What I want to hear on nights I can't sleep is your voice

[philoxenia]

[ ... Well, that was an absolute shitshow, wasn't it? Instead of dwelling on how she feels about everything that just happened, Mira's channeling that energy into something else--and she has a little bit of help doing it. Zerinda and Ema are here in the bar to make drinks, and Mira's brought in a ton of food that's definitely not healthy for anyone, but screw it, who cares about health right now?

Della's here to pass out invitations, too--they let everyone know there's a gathering in the bar, if they'd rather not be alone.

If you choose not to come, well... Mira's got that taken care of, too. She'll place a little container of cookies and hot cocoa outside your door. Maybe it'll help someone feel a little less alone--at least, that's what she's hoping. ]

Comments

[nothingcanstop]

[ Of course she's okay!! ]

It... [ Alright, nope, she sighs and her shoulders slump a little. ] Yeah. It was rough. Each time, it's rough in new, exciting ways.

[fivestagegod]

Yeah. I don't know, I'm not as messed up about it as I probably should be. Rhea needed to shut the hell up, grieving or not, but otherwise it was...

[...Mnngh.]

I hesitate to say it's getting easier for me, but I'm getting used to it. This part of it, anyway.

[nothingcanstop]

No, it... This morning I thought, "Gee, wonder what horrible death's gonna happen today?" So it's... It's becoming routine.

[ Breathes out heavily. ]

...I actually saw the body this time. Not close up, but.

[fivestagegod]

Ah, damn - are you okay? Not asking about the state of things being about the same level of on fire as before this time, either.

[nothingcanstop]

Oh, I'm- ...ehh, can't say fine, that's a bit too obvious a lie. I didn't see any of the...big spectacle of it all. Mostly I just escorted Rhea out, but it... It made it all sink in a little more.

[fivestagegod]

...I'm bad at this, so I'm only going to ask once. Do you want a hug or something.

[YOU...SEEM LIKE YOU COULD USE IT...]

[nothingcanstop]

[ She cracks a smile. ]

William, I'm a little worried if you hugged anyone you'd strain something, and I'm not talking about the height difference. [ A small dismissal wave. ] You don't have to push yourself on my account, I'm just...reflecting. It was a busy day.

[fivestagegod]

Hey, you had your chance.

[HE IS NEVER OFFERING THAT TO ANYONE AGAIN EVER.]

That absolutely could have gone better, though. In a lot of ways.

[nothingcanstop]

[ rip this MOMENTOUS OCCASION that della has passed up ]

You are certainly telling me... And I'd think the others would agree with you, considering how many seem to need...you know. Alone time.

[fivestagegod]

...Is it a lot of us, this time around?

[nothingcanstop]

...A fair few. Some might be just taking their time. I had a few things to, uh, take care of, last week.

Or...maybe it’s just looking a little sparse.

[fivestagegod]

[Yeah, he remembers the...incident out in the main hall last week.]

...I'm not planning on being there, in the interest of full disclosure. I don't drink, and I'm not sure how much I really want to deal with people after all of that.

[nothingcanstop]

Yeah, no, that's... That's fine. I can't drag everyone into a...big group hug or something, yech. [ Typical grossed out noise-- ] I just... You know. Never know who could need a life vest out here.

[fivestagegod]

...Hey, Della.

[...Speaking of things he's bad at. Give him a moment.]

Thanks. For talking to me yesterday. I probably would've done something stupid otherwise.

[nothingcanstop]

Oh. Well, I mean. ...You're welcome. [ After all, like. ] You know if there's anything I have to say about it, and I do... Getting out of here isn't where all this ends. You're not gonna get shot again. Not on my watch.

[fivestagegod]

[For a moment he's just...quiet at that; it's fairly obvious that he doesn't know what to do with his face, and has even less of an idea of what he's supposed to say.]

...Yeah. Yeah, I... We'll see.

[nothingcanstop]

[ It's fine! She can pick up the slack! ]

For real! Friends help each other out. Especially when it gets that bad.

[fivestagegod]

[Mnngh.]

...I don't know if I'm the sort of person you want to make promises like that toward, you know?

[nothingcanstop]

William. I told Lif, I don't like being told what to feel. I can decide that for myself, alright?

[fivestagegod]

Yeah, I know, but...

[He stops. Shakes his head a bit.]

Just...never mind.

[nothingcanstop]

...I'll let it slide for now. But, I'll warn you. I'm wildly stubborn.

[fivestagegod]

I know you are. Just...

[Ugh.]

Just keep in mind where I came from, okay?

[nothingcanstop]

Where you...

[ She doesn't quite get it, and that's clear. But. ]

...Okay. Alright, if it means that much... I'll keep it in mind.