(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]

I don't think it's beyond hope that most of us can still potentially band together. Difficult, but not hopeless.

[onlyyoucan]

Is that because of what happened in the courtroom?

[jibunwo]

That, and that larger circumstances beyond it. This situation is already tailor-made to sow distrust and paranoia; if we all start turning on one another before we have the full picture like that again, we're not getting out of this.

[onlyyoucan]

Right. So if a conclusion we're making doesn't make sense, we have to go deeper. It sounds simple, but it almost killed us.

[jibunwo]

We need to stay calm above all else, and not latch on to a half-formed conclusion in such a stressful circumstance. Much as that seems to be common sense, anyone can lose composure on a battlefield.

[onlyyoucan]

...and we do, when it's important to us.

[As much as she hates to admit it.]

[jibunwo]

That's exactly what the Captain's counting on. He's going to seek out every weak point he can find and attack without mercy. So for now, we have to remain on the defensive and guard ourselves and our emotions as closely as we can.

[onlyyoucan]

...

[She nods seriously.]

Doing that, but still connecting with people... I don't know if there's a balance there or not.

[jibunwo]

If there is, I haven't found it.

[Ouch.]

[onlyyoucan]

Neither have I. But... Some people seem to stick with it.

[Likes: particularly persistent would-be friends.]

[jibunwo]

I suppose it isn't impossible. I've found living two sides of one life like that is...not the simplest task.

[onlyyoucan]

And neither is trying to just be a new person you think can handle it.