THE SECOND VICTIM

[airlockedmods]

[It's been one week since Mikaela and Mai died, and so far, it looks as though this week should have been safer than any. Everyone's been bonding closely, and though P.A.L. attempted to hand down secret motivations for murderer, they've been undermined somewhat by your willingness to share secrets.

You've all been doing well.

Nonetheless, something is amiss somewhere in the mansion this morning.]

Comments

[tacomeme]

I... I know. I'm sorry if I'm in the way of your work.

[He runs his thumb over Finn's knuckles, morbidly fascinated by the roughness compared to his own missing callouses and pale skin]

[theundertaker]

Take your time. [She gives his arm a small squeeze.] I'm not in a rush to get started.

[tacomeme]

I wouldn't be either.

[He puts the hand down carefully before standing, wavering a bit. All the adrenaline he had been running off of is starting to fade, only leaving an empty aching feeling behind. Still, he had to focus- or Finn and Mikaela and Mia would have more then one bit of company by the end of the day]

Thanks. For not, you know, forcing it. And for all the clean up. I don't think some of us could handle it if we had to do it ourselves.

[He's not sure Cece can handle it. But he's too drained to manage much more empathy then what he's already offering]

[theundertaker]

[She stays crouching, reaching out to gingerly touch Finn's cooled cheek. Part of her is glad there's less mess than last time. The other part feels guilty for feeling any kind of relief when someone is dead.]

It's hard, to say goodbye. But it's important. [In the distance the soft whir of roombas come closer. After a beat she glances up at Takumi. She's calmer than last week but if he looks closely he'll see the slight tremble in her hands.] I can handle it. You guys still have to go through the hard part.