unknownseas | but even if the stars and moon collide [afterparty]

[Well, that sucked!

After about an hour, invitations written in colorful ink appear under everyone's doors.]

Understandable if you're not up to it, but we're having a memorial and "don't wanna be alone" hang-out in the restaurant again.

[The restaurant has very much been decorated with the most rainbow fabric she could find in the department store. Jonathan got roped in, mainly so she could make sure he was doing okay, but also because she assumed that he knew how to put a tablecloth on a table. He seemed like the type, anyway.

After consulting with Undertaker, most of the food that's been set out is more traditional Chinese funeral food than Victorian—you can get a whole roast duck in the restaurant—but she tried for a mix of things. There is fruit, the aforementioned roast duck, and several vegetarian dishes along with potatoes for some reason and... cookies? Okay then.

Joy's trying, because that was way less terrible for her than it was for basically anyone else.

Happy ~~Pride~~ Wrath, New Rapture!]

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Of course I wouldn't mind, Forrest. You've offered to listen to me before; allow me to return the favor.

I admit I'm not...terribly sure what I want to say, even...

[God, this whole thing is a mess.]

It isn't as though I'm not used to violence, or people shouting at one another, or all manner of things... It was just a bit much today, combined with the...

[...He gestures vaguely, indicating the, y'know. The everything.]

[Yeah. Yeah, he knows. For now he'll come sit down, but we can move whenever you'd like.]

It's different now. No matter what you've faced in the past, this situation is entirely different.

[...i mean, maybe not for hagakure, but for everyone else!!]

I think it hits all of us differently. It is a lot to take in, and this is the second time we've had to go through a trial like this.

I don't know if we'll be able to get it to stop, now that it's started...

[God, just. Give him a second, he doesn't want to start crying again, goddamn.]

[Rossiu considers that for a moment.]

I think that is a possibility, yes. But I also think it's too soon to say that for sure. After all, we have a lot of very determined people here, and most of them haven't forgotten who we should be directing our anger at.

[Today was difficult for everyone, but he's sure everyone will remember who they should really be mad at tomorrow.]

Do you really believe that?

[He's so determined to stop being a mess, but he can't seem to stop himself. Sorry...]

I do, yes.

[It's confident this time, certain.]

Today was difficult for everyone. Those who were most hurt by Obi's death were all too glad to want to take that anger out on what was directly in front of them - but they know the person to blame here is the Mayor. Even if they forget that in the moment, there's no way they can ignore it for long. At the very least, that anger can inspire people.

[It may not be the best rallying point, but it's a pretty damn good one right now.]

That's true. I suppose I just don't know what we're supposed to do about it...

[...]

I'm sorry, I'm being depressing, I don't mean to.

You don't need to apologize. I've been wondering the same thing, honestly...

[Right now there's really not much we can do. It's one thing to try to keep their spirits up, but without having anything they can do...]

But we will continue to pick ourselves up every time. We've found some interesting things so far, and with any luck, we'll be able to put all this together and do something with it.

Most of us. [The correction happens without thinking; it wasn't something he'd intended to say, it just...slipped. He winces a bit, immediately feeling guilty.] Most of us. Will pick ourselves up after.

[...]

...I'm afraid that one of these weeks I'm not going to be one of them. Not that I'm going to kill anyone, but that I'm just... I'm an easy target, compared to the rest of you, and I know that.

[...It's a harsh correction, but not an incorrect one. Rossiu doesn't really react to it, but he doesn't look surprised by it either. Yeah. He knows.]

There are a few of us who are. I'm not doing any better; all of my experience fighting has been in a gunmen. I wouldn't know the first thing about throwing a punch, let alone fighting back.

[So he gets that much, at least.]

I wish I had some more comforting words, but all we can really do is attempt to stay safe.

[...]

Rossiu, you're six inches taller than I am and everyone listens when you yell at them.

[..LIKE HE'S...HE'S JUST SAYING...]

[...]

I wasn't sure they would listen, honestly...

[Definitely a different situation than yelling at everyone to get them to listen back home. But anyway...]

That is true, though. I suppose that may deter some people.

[it's hard to strangle upwards, or something!!!]

[IT IS like honestly you just run the risk of knocking them over and that ruins the entire attempt

or something

not like forrest would know that but still- ]

...Why wouldn't they listen?

[you're a supreme commander

don't you, you know

command]

I can think of several reasons. For one, I hold no authority here and any attempts to demand anything of anyone could backfire spectacularly. For another, to many of them I'm likely seen as no more than a child. And of course, there are those who are just contrary in general.

[He shakes his head once that's out there, though.]

Still, we do have a common goal during those trials, so I am glad they chose to listen.

I imagine it's that, and likewise that some people just are more easily listened to than others. I've known a few like that.

[Xander and Ryoma both kind of demand being listened to, for better or worse.]

Yes, certainly. I wouldn't say I'm a natural leader at all; but someone needed to step up and I was able to do so.

[He's absolutely not a Fire Emblem Lord.]

And other people didn't. I'd say that means something.

[He nudges him a little. Manages a bit of a smile.]

You should have more confidence in yourself. It isn't as though it's unearned.

[That gets a smile from him as well.]

Thank you. You're right, I could stand to be a little more confident. I'll be sure to keep that in mind, thank you.

but even if the stars and moon collide [afterparty]

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