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

[hellahighwater]

[ It's like opening a floodgate. Chloe is so much taller than Freyja, but she greedily, hungrily returns the hug. She can't help but think about Max's last embrace. About backing away, watching the other girl's horrified, heartbroken expression. How much of a terror she's been to her mom, how she can't remember the last time she really let her in. How she's never going to get to hug her again. How the last time they talked, she'd said something offhand, dismissive. How she never got to tell her she loved her, before she went to work at the diner. How she can't remember...the last time she told her that.

Just like that, she's crying on Freyja's shoulder. Sobbing, like when they found Rachel. Beyond that first moment, telling Max to let her die... Chloe hasn't cried for herself yet.

It's overdue. ]

[dokkalfheimr]

[...Okay. This is... It's okay, she'll just shift her grip a bit for the sake of reaching up and playing with the ends of Chloe's hair a little and before she even realizes she's saying anything at all, the fact of the matter is that she is.]

...I know. I know it's hard, and everything is overwhelming right now, and everything is dark. But we're all right, right now. For this moment we're safe, and we're here, and everything else can come later.

Whenever you're ready, we can go back to the room, but you can stay here as long as you need.

[hellahighwater]

[ What the hell. Like a young girl, Chloe cries and tries to nod along. It's more...registering that Freyja's saying something, honestly. Part of her worries someone else will see her...but, fuck, she's so desperate for this. She's so tired...of being angry.

She stays like this for awhile. She absolutely does not let go. ]

[dokkalfheimr]

[As long as you need, Chloe. She meant it. There's so much hair-playing.

It's strange to do this with a mortal; she's always had difficulties separating out her interactions with mortals and her feelings towards them. She still stands by most, if not all of those feelings; as a whole, they hardly deserve otherwise. But for now...she can put aside at least some of it, because this isn't the first time she's done this. It isn't the first time she's comforted a crying girl, it isn't the first time she's seen someone life has been abhorrently cruel to. So she'll allow it for now, it's just...warm, and more to the point it's what needs to be done right now, and so she will.]