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

[paucipan]

[Well. Today was a shitshow and a goddamn half, and Plumeria's making a beeline for one room in particular; the goddamn snow room. That's her place to have a breakdown and nobody else can take that from her. Plumeria just kind of shuts the door behind her, takes to the nearest corner and just...fucking curls up and fucking lets herself break into a million fucking pieces.

Maybe someone she knew was right. Maybe all she is, is just a screw-up of a being. But uh, if anyone wants to talk to Plumeria at all? Feel free. It's not gonna be great, probably.

...Alternately, feel free to leave a note under Room 5's door or something and she'll get back to you as soon as possible.]

[jibunwo]

[Zero chose instead to disappear following that whole affair, eventually heading to the sewing room and occupying himself by keeping his hands busy. Namely, trying to fix up the slapdash eyepatch Chloe had called him out on. Sewing with one eye closed to make the strip of black cloth a little more presentable, and...hand embroidering a small sigil in shades of purple, where it would cover his eye.]

[...It's actually well-done, honestly. For whatever reason, he's clearly good with his hands even if this extra-ass nonsense is how he applies himself.]

[scythegun]

[It's been a long and awful day but unfortunately Yeager's feeling too worked up to just go the fuck to bed and wait for everything to reset. He's not interested in going to the gathering and seeing anyone else either. So instead he returns to his room, grabs a spear, and heads off to be alone in the laser tag room. He starts running drills once he's in there, though he's not using the weapon like a proper spear - it's more like he's swinging a different weapon entirely, something heavier that cleaves rather than pierces. Maybe an axe, maybe a massive fuckoff scythe, who knows. Regardless, he's at it for a very long time, only eventually giving up when he finally finds it hard to catch his breath. He throws the lance down and takes a seat leaning back against one of the structures in the room, a hand gripping his cravat tightly. There isn't any of the usual cheer in his movements or expression; he's actually looking really blank right now.

Eventually he'll leave, if only because he doesn't want to be in here with the stupid keyhole rock that still taunts him. It's late at night when he heads on into the bar, and he's going to ignore our good pal Jimmy over there in order to make his own margaritas, just like Sylvando did. He makes two of them, and he sets the other at the spot across from him before raising his own glass.]

I'm sure you would have wanted us to celebrate instead of mourn, ja? I'm afraid I've never been particularly good at either. Here's to you, Sylvando.

snow room

[guffawsungraciously]

[Right. The snow room. Nobody's going to be in the snow room, right. He can have a breakdown in the--

...oh. Someone is in the snow room.

...

...

After standing there awkwardly for a second he slowly begins to close the door to the snow room.]

[bonesorter]

[Lorna comes in not too long into Zero working here, holding on to some fabric of her own that she seems to have plans for. She pauses upon seeing him here, curious as she watches him work for a moment before finally speaking up.]

Have you made something like that before? I've never seen someone that's able to sew with only one eye open until now.

snow room

[scythegun]

[It's a hunch that leads Yeager here; it's out of the way and not where he was planning on going, but... It turns out he's right, and Plumeria is in here. He retreats to the changing room to grab a proper coat (and put down the spear, no need to bring that along) and then enters to join Plumeria.

This time he doesn't ask if she wants company. He simply moves to sit beside her. He's not going to speak up immediately, but he's here, and he's not going anywhere for the time being.]

[paucipan]

[Plumeria looks up when she sees the door open, just. Groaning outright. And stay out!! Get your own room to have a breakdown in you fucko!!

...Unless you wanna continue in, she. Isn't in a state to stop but uh.]

[onlyyoucan]

[Sara's going to Alice and Reika's room first. She doubts Alice left anything for anyone, but she'll spend some time looking at Alice's side before shaking her head. ...at least she can get her tablet back now, but they've got bigger problems.

She goes to the ice cream parlour and sits with a bowl of -- okay, she's not sure what moon mist is, but it sounded nice.]

...Sylvando trusted everyone, didn't he? Even when every person here had a reason to act this week.

[dokkalfheimr]

[Freyja is a little late to the party.

Not by much, actually; she doesn't feel well, but she definitely does want to go. She just...disappears into Room 9 first, in the interest of finding a change of clothes first.

When she finally does come downstairs, it's in a shorter dress in one of the relatively subdued tropical prints from the crafts room, bodice fitted with a halter neckline; this seems as good a time as any to wear it, since Sylvando made it and...well.

He isn't around to hug her this time, is he.

She'll come into the ice cream parlor as requested, though she doesn't seem interested in eating much; she'll get a bottle of water from somewhere and kind of eyeball the fuckton of flavors from where she's sitting, but she generally just finds a table and somewhere to keep to herself. She'll speak to anyone who approaches, but she isn't going to force the matter.]

