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

[scythegun]

[Yeager doesn't particularly feel like going to the gathering, but he doesn't particularly feel like doing anything else either. So he goes, and you can find him in the party zone. If you're also here, he'll approach and ask:]

How are you doing after all of that? It's been a very rough day, ja?

[He's more subdued than usual, and he'll offer you a cup of tea if you don't already have one.

Later on in the evening, he's taken up residence in the buffet where he's going to be mixing drinks. He's humming to himself as he works, though he's still nowhere near as cheerful as usual. Feel free to swing by if you want something, otherwise he's here to talk and not think too much about anything that just happened.]

buffet

[dokkalfheimr]

[She's in here with the intention of taking a few minutes to herself and picking at some of the fruit, seeing as she hasn't eaten all day; she'll look over at Yeager where he's messing with the drinks at the bar, though.]

How is the evening finding you...?

[scythegun]

Better than most, I'd assume.

[Which is understandable, given that some of these people were closer to the killer and victim, or were otherwise traumatized by what happened.]

And you...? It was nice of you to gather everyone together this evening.

[dokkalfheimr]

It seemed something that people might need.

[So there's that.]

I'm faring well enough, however. I didn't know either of them well, though I suppose that's true of most here. We've all only known each other for less than two weeks.

[scythegun]

Indeed. It's understandable that some are taking it poorly, though.

[The kids and bleeding hearts, in other words.]

I do wonder what will happen next.

[dokkalfheimr]

More threats, if I had to wager.

[scythegun]

Ja, certainly. This one was very effective.

[dokkalfheimr]

Yes and no. What happened was only tangentially the result of it, after all.

[scythegun]

Ja, that's true, this one was. But he's seen that threats like this can be very effective - even though this specific instance was not caused by it, that simply means he needs to tinker what he threatens us with next time.

[dokkalfheimr]

I don't know that I would call it effective in its own right for what he's trying to accomplish.

He upset us and he gave us a deadline. And yet there was only one body this morning, that being the result of a total accident that was only tangentially related. Implying that no one was interested in acting on what he was putting forth.

[scythegun]

Hmm, perhaps. But it gave him plenty of time to figure out what about this didn't work so he can find something more effective for next time, ja?

[dokkalfheimr]

Are you just going to continue extolling what a genius you think the Captain is, despite all evidence to the contrary?

[asking for a friend]

[scythegun]

What would you have me say, then? That he certainly won't try to threaten us again, because this time clearly didn't work?

party zone

[hellahighwater]

[ Chloe's a bit of a late arrival, but she catches Yeager in the party zone...or rather, he catches her. She raises an eyebrow, appearing largely...apathetic? Maybe that's it. ]

That's a way to put it. Rough. [ She shrugs. ] I'm fuckin' dealing with it.

[scythegun]

[That's fair, honestly...]

I can see. [That's actually not sarcastic...] I can leave you alone, if you'd prefer?

[hellahighwater]

[ She shrugs. ]

Nah, man, be my guest. I don't own the ship. Can't tell ya what to do.

[scythegun]

[It gets a brief laugh out of him, anyway.]

True enough! I suppose that would be the Captain's job, not that many of us will be likely to listen to him.

[hellahighwater]

Tell me about it. If I could just get one minute with that smug fucker...

[ ...No jokes about his dick today? ]

[scythegun]

[Ooh, you really are upset about all of this, huh.]

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem very likely we'll get that opportunity any time soon. He seems very content laughing at us from afar.

[hellahighwater]

Asshole thinks he's all cozy where no one can find him. Thinks all this is funny, playing with people's lives like they're toys.

[ She really is upset about all this! ]

Like we're just dancing bears for him.

[scythegun]

That really is it, we're nothing more than amusement to him. He didn't even seem to pay much attention to us today until we reached the end.

[Like none of the struggle mattered and only the execution did.]

[hellahighwater]

It didn't even sound like he was watching.

[ All he cares about is their deaths. Not like that's really surprising, but... ]

Not even the bullshit trial matters to him. Why the fuck were we even doing that?

[scythegun]

I don't know. There must be a reason behind it; something to explain why he decided to set things up like this.

[It's not a comforting answer, and it certainly isn't fun to think about.]

Hopefully we'll be able to learn more and perhaps then we'll be able to find a way to stop this.

[hellahighwater]

You think that's likely? Like, seriously, you think that's a likely outcome?

[scythegun]

I think there's a very real possibility that we can find something to use against him. Mr. Jones is not serving the Captain of his own volition, and that is something I believe we can use to our advantage.