Afterparty II: Two Hearts, One Valve

[purefuries]

[ There's some joke about pizza to be made after all of that, but the bakery is broken, so we'll make do. The gathering seems to be happening outside this time, just around the entrance to the lodgings building, someone having left small notes and quick knocks and promptly disappearing, all saying something about getting fresh air.

Presented on a collection of tables is tea, fish stir-fry courtesy of Edelgard, chazuke from Tenn, and some sweet tarts from Junko. There also seems to be seeds in a bowl...? (Nageki is trying) Some chairs have been dragged out if you'd rather not stand around.

It's nice and breezy out tonight, though. Look up at the moon, and try not to feel too alone. ]

Comments

[incompletely]

[ Tenn is visibly shaken up, and it seems like him cooking this time around is more to keep himself grounded and distracted more than it is to feed everyone. He's looking at his pot of chazuke -- tea and rice -- tiredly, and as he lifts the ladle to pour bowls for people, it's not hard to see that his hand is still shaky.

He's completely silent as he does this. He may not have much to say, because he doesn't have it in him to sass or tease anyone like he usually does.

After he's done cooking, though, he walks off to be in his room, which is Room 3, should anyone want to talk to him there. ]

[libirdian]

[ Nageki's main priority tonight will be trying to make sure everyone, especially those particularly hit hard by the trial, have some sort of dinner after the long day. No reading this time--he's going to be zooming around asking people what they'd like to eat and drink. An impromptu delivery bird, if you will. He'll even delivery non-food related items if asked.

This will go on as long as needed because he's not about to sleep anytime soon. ]

Is that what you wanted? I can see what else I can get.

[ Not having the bakery available is a hard blow in these trying times, but he'll try his best to figure something out. ]

[ideismo]

[Alexei isn't returning to the lodgings.

He has no interest in being around people; he's never had interest in being around people after things go poorly, he wants to be left alone with his thoughts, he wants to just wait for whatever's going off in his head to shut off and remain that way because at this exact moment everything just-

He's out near the fountain tonight, simply because it's somewhere relatively clear, and he's trying not to think about SQ; he's got his sword out with him, the false Dein Nomos glittering in the low light, and he's rotating it a little in his grip, occasionally practicing strikes large and sweeping in their reach - just reacquainting himself with the damn sword, getting used to the weight of it in his grasp again, trying to get whatever the hell is happening in his head to slow a bit. There's nothing here for him - at the very least back in the Empire there was always something to do after setbacks like these - and honestly, he has no interest in coming back in tonight.

He doesn't care what the later hours bring. Better than being with the others.]

[libirdian]

[ Nageki repeatedly looks between Tenn and the pot, worried he might accidentally spill something hot on himself. It's not like him to be so openly distracted (though he can't blame him at all), so after a few seconds of internal debating, he quietly speaks up. His current plating can wait. ]

...Do you want to sit down? I can finish the ladling.

[ Even if he can't cook, he can at least do that much. ]

[crimson_flamel]

[Edelgard offers to help out with the cooking, mostly for something to do, something to keep her mind off all of this.

Sami, Zola, Riku, Gin, C-Ta, SQ. This game isn't being considered, it's being played.

That's what runs through her head, after the cooking is done, and she sits in a corner staring into a cup of tea darkly.]

[incompletely]

No, it's alright. I can handle it.

[ His voice is quiet. He doesn't even look at Nageki; he's just...hyperfixated on this ladling, apparently.

Then: ]

Nageki. Thank you...for earlier.

[reallyfishy]

[Raven knows he's probably not a popular person at the moment due to the...everything...at the trial, but he does make an appearance at the afterparty to clear up some things if anyone has any questions for him. He can be found lying in the grass a little ways from the gathering, arms behind his head and eyes on the moon.

Oof, what a fucking day.

Later on, he's back at the sparring area, swinging his wooden sword around and trying to take his mind off of things. His teeth are absolutely chattering from the cold desert air, though. Maybe this was an unwise idea.

He returns to room 17 after everything's said and done, and can be visited there should anyone want to speak to him outside of PCs!]

[incompletely]

[ Tenn isn't making it a point to really talk to anyone today, but Raven is someone he feels like he should speak to. He approaches him at the afterparty, feet crunching the grass beneath his boots, making himself known. ]

Raven-san.

[ A beat. ]

...Is it...okay if I join you?

[libirdian]

All right.

[ He'll leave it at that, though he's obviously staring to step in if it looks like something's about to spill on Tenn. Or if anything's about to cause an injury. But Nageki answers the other part as quickly as he can. ]

...No need to. I just wanted more time for somebirdie who could help.

[incompletely]

"Somebirdie"...

