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

party zone

[dokkalfheimr]

[Freyja knows that Plumeria can be temperamental, after stressful things; she's willing to leave her be for the time being and not force her to attend any gathering that make take place here. Plumeria knows where she will be if she wants to seek her out, and for the time being she's content to let her work her frustrations out of her system.

But eventually Plumeria does come by, and Freyja will give her a moment to get food before approaching her.]

It's going to be a difficult night.

[It's a calm observation, but she isn't exactly wrong.]

Are you all right...?

[paucipan]

[Ah, Lady Freyja. Plumeria's expression straightens itself out into something more neutral and respectful, and her posture is a little better too. Even now she needs to maintain that respect.]

...Yeah, it is. Looks like our peaceful times are over now; only took two weeks to do so.

[...Not even Plumeria can hide her grumbling forever, but she looks up to Lady Freyja once she's asked that much, just...shaking her head.]

...I don't even know. I'm furious after everything that happened today. We all could have been killed over an accident.

[That's not even getting into how much spite and anger she's still got for Zero and Constantine.]

[dokkalfheimr]

We very well could have. Don't misunderstand me - despite my words to Shard, the thought upsets me too. But I believe that to be the fault of the Captain, more than the fault of anyone else involved.

Even so, your anger is well-justified, and well-earned by those who receive it.

[So, yeah, it's kind of an "everyone sucks here, but especially the Captain."]

Thank you, for your willingness to defend me from false accusation.

[paucipan]

...Yes, I agree. He's just as much at fault as everyone else involved in this mess.

[That's a vibe can jive with. Even if Plumeria is, as always, deeply petty. But it is good to have her anger justified, and it does make Plumeria feel better. Even if feeling anything is like having a gaping, yawning void in her chest.

Of course, that last bit gets Plumeria to perk up, and she...tries not to let her look sour too much.]

Of course, Lady Freyja; I promised to protect you, after all. I couldn't stand the way that man looked at you, as if you could possibly have done this. [sis he was just. he was just STARING.] To think that human would do such a thing infuriates me.

[dokkalfheimr]

I'm grateful that you knew that I wouldn't.

[Like, she can see where she looked kinda sus? But that's just kind of how things happened to fall.]

[paucipan]

Of course you wouldn't. I had no doubts at all. The people here would be foolish to suspect you.

[That's what Plumeria thinks, anyway, and she's never really been one for objective thinking when Lady Freyja's involved.]

Are you... [Ugh, is she overstepping--] May I ask how you are faring after all of this, Lady Freyja?

[dokkalfheimr]

...Better than several, I believe. [From the sound of it, she doesn't seem to consider the question problematic.] I was close with neither Carmen nor Shard; we didn't speak much. As for what happened during the trial, I trust that John Constantine meant very little by what he implied; he seems level enough to not bring forth an accusation for no reason.

[She has...not much faith in Constantine, but she does in fact have some.]

It was unfortunate to watch someone die, but it was a death earned, regardless of how accidentally so.

[paucipan]

[...Yeah, Plumeria can't deny that. But she does listen intently, at least, even if the mention of Constantine does get Plumeria's gaze to dart briefly. Realistically, yes, that's true, but what if Shard had accused her, would they have--]

I only talked to that woman once. The other one, twice. I can understand what you mean.

[On doing better than most, she means. Less stakes and attachments means less reason to get so morose. And yet...]

...It was still...strange, watching him die? [Is that weird? Maybe that's weird.] It was unsettling, but you're right. He got what he deserved.

[dokkalfheimr]

...It was like that seeing the body in the morning. I...don't understand why it was so, because I really didn't know her at all...

[...It still gave her, like, a massive case of The Wig?]

The death of mortals is almost always a strange, violent affair. It makes sense to find such things unpleasant.

[paucipan]

[The Wig is honestly the best way to describe it, really, and Plumeria is...well, at least a bit glad she's not alone.]

...Neither do I. It almost looked like she was in a deep sleep, but...

[Yeah. She feels you on The Wig, honestly.]

It's a sight I'm hoping I'll forget.

[dokkalfheimr]

Hopefully this week will serve as enough of a deterrent to keep them from acting for another two weeks.

[She will absolutely not give them any longer than that; even two weeks seems optimistic.]

[paucipan]

...Yeah, I hope so too. But that also depends on just what the Captain does going forward, though, doesn't it?

[She...doesn't have a lot of faith in them lasting anymore weeks, honestly.]

[dokkalfheimr]

If there's another threat, someone will act on it. That's just the fact of the matter.

[She seems fairly confident in that.]

He had patience last time. I wonder if he'll deem this to have not been enough to encourage him to wait, due to the accidental nature of it.

[paucipan]

Oh, more than likely. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes up with something worse, just to get under people's skin.

[...Gods, this really has embittered her, hasn't it. Plumeria goes tense at the thought.]

...I'm not looking forward to it.

[dokkalfheimr]

...It will be all right, Plumeria.

[Her words aren't precisely comforting, because she can't promise that, but...]

We'll get through it. I know we will. There's no way a human will be the end of us here.