unknownseas | (too late) you're at the party

(too late) you're at the party

[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.]

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[...Holy shit, Lady Freyja.

There's no questioning just what her mental state is, when Plumeria comes by; Lady Freyja is pissed, and Plumeria can't blame her. She doesn't know the extent to which that memory messed with her lady, but if it's this bad...then it's definitely thrown her. For a little bit, Plumeria leaves and goes elsewhere, to let her lady vent in peace, but...

Well, she'll be back eventually; probably by the time Lady Freyja is hitting more floor than fabric. She's stolen a little bit of food from the afterparty, along with some tea; she doesn't know if eating anything might help Lady Freyja out, but...]

...Lady Freyja. May I join you, for a moment?

[Plumeria's not sure if her lady would be amendable, but she doesn't want to leave her alone. That much is a fact.]

[She's just kind of sitting on the floor at this point, still pinning the stupid thing down like that means anything, like that'll keep it from escaping, and it's like everyone pinning down Allenby isn't it, it's just like- ]

Of course, Plumeria.

[Her words are thin but they're tight. Tense.]

Do as you like.

Yes, Lady Freyja.

[Plumeria doesn't say anything, and walks a little closer. Kneels down, respectfully, to sit with her Lady. Freyja might hear the slight clatter of a plate and cup as they're set on the ground, off to the side for a moment.

This is striking her familiarly, in a way. It really is like the frenzy they just endured, everything chaos around them as Allenby attacked...]

...Do you want to talk about anything? Or...perhaps I could grab something from my room for you, should you need something further to take your anger out on.

[Plumeria's never been particularly good at this sort of thing. She's a glorified attack dog, not a therapist, but...she wants to be there for her lady, dammit.]

No... Just stay for now.

[She doesn't look over; it just... It takes her a moment to try to find something to say.]

Thank you. For your protection during the incident.

[It's something that's expected of Plumeria. Something that, by extension, she isn't required to thank her for. She wants to say it anyway.]

Of course.

[Plumeria will, then, but...then Lady Freyja speaks again, and Plumeria has to pause for a moment. Does she really need to thank her for something like that? It seems a little...]

...It's no trouble, Lady Freyja. I will always protect you, even in an unknown situation like the one we faced.

[...But it is nice to be thanked. It's nice to be appreciated, really, for such a thing, and Plumeria finds her expression softening.]

I'm glad to. Always.

I...

[She doesn't seem to know where she's going with that, so she just lets it trail off into nothing; she keeps her gaze low.

When she does speak again, the words leave her suddenly. Abruptly.]

...Is it just because you have to?

[She doesn't know where they came from. She doesn't know how to make them stop.]

You're one of my retainers. It's expected of you. It's why you're here. Is that why? Is it just... Am I an obligation, or...

[Despite the subject matter, despite her words, none of it sounds like an accusation. None of it sounds like she's angry, or bitter, or like she's trying to push Plumeria away. It's just...a question, really, as upsetting though that may be.]

[Plumeria has to try not to outright startle at those words.]

What...?

[She fails at it, spectacularly. She at least tries to temper the shock, but...well, it's something that Plumeria is clearly shocked and perhaps even a bit horrified to hear.]

No--not at all! I do this because I want to, Lady Freyja. You're not just some--some mere obligation to me. I would never consider you that. Everything I do for you is because I want to. You...

[...]

...You're the only one who's ever cared. You...you actually...

[Plumeria doesn't know how to finish that, honestly, leaving it there.]

[Oh...

There's something in those words that's difficult to hear; they're too much like the words she'd told someone else, about someone else, and she thinks about that for a second too long before deciding that she wants little to nothing to do with words like that.]

...I didn't mean to doubt you, or your loyalty.

[That's. It's not what she means to say, but it's a start.]

I just don't ever want you to... To question why you're here. Or to...

[...]

...Tonight is difficult. My apologies, I...

[...Oh, Lady Freyja. Plumeria feels something tight in her chest at those words, feeling as if something's just kind of stabbed directly into her heart.]

...You have nothing to apologize for; tonight has been unfathomably difficult to deal with. And I would never question such things at all.

[It's clear Plumeria doesn't know what to do--all she knows about comfort and love and such things are just...poor imitations of the things that Lady Freyja has done in the past. She wants to help, somehow, but...]

...I'm not going anywhere, my Lady. I will be here for as long as you need me.

...Of course.

[She'll sit back a bit at that, finally looking up; it takes her a moment before she leans over a bit, reaching out to run her fingers through the front of Plumeria's hair a little.]

This will end eventually. We'll return to Dökkalfheimr, and to Triandra. I'm sure you miss her.

[Oh...Plumeria blinks once or twice at the gesture, but she finds her eyes closing a bit at it, smiling slightly.]

...I do. I miss her so much--it's so strange not having her around to talk to. And she certainly must be lonely there, without us.

She must.

[It's...difficult, talking about Triandra after this week, but- ]

She's a smart girl. I'm sure she'll stay out of trouble until we return.

[Mortals be damned, Triandra knows better than to try to handle them alone. ...Hopefully.]

[(it's always sunny theme) triandra goes off to fight the mortals]

Oh, she will. Triandra's always been smart and pretty calculating; I just know she'll be fine when we get back there.

[The words come out easy and confident.]

She'll almost definitely want a piece of the Captain, though. Hopefully there's some left by the time everyone else gets their turn.

It would be a shame if she didn't, at this point.

[For so many reasons.]

I'm sorry about what he did to you this week, you know.

...I'll be fine. I can't say I ever wanted to experience all of that again, but...well, it's just another thing he'll pay for in the end.

[...]

I'm...sorry about what he did to you, as well. He'll pay for that too, I assure you.

[She doesn't know the extent; she doesn't need to. Plumeria knows that whatever happened certainly must not have been good.]

I will be all right; it was...a good amount at once, for sure, but it isn't anything completely unmanageable.

[She's quiet for a moment; a previous conversation she'd had with someone comes to mind, and...well...]

It was...about Triandra. He took all of my memories of her; it was as though she was never there.

[...Oh. Plumeria's eyes go wide for a moment, shocked and horrified before--]

He what?

[Ohhhh, that's an anger spike right there.]

That wretched--how dare he take away your memories of her? How dare he try to make it as if she never existed? I can't believe the nerve of that hideous man!

...We're going to torment him.

[There isn't an obvious flare of anger; it's just...cold, the sort that comes when there's too much fury to convey.]

We're going to put him under, and we're going to bring him to us, and he's going to suffer.

I don't care what the others want. He can live in his nightmares forever. Even that is showing restraint.

We will.

[The agreement comes easily, with fury practically unrestrained; if Lady Freyja's is frigid cold, then Plumeria's is scorching hot and practically dripping with venom in contrast as her face contorts into something deeply furious.]

He'll suffer for all eternity for what he's done--we'll grant him no reprieve, no mercy. It's the least he deserves for what he's done to us!

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(too late) you're at the party

party zone

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