[ He says it under his breath and lets out a little laugh. He doesn't smile, but that's funny. He puts a pause on his pouring, though, and holds out a bowl towards him. ]

You put yourself at risk, though. I just wish it didn't have to come down to that.

[reallyfishy]

[Raven tips his head to face Tenn, expression softening. This poor kid has been through so much today.]

'course it's okay. [He pats the grass beside him.] Have a seat next ta ol' Raven.

[edamamepon]

[ After the cooking is done is about the time Makoto even makes it here. He doesn't want to be alone, but he doesn't know if he wants to talk either. And he hasn't even started in on the coffee in his hand. ]

... Mind if I join you?

[incompletely]

[ He wordlessly moves over to sit on the grass next to Raven and pulls his knees up to his chest. He looks down at the grass pensively. ]

Thanks. I know I said this earlier, but...I'm glad you helped Riku. Even if you think it was a small thing, I think he enjoyed learning under you. ... He didn't get to do much, growing up, so he must have been excited to pick up archery.

[crimson_flamel]

By all means.

[It doesn't make her lose her brooding energy.]

[libirdian]

[ He takes the bowl and sets it down on the nearest clear space with a spoon laying across its lip. ]

Me neither. You shouldn't have ever been in that situation.

[ Even if Nageki did get hurt from that, it would be comparatively less painful than his past experiences anyway. The benefits outweighed--still outweighs--the risk. He's just glad somebirdie far more capable properly stopped the attack. ]

[incompletely]

...Riku's the one who suffered the most. I can't imagine what he went through, that night.

[ It must have been so awful. c-ta is awful. Tenn finishes the last of the bowls before he sits across of Nageki. He doesn't want to be around people very much, but he doesn't mind Fairy Birbmother's company. ]

And yet...it still feels like this was somehow my responsibility... Especially after what c-ta said about his game.

sparring;

[ideismo]

[He won't follow Raven right away; he'll let him have his space, though he'll eventually find himself by the sparring area as well. He has Dein Nomos sheathed for the time being as he just stands near the fence and watches for a while before saying anything.]

Trying to clear your thoughts a bit...?

[reallyfishy]

Oh yeah? Did he tell ya all about it?

[That brings a small smile to his face, bittersweet as it may be.]

I was happy ta help. I could tell he was really serious about pickin' up some kinda weapon fer defense, and I wanted you kids to have a fightin' chance if worst came to worst. [...] He said his primary concern was protectin' you.

[incompletely]

[ Oh, Riku... That makes Tenn frown, and he lowers his head a little more. He's not shielding himself from view, but...Riku, please. ]

He told me that, too. Really, he should have been looking out for himself more than anything...

[ And he told him as such, too, but Riku is stubborn when he puts his mind to something. ]

I appreciate it, though, and there's something I've been meaning to ask.

I'm learning how to use an axe, but I want to take up the bow, too. In his name. So...whatever you wanted him to learn, if you wouldn't mind passing that knowledge onto me, too, let me know.

[reallyfishy]

[Raven must have been more lost in his swordplay than he realized, because Alexei's voice sends him jumping at attention.

When his brain finally catches up, he lets out a shaky breath and faces Alexei.]

Y-Yeah.

[That's more blurted out than anything. He's very obviously not sure how to talk to the Commandant right now, after everything at the trial.]

[libirdian]

Mister Nanase didn't deserve anything that happened. I'm sorry.

[ No one should feel the pain of being betrayed by someone they were to trust had good intentions at heart. Having your hope and trust ripped away like that feels like losing a part of yourself. ]

...I think a lot of things piled up that led him to it. In hindsight, he was...nervous about Kokkuri-san. I should've noticed. Done more about it.
And I could say more.

[ He quietly places another spoon with that last bowl as he continues speaking, solemn but steady. ]

Please don't think it's your responsibility. We couldn't have known, couldn't predict everything. There's....there will always be the what-ifs.

[ And the future is what it is, but he feels that would be cruel to say. Not now. ]

[amortristis]

[ ... yeah, this seems about right. ]

You'd probably have more room out in the desert to here, if you're practicing.

[ She's not really trying to hint at anything, just. Suggesting. ]

[incompletely]

...I guess you're right.

[ Even so, c-ta saying it was all Tenn's fault that people were going to die doesn't sit well with him. He looks like he's starting to feel sick just thinking about it. ]

I trusted him -- c-ta, I mean. I know Riku did, too.

[ And now he hates c-ta, which is...fine...but he's too ashamed to talk about that time he almost threw the lightning orb at him. ]

None of this feels real.

[ideismo]

[That just gets him to tip his head a bit. Considering, though his expression is fairly blank.]

Spar with me.

[It isn't a request, not exactly. But it isn't an order, either.]

[ideismo]

[Hey, Morgan.]

I would. As it stands, I just want to clear my head for a while.