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

[ahelpingpaw]

Yeah, that's exactly how it feels. You all always manage to word these things much better than I ever could.

[Oh boy how good would it be for this entire day to have been a dream. Well, he'd wake up, terrified and probably mull about it for like a day or two, but with time it'd fade until he didn't remember it at all. Trying to forget something you lived is harder, albeit not impossible]

I dunno if I'd feel better or not if it hadn't been an accident...or if he hadn't tried to hide it from us all like that. We could--we could have died.

[cethflayn]

Do you think so? I...have been told my speech is more formal than others.

[Like, suspiciously so, but if someone thinks it's actually a good thing, maybe that's not so bad.]

We certainly could have, but I suppose...all of us were at our rope's end. Even Shard. I do not have the heart to judge him harshly.

[That's her aunt's thing, not hers.]

[ahelpingpaw]

There's nothing wrong with your speech!

[Not that Filbo got elected mayor for his oratory skills, hah. The intricacies of speech mannerisms elude him]

I can't judge him either. Of course I'm upset he blamed someone else! It could have ended so badly for the rest of us. But...I can't be angry with him that much. I wasn't taking the Captain's threat too well, so...I have been wondering if I'd have been reacting the same way he did.

[Probably not. Filbo wouldn't have been able to face the shock of everybody having to die in his place if he got away with a crime]

But in a way all this Lady Freyja organized is a way to honor his memory or...something? I'm glad for it.

[cethflayn]

She is quite good at that.

[Comes with being a fairy queen, probably.]

...I do not know how I would have handled the situation myself, were I in his shoes. Even moreso now that we know the exact risks involved.

[Flayn didn't take too much stock in the Captain's threat, but. That wouldn't mean he couldn't come up with more.]

[ahelpingpaw]

...well, regardless, after what happened I'm never gonna harm any of you. It's not like I'd have even considered myself capable to do it anyway, but I'm not gonna fall for anything the Captain offers.

[Valiant words from someone who has no idea about the motives the Captain will use, hah]

And if anything happens again, this time I'm not gonna sit aside and let others handle it. We all gotta work together, so I guess...! ...I guess it's time for me to become a detective?

I dunno where to even start with that.

[He's not great at deductions, he's more of a sounding board]

[cethflayn]

Perhaps we all must become detectives together...?

[ahelpingpaw]

How...how does one do that? Do you know?

[Flayn, what is investigating and how does one do it without screwing up -- because if that happens they're all dead and that'd suck, wouldn't it]

...oh, wait, you did present some stuff today! It was kinda impressive.

[cethflayn]

It was not so impressive. I just explained what I saw.

[If no one had brought up bananas she might not have even thought to say it.]

In the end, it was the railing that was the key. But...maybe if we all make sure to look at everything, that will be how we are all detectives.

[ahelpingpaw]

...I guess I can do that much. I mean, logic isn't really my strong point? But if examining everything around is good enough I sure can do that.

[He can't screw up too much doing that, no? So he should be fine!]

[cethflayn]

I think that should be enough if we all collectively think about what we see. You need not be logical to solve a mystery.

[Sometimes you throw wacky shit against the wall to see what sticks.]