it is a funeral.

[ltcommandroid]

[Well. That was certainly something.

Emotions are clearly high, so for once, Data steps out of his helper role and takes on the brunt of organizing the after-trial gathering. He's seen enough of them by now to know what's what. He's also seen more than enough in this particular trial to decide that the bar, while possibly being the most logical location, may be distressing to some! So instead, we're gonna do something different. Data will deliver invitations, that sort of look like a computer printed them, to each of the rooms:]


Please come to the ice cream parlor if you would like company at this time.

- Data

[Everybody likes ice cream!

There are no decorations, but there are some snack selections from the buffet and the cafe, depending on what you want, and a tray or two of mixed drinks courtesy of Jimmy Buffett. Data and Parker are both here. If you're sad, you may pet Parker (probably). If you're too depressed to make your own fancy sundae, Data will do it for you (definitely).]

Comments

fate/apocrypha spoilers

[leaveittomother]

[Reika disappears for some time, retreating to room three where she can think by herself. The faint traces of that stupid cologne still cling to the room. Normally she could ignore it. This case was just bad luck and circumstance as had the previous two cases. That's what she should have been able tell herself.

Death was natural. Murder was inevitable. It should be easy to summon just a little pity and move on. She had Jack to think of, after all. That bright, amazing presence.

She closes the door quickly to her once shared room as she sits on the bottom bunk her face in her hands. Alice and Jack. Decus and her. Both of them had been saved by someone who probably shouldn't have bothered. Hell probably would have been better. But they didn't. Jack didn't. Those children reached out a hand from hell and Reika embraced them wholeheartedly. The story of Hariti came to mind once more. She had become the demoness: killing others to feed her own child but in the end...

No, please! Don't leave us behind! We don't want to be alone! We don't want that anymore!

She couldn't take losing her own child. Could she? She knew they wouldn't see each other again. That Servant likely killed Jack just after Reika's own death. Even if you gave up everything for the slim chance of a miracle that miracle likely will never come to pass. That was the way of the world. Even if she still accepted that? It hurt. So, in the quiet and alone solitude of the empty room she cries for a bit. It's been years.

Later she finally emerges, tired and alone. She just lingers on the top deck area near the pool alone. She does look like she's been crying, though. Later she finally goes to the ice cream parlor.

She gets a bowl but she doesn't touch it. Reika actually doesn't eat anything the entire night... maybe someone. Should talk to her about that since for one she's not giving any philosophical thoughts. She also is pretty much by herself.

Who wants a mother of a monster around, anyway?]

top deck

[jibunwo]

[It was a while before Zero sought out Reika, after some quick work to embroider a sigil on his marginally better-looking makeshift eyepatch and to pull himself back together with a clearer head.]

Rikudou. Are you alright?

[leaveittomother]

[She looks up at him then... shakes her head.]

Not exactly.

[jibunwo]

I would wager that a sentiment most of us share today.

[shit sucks]

It was a stupid question of me to ask.

[leaveittomother]

[She shouldn't feel anything. They're strangers. It's just how things--]

No.. I normally don't let these things get to me. It's just unfortunate. Today felt different.

[jibunwo]

...It did.

[That much was abundantly clear, Zero sighing and pressing a hand to his face.]

I'm sorry. You and Alice seemed...perhaps not 'close', but something similar?

ice cream

[queceracera]

......... You want some cheetos? If you're not gonna eat the ice cream.

[Scott just produces a bag of cheetos from somewhere and holds it out.

Here is the thing about Scott Pilgrim, the comic: every single character in it? Sucks at emotions. Just absolutely bungles emotions, 100% of the time. So you know. Fortunately, Scott kind of doesn't. Well, "serial killer" doesn't have quite the same meaning to him anyway and he's trying to make up for being an absolute nightmare during the trial. Hence the cheetos.]

[leaveittomother]

[She just. Stares at the cheetos and back at him. This isn't what she expected. Even after that, well, nightmare of an outburst. She takes it.]

Thank you. I guess I'm not that hungry but I probably should try.

[queceracera]

Wallace always says you can't eat your way out of a funk, but food helps you get through one. [He shrugs.] I don't know if that's actually true or not, but sometimes it helps.

[leaveittomother]

[She opens the cheetos. Crunchy and cheesy didn't sound bad.] Better than sitting alone and thinking, I guess. Today was the worst one.

Ice Cream Parlor

[ahelpingpaw]

[Reika was Alice's roommate. Most people share a room with someone for a month and at least get used to each other's presence. He sure knows that's how it's going with Jasper and him -- they get along even though he wouldn't say they're good friends, but he's pretty sure if either of them died the other would feel something was missing in the room.

