And we're all adrift together through the cold mist, 'til we're lifeless together

[dokkalfheimr]

[The preparations hit differently this time.

Last weekend was at least an attempt at being festive, even with the light supplies they have; at being joyous, at giving people at least one nice thing to look back upon before things inevitably took a turn for the worse. And now two people are dead, and instead of trying to figure out structure placement and how best to keep everyone entertained and occupied and well-fed, the preparations now are given to much more practical purposes.

Large amounts of bottled water from the machine. Bagels and bread and muffins, light starchy things to avoid forcing anyone to keep meat or seafood down after seeing a corpse. Fruit for the sake of providing energy. Avoiding including bananas for any reason. Quietly pulling aside one of the first people she sees with any experience in the matter and asking them to help her make tea.

Once she's got one of the tables at the party zone set up and the tea is on its way to being prepared, she'll set around letting people know; the invitations are simple, written in Freyja's broad, elegant handwriting:

I think another gathering tonight would be beneficial. Not to celebrate, but to remember; perhaps more importantly, to ensure that no one is alone if they don't want to be.

Tonight is hard. There is nothing further to do but get through it.]

Comments

[sivard]

[That was... a lot.

He hadn't spoken to Shard before today, and that had been very... how the hell does he deal with that? He knows what it's like to be used as a weapon against your will.

He hadn't been the most social of people at the last gathering, but this has really changed things.

He's noticeably subdued, drinking quietly and picking at some of the food he's gotten from the party zone.]

...what happens when someone does something intentionally? The Captain isn't going to slow down.

[jibunwo]

In all likelihood, the exact same song and dance over again. Except it will be much harder from someone fully committed and willing to sell us all out for themselves and whatever the Captain can offer.

[yeah he's here but he's not thrilled about anything today]

[sivard]

It's gonna be a lot harder to drag the truth out from someone who kills intentionally.

[jibunwo]

And harder still to be sure those who remain can cooperate long enough to do so. But not impossible.

[ahelpingpaw]

...I doubt it's gonna be any different. All the time today I had thought that if it had been an accident we wouldn't have to do any of that, but apparently...

[Apparently they would have to. That's what happened this time, after all]

[sivard]

...I know what you mean.

The thought had occurred to me, too. But I guess intent isn't the important part.

[ahelpingpaw]

It's not that I was expecting any kind of fairness, but...is it the Captain just took what he could get since otherwise nobody would have died in a murder for another week straight?

[And he got so annoyed instead he decided an accident would be good enough?]

[magycks]

So is it actually pronounced like David, or...?

[ i'm so sorry ]

[sivard]

Zah-veed.

[She might be an evil lady, but she hasn't murdered anybody in cold blood here, so as far as he's concerned, her question isn't really rude!]

[magycks]

Ah. Well, it came out of Pilgrim's mouth, so this one is on me.

[ She touches her own face for a second, mulling... something over, at any rate. ]

Anyway, you valued your own life enough to work it out this time.

[calx]

The same thing, I imagine. Do you expect anything different? [ Albedo is just munching on grapes like this is another evening. ]

[sivard]

I don't see someone who intends to kill all of us just breaking down and confessing.

[Shard had been genuinely remorseful, and he'd still tried pinning it on someone else.]

[calx]

To an extent, I agree. However, some individuals are more moved by guilt than others. [ Popping a grape into his mouth. ]

[dokkalfheimr]

[Oh... Hello, Zaveid. That question hurts a little.]

We do this again, and if we know what is good for us, we try to remain as unified as possible despite it. There isn't much else we can do, but for that.

[sivard]

Morale is going to be hard to keep up around here.

[dokkalfheimr]

Of course; that much is to be expected. I'm generally not the sort to be able to keep morale high, either.

I simply believe that refusing to continue on is going to be our undoing.

[oceangirlfriend]

Probably a better-planned deception, at least.

[sivard]

An intentional one, too.

[oceangirlfriend]

Indeed...and one that might be designed to point at a fake culprit instead of trying to make it appear as an accident.

[ignobel]

... I don't think it makes a difference. Either way, he's goin' to make us go through all the same things, and look at dead people for a while, and then laugh at us while he's patting us on the head like kids for his stupid answer.

[Allenby, for one, arrives a little later and windblown and freshly a-showered. Anybody who's run into her in the gym can probably guess what she's been up to, and her lack of gloves and more casual outfit give away her time spent away from trial and away from the funeral party, too.

She grabs the first bite of food she sees and basically throws herself down in the nearest chair, so her words are as muffled by a bagel as they are seemingly careless.

She's still a bit sullen about it, but no longer kick-the-nearest-robot sullen, at least.]

Still won't show his damn self, either.

[sivard]

Nah, of course he isn't going to show himself.

I'm certain he's going to make it a big damn deal, if it happens at all.

[ignobel]

You'd think he'd want to gloat in person. After everything...

[There's something like a sigh as she stuffs the rest of the bagel down her gullet and looks down at her hands with a huff, opening and closing them, flexing the fingers. There's something meditative in it even though the majority of her is still radiating irritation.

Their host, after all, isn't exactly small potatoes. But he's somehow kind of a potato. Complicated!]

I mean, if it's for real -- the whole messing with people's abilities thing. I'd say I can't tell, but I'm pretty sure I used to be faster than this any old time.

[hellahighwater]

[ At some point, Chloe tracks down Zaveid with a piece of paper and a pen. He asks his question and... ]

It's gonna fucking suck, that's what. Come over here, you wanna see what driving is, right?

[ Ah... She did say she'd draw him a picture. ]

[sivard]

Oh, right. Sure.

[Please educate the fantasy world man.

Though actually he doesn't know that much about human culture in his own world, so this is going to be fascinating!]

[hellahighwater]

[ Yaaay, avoidance! Well, Chloe sits down at a table and starts drawing...a really good illustration of a car, actually? It's more broad strokes, but it's like, a truck, with a flatbed and everything. While she's drawing: ]

Okay...so this...is what we call a car. It's what we drive around in...like old horse and buggy but it's fully...automated...which is why it's also referred to...as an automobile.

[ And, drawing a road under it... ]

So, when most people from my time say drive, that's what they're talkin' about.