No party like an pope party??

[archboxer]

[That... that was a thing for everyone. There should be no celebration for Lif but, well, even if Rhea has a very cynical view of such things it's probably for the best that everyone stays together. Her first stop is the cafeteria, after all nothing better to keep people in one spot than free food. There she bumps into Mira, leaving the snacks to her Rhea ends up writing notes to everyone to come to the cafeteria in a few hours.

Some she hands personally and if she can't find someone she slid it under their door. Rin's she slides into her room regardless.

Fortunately, you won't hear a sermon.]

Comments

[philoxenia]

Hi, Alice.

[ It's a little later... so Mira's not quite as out of it as she was before. But there's still a distinct heaviness to the way she just is, and she doesn't even try to give Alice a smile. She knows it would fall very, very flat if she tried. ]

How are you?

[precognit]

[Alice can't fault Mira for that; her golden eyes are a little glassy, and she feels wooden and stiff.]

I'm...

[She hesitates a long while, breathing in and out heavily. Which is...entirely a knee-jerk expression, since she doesn't actually need to breathe.]

I've been worse, but I've also definitely been better.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh... She gives her-- well, it's not quite a smile. But it sure is a sympathetic look. ]

Well... you're in good company, if that's the case. [ ... ] It was... rough.

[precognit]

Yeah. Really rough.

[Alice turns toward Mira, bending a little so she can look her in the eye.]

We're going to make sure it doesn't happen again, okay? I don't know how, but we just all need to join together. We're stronger than that together.

[philoxenia]

[ She holds that gaze for a while... and then nods, folding her hands in her lap. She doesn't voice it, but--

But it'll be tough to keep everyone together, if those incentives keep coming. ]

... Let's hope everyone will agree to that. We-- can't afford to not be united, right?

[precognit]

Exactly. [Alice pats Mira on the hand, softly so as to mask that her hands are ice cold.]

We have to make a concrete plan. I'm sure with all these smart people in one place, we can do that.

[philoxenia]

[ She nods, trying for a smile. It-- it's a little flat, but god is she trying. ]

Well... I won't be any help there. But-- I am good at following leads, so... Surely it'll work out.

[precognit]

You never know. The best plans usually come from unexpected places. And you seem smart, Mira.

[philoxenia]

[ She's a little caught off-guard by that, but... ]

Well... I-I'm just trying my best, honestly. If I do something to help, then... I'm glad for it.

[precognit]

[Alice hums softly in agreement, and lets it sit for a moment. Sips her wine even though she'll just have to just cough it back up later.]

Well, let me know if you ever want to...I don't know, have a book club or something.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh, Alice, bless you. Despite how tired she is, despite how much her heart aches, her face lights up the tiniest bit. ]

Really? You'd want to?

[precognit]

[Seeing that tiny bit of improvement in Mira's expression has Alice smiling genuinely.]

Of course! We can take turns reading the same book and then talk about it afterward.