. Yes to all of it.]

[holyironmade]

[A lot of people are approaching Yasu and it seems hard to handle more but Jeanne does have strong feelings about this so she'll just say:]

There will be free time on Saturday. Between now and church. We can play. I can draw chalk spiderwebs. It will be as whatever you like... Of course you may also rest...

That is all.

[keyringwitness]

T- Thank you, Jeanne... But, um...

[She feels awful for admitting this, yet it has to be said.]

I don't want to play triangle anymore...

[holyironmade]

[Jeanne cannot hide her instinctive sadness. But she tries. She whispers:]

I understand.

[Her body tilts a bit.]

Can I ask you something? Were you forced... or brought up if you will... to go to church back then?

[curdle]

[ Thomasin, eventually, finds her way out of the kitchen and settles down in Yasu's sob zone. She's got a cup in her hands. It smells vaguely like cinnamon. ]

Here.

[ And she offers it to her! Closer inspection will reveal that it's literally just hot (microwaved) milk with added honey and spices. ]

I meant to make thee a posset, [ she explains apologetically, like this is a natural and understandable thing to say, ] but we're alack of wine. It will do to warm thy hands, if naught else.

[keyringwitness]

A posset...?

[Yasu's never had one before, but she appreciates the gesture.

(It reminds her of baked chocolate chip cookies, somehow. A warmth, hidden behind the awkward gesture.)

In her curiosity, she forgets to cry for a moment as she sips. Even with how hot the milk is, she lets out a content sigh, some of the tension draining from her shoulder.]

This is good... and, um. Don't worry about it. I- I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to drink wine anyways.

Thank you, Thomasin.

[curdle]

It's little enough, [ Thomasin demurs, ducking her head, but it's clear that she's happy to hear it. The little smile that crosses her face only dims when she has to move on, as she inevitably does. ] But I am glad of that. And, um...

I did want to thank thee.

[copycut]

[ Kuro waits for Yasu to have some time to herself before she approaches. It also gives her some time to have doctored-up a few apple slices to look a bit more cheerful, with a clumsy smear of cream cheese and an unevenly halved cherry on top of each. ]

Yasu-chan, you did really well today. Here— You should try to keep your strength up.

[keyringwitness]

[The gesture is appreciated, Kuro, even though Yasu can hear the madam scolding her for such sloppy presentation just looking at the apples. Still, she takes a few bites, and the taste does seem to ease her out of her crying jag.]

T- Thanks, Kuro... Chloe? Um, which- n- nevermind.

If you say so... I don't really feel like I did anything, in the end.

[copycut]

[ Yuta is the one who cut the apples! Of course, the cherries were all her... ]

If you're not sure which name to use, you can always call me onee-chan instead~ [ huhu ] Most people call me "Kuro," though, so it's fine if you want to, too.

[ She watches as Yasu nibbles. Even if it's not the most enthusiastic eating in the world, Kuro looks satisfied with the result. ]

No, you helped a lot. All of your conclusions pointed us on the right track. Just because things got a little chaotic doesn't mean you didn't add anything of value.

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[...Dylan doesn't blame Yasu. After...all of that.

He doesn't try to say anything, almost certain it won't help. Instead he'll just. Sit near her feet. Head leaning against her legs.

Some people pet dogs to relieve stress. He hopes Yasu is one of those people.]

[keyringwitness]

[Yasu has never pet a dog before in her life, but finds the process oddly relieving as she scritches Dylan's ears.

But there's something she needs to say, even if somewhere deep down she knows that Gospel House doesn't entirely deserve the defense.]

It's n- not like, um...

That the orphanage did that to me. [She pauses, having to take several moments to breathe after remembering that she exposed her shameful secret to everyone in class.] I've had it for, er, as long as I c- can remember. It hurts a little bit when I, um, get taller or something, but... really, it's fine.

But still, I... [Yasu curls up, one hand still petting Dylan.] I don't want to go back there. I really don't.