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]

[True enough that he had less than no use for it with everyone else here, but...well, for whatever reason he wasn't about to argue with Flayn.]

[Already having put his gloves back on after the hand check, he simply took the cup without complaint.]

Are you faring well after that?

[cethflayn]

Truthfully? [She heaves a little sigh.] Not particularly. But I can keep going. I must.

[She's used to it by now. Still sucks a lot, though.]

Now that it has happened, it will happen again. I will not presume it cannot.

[jibunwo]

Accident or otherwise, the Captain now knows his desired result is possible. No matter the intent, I have no doubt circumstances will bring us back here again.

[cethflayn]

[She shakes her head mournfully.]

I just wish...he could have believed me. When I said he was still a person.

[jibunwo]

...You were kind to say as much. Regardless of whether or not he believed it.

[cethflayn]

It is what I believe. Personhood is personhood, no matter where one comes from.

[jibunwo]

I didn't say you were wrong. This isn't a situation I've encountered before, but I see little difference between Shard or Data and anyone else. It's...regrettable, that such a thing seems to be so harsh a sticking point for them.

[cethflayn]

I agree. Even if our differences can be - startling, perhaps - that does not make it less painful when someone is taken from us.

[Her thoughts are a bit distracted, but she means what she says.]