[paucipan]

[Plumeria startles at first, when she hears the door open again--she's not sure what to expect, but it definitely isn't Yeager just...deciding to join her. After everything she's done, she's surprised that anyone would want to at all.

...She just kind of pokes her head up from her knees.]

What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the others?

[It's not nearly as biting as it could be.]

[cethflayn]

[Flayn really does like ice cream.

She can't really bring herself to go and have some when Data's invitation comes, though. There's. Kind of a lot on her mind at the moment. How she acted at the trial, it wasn't right. Even if Alice was how she was, Flayn still...


She holes up in the library most of the day, sitting secluded at the end of an aisle, quietly and slowly perusing a large nonfiction picture book full of fish. It's just. A huge book on fish. Fish would never be cross with her for being angry.

...She's cross with herself, though. There's many emotions here.

Later at night, more when the adults are probably at the bar, Flayn quietly slips into the ice cream parlor. She greets Parker, but doesn't look anyone in the eye, and then goes to make herself dinner.

She will eat it all, even if it makes her sick for the rest of the night. You cannot stop her.]

sewing room

[onlyyoucan]

[Sara walks in and pauses.]

That's... no, it's not the same. What is it?

[jibunwo]

I've sewed a fair few things before, and learned embroidery a while back.

[you think this awful suit was commissioned with ALL those awful details, because it sure wasn't]

Working with one eye is a little more difficult, but relying on muscle memory helps.

[leaveittomother]

[Reika shows up not long after Sara does. She... looks actually upset. Legitimately upset. Like a normal person.]

...what is it, Sara?

[She can't even be bothered to smile.]

bar;

[deathmagnetic]

[ After everything, Risotto had headed straight to his room and hadn't bothered to leave for awhile (he's never been a party person, and he wasn't in the mood to see anyone for quite awhile.) But later was a different story; it's not entirely surprising to see someone in here, after everything. ]

I suppose we may share something in common.

[ He'll go to make himself something. He's not excited about it, and he really doesn't care too much for drinking, but here he was. ]

But, I don't think you're wrong about that. Him wanting us to celebrate more than mourn.

[jibunwo]

It's the symbol of the Black Knights. Chloe seemed under the impression that this looked foolish as it was now, so I thought I would improve upon it.

[onlyyoucan]

[Sara nods a greeting to Freyja, even if she won't press it as she eats her weird pastel fruit-and-gum ice cream.]

...Sorry.

[scythegun]

Why would I want to be?

[It's asked like it really is just that simple.]

I don't particularly care to sit and theorize about any of what just happened. I don't want to listen to whatever hopeful speeches they come up with, and I don't want to have to pretend that what Alice did was fine because it gave us more insight about the Captain.

I want to be right here, because I want to make sure you're going to be okay.

[It's blunt and honest in a way he never is; because right now, he can't be bothered to put on an act, and he figures Plumeria would probably punch him if he did.]

[onlyyoucan]

The trial was hard on you. I... won't bother if you don't want. But if she had anything that needed taking care of...

ice cream

[onlyyoucan]

[Sara hasn't moved to the bar yet, but she's not going to judge Flayn, either. The poor girl's had enough to deal with today.]

...hi.

[leaveittomother]

Sorry, I just... [She needs time alone but she takes a deep breath. She needs to focus like she always has before. It's alright. Nothing really matters, does it?]

Did she have something you were looking for? I know how she was.

[ltcommandroid]

[For his own part, Data does spend much of the evening in the ice cream parlor. He does feel some obligation, having invited people to keep company there, even if an awful lot of people are clearly not doing that. Naturally, he doesn't eat anything, but Parker had to miss a couple meals today, so Data is calmly picking apart some crab legs for him to feast upon.

Seriously, if someone looks like they're just sitting there all sad, he will go and ask:]

Can I get you anything?

[At some point, he does go down to the bar to...speak to Jimmy Buffett, it looks like? It's probably not much of a conversation, in truth; he does stop should someone else enter.]

Please, go ahead. I am not ordering.

[dokkalfheimr]

[Oh, Sara, that's...]

What for...?

[cethflayn]

Good evening.

[Just absolutely and determinedly eating ice cream. This will have no consequences at all.]

[scythegun]

[Hey, Risotto. Yeager inclines his head a bit in greeting as Risotto joins him; this is fine, as far as he's concerned. Risotto's been good company so far, and it's not like Yeager's missed Risotto's dedication to the case today.]

He probably would find all of this a bit depressing... Unfortunately, I think we all need a bit of a break before anyone can try to be cheerful again.

[He's still smiling, but it's distant; like he's forcing it, maybe.]