unknownseas | it is a funeral.

it is a funeral.

[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).]

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No, it is! Because if I don't now thank you for being here right now, then what if I don't get the chance to later?

[You never know what you have until you lose it, you know. Sylvando's sudden death proves that. He never thought Sylvando would die]

Edited 2021-02-21 02:49 (UTC)

[...]

Are you going to be all right...? We can go somewhere else to talk, if you would like.

Going somewhere else may be fine. Wherever you want is fine as long as it's not here.

[He can't go showing grief in the middle of a gathering, that's just so bad. Going somewhere else probably would be for the best]

I'm not fine right now. This is...gonna take a while to process.

...Of course, Filbo. Shall we?

[Come on, let's just...the lounge upstairs might be okay? Let's try there.]

I'm...well, to be honest I'm not all right either.

[Ah, the lounge. Far away enough. Once he's there, Filbo just sits to one of the tables and lies his head against the table. He's allowing himself show he's really not doing well. At least he still is talking]

I figured, who can be all right tonight. I wasn't prepared for any of what happened today. I doubt anyone truly was, even someone who thought they'd face deaths probably didn't expect it'd be...it'd be like this! At all!

[It sucks]

Edited 2021-02-21 03:52 (UTC)

[She'll sit down next to him and just like...pat him on the shoulder a bit in a manner that she hopes is comforting.]

I don't think any of us were ready for it. Especially not Sylvando - I'm going to miss him a lot.

[Uf, mood, Freyja, mood. Hearing Freyja will miss him gets Filbo talking a bit:]

...you know, uh...when we all first arrived, I swallowed like five gallons of pool water.

[Welp, what a way to start saying something]

That got me all tired, and it didn't help I was all waterlogged and freaking out about being suddenly being on a ship. I was just lying around, and then Sylvando came by and sat there trying to figure out what the phone device is. Then I scared him and then when he heard I arrived in the middle of the pool he...he asked if I needed to be checked over. I didn't expect that at all! Because he sounded concerned, and...

Then we kept talking, and he said I was awfully cute, and then he told me about who he was and I just...I thought that even though I was in a ship I didn't want to be on, and there were all these people who weren't grumpuses and I was a little scared about this all...I thought that--if these people were as nice and cheery as him...

...maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

[How couldn't he like Sylvando from the first moment, really]

Edited 2021-02-21 04:44 (UTC)

...He made this dress for me.

[Awkward segue time, she supposes, but that seems as good a place to start as any.]

He was always kind to me, even immediately upon arriving. Two nights before that first party, we went dancing up on the top deck. And he's just...always been a dear friend since then. Even after...everything that happened this last week. I went up to join him while he was playing his recorder, and he said he'd hoped I would hear it.

He kept making this for me even after everything I said. He gave it to me yesterday.

That's so nice of him...! He was...I'll really miss him.

[Oh noooooooo. Sylvando really was a very sweet person. It's really hard to believe he'd be targeted for murder]

...well, you know, no better way to show appreciation than do something in his memory. I haven't figured out what, though. There must be a way to at least honor he existed.

[Apparently the way Filbo does it is by later telling to the party zone that he'd try to help keep people happy and upbeat like Sylvando did]

I'll have to think of something as well. I want to do something nice for him; it doesn't seem right that tomorrow the ship itself will move on like none of this happened.

[...]

If you ever want to talk about him - or any of them - we can. It...might be nice to do that once in a while.

I'd like that. Better that than moping around forever! There's got to be many fond memories not only about Sylvando, but also about others.

[Filbo raises his head, instead leaning against the back of his chair]

I admit I feel like a lot of what I talk with you is me moping about one thing or another. There's something about you that just gets me talking, I dunno.

I don't feel that way. It's been good to talk to you, and besides, I said that I want to be there for you. That's what that means, isn't it? Helping with the bad times?

That's right. Once another reason to be glad you're here.

[Boy, if Freyja had died this week it almost would guarantee Filbo would spiral down from both pushing others away and refusing to talk about his feelings, hah]

By the way, about Plumeria...have you gotten closer to her?

[He meant to ask about that at some point, but this suuuuuuure feels a little awkward given what Plumeria did. Well, that awkwardness wouldn't be gone no matter how long he waited, really -- it's not something that's just left behind with time]

...I've talked to her somewhat, yes.

