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

[snackooed]

Oh, you don't have to thank me for that. I know if I was in your position, I would want someone to come by and talk me through it. I couldn't just leave you alone...

[ She sets her glass down and puts her elbows on the bar, just so she can talk to him a little more head-on.

Maybe flattered isn't the word, but she is feeling kind of nice, though, that he went out of his way to come by and tell her that. ]

Like I said, it was hard on the lot of us. Myself included. But I'm glad I was able to help, even if it was only a bit.

[fivestagegod]

I'm pretty sure you and Della are the reasons I didn't do anything completely idiotic last night. It was still pretty damn, but it could have been worse.

[snackooed]

It makes me really happy to hear that...

[ And she means it, too. All it takes is one bad night. If she and Della were able to keep him okay, that makes all the difference. ]

Really. I'm glad that you're still with us. And if you ever need to talk again, that absolutely wasn't a one-time thing.

[fivestagegod]

...You're a decent person, you know?

[It's said like it's something he's not terribly used to.]

Hopefully I won't need anything like that again. But it's good to still be around, at least.

[snackooed]

I try my best. I just know how effective having a shoulder to lean on can be, from professional experience.

[ That's a rare compliment, but one she'll gladly take! ]

Anyway, I know that was a bit of a mess back there. [ Putting it mildly. ] But even so, the lot of us are still here, and there's always work to be done. Maybe we have a lot on our plate, but I'm always looking to help out where I can, so...you know. Don't be a stranger, is what I'm saying.

[fivestagegod]

You either, you got that?

[It's easier, though, than the rest of this has been.]

It's like I said, I'm pretty damn invested in seeing all of this get solved by now. I get that I'm kind of a lot during trials and what have you, but I swear I'm not trying to get us all killed.

[snackooed]

If anything, you being "kind of a lot" has often had the opposite effect, so you definitely don't have to prove that to me. You're pretty valuable help in these things, so I can't say I entirely dislike the "bad cop" routine. Besides, it isn't as though you have no home training whatsoever.

[fivestagegod]

That's more or less why I do it, so at least you get that much.

[He shrugs.]

I meant what I told Lif too, back at the beginning. No mercy, no forgiveness. All of that goes out the window once people start trying to kill me along with everybody else.

Of course, that means if I snap I'm going to expect the same sort of thing from the rest of you. No going soft on me.

[snackooed]

I'm sure that there's no shortage of people here who might look forward to the chance to pay it forward, should the opportunity present itself. Though personally, I'd prefer that it didn't. Our goals are aligned, at least to the degree that we'd all like to get out of here. And thus far, you've had the good sense not to try that at the expense of someone else's life.

If you need a push to keep it that way, I'll gladly do my part. But I think it's saying something that, as sorry of a state as you were in yesterday, you still knew better.

[fivestagegod]

I mean, if nothing else, I definitely appreciate not being dead at the moment. I figure I can always yell at the guy later if I intend to keep it that way beyond the experiment here, but if I screw up in murdering someone that's it.

[So there's that.]

[snackooed]

I think you'd be forgiven if you wanted to do a bit more than yell at him. But if that's the endgame, who am I to discourage you from that dream?

[fivestagegod]

Hey, I've insulted approximately half of everyone else so far, and see no reason why he should be spared. But fair point.

[snackooed]

Between you and me, I think it's almost more effective when you don't yell. Just give that good, stern talking to, with a touch of condescension? He'll probably be shaking in his labcoat.