(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

[bonesorter]

[Lorna doesn't come to the afterparty right away: she spends a good amount of time in her room because quite honestly, she needs a minute to calm down after... that happened at the trial. She had frozen up at the sign of danger before nearly hyperventilating in response to the stress of watching that fight happening, so it's only natural that she would want to be left alone for a hot second until she's certain that she's not going to be coughing too much in front of everyone. (Except for Flayn, who is probably used to her roommate not feeling well by this point)

But once she's feeling better, she will go to... the top deck first which seems to be a hotspot for people tonight, and she is no exception. She stares at the water, before she reaches her hand out with something over the railing--specifically, it's the bell from the vending machine that Constantine returned back to her earlier this week. She holds it over the edge of the railing for a long moment, face rather expressionless... before she sighs, and turns away from the railing, making to pocket the object instead of chucking the damn thing even though it's clearly something she's tempted to do.

Instead, she'll go to the lounge as it's been requested of her based on the note on her door earlier. She doesn't really touch the food yet, but she will sip at her drink politely enough. She's also brought a book, but it's kind of just sitting in her lap rather than being actively read for the time being.]

top deck

[sivard]

[Zaveid notices the bell in her hand, but since it looks like she's considering dropping it into the ocean, he doesn't comment on it.]

...how are you holding up?

[It's asked gravely, because, well. That was pretty horrible. ]

[bonesorter]

[Lorna startles a little at the voice, but manages to not drop the bell as she pulls it back to the safety of the deck to pocket before she answers.]

... I don't know. This is the first time I've seen something like that occur to someone else right in front of me... and while I was scared, I also felt... sorry, for her in the end.

[Allenby had lost control of herself, and in the end, it had led to the death of two people, including herself... Lorna wrings her hands nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the thought.]

Is it... wrong of me, to pity her, even after the fact that she could have potentially hurt another person in that room today?

[sivard]

...no, I don't think it's wrong.

It seems like both times, our killers have been victims of circumstances, doesn't it?

[Was she even conscious of her actions?]

[bonesorter]

It does seem that way, doesn't it?

Though... as terrible as it is, I suppose it's also a relief in some way to consider: no one has committed a murder because they are the type to enjoy doing so or the like.

[sivard]

...It is a comfort, in a way.

But it also makes things more difficult, in a way. We had to punish people for things they never intended to do.

[bonesorter]

Yes... you do have a point there, as well.

[She sighs, looking down at her hands for a moment.]

Do you think... it's going to happen again? I thought for sure after the first time that nothing would happen now that everyone knew the stakes, but...

[Well, it ended up happening again. Now she can only wonder if this really is their new normal now, having to deal with someone dying every week.]

[sivard]

I want to hope it won't happen again.

[But that's not the same thing as believing nothing will happen, is it?]

We'll find him. He's on this ship, and it's only so big.

[bonesorter]

I hope so... as big as this ship is, it's hard to believe that he cannot be found at all.

[But then, what are they going to do once they find the Captain? Would they even be able to make them send everyone home...?]

[sivard]

Agreed.

He's somewhere, even if that's not clear right now.

[He's definitely not sure what to do about the Captain, though.]

[bonesorter]

Mm. Until then... we'll just have to keep looking, and trying to make sure that something like this doesn't happen again.

[The murders, she means. She's not sure if there's anything she can personally do, but she would like to do her best to prevent it happening again regardless.]

[sivard]

Yeah.

These two cases... neither of them were really intentional. If we can keep one from happening that's meant to kill somebody...

I think we'll be all right.

Room

[cethflayn]

[Yeah that was. A lot. Flayn is used to violence in that way where she was of course scared of what was happening, but she can keep moving and functioning afterwards? Lorna is very obviously Not.

So she's just coming into the room as well, sort of. Deflating a bit with a strangled sob sound, eyes closed, facedown on her bed.

Poor Allenby. She couldn't even seem to die as herself, in the end.]

Lorna, do you...do you want to know a breathing trick? It may help you become...calmer.

[Look we did just experience some Real Shit but this is only making your cough worse and that's not fair to you.]

[bonesorter]

[When you live in a cabin in the woods with like one other person to talk to and dealing with an annoying illness, having a potentially deadly fight breakout in a courtroom is indeed a bit overwhelming.

But anyway that gets Lorna's attention, head tilting curiously as her brow furrows in momentary confusion.]

A... breathing trick? Like what?

[Usually the word trick follows the word "magic", but Flayn said she doesn't have her magic in this place right now, so that can't be what she means by that...]

[cethflayn]

[Just gonna get off the bed and come to Lorna, slowly, calmly, and reach out for her hands.]

It is similar to what Mister Lalli told me to do in that room. We close our eyes and take a deep breath in, and hold it while we count to five in our heads. Then, we slowly let the breath out.

[It's just a way to regulate your breathing.]

We need not do it perfectly every time, but eventually it will prove soothing.

[bonesorter]

[Oh, right--she remembers seeing Lalli say something like that to Flayn before, and so Lorna nods in understanding.]

Alright... I'll give it a try.

[cethflayn]

[Flayn nods, and she's going to guide Lorna through the breathing for a bit, taking it slow and easy.]

[bonesorter]

[Lorna follows what's being guided of her here, and while the first attempt results in a momentary cough, after a few more tries, she seems to relax easier before she finally speaks.]

I think... I actually do feel a little bit better now?

[She almost sounds mystified by that, like she's surprised that it actually worked?]

[cethflayn]

I am relieved to hear that is so.

[It is a very helpful thing and it doesn't make all the bad stuff go away, but you can keep moving forward. That's what's most important, sometimes.]

Can you hold on for just a moment? There is something I wish to give you.

[bonesorter]

What?

[Now that gets a look of surprise from Lorna here. Has Lorna ever gotten anything from anyone before.]

Miss Flayn, that's very kind of you, but you didn't have to get me anything...

[cethflayn]

It is no trouble! I...I had made something for everyone.

[She was able to give Adeline hers, in death. Better to give as many as she can in life.

Flayn goes to her desk and retrieves a friendship bracelet! Lorna's has two white carved fish buttons that flank a turtle button.]

This one is yours.

[bonesorter]

Oh... oh my goodness, this is wonderful...

[She really means it too--Flayn even found a turtle button it seems, and turtles are one of the few things Lorna really likes...]

I don't even know what to say... I've never been gifted something like this before.

[cethflayn]

You need not say anything. I am just happy you like it - it is a token of our friendship, and if you kept it and looked at it sometimes and thought of me, then that is all I could ever want.

[bonesorter]

Of--of course! In fact, I want to start wearing it right now.

[She says, as she fiddles with getting the friendship bracelet wrapped around one of her wrists here.]

Thank you so much, Flayn... I'm very grateful to have this as a reminder of our friendship.

[cethflayn]

You are so very welcome.

[aaaaaaaaa her roommate likes the bracelet

That's all Flayn could ever ask for]