(too late) you're at the party

[scouserer]

[Well, it's safe to say that trial fucking sucked. Therefore, some sort of afterparty is in order. Constantine is admittedly not good at throwing parties without some sort of liquor or other drug involved, but that's where Data and Sylvando guide him.

First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]

meet at the lounge
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.

A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.

But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]

Comments

[jibunwo]

[Zero was perhaps a little too calm, or at least that was what he looked like given that he still wouldn't show his face. He took up a space leaning against the wall in the lounge, taser hidden in his cape again and arms folded. He was probably fine even after all of that. And if not, he was making a very good show of acting like it.]

[...Thank god he was still wearing a mask, or else everyone might just know how he really felt about it.]

[onlyyoucan]

...I'm sorry.

[For what, she's not sure. Everything, probably. But she seems to have given up on her food and moved herself and her doll over to the wall to sulk.]

[jibunwo]

For what.

[His voice was a little more tense than usual, but it didn't seem directed at Sara.]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[onlyyoucan]

...

[Had she? Had she done anything at Glabella? When the Libertad was first attacked? In the boiler room with Mariette? At Gall? Here? And if not --

"But why is it you are still alive, Sara? Is it because you're his sister?"]

I didn't do anything at all. I got caught up in everything else, and everyone almost got killed.

[jibunwo]

We focused on the wrong point, and that is something to be wary of moving forward. But the truth came out eventually, and with minimal severe injury.

[onlyyoucan]

...right. It could have gone worse easily. Still... what were those?

[jibunwo]

...I wish I had answers for anything that transpired today, but I fear I simply do not.

[onlyyoucan]

...

[She sighs and just nods sadly.]

You're the same as me.

[It's something she knew already, in a sense.]

[jibunwo]

[A quiet sigh from inside the helmet.]

...Yes. I think that is accurate.

[onlyyoucan]

[She's not going into detail here in public, so she won't follow up. Just nod and look out on the subdued room.]

We know he's here now. [The Captain.] Not hiding somewhere far off.

[jibunwo]

We do, and that confirmation is important. If he's within reach, then he's placed himself in danger no matter how confident he is in his victory. We just have to last long enough to find the means to defeat him; whether through regaining our powers or maneuvering him into a corner and forcing this all to end.

[onlyyoucan]

There'll be another motive. Probably another loop.

[jibunwo]

No question of that. Things will continue as they have and our options are limited. As it is, all we can do is continue to investigate and hope he's slipped up somewhere. But we have to keep surviving in order to do that.

[onlyyoucan]

Right. And voting, even in cases like this...

[jibunwo]

--is just a matter of survival. It doesn't absolve us of our hand in their fates, but it is a necessary evil if we're to see the Captain dealt with.

[onlyyoucan]

...right. If there's no other option, it's what we have to do. At least this time we know more.

[jibunwo]

It isn't a hopeless endeavor, not yet. Our enemy is not infallible, no matter how powerful he may be.

[onlyyoucan]

Right. He says he can do anything, but he has to have some kind of weakness or limitation.

[jibunwo]

We just have to find it and reach him. Then it'll be checkmate.

[onlyyoucan]

[She nods, holding Emily firmly.]

If he let us see him in the first place, was that deliberate, showing us more of what he can do... or a mistake, because he knows we can't do anything with it?

[jibunwo]

[eventually he is going to ask what the fuck is up with the rozen maiden shit but you know, place and time]

I think perhaps the answer is 'both'; deliberate, because he thinks we can do nothing with it. I don't think him truly careless, no matter his presented demeanor.

[onlyyoucan]

So he's probably just taunting us. There has to be a time where he'll slip up for real.

[jibunwo]

He's already given us valuable information. For all we knew before now, he was within communication range but nowhere near this ship. Now, we know he's far closer than that.

[calx]

[ The masks we wear... either way, Albedo will approach Zero sometime during the gathering. ]

Thank you for voting for me. I didn't want to risk moving from my position in case her possession was more than the others could handle. [ good thing he didn't need to use sword tho. ]

[jibunwo]

It's nothing. I couldn't be of much help in a physical confrontation, so it was better to do what I was capable of.