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

[jibunwo]

...

[He did seem to consider that, at least.]

I will think about it.

[queceracera]

At least that way you wouldn't have to hide in our room like a weirdo to eat, you know? Like, you do you but that's gotta suck and you're lucky I don't spend that much time in there except to sleep.

[It's small and he's not a huge fan of enclosed spaces.]

[jibunwo]

You worry too much. I really don't see how my face is anyone's concern, and I've endeavored to stay out of your way when I needed the room itself.

[queceracera]

I'm not really worried about it? I just think it sucks that you feel like you have to be all mysterious and stuff. People are probably gonna start getting suspicious of you and it would suck if we all died because you were all "I'm Batman. I am the night."

[He does the like. Christian Bale batman voice.]

[jibunwo]

[there's that pause of 'definitely a deadpan stare' again]

[...they don't have batman which is why he's gotten away with dressing like this and not been mocked into oblivion]

If that situation should arise, I will handle it. Sacrificing myself and the rest of you is a risk equal in weight to what I would be gambling by revealing my face.

['either way i'm dead so might as well bank on the certain outcome rather than the chance the captain has a direct line to britannia'.]

[queceracera]

[Joke's on you! Scott's too stupid to notice when people are judging him.]

Makes you wonder what happens in the event that someone does win, though. Do we even believe the Captain will let us out of here?

[jibunwo]

Of course not. If someone successfully gets away with murder, then presumably whatever goal the Captain is seeking to accomplish will be fulfilled. Once the rest of us are dead, he'll likely dispose of the murderer as well.

[queceracera]

So, bigger question: if he's not gonna let us go, then how do we know anything he says isn't also a lie? Like - well, ok. For me, giving information to my enemies is whatever since I'm not there. [Oh, Scott. You sweet summer child.] But, like, why wouldn't he have just done that? What's the point of making it a threat?

["Why wasn't Scott this useful during the trial?" I don't understand the question. I can't read suddenly.]

[jibunwo]

It's simple coercion. He can threaten whatever he likes, and if the threat is dire enough for someone, they will not be willing to gamble on whether or not it may be untrue.

We don't even know for certain that he does lack the power to follow through on what he claims. Is that a risk you would be willing to take if the risk is more pressing than merely helping your enemies?

[queceracera]

We don't really have the same kind of stakes where I'm from. I'm not, like, fighting to save the whole world or anything.

[Bold of the Captain to assume Scott Pilgrim understands "stakes" in the same way as other characters.]

Like, I get it? But I guess I don't believe one person can have that much power. That sounds like a shady organization thing.