AFTERPARTY III: Never Have I Ever Been Quite This Drunk

[mirrite]

[There's absolutely nothing celebratory about this drinking party. "Party" isn't even the right word, not really-- it's more like a "drink until you forget and/or black out" session for anyone who wants to participate, and even the bartender isn't immune from that much. Please forgive him if your drink isn't mixed quite right; he's trying his best under the circumstances.

There's food, too, if anyone wants to attempt to stave off a hangover tomorrow, or just get something in their stomach after the events of the day: stirfry from Makoto, vegetable soup from Nageki (mediocre, but hey, a genuine effort was made and that's what counts), and some tea for those who would rather abstain from the harder stuff. (Is that even many people tonight? Probably not.)

Come on by the bar if you're hungry or want a drink, or even if you just don't want to be alone right now. That much, at least, is something that can be guaranteed tonight.]

Comments

[adorabilities]

I guess it depends.

I-- I'd be honest. If it helped.

[vogelfrei]

Do you think everyone would trust you on that, after all this?

[ It's hard not to think of her as genuine when she's been so straightforward this whole time but... Yor certainly happened to everyone here. ]

[adorabilities]

I don't know. But it's not the first time everyone around me hasn't trusted me. For a lot of good reason?

[ she'll sit near him. ]

But I've got to try. Since trying to wring Hamelin's neck isn't working.

[vogelfrei]

Proving yourself might take more time than we really have here.

[ However much time that even is, he doesn't know. How many 'winners' can this game have? How many need to die when Hamelin says it is 'never enough'? ]

... but it's not as though I have better advice to offer to you right now. I'm sorry. I believe relying on ourselves is better than trusting anybody here, but that is a method and not a solution either.

[adorabilities]

... Maybe. At this rate. Just-- regarding proving ourselves.

But I also mean...

[ she wrestles with it for a moment, the argument easily readable on her face. ]

I don't think it's possible if we don't trust each other. Hamelin wouldn't be trying so hard to make sure we don't, otherwise.

[vogelfrei]

I don't think he would mind trust itself terribly much as long as there are still a few people who will break easily enough to betray that trust - however genuinely they might have felt it beforehand.

The point of the game is death, after all.

[ A blood debt that needs to be paid, for a contract none of them remember agreeing to. ]

[adorabilities]

There are easier ways to do it, though. Doesn't that make you at least a little suspicious that there's another motive?

[vogelfrei]

Are you suggesting that trust itself has an inherent power in this world of magic?