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

[curdle]

... Yes. An empty stomach worsens all miseries.

[ SHE! WOULD!! KNOW!!! ]

[temmapathy]

[She nods, sniffing slowly.] Are you making gingerbread? It kind of smells like that.

[curdle]

[ She smiles, nodding. ]

They still eat of it in thy days? I had thought it might do a good to settle our stomachs, after [ ... ] that.

[temmapathy]

Usually at Christmas. [She blinks at the second comment.]

I thought too much sweet stuff was bad for your stomach?

[curdle]

[ AH, THE DEVIL'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY...... ]

Ginger eases it, and so too the other spices. It might not be so sweet as all that.

[ this is where the "but more so" really comes in ]

May I ask thee what it is like? Christmas.

[temmapathy]

[She looks thoughtful.] When my mom was still there, it was a really bright and colorful time. We had lots of presents under the tree and lights everywhere, and Mom would always have enough snacks for us and for the carolers. After she disappeared...we still had presents and some snacks, but just for us. No more decorations.

[curdle]

Aye, I remember the carolers, a-singing in the streets. [ She smiles with an expression that's hard to read, but unmistakably fond. ] None dared near our door after Father railed against them for pagan devilry, and none would celebrate it in the colony.

... Pray forgive me, Emma, I am sorry thou hast lost her. She was vanished?

[temmapathy]

"Vanished" is actually the most accurate way to put it. [A brief flash of anger passes across her face.]

We thought she was dead! But dad's company kidnapped her and were holding her hostage so dad would do their work!

[curdle]

[ she knows that a company can be business related but is picturing a military group due to the context... ]

To an ill purpose, then.

[temmapathy]

I GUESS his work could have been used for good, but they were only using to help rich people escape the consequences of their actions.

[curdle]

[ There's a pause, while she tries to think about this. ]

Is that why you cannot abide Valmont?

[ She's really just asking this! There's no tone to the question at all. Because, like, same............. ]

[temmapathy]

Yes! [She signs, emphatically.] He acts like we should all treat him special just because he's rich when that doesn't even matter here!