and every broken heart will mend

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the trial, a note found its way under everyone's doors, all of them written in the same neat handwriting that had been asking after a ring not that long ago.]

If any of you would prefer not to be left alone after all of that, I propose we meet in the dining hall. Nari has taken up cooking at the moment, and should anyone wish to talk I will be present regardless of whether or not the group at large should choose to join us.

-Ardyn

[True to his word, Ardyn was at a smaller table in the dining hall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him; lost in thought leaning his head on one hand as the other turned a silver coin over between his fingers.]

[King in an empty hall, and savior of nothing. All that effort to prevent bloodshed, and it had come down to a situation designed to force their hand from the beginning.]

Comments

[everylittlesecret]

[She doesn't turn to him, continuing doing what she was up to at the moment.]

What does? My singing? Hardly. My sister makes me sound tonedeaf. Now that's someone who should be singing right now.

[cameupshort]

Well. She's not here. And it sounds plenty good to me.

[To FN-2187, who had no actual normal social interaction before arriving here, so maybe grain of salt.]

...And. I wanted to thank you. For at the end. But you didn't have to do that.

[everylittlesecret]

If she was here, then there wouldn't have been two deaths today.

[No one would be alive. Her sister... Such an awful temper.]

I know I didn't have to. I did it because I told Queenie I would get as many people out of here as I can. Everyone needed to vote. Next time you can just vote for me if you're mad. I'm not afraid of death.

[cameupshort]

I'm not- ...okay, I'm kind of mad. But not at you. Just at this whole- everything. I'm not gonna try voting you out of- I don't know, spite or whatever.

[He might be a little mad at her, yeah.]

But I promise you won't have to protect me anymore. Not like that.

[everylittlesecret]

[Ah. She can tell by those words that you're lying about not being mad. Picking up a knife, she grabs an apple and starts cutting into it.]

Okay. Then I'll lay off. Any other requests?

[If this sounds impersonal and detached... It's because that's how she's feeling and treating just about everyone right now.]

[cameupshort]

[Lying, in denial, whichever.]

No, just- ...how are you holding up.

[everylittlesecret]

I'm fine and I'll be fine. Someone has to be. So don't worry about me.

[This poor apple is getting the diced beyond what it should be diced treatment.]

[cameupshort]

[Sounds fake but okay.]

You really think I could just not worry about you after all that?

[everylittlesecret]

I really don't get why you would be worrying about me in the first place. There's others who actually need it.

[That apple is mush now.]

[cameupshort]

Why would I not be, after all this?

[He is genuinely confused here, and also worried about basically everyone except maybe Nishitani.]

...Is that supposed to be cut up that much?

[everylittlesecret]

I don't understand your attachment to me, that's all.

[.....]

No. No it's not.

[cameupshort]

...we're friends, right?

[Has he totally misjudged these past couple weeks, or-]

...do you want help? I can probably manage cutting up fruit.

[everylittlesecret]

... you would call me that?

[That... is person number three that has said that to her now.]

... Sure. I was making more compote. We can chill that for later, too. Fruit needs to be diced, bite sized.