(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

[silentscout]

My cousin. Onni's little sister.

[Lalli's stomach is in knots, but he'll sit down when Chloe indicates to the table.]

When we were kids, she had pigtails kind of like Flayn's.

[hellahighwater]

[ Yeah, sitting, that's better. ]

I never really had cousins I was close to. Sounds nice, like a...herd of little rugrats to play with. You...stay in touch?

[silentscout]

It's not really a herd if it's just three people. Onni's much older anyway, he's already 27.

...Yeah. We do.

[The pause there is a good sign that it's more complicated than he's letting on.]

[hellahighwater]

[ Ah... Well... ]

...You wanna talk about it? I get it if not, family can be— ...family can be rough.

Spoilers for SSSS, CW for talk of character death and zombie plague

[silentscout]

...Tuuri's dead.

[He draws his knees up to his chest, even though sitting like that cannot possibly be comfortable in that chair.]

Onni warned us. I'm immune, but Tuuri isn't. And he told us not to go on the mission into the Silent World. But she didn't listen, she really wanted to go, and I just went along with her. As long as she wore a mask and stayed far away from any trolls or beasts she would be fine. That's what she told me.

...I should have stopped her. I should have told her it was a bad idea.

[hellahighwater]

[ ...She was worried it was something like that. Not that she can follow all of it, but— ]

I'm sorry. I... I lost...my dad, a few years back and it— ...I know that can just be the worst thing in the world.

[silentscout]

[He nods. It does make it easier, knowing that someone Understands. It's why he always had an easier time talking with Tuuri and Onni instead of making new friends: he knew they understood, so he never had to explain anything.]

When our family died, there wasn't much time to think about it. We were just kids, we couldn't have done anything to help. It was a miracle the three of us were able to escape.

But I was right there! I was right there and I didn't notice until it was too late!

[It's one of the first times Lalli has ever actually raised his voice about anything. The hurt runs deep, the wounds are fresh.]

[hellahighwater]

[ There's a lot Chloe has to piece together. But, he said immune, and she...can infer some things. ]

She...was sick, right? Did she try and hide it from you?

[silentscout]

She couldn't have. We all saw her injury. We waited to see if she actually got sick from it, but the non-immune rarely recover from a bite.

[hellahighwater]

So... What...happened...?

cw: suicide

[silentscout]

...

We were close to the sea...

[He's hoping he doesn't have to explain further.]

[hellahighwater]

[ Oh. ]


Fuck, Lalli. I'm...so sorry.

[silentscout]

Mmm.

[He knows it's meant to be comforting, so he accepts it.]

Her soul made it to Tuonela safely. I watched over her until the Swan came to claim her. So it's...acceptable.

[hellahighwater]

The Swan...? ...I'm guessing this is some...afterlife shit that I'm not really...uh...familiar with, but— it's okay, you don't gotta...go into details.

[silentscout]

I don't know what it is for your world, but the Swan is what collects the souls of the dead and takes them to the afterlife. It also guards the afterlife, so the living can't interfere with the sleeping dead.

cw: cultural appropriation??? not going too much into it, but god im sorry about life is strange

[hellahighwater]

...Sounds complicated, but...I think I get it. There were some people talking about...animal spirits, back home, but...most people think it's all mystical mumbo jumbo.

closes my eyes at life is strange

[silentscout]

It can sound like that to people who don't live it, it's okay. That stuff only happens to the Finnish.

i also pretend not to see it

[hellahighwater]

Different shit for different cultures...that makes sense. The, um, important thing&mdadsh; you know she's...at peace?

[silentscout]

...yeah. She's at peace.

I miss her, but I'll see her again someday, if I can get home.

[hellahighwater]

[ She tries to correct him, but— ]

...I hope you can. Hope we all can. I...wanna see the people I've lost again too.

[silentscout]

Mmm. We all need to go home.

[He looks to Chloe, and he holds his hand up in a fist, pointing it towards Chloe. Luckily he's from a canon point where he knows what a fist bump is.]

We'll find a way.

[hellahighwater]

[ Okay, of all the things he knows and doesn't know— Chloe managesto crack a smile. ]

However we can.

[ She returns it. ]