So he figures maybe Reika would feel something like that. That's why he sets to try to find her.

At the gathering, turns out. She's with ice cream, just sitting there with it. Hm, not a great sign. Filbo approaches slowly, trying to think of the right words to say]

...you...your ice cream is gonna melt.

[That's definitely not the right words to say, but he approached. A charitable person would say he's evaluating the situation to find the best approach, a realistic person would see he's floundering about what to say. Still, he's there. Presence sometimes helps a lot during hard times, he guesses]

[leaveittomother]

[Reika trusted Alice to a degree. She was rather open about herself in general but that had been a secret she hadn't told anyone else. Yet Alice threw that out for... what? Nothing.

She shouldn't have bothered. That's how people are. But it still hurt; that was surprising to her. It takes her a while to notice him then she looks up and there's a hint of a smile but it's not sincere.]

...I suppose. [She looks back down at it.] I lost my appetite tonight. I thought I'd try but...

[ahelpingpaw]

Don't force yourself to eat, that's just gonna make it worse. Right now going over limits is the last thing anyone should do.

[Words he should follow too because he really is preaching without following his own advice]

...I wouldn't...be surprised if just being out here is hard enough.

[leaveittomother]

...I understand if my presence is uncomfortable. I can go.

[She doesn't blame anyone... after that.]

[ahelpingpaw]

No!

[Filbo shakes his head. Oh grump, did he make her feel unwelcome? He thinks back to all his words, but comes up with nothing. Did he sound like he wanted her gone? Darn...]

Sorry, sorry, I didn't--I hope I didn't sound like I was telling you to go away.

[.....]

...I have never been good at these things. I just saw you there, and I thought I should come and check on you. Because it felt right. Especially since, well...Alice...was your roommate. I couldn't just not come see you knowing she was gone because I know if Jasper was gone I'd want someone to at least ask if I'd be okay. So that's why I'm here, I wanted to see if...you would be fine from here on.

[Somehow he feels far more awkward saying all this to Reika than to anyone else. Maybe it's because he's at best passing acquaintances with Reika]

ice cream parlor

[ltcommandroid]

Reika?

[dude, you're just sitting here with an untouched bowl of ice cream and you have been for a bit]

Perhaps you would like something a little more filling? We have some of the buffet food.

[leaveittomother]

[Ah--she sits up a little.]

Right... maybe I'm just not into sweets tonight.

[ltcommandroid]

[He nods.]

I know many people find sweet foods comforting, but I imagine many people did not get an opportunity for a filling meal today. I would not want you to become ill. Perhaps some seafood? I have kept it chilled.

[there's presumably a fridge or something in here, it's an ice cream room]

[leaveittomother]

Mm... maybe something simple. Seafood might be nice.

[Hopefully!]

Thank you, Data. That must have been rough. [Being in the middle of That.]

[ltcommandroid]

[I mean it wasn't.....ideal.....]

I suppose it was better than it was me than anyone else. I do not experience awkwardness.

[Now that's one of those ones that, just from observing him at every trial up until now, just seems sort of patently untrue? Anyway forget that he'll just go grab you some crab legs or something lol]

room 3/t i f f a n y

[magycks]

[ While it's clear that Reika got involved in this trial, and she had a lot to say, Magica doesn't really do too much thinking about the emotional lives of others! Reika is callous, like she is and her roomie was. How bad could the aftermath possibly be for her?

Anyway, she's just gonna rap on the door several hours into the night, hopefully after the worst of the storm has passed. ]

Open up. ... or don't, your prerogative.

[leaveittomother]

[It shouldn't be bad. It really shouldn't be but it was tough and she didn't know why she... Well. Emotions are hard. Still, she has settled down by the time Magica arrives and she opens the door.]

...Yes?

[Okay, this is a surprise. There also some vague banging noises in the room. That Reika has been ignoring.]

[magycks]

You know those colorful friendship charms the insufferable green brat was handing out this time last week? On the slim chance that Alice didn't destroy hers, do you mind if I...

[ Only at this point does she hear the banging. ]

Sorry, what is that?

[leaveittomother]

I can look for it--

[Why, Magica--wait. Oh that. She glances at where the storage is. And frowns.]

What did Alice leave in there? It didn't start banging until just now.

[And as she opens it up, a familiar gold shark lunges out of the storage.] What--why did she leave that in there?!

[magycks]

[ Magica looks surprised, which is a pretty normal response to whatever the hell this thing is... and then positively delighted, which is not. ]

Tiffany?

[ She switches to a strangely high pitched voice, as if calling a pet. ]

How long have you been here, girl? Come on, over here--