[She's quiet after that, though.]

I don't... I don't know how to feel about what she did today.

It was a really stupid thing to do. We're all lucky it didn't end worse.

[They could have been dealing with two murder cases at once, and with the fallout of Plumeria's reactions about what she did and everything nobody probably would have been able to focus on Sylvando's death enough to catch the culprits. That's got to be a bad end]

I'm not gonna say I approve what she did, because I really don't. But...I hope you can forgive her.

[Plumeria said she'd handle this and boy she did. A job terribly done given the method, Plumeria, but you succeeded. Don't touch anything from the infirmary ever again]

[Nobody pays Plumeria to think and today was a great example as to why.

She pauses for a moment, however, at the notion of forgiving her.]

Perhaps. It's...complicated.

It really is. I wish things were a little more black and white, but this...this is way too complicated.

[......]

But she really loves you. That wasn't something done out of obligation. She'll do anything for you because you mean so much for her. I'm not saying you should forgive her if you don't actually wanna, but maybe--just maybe...don't push her away. Because that's...that's gonna make it all so much worse.

[A Plumeria rejected by Freyja will fall apart, he's sure of it. If having to advocate for her to Freyja's face is what it takes to keep her from crumbling to pieces, then he will. Filbo isn't nearly as close in terms of friendship as he's to Freyja, but they really get along quite well and he likes her. Obviously he has to at least put a word on her favor]

...I'll see how I feel about it later. Not tonight.

Besides, she's got the entirety of the people here constantly making huge displays of how much they care about her and not me. I'm sure she'll be fine.

[She doesn't sound angry about it, though; she doesn't sound like much of anything. Resigned, maybe.]

Of course, these things aren't...to be rushed, really.

[Seriously, emotional complex stuff sucks]

Are you...are you serious? Lady Freyja, we all can care about more than one person at once. We care about you too. I mean...a few of us even went ahead and tried to make sure you wouldn't even get fingers pointed at you when the trial started. There's people who care about you.

Almost all I've been hearing about this week is how stupid I am, and how little I care about everyone, and how much Plumeria will be hurt if I die.

I just... I'm tired, Filbo. I'm tired, and I'm scared, and I shouldn't even be telling you this because you're having such a hard time already. But I'm just...stupid and selfish, right?

[God, she doesn't even sound agitated. Just drained, and blank, and she bends forward to lay her head on the table.]

You're not. You're just a grumpus.

[Yeah, that's the equivalent of 'you're just human'. Filbo blinks, realizing that no that doesn't work]

...wait, no, that's obviously not right. You just--you're--I don't think it's stupid or selfish at all, that's--aah, hm, ah--

[Aaaaaaaah he screwed up the encouraging words he was trying to say due to his blunder, give him a moment to try to get back on track, daaaaaaaang]

[...That...actually gets her to look up, and for a moment she just sort of stares? Goodness.]

Well, if you consider me one of you, I suppose that's a good thing?

[...look she's only got so much to work with here and she's not sure how to salvage that either - ]

...I think I know what you mean, however.

[Filbo pats her shoulder chuckling awkwardly. Oh god, they really took turns lying on the table while the other hopes to be comforting, hah]

W-well, I hope you do. I was gonna tell you a few things about how it's okay to feel things, but I just--kinda forgot all of it? I really should plan a few words ahead, ahahaha...hah...

[.......]

But I'd be surprised if you weren't tired and scared. Come on, I'm scared and tired too, just so tired of everything. So...same, Lady Freyja, same.

[Everything sucks and it'll keep sucking and it just is awful]

If they were giving you a hard time, well, you didn't really deserve it. I know you said something that kept a lot of us on guard, but that's no excuse to make you feel stupid. Because you really aren't.

Edited 2021-02-21 23:18 (UTC)

...I feel like I am. But I do appreciate it.

[She's...trying, anyway.]

You're very kind to me.

[Filbo just beams with pride]

Aw, it's nothing. I'll be there anytime you need me.

[And even when you don't need him because really, when has Filbo kept himself away from anyone unless you're throwing his mayoral sashes into the latrine or setting up murdercruises]

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