(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

this is going to be a mess

[leaveittomother]

[Her roommate actually doesn't care, surprisingly! Reika might go anyway because keeping up appearances is important--the trial was just proof of that--but now? Her first thoughts are actually about her roommate.

Admittedly she did think she was the culprit but when it became obvious that it wasn't the case, that suspicion had gone. After all why go after someone else when Alice probably could easily kill Reika herself. The poison theory was clever but too clever. Something drastic needed to happen.

For once, Reika isn't in the room first. She blocks the door as she closes it behind her.]

Miss Alice. [She sinks to her knees. If she had pride this might be humiliating. Too bad she doesn't know what that is.] We need to talk.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ By the time Reika comes in, Alice has crawled up to her top bunk, facing the wall as she seemingly plays around with something in her hands. She doesn't immediately move or reply when she comes in or talks, but hearing the shuffling of fabric as she kneels down gets her to turn back for a brief moment.

She squints, trying to figure out what it was that she's doing, before returning back to how she's laying. ]

What.

[leaveittomother]

[Is it her riding crop. It better not be. Well, whatever. It doesn't matter. She's just going to sit here for a while.]

Obviously what happened at the trial was a mistake. I doubt the others will try to apologize or even see the use in it. [She doesn't think Alice will believe her. Words are useless.]

I know you won't believe them or me. So I'm asking you what I can do to make it up to you. [Beyond killing or dying.]

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ Nah, that's on the desk. She might see a flash of a knife at some point, maybe?

She doesn't reply for a while, shifting in place a little. ]

Why do you care?

[leaveittomother]

[Great! Just like her daughter.]

Because if we voted for you there, I would have died. I'm not going to say I care about the others but dying due to a mistrial is something I want to actively avoid.

[conceivesfrenzy]

I don't get what that has to do with "making it up to me."

[leaveittomother]

Well, I helped them go down that road. If this happens next week as well we might not have a culprit break down to rely on.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ She snorts. ]

Oh, please. One of them will inevitably point the finger at me or Decus again. You should be taking it up with them, not me.

[leaveittomother]

I will after I speak with you. If you don't trust my motives, however, this will be for nothing.

[conceivesfrenzy]

Well, I hate to disappoint [ not really ], but it seems this is all for nothing.

[leaveittomother]

Why do you think I'm asking you? [This isn't over.]

[conceivesfrenzy]

What makes you think I trust you?

[leaveittomother]

I know you don't and, honestly, I don't blame you for that. [But to live outweighs all that.] I'm just a lowly human, after all.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ She grits her teeth, jamming the tip of the knife into the wall after the human comment. ]

Whatever.

cw: uh i don't even know how to warn for this. consensual stabbing?

[leaveittomother]

[She though self-depreciation would help. Guess not! That movement gave her an idea. A really, really foolish idea but the weight of what it would mean if it worked was worth it. She stands up.]

If you'd prefer you can stab me rather than the wall.

mother of god.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ Okay, that gets her to sit up and actually look at Reika. She's. Actually kind of taken back. ]

Excuse me?

[leaveittomother]

[She rolls up a sleeve. Just sort of turning to the side so Alice has has a good shot.]

Stab me in the arm--my only dislike on my profile is 'being in pain'. You can double check that. I have a knife of my own; I will claim the injury came from mishandling it.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ She doesn't bother checking Reika's profile – she doesn't care. And to be honest she's... not quite sure about how to take this. ]

You're serious?

[ .......... okay, she's coming down. ]

[leaveittomother]

[Look, when you don't want to die you do weird stuff.]

Completely.

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ She comes down from the bunk, knife in hand, staring at Reika's open arm. She's not against doing it, it's just... weird that she's offering it at all. ]

I still don't get what any of this has to do with some kind of payback.

[leaveittomother]

I just don't want to die because the group was too focused on you again. [She sighs.]

Allowing you to do this is to show how earnest I am in that.

[conceivesfrenzy]

... you think that if by letting me hurt you, I'll decide to play nice with everyone else again?

[ She's still in a bad mood, but this actually gets her to giggle, at least? ]

I can't fault you for trying, I guess. You're really sure about this?

[leaveittomother]

[Look, she's not sure what else to offer to at least start the process.]

Yes, to both your questions.

how the fuck do i tag this. consensual violence cw?????

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ Well, that's good enough for her, she guesses. ]

Fine. I won't make any promises, though.

[ Alice grabs hold of Reika's wrist and, after deliberating a bit, presses the tip of her knife into Reika's arm. ]

??? we just don't know

[leaveittomother]

[Look. Sometimes these things happen.]

I didn't expect you to.

[The tip digs in. There's barely a reaction: a slight tensing of the muscle as the unfortunately familiar pain begins.]