Afterparty I: Once Upon a Hotpot Dreary...

[heroicact]

[It's very likely that many want to be alone after all of that (and it was a lot, all of that altogether), but there's also merit in gathering together and rebuilding connections after everything that was upended in something as contentious as a trial in a tree. They even had to all slide down from the heights afterward, unfortunately for those with a fear of heights.

So what Jack sets about doing is simply passing on a message by word of mouth at the bottom of the absurd tree slide, tapping shoulders and nodding at those moving away as well, there will be food and drink and company later on in the lounge should it be needed. No one needs ballroom memories on top of everything else, yes?

And so anyone who comes out of their room will be hit by the wonderful smells of fresh bread and pastries, fragrant whiffs of hotpot (it's unfortunately left over from the other day, but it's hotpot so surely it's fine), the inescapable spices of curry and who knows what else has been thrown together in the moment. Jack certainly isn't the cook here, but he can heat things up in a pinch.

There are no signs or fanfare or decorations, unlike the other day; this is just a gathering place, for those who wish to shake off the weight of the days and lives on their shoulders.]

Comments

[eternaljune]

[Rika wanders nearby with her own curry to speak to C-ta. This is one of her senpai that she feels comfortable with trying to keep close. Having a list of people she doubts would kill her specifically is always good.]

Hm...relieved we got it right, at least. Hopefully Samidare can rest easy.

[mearry]

Me too.

[ he'll make some space for rika to sit down. his plate is still mostly full, and he's all but just playing with his food. ]

I feel especially bad for Yor-san...I didn't think that she would end up taking it that badly. I hope that she can forgive us. [ for doubting her. ]

[eternaljune]

She is a mother. I wouldn't be surprised if she saw a little of her daughter in Samidare...still, I do feel bad that she was interrogated the way she was. It's not like it was the wrong thing to do, but hopefully she can forgive how harsh it was.

[She sighs, taking a small bite of curry. She could go for something stronger right about now...]

Not that this is over yet...apparently Zola is going to be executed by one of us.

[mearry]

It really was. And instead of coming forward, Zola just let that all happen even though it didn't matter one way or another...

[ he grits his teeth, clearly not pleased to be remembering her. ]

But having one of us kill her is just way too cruel for us. We shouldn't have to suffer for her awful decisions.

[eternaljune]

...I almost can't blame her for fighting to live--we've known that getting found out means death. Still, Zola's smug attitude even at the end is quite annoying.

[Rika cannot respect the hustle even if she gets it.]

Forcing one of us to pull the trigger as part of the game...is this another sick game of Hamelin's? Either to hammer in the consequences of these trials, or desensitize us further to killing...

[mearry]

It feels like a performance. Like a drama with all the plot twists and cliffhangers.

[ he pauses to take a spoonful of the curry. ]

But are we just performing for him? Or for someone else? I’m not really sure.

[eternaljune]

A performance...not unlike the fairy tales this place calls to mind.

[She considers what C-ta says with her own bite of curry. Might as well try to eat some before it gets too cold.]

When I spoke to him privately, he said he was doing this for entertainment. He also claimed he wasn't good at following orders, but that doesn't mean there can't be others involved in this.

[mearry]

Asahina-chan had said something about him being here because of his family. Even if he's not good at following orders, maybe they could make him be good in some sort of way.

[ by threatening them. ]

Not that I wanna justify him, though.

[eternaljune]

A family of old magical beings who set up these sort of games playing on people's desires...I suppose it is apt for those types of beings. Most that want to meddle in human affairs do it for their own pleasure.