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

[scythegun]

[Hi, Marcus. Yeager comes to take a seat at the bar, though he's not asking for any drinks. He props his elbow on the bar and then his chin on his hand.]

I wanted to apologize for casting suspicion on you in the last trial. And for insisting you cut yourself like that.

[He already apologized to Phillip for it, but Marcus certainly should have the apology as well.]

[mirrite]

[Marcus just waves it off with a weak attempt at a smile, though it clearly doesn't reach his eyes. Yeah, he's not doing so great today, can you tell?]

I've had worse. Besides, it's no surprise that people would find it weird that someone who supposedly fights all the time doesn't have a mark on them. That's not exactly natural, you know? Of course I'd look suspicious for that.

[A dry laugh, tired and more than a little strained.]

[scythegun]

It is a little odd, certainly. But I must admit, I hadn't taken into account that there would be an explanation behind it present in your world.

[It's a nicer way of saying "he wasn't exactly thinking much at all at that point" but that's more or less what it is.]

I am glad that we now know who was responsible for that, but...

[He studies Marcus for a moment, like he's debating saying anything at all.]

You'll be alright, I assume? I imagine this has shaken quite a few people.

[It isn't really his place to get involved, but he supposes it doesn't hurt to check.]

[mirrite]

Are any of us really all right right now?

[A rhetorical question, to be sure, and he may just be pouring himself a shot of something as he asks it. Well, there's the answer in one form or another.]

You know, the other night at the party, she asked me if I trusted anyone here besides Phil. I told her that she was one of the people I wanted to believe I could trust.

[And boy oh boy, was he ever wrong on that one, apparently.]

[scythegun]

[The shot says it all, really. That's a damn mood, Marcus.]

I'm not surprised. She seemed rather well-liked by everyone.

[He sighs at that before shaking his head.]

I wouldn't blame yourself for that. It's quite difficult to really get to know a stranger here in three weeks, I think. There are plenty of things we're all still hiding. It truly is unfortunate that it happened like this, though.

[mirrite]

[He'd be doing more than just this one if he wasn't still tending the bar, really.]

I should've known when I had to hold her back from killing C-ta last week, but...

[He sighs.]

I can't say I wouldn't have done the same if Phil had been the one killed instead. I can understand that kind of thinking, at least. So I didn't think anything of it at the time.

[scythegun]

It's understandable that we didn't think to look at her all that closely, given that.

[Maybe looking at it now it paints that in a different light, but it's not really one he's stopping to consider right now.]

It isn't as though you were the only one who missed that. Holding her back doesn't make it solely your fault. Remember that at least, ja? What happened was unfortunate, tragic - but that's the point of this setup. We can't lose sight of that.

[mirrite]

Yeah. Yeah, I know that. I know we couldn't have known. She pulled the wool over all of our eyes.

[...]

I know that, but... I don't want to believe that all of her was fake, you know?

[But it's so hard to reconcile with the fact that she let an innocent woman die in her place...]

[scythegun]

[Hmm...]

Her wish - whatever it was - must have been something she couldn't think of living without. I imagine there are plenty of people with wishes like that.

[...]

So what you saw of her may not have been fake at all. It's possible that she was honest with you about most things, but not everything. And in the end, desperation caused her to kill.

[Like Zola, he thinks, but doesn't say.]

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[That makes him go quiet for a moment. Is he really any better, when you get right down to it? He'd been willing to attempt to kill two innocent people in his world for the mere crime of existing.]

I guess I can't really throw stones here. Not when I almost did the same thing back at home.

[And you know what? He needs another shot.]

[scythegun]

This place certainly does have a way of forcing you to reflect on things, doesn't it? It's dreadful!

[That's such a mood, and Yeager certainly isn't going to stop him!!]

[mirrite]

Kinda wish it didn't. I could live without having my own bad decisions rubbed in my face...

[Especially, you know, that one. Oh, the